A New Can Opener

A new can opener is one of the best birthday presents I received last month. It’s a sleek electric model that sits on my counter ready to use.

You might wonder how such a practical gift creates excitement. Can openers, after all, are rather mundane and ordinary. For older people, however, having a can opener that doesn’t generate a wrestling match with a can of sauce or beans is a bonus in the kitchen.

With arthritis in both hands, I struggle whenever I need to open a can. Until a few months ago, my ordinary hand-operated can openers worked well, but they required some effort and manual squeezing.

Unfortunately, in late summer, I used both hands to break a nasty fall while taking an evening stroll.

The tumble resulted in severe bruising on the palms of each hand. Although my hands healed, the injuries zapped precious strength from the hand muscles.

Have cans changed?

I have often wondered if manufacturers changed the cans as part of an ageist conspiracy. Or, perhaps some cans are made thicker to prevent food spoilage. Some posts on Google note that the parameters on the rims of cans are deeper than in the past. Does this affect the ease of opening a can?

I also wonder why more cans aren’t made with pull-tabs. Likely, there is some link to cost.

Thankfully, we don’t eat many canned foods but, occasionally, a can of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich must suffice for lunch or dinner.

Assistive Devices

The right tools make a difference.

People with good hand strength, dexterity, and flexibility don’t realize how fingers, wrists, elbows and, shoulders must work together when opening a can or a jar.

My kitchen already has various assistive devices to help with pop-up cans, water bottles and sealed pickle jars.

One of my favourites is this opener that pops a hole in the top of a can containing pourable liquids.  It’s great for opening cans of sauce or evaporated milk.  The ergonomic handle is easy to hold. This device also doubles as a bottle opener.

Opening jars is another struggle. Many jars are sealed with a polymer seal ring on the lid creating a partial vacuum inside the jar.  The partial vacuum helps preserve food.

However, polymer rings make a stickier seal.  Of course, such jars require a special device to break the seal unless one has extraordinary strength.

The stainless steel device on the top of the photo is designed to create pressure under the lid to pop the seal. Depending on the depth of the lid, two options are available to pop the seal. I bought this simple lid popper at Lee Valley Tools several years ago. Although it cost upwards of $20, its usefulness over time was worth the cost.

Sometimes the lid sticks after breaking the seal on a jar of food. That’s where my old-fashioned gripper with brown handles shown at the bottom of the photo is useful.

The gripper opens lids of varying sizes. It can grip any stuck lid for easy turning. I found this useful device in a thrift store a few years ago. I’ve often used it to loosen sealed plastic caps on vinegar or water bottles.

Of course, the hard-to-open plastic containers merit another blog post! and, don’t let me start on cans of corned beef with a key opener that sometimes requires a pair of pliers!

But, I must get back to the main topic of the post — my electric can opener!

My New Electric Can Opener

Who would imagine that using an electric can opener involved a learning curve? I had to learn to align the blade at the right location on the rim of the can. Positioning the can between the gear and the blade isn’t intuitive and requires practice! My first try on a can of water-packed tuna resulted in a mess on the counter and frustration!

Because the opener cuts the side of the lid all the way around, it produces a smooth edge. This eliminates the danger of cutting a finger on a sharp lid. However, despite a complete rotation, it sometimes looks like the can hasn’t been opened.

Occasionally, I have resorted to the manual can opener if I’m in a rush. I’ve also found that some cans don’t easily fit in the slot and require patience when positioning.

Nonetheless, I consider the electric can opener one of my new best friends.  It’s useful enough that I bought a second one for the cottage!  I no longer have to fight to open a can nor do I need to ask my son or daughter-in-law for help when I prepare a family meal at the cottage.

As we age, many daily tasks become more difficult. Innovation is required!  I won’t let pride hinder me from extolling the benefits of assistive devices such as my new can opener. Preserving hand agility in the kitchen is critical to maintaining independence.

Thanks for reading my post.  I hope all elders find various assistive devices including mundane devices like electric can openers to maintain quality of life!