Customer Reviews

Kuhn Rikon Safety Lid Lifter Can Opener

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

We own the slightly more expensive version of this can opener; at the time we purchased it, this was the only model available.

My wife and I find this to be the best can opener we have ever used; we even use it to open cans that have lift top lids (such as Del Monte canned sliced peaches). Why this can opener is so good is because of how it works and the quality of the product. It is made like a Swiss watch; there is no slop in the movement.

It is different than a traditional can opener which you place along the side of the can top and it cuts off the top. This can opener you place on top of the can and it separates the top of the can from the can cylinder. Contrary to the language used in the Amazon review, the can opener does not depend on cutting. The Kuhn Rikon Safety Lid Lifter depends on breaking the seal between the lid and the can.

The knob that you turn rotates a knurled wheel. When pinched on a can, it is forced into contact with the inside edge of the can lid. The wheel of the can opener that is on the outside is set at a slight angle that causes a lifting action to break the bond between the can and the lid.

Initially, you turn the knob clockwise. When the opener has gone completely around the top of the can and you detect a drop in force, you then turn the knob counter-clockwise and the lid lifts away from the can. Typically, there are no sharp edges because nothing has been cut.

Because of my fascination with this can opener, I have examined a lot of cans that were opened with this opener. Only one time I found a sharp point that must have occurred when the lid did not properly separate from the cylinder.

It takes getting used to:

When you place the can opener on top of the can, it must lay flat. Once you get used to it, you automatically push down lightly on the turning knob as you close the grips. This assures that the can opener is laying flat on top of the can.

The drawbacks:

There are some cans that this opener will not open but these are few.

I notice in some reviews people talk about sliver pieces and I have seen this. What I believe they see is a small particle of the glue ring that seals the top of the can to the cylinder in the assembly process.

The can opener is designed for use by right-handed people. To operate this opener, you need to be able to position the can opener on the can with your left hand and hold it there while turning the knob with your right hand. If you can't do that, you probably don't want this can opener.

At first, after I bought this gadget, I could not figure out how it worked! I had to ask around to see if anyone was familiar enough with it to tell me how to operate it. Then I got the tip: rest the entire bottom of the lid lifter on top of the lid rather than approaching it from the side as you would with a conventional manual can opener. The lid lifter really does remove the entire lid without leaving any jagged edges like a regular can opener does. This is a great safety item if you have a toddler in the house who has to touch everything!

This is a great can opener, but after using it for 5+ years the plasic has begun to crack in places and a piece of the plastic has chipped off on the side by the metal. It says here in the product features that it has Break-resistant white plastic. I hardly think so. Also since it is white plastic it tends to discolor and yellow easily. Don't leave it too close to something hot...I learned this the hard way...the handle melted a bit. If I were in the market for a replacement (which I might be very soon if it cracks any more) I would probably buy the Kuhn Rikon Safety Lid Lifter DELUXE Can Opener because it doesn't have white plastic, it has stainless steel and a black turning knob.

I bought one of these about a year ago and the gears have stripped -- all it does is sit and spin at the slightest pressure. Good while it lasted, and luckily I had an old "conventional" top-cut opener as a backup.

I don't know about your experience, but I don't think I've ever used a can opener to the point where it breaks or wears out. In 20-some odd years, as far back as I can remember anyway, I've never tossed a can opener because it stopped working (never owned an electric). This will be the first.

The Kuhn Rikon can opener is a durable, quality-contstructed kitchen tool that I wouldn't be without now that I've had mine for a few months. How cool is it that you can now open that can of tuna and not risk cutting yourself on the jagged edge? Better yet, when my kids are old enough to start opening their own cans of Spaghettios, I know it will be safe for them (hey, they don't eat those all the time, but, you know...).
This was my first time trying a "safe" can opener, so at first I couldn't get the hang of lining it up the can lid with it properly. After only a few tries, though, it became second nature. The little "beak" on the side of the device that grasps the lid for removal when you are done cutting can be a little awkward to maneuver into position as well. Do what I do: save time by pulling apart the lid from the body with your two hands instead.
-Andrea, aka Merribelle

After seeing a guy on late-night TV open can after can with one of these things, I just had to try one for myself. First, it's not that much harder to turn than a standard opener. While I don't have arthritis, or anything like that, I've noticed no increased effort with this thing. And, as advertised, it leaves no sharp edges, and you can put the lid back on the can for storage, which is kind of cool. Furthermore, tne cutting wheels and gears never touch the contents of the can, so it stays completely clean.

I couldn't bring myself to give it five stars because: You can't squish the water or oil out of a tuna can with the lid, since the lid won't push down into the can. And even though I've had mine awhile now, I still find it difficult to get the opener positioned properly. Finally, it appears some lids are originally put on with some type cement, which seems to be a bit like rubber cement, and cutting the can from the side exposes this stuff.

Otherwise, I like the opener a lot and feel the "switch" was well worth it.

If you have young children or you are accident-prone, then this can opener is the one to buy. First, it's not like the can openers you are used to and it took a little getting used to. This is a can opener about finesse, not muscle. Some folks have said they got metal in the food from its use, I can only image that happened from mishandling the opener. We've *never* had that happen - the food perfectly safe for my 2 year old daughter to eat. The cut can does not have any sharp edges (not that I let my daughter play with cans) but if she got ahold of one, there would be little problem. You don't have to wash off the lid of the can before opening it because the lid doen't fall into the food! It's a time saver too.

The things to know are:
0) Get the opener on the lid correctly (parallel to the lid)
1) Stop when you feel when the opener has completed 1 revolution of the can
2) Use the little grabbers built into the can opener to pull off the top.

It's that simple. I will never go back to the outdated can openers.

Traditional can-openers seem messy in comparison. You do have to re-train yourself, but it's well worth it. I know a lady who instinctively caught the jagged lid of a can as it fell. She had to have surgery to reattach tendons in two of her fingers. That was enough to convince me to buy this.

Some people are reporting problems with metal shards. I can't imagine how this would happen. All it does is pull at the lid to pry it off. I've never had shards or a jagged edge. I wonder if people are not using it correctly. The opener should be parallel to the lid, unlike traditional can-openers.

I have had, and used a great deal, this can opener for somewhere between four and five years. Not only is it just like new still, but I still love it. It is easy to use (after a small learning curve, as another reviewer mentioned), easy to keep clean, and always looks nice.

I am neurotic about can openers, and especially dirty or unsightly can openers, and I could not be more pleased with this one.

It opens cans safely with no sharp edges which I, as a total klutz, enjoy immensely! It is well worth the money and if you take care of it, I believe it will last a very very long time. It is made of heavy, obviously good quality, plastic and stainless steel so it continues to perform just as well as it did when I first purchased it. I even purchased another one as a back up in case, as often happens to me, something happens to mine and I am unable to find them anymore. Two thumbs up!!

I've used mine for 2 years and it is fantastic. I prefer this can opener over any electric. It takes about 4-5 turns of the opener to get just about any can open. It's easy to open and it does a wonderful job. The lid just pops off and is perfectly safe. The edges are not sharp and there are no slivers(as described by a previous reviewer). You will not be disappointed by this product. I even recommend this item for the elderly with arthritis. It's just that easy!