In a Kitchen Full of Tools, This Can Opener Is One of My Favorites

It may seem odd to be overly passionate about something as commonplace as a can opener. But once I started using the Bartelli Soft Edge safety-style can opener, I was converted, and I have no shame about it! Folks often ask me for recommendations on various kitchen equipment—I have LOTS of opinions—and they are surprised by the fact that the Bartelli is on my list, but honestly, it is one of my favorite kitchen tools.

Most folks are familiar with a manual top-cut can opener—the one that swings open and shut, clamping down the wheel blade as you rotate the can to open it. You might also be familiar with electric can openers, the ones that take up precious real estate on the countertop and rotate the can slowly as it opens. But many aren’t as familiar with smooth-edge side-cut can openers. At least, I wasn’t until my sister turned me on to them, and I gave them a try.

Unlike the more familiar can openers that pierce the lid from the top, creating a sharp lid that can easily slice a finger, the gears on a soft-edge can opener open the can from the side of the lid, specifically where the lid folds over and seals the can. By cutting just the sealed folded metal on the side of the lid, the safety can opener doesn’t create a sharp edge. Instead, it completely releases the lid from the can, yet the lid can still fit snugly over the top of the can, like a built-in cap.

Though it’s usually not recommended to store leftover food in the can after you have opened it, this snug-fitting lid is super convenient if I want to open up a bunch of cans while prepping for a dish, or if there is a clumsy person—It’s me! Hi, I’m the problem—or a child in the kitchen helping out. I can open up as many cans as I want and set them up for later use without fear of cutting myself or having anything accidentally fall into the canned food.

Using the Bartelli’s soft-edge can opener does take a little bit of getting used to, especially if you’ve only used the more traditional clamp-style can opener. Place the can opener on top of the can, holding the top part of the opener to stabilize it, then twist the butterfly-shaped knob handle. The initial twist might take a little more effort than you think for the steel gears to engage, but as it starts to open up, it should turn and open smoothly. You’ll feel the can opener disengage once you've gone fully around the lid. Just twist slightly, lift the lid carefully, and you’ll see that the edge of the lid is smooth to the touch.

The Bartelli can opener is also unique in that it’s ambidextrous, unlike most can openers, which are designed for right-handed folks only. On top of all that, the can opener is relatively small and takes up less space in the drawer. This makes it ideal for those of us who have a bit of a kitchen equipment addiction and have a drawer packed full of gear.

Other Can Openers to Consider

The Oxo Soft Grip can opener was my go-to until I became a safety can opener convert! It features easy-to-hold soft and big handles made of a material that stays nonslip even if your hands are wet. This allows you to lift shallow cans like tuna and open them comfortably. The thick rounded knob also makes opening cans easier as it requires fewer turns to fully open the can, which is great if you have limited mobility issues. 

The tight hinge on the can opener means it won’t just swing open easily, accidentally hitting other items on the countertop when you use it. But the opener does open to 180 degrees. This allows you to get into the can opener blade and gears to clean it thoroughly when you need to. Cans opened up smoothly, with minimal jagged or uneven wavy lids.

Much like the Oxo, the Beneno has similar features like nonslip grip handles that are thick and comfortable. The knob is comfortable and big, making it easy to use, though it doesn’t open up the can quite as fast. You need to turn the knob a little more than the Oxo to fully open a can.

But what the Beneno does have is a small magnet on the side of the opener. This tiny feature is super useful, especially when you open a can and the lid falls in. When this happens, I typically grab a butter knife to pry the can open or lift the lid out. But with the Beneno, I can use the side magnet to snatch up the lid, without having to dirty a knife or risk cutting myself by prying it open with my fingers. Lids open fairly smoothly, like the Oxo, with minimal unevenness.

This was my can opener in college and I still have fond memories of it. It was the first can opener that made me realize that not all can openers are made the same! I lost my original Swing-A-Way can opener once I moved into an apartment, post-college. I bought a cheap generic can opener at the local grocery store to replace it and immediately regretted my purchase. 

The Swing-A-Way is a no-frills classic for a reason. The sharp cutting wheel easily opens up cans with minimal force. And the rubber grip handles are fairly comfortable to hold (though not as comfortable as the Oxo or Beneno). Can lid edges were smooth and uniform. The Swing-A-Way does swing open easily, far easier than the Oxo and Beneno, so you have to be careful when you grab it out of the drawer so that it doesn’t hit something on your counter and knock it over. But otherwise, it’s a great can opener.

Non-moving part can openers require a little more muscle to use and can create jagged edges on the can lid, which can be more dangerous. But I can understand the appeal of having one, as no moving parts mean fewer parts to break and less opportunity for the opener to rust. If I were to recommend one non-moving part can opener, it would be the Japanese Korin. 

With a stationary blade and a large grip handle, the Korin is sturdy, intuitive, and easy to use. It’s also slightly safer than other non-clamping and stationary can openers, as the large handle keeps your hand away from the blade. It does take a bit of practice, as you need to hook part of the opener under the lid rim and piece the lid on top, using a “rocking” motion to open the can all the way. But once you get the hang of it, opening cans is pretty quick. Because it lacks moving parts, it’s easy to clean and is great for camping. The open blade can be a little scary but storing it in a freezer-style resealable bag, or in the box it came in, can help prevent any potential accidents.

Why Take Our Word For It?

Irvin Lin is the author of the baking cookbook Marbled, Swirled, and Layered as well as the founder of the blog Eat the Love. He’s a food writer, recipe developer, and product reviewer that has tested hundreds of kitchen equipment, including bakeware, cookware and countertop appliances.