Whenever I want a good kitchen tool, I go for the OXO brand.

I'm using the OXO smooth edge can opener right now. I'm not sure I would recommend it because I have to fiddle with it each time to recall how it goes on the can. Once I figure it out, the can opens easily.

Here is a link that might be useful: OXO smooth edge opener

I like the hand held ones that are easy to operate; I bought an electric one but I store it in a cupboard, so I don't take it out unless I'm doing a spaguetti sauce and opening many cans.

I'm with mitch, the hand helds are by far the best. I bought one from Walmart years ago with padded handles for just a few dollars. I've never had problems with it.

Also, when I'm cooking something that uses a lot of cans, I take the hand held can opener to my "cooking station" and set the trash can out to throw the lids and cans in. Very convenient.

Can openers on the counter get dirty and take up valuable space.

I've done both and went back to the tried and true opener. :)

I also have a handheld safety opener. Mine isn't Oxo, I bought it at a cooking store and it's some Swedish brand I believe, but I LOVE IT.

Took some time to figure out how it works, but I will never go back. I especially love that it takes the entire lid off, so nothing gets stuck below that rim. I even open cans that have the ring tab on them with it, like soup cans. I also like that it never gets that gunk built up under the blade and the lid never falls into the can.

I had an electric opener, but dumped it when I redid the kitchen. Now I'm handheld only.

I've always had the electric kind. Had a really good one when I got married (1976; Yikes!). Haven't been able to find a good one since that one bit the dust many years later. I've always wondered about the hand held ones; glad to hear they work good. And now with more lids being pop-off, or whatever, I guess I'll give the hand held one a try. Thanks so much.

I also have the OXO safe edge one, I purchased it after I got 3 stitches in my finger from a sharp can lid from a regular opener. You have to get used to it....after you go around the can you use the little prongs to grab the lid and lift it off....

I'm not familiar with the OXO one recommended above, but I have a safe edge can opener from Tupperware that I have been very happy with.

Carrie

Here is a link that might be useful: Tupperware opener on Amazon

Ditto Pesky. Can't think of the brand name of mine but the lid comes off with no sharp edges on lid or can. We recycle - so it's nice to be able to rinse the cans and not worry about getting cut. Mine is very easy to use, you just get it started and it goes around on it's own.

Electric can openers are bad about getting gunky plus they often allow little metal shavings back into the can.

tina

I had a hand held Pampered Chef one that I loved. It opened around the outside so there wasn't any rough edges. Somehow it went missing... It was replaced with a black Kitchenaid can opener (gift) and it's ok. It works but I'll be buying another PC in the furture.

I HATE HATE HATE my OXO can opener. It's the same one Graywings has. HATE IT. We bought it because we're buying mostly OXO tools now due to my uncooperative hands, but I'd rather just not eat what's in the d@mn can than fight with that frickin' can opener. I'm finding I'll buy one brand over another just because it has a pop-top.

Best can opener in the world in my book is the wall-mounted Swing-A-Way. They haven't changed the design in something like 75 years - haven't had to. My great-grandmother had one, my grandmother had one, my mother had one, and I had one but I had to leave it at the old house because there's nowhere to mount a new one here which REALLY had me bummed out. I inherited one from my great-grandmother that she got when she set up housekeeping with g-g'pa after WWII and it was still going strong in 1991 when my ex-bf made off with it in the split. The Swing-A-Way hand-held ones (not wall mount) are a little tougher if you don't have strong hands, although the rotary crank is infinitely easier than the flat crank.

OMG swing-a-way! My parents had a wall mounted one; I'm kicking myself for not taking it when we sold their house. I didn't know they still made them even. I loved that can opener.

I have the manual OXO can opener. It's doesn't do the "safety" bit, but I never have to fiddle with it and it works the first time every time.

My parents have had the same hand-held Swingaway opener for as long as I can remember.

Here is a link that might be useful: OXO manual

this one looks like it might do the trick for me; not really worried about sharp edges.

Here is a link that might be useful: swing-a-way

I bought mine for ten bucks at T.J.Maxx, it's a Kitchenaid and I love it. If you can love a can opener. (lol)

I have a vintage wall mounted Dazey, which was probably made in the 1950's. I picked it up at an estate sale for a couple of dollars, and it's better than any other can opener I've ever used.

I'm an electric can opener gal. I remember opening at least 1 or 2 cans a day; if not more; an electric can opener was a must. Moved in with hubby around 2000; most of my stuff went to storage; not sure if we used my electric can opener till it died or what but it seems like there aren't many cans to open these days; so why waste counter space?

The one we have is a Kitchen aid; think I bought it from Bed, Bath, Beyond. It opens the side, so the cover pops off with a clean edge. Every now & then hub has issues with it, but for the most part; I've gotten my money's worth.

I have a hand-held Swing-Away. Since it's gear-driven, it works on things like rectangular cans (sardine for the cats) when the pop-top tabs break off. It's important to me that it's easy to put in the sink for a good scrubbing in hot, soapy water and it requires minimal storage space.

I like the swing-away handheld, but DH, who has trigger finger, prefers an electric. The electric is a pita to clean.

The OXO is the only one for me.

I've had an OXO handheld for at least 8 years. About once a year I have to oil it so that it will move smoothly around the can, but that's the only comment I have about it. It works much better than previous handhelds that I had.

Although once someone gave me a left-handed handheld can opener. I used that until it fell apart beyond repair. Can't seem to find another one anywhere.

I have the Pampered Chef model--we love it!

My can opener is made by a brand I've never heard of. It says KUHN RIKON Switzerland on it. Made of stainless steel and says patent pending, design pending. I love it!

Don't get me started about electric can openers. The year I received one for Xmas was the year I found out there wouldn't be a Santa for me anymore. Never could bring myself to use the thing. That electric can opener gift was the most depressing Xmas gift ever. Still won't have one in my house. LOL!