Black and Decker GIZMO. I finally broke down after Arthritis claimed enough knuckles to hurt bad with the hand opener and got the Gizmo. For 3 years now I haven't had a problem one and it is so easy to use. Sizes from the teeny tiny tomato paste can to the largest commercial size cans, open all and when the battery goes low it is just plug it in for a quick recharge.

CT

I have the same type as coloredthumb although it's not a black and decker...It works really well and it's nice to put it on a can and go and do other things. Maybe the reason I like it is because I have arthritis but I also have one of the old fashioned openers too.

I have the manual can opener that removes the lid via the rim and doesn't leave an edge whereby you can cut yourself - it is like cutting through butter - I loved it so much, I went back and bought two more! It's called 'Safe Cut' and is made by Good Cook.

I have 3 different ones and I only use one of those. I use my regular Kitchen Aid opener, works by hand. Then I have some brand electric one, but never use it and then I have that battery operated one that goes around the top of the can and cuts it off. I really don't care at all for it.

Sue

I try to keep my kitchen counters clear of anything that looks like a tool. LOL So when my last can opener quit I bought a $7. manual can open, which was expensive back then. I still have it. It has a fat handle so it doesn't hurt my hand. Very smooth and fits in a drawer.

I don't want another thing that plugs in and sits on my counter top. And, if you can't dismantle it and clean it well every time you use it, you are allowing bacteria to grow on that thing. The blade will become encrusted. With a manual, you can rinse it with hot water and some germ killer and when it gets too bad, stick it in the dishwasher.

I get a good and comfortable hand held and replace it as needed. Out of sight, out of mind. We dont' use a lot of canned products so it's not an inconvenience to me at all do use a manual. They make these so well these days that even with arthritis my mother had no problems with manuals.

I was really surprised that I liked the As Seen On TV one. It is battery operated, compact and leaves no sharp edge. It has held up well. I don't like one on the counter, so this is a good solution for me.

I have the Hamilton Beach Open Center. The opener gizmo can be detached at the press of a button for easy cleaning. It has a gripper for opening jars, a pop top opener and a bottle opener. I got it because I have nerve damage in my right hand.

After getting tired of the buildup on can openers, the sharp edges and stuff I bought one of those "As seen on TV" handheld "safety" openers. Kind of bulky, white but it worked extremely well. I liked it so well I gave one to my sister. What I didn't like about it was it took so much brute force to clamp it on and even to crank it. When I got busted up years ago it started failing. Plus I just couldn't handle the effort needed to use it so I took one of the old cutter types out and started using until it hit me that I had bought another one to give as a gift and never gave it away. Dug into the back of the drawer and shonuff there it was. I put it on and thought beautiful, brand new and doesn't work" But then I noticed it was opening it. I couldn't believe that there was no pressure required. Just put it on, close the handles and this one instead of having the main unit on the side of the can had the main unit on the top of the can. The knob turned so easily too and that amazed me. I've been using this one now for years and it works great. It's the Good Cook brand and was really cheap. If I see it in a store again, I'm probably going to pick up one or two more in case this dies. Absolutely the best can opener I've ever used. Even when my fingers are stiff and causing trouble there's no issue using it and no trouble getting it started on the can. Plus I like to use the lid to put 1/2 cans of veggies and the like in the frig and not have to use a separate bowl, plastic wrap, bags or whatever. If I remember right I got it at Kmart but I'm not sure. I saw one similar at Target. Don't remember if it was the same brand or not. Who knows, maybe I got it at Target?

I do have a Black and Decker jar opener that I bought very cheap at a garage sale. I really like it as some of my things are in jars and if I didn't have it, there is no way I could open some of them. Sometimes I buy canned pie filling that comes in a canning jar with a screw top lid and those are just impossible for me to open if I didn't have the jar opener.

Sue

I keep a couple strap wrenches in the kitchen for those difficult jars. Normally one is all I need but occasionally the second one gives me the extra leverage to help. I just used one earlier to open a bottle of lemon juice. The strap will open to fit any jar I've seen and goes down to a bottle cap.

I had wondered about those jar openers. But these work as well for me.

I love my manual safety can opener that doesn't leave sharp edges. It is so easy to operate, but I did have to get the hang of it first. I keep it in a drawer and am glad to get rid of my old electric eye-sore. We had an ice storm that left us without power for days once. We had a gas stove and canned goods but no manual can opener! I learned my lesson from that. Now I'll never go back to electric. This one is much cleaner. I'm providing a link, I always like to read the customer reviews.

Here is a link that might be useful: safety can opener

I still like the Swing A Way manual ones best. I have a couple on hand. Throw them in the dishwasher and when they get worn they're cheap to replace. Nice smooth gearing.

I have a Black and Decker Space Maker that is mounted under a top cabinet, up and out of the way. The cutting/clamping mechanism can be taken off for easy cleaning. I think it is probably 15 or so years old and going strong.

(the other) Sue

I have one of those can openers that takes the lid off without sharp edges too. I think it is a Pampered Chef model, but they have others in stores now too -- Sounds just like the Good Cook ones described above.

I have been using it for 10 years. They don't cut - so they never get dull. Mine has a pincher on the side, so once you have the lid removed - you use the pincher to pull it off.

Took a little bit to figure it out -but I wouldn't use anything else.

About a year ago, I picked up a can opener from a kitchen cabinet drawer and sliced my third finger open. It was a freak accident. I was in a hurry and had grabbed onto a part of the opener that wasn't meant for that purpose.

The extent of my injury (I came real close to heading to the emergency room) convinced me that there had to be a better product on the market than the one I was using.

Turns out, there is. The OXO Smooth Edge can opener is, in my opinion, a wonderful product. Not only does it appear to be safer to USE than most, but I was thrilled to find that the resulting (opened) can and lid have no sharp edges that can harm little animals who might be rummaging through garbage bags in some dump.

You can read more about my experiences with this particular can opener on my blog.l

Here is a link that might be useful: organic_kjl1's blog

Love my cheapo Swing-A-Way.
Kathy G in MI

Here is a link that might be useful: Swing-A-Way

I agree with the Swing-A-Way fans. It's the best. I keep it clean by using hot water and dish soap (Dawn) and a toothbrush. I also have sprayed Pam on it from time to time to keep the gears running smoothly. Well, it's pretty old. You don't have to do that while they're newer.

Leslie/KS

Swing-A-Way.

Easy to use and clean; never breaks.

Love it!

Every time I think about Swing A Way can openers I want to ask the designers who was the one with the demonic sense of humor to make a great can opener, but then put that pitiful excuse for a bottle opener on it????