Customer Reviews

Cuisinart DCO-24 Die Cast Can Opener

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(26)

 

 

After a year of buying and discarding no less than five can openers of different makes, it is a relief to find one that finally works. Thank you Cuisinart! The extra money was worth it.

This can opener grips the cans without slipping. The sawtooth wheel upon which the can rides has larger teeth and a more substantial blade to pierce the can than the other can openers we purchased. After using this can opener is easily disassembled for cleaning. Reassembly is a breeze.

Perhaps, like me, you have long been a member of the can-opener-of-the-month club. You have purchased ones that seem to have been made of biodegradable materials, so quick is their deterioration. Or fitting the can in its proper place is a task for a mechanical engineer. Or take my last one; it was impossible to clean, and simply hated to be bothered with opening a can.

Take heart. The higher price for this built-like-a-tank can opener is well worth it. Simply throw a can in the general direction of the Cuisinart and it does its job (I can't understand the complaints of others in this regard; this is by far the easiest to operate electric opener that I have ever owned). The opening mechanism pulls right out for cleaning without requiring some secret code to attain its release. Its above average weight makes it stand firm on the counter, defying any can to try and tip it over. If this opener falls apart I will simply have to go back to mechanical openers. Mine has been working without complaint for several months now. That's a near record time in my house.

It is now May of 2007, and time to update this review. The above part of the review was written in 2003. Unfortunately parts of the opener that get wet when in use tend to rust. After 3 years of use the magnet that holds the can lid from falling into the can rusted through completely, and fell off. I am faced with the choice of either fishing the lid out of the can by hand, or buying a new opener. Doesn't anyone make a perfect electric can opener? Sigh. I must say, though, it was a good machine while it lasted. No other electric can opener that I've owned has lasted 3 years.

After buying several manual can openers that easily broke or were difficult to clean and a couple of cheaper electric can openers that did not open cans well, I decided to spend the money and get a trusted brand. This can opener is fantastic! It is so easy to use. If you get the can in the general vacinity of the blade, the can opener will grab it, line it up and open it. The handle is very easy to push down and you don't need to hold it; it stays down until the can is open. I have used this can opener on different size cans (small tomato paste cans, 15 ounce cans and the big 28 ounce cans) with amazing ease. It is easy to clean - it wipes down without leaving streaks and the blade can be pulled out, rinsed off and dried in a minute. It is also very slender and does not take up much space on the counter. I wish I'd bought this can opener years ago.

I last used an electric can opener in 1976. I went to manual to do my part to ease the drought and energy problems while living in California. Now I am a grandmother with various musculoskeletal problems and using a manual can opener causes me pain. So I researched and figured spending $50 amortized over almost 30 years was acceptable. We have no problem placing the cans. Just don't try so hard. Slip it under the puncture tip and press down. It's stable and looks great and is extremely easy to clean. Some dishes I prepare require opening many cans and now I do it without pain. Highly recommended. Thanks to others for their reviews. They really help when trying to decide.

I have owned this opener for quite a few months and have given it a good workout.

Here are the positives:
1. Does not tip over...is very stable even when opening a large or odd shaped can.
2. Once you get the can in the proper position the can opens automatically with no help, then stops when the lid is completely open. Release of the can is a snap.
3. The magnet that holds the open can lid performs well.
4. The blade mechanism is easy to remove and reattach.
5. Cleaning the blade is easy. Just watch out that you don't get cut since the blade is very sharp.

The negatives:
1. Sometimes small pieces of paper from the can lands in the can on top of the food.
2. Placing the can in the proper position to get the opener to work properly takes practice. You have to be patient until you learn how to position the can.
3. The lid does not open so that the outside of the can is exposed. Instead, the lid's sharp edge is exposed and could cut you if you are not careful.

To sum it up, this opener is very reliable and lives up to the description given about it. I think it is worth the money since I have learned how to operate it properly. I think it is definitely better than the cheaper version. We gave it to my father for Christmas. It operates well but is tippy and a little more finicky since it is lighter in weight.

After reading the troubles others claimed to have with their openers, I was skeptical. But, I am happy to say I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and appearance of this product. It took me only two tries to get the operation of the machine down pat. And, personally, I like the curved edges it leaves on lids; it makes them easier to pick up if they fall on the counter for example. I have had my Cuisinart can opener now for several months, and have been very pleased in all aspects of the product. Speaking of operations, I hope the doctor who bought this for his mother never performs one on me!! Enjoy the product, you will be happy with your decision.

I have been looking at buying a new can opener, but every one that I saw had a problem with opening the can after a few months use.
This because the cutter blade would become dull. Not so with the Cuisinart! It has held up more than six months with a still sharp cutting blade, after use by two adults and three grown children. It also has a wonderful feature that Cuisinart doesn't even mention in its literature: It curls up the sharp edges of the lid so there is no possibility cutting oneself when removing the lid from the retaining magnet. A real rating would be 5+++.

I read all the reviews before I bought the Cuisinart can opener. I have used it for a few weeks now and find it satisfactory. It is not entirely cast metal. The front section is cast (probobly pot metal) but the back is plastic. It is much more solid than the B&D can opener that it replaced. I read the comments about it being hard to get a can set to open. I had no problems at all. It does tear the paper label a little but that is not a problem for me. I give this unit 4 + stars without reservation. -- John

We recently redid our kitchen and purchased this can opener for its looks and its ability to open cans easily. We were not disappointed. It is very stylish and does what is supposed to without any problems. We can only assume that the people who wrote negative reviews either received a defective unit or simply did not operate the can opener properly. However, we have not experienced any problems at all, and recommend buying this unit.

Update March 31, 2010: Over five years later this still looks great and works great. One of the better purchase decisions that I made.

I just got this so I am not in a position to comment on longevity of this item. Thus far it functions well. It is easy to use, smooth and quiet in operation. Some other reviewers seemed to have great difficulty operating it. I suspect they were trying to use it too much like other can-openers. You don't have to introduce the can at any kind of specific angle. You place it beneath the blade up against the back of the machine and just a bit off center to your left. Lower the blade and it grabs the can and opens it. It often feels as if you missed which may also be part of the problem for these users.

Also, complaints about the resulting jagged lid are unfounded. It does crinkle cut the lid which I was not used to but, if anything, the edge was less sharp than with a regular can-opener and the extra space cut away between the lid and the rest of the can made draining the liquid from the tuna a bit easier.

It is easier to clean than a regular opener. With the caveat about uncertain longevity I recommend this can-opener.