How to use a canned food opener?

Canned food can be found in almost every family. But by no means every person can cope with opening them. Most often, this requires using a can opener, which can both simplify this process and create additional complications. To work with the canned food opener was as convenient as possible, you need to choose the right one, as well as study all the features of operation.

The development of technology has affected all areas, including kitchen appliances. Nowadays, you can find many models of can openers. Some people prefer the time-tested, others prefer new products that simplify the cooking process. But each such device has its own advantages and disadvantages.

The first group of openers includes all those, when using which you need to make your own efforts. Several options can be cited as an example.

• Classic can opener, consisting of a working part and a handle. In the working part there is a stop in the form of a loop and two wedges: a large one for opening cans, a smaller one for lids from glassware. The handle can be plastic, wood or metal. This is one of the first time-tested models. Its positive aspects include simplicity of design and reliability. But working with her is not always easy.

• Mechanical can openers with wheel, rotation handle and locking handles. In this case, even less effort is required to open. However, success depends on the correct observance of a certain algorithm of actions. The evenness of the cut also depends on this. There are many models of such openers, but it is better to choose all-metal ones, since plastic handles are less durable.

• Semi-automatic. Here the working part is enclosed in a plastic case. They are much easier to work with than the previous ones. The can is easily fixed, there is no need to control the operation of the knife mechanism. But movement by turning the handle is done manually. That is, the principle of their operation is practically the same as that of the previous varieties with a twist. In terms of cost, they do not differ much from the more familiar mechanical options.

The simpler varieties can be contrasted with improved electric can openers. They can operate both from batteries and from the mains. In the first case, the model will be more compact and mobile (it can be used in any conditions, even outdoors). In the second case, we will see a full-fledged electrical appliance that can handle a large amount of canned food on its own in a few minutes. To do this, you just need to put the jar in the right place and press a button.

In addition to ease of use, their advantage is safety. All sharp parts are hidden inside the body, and the person himself does not participate in the process, which means that the possibility of getting injured is practically zero. In addition, these devices are suitable for cans of any size and have a pleasant modern design. Claims can only appear about the price, but if a person often has to deal with this problem, then, together with other advantages, the device pays for itself.

At first glance, it seems that opening cans is quite simple. But if there is little or no experience in this matter, then the results can be disastrous. As a result, the can can only be partially opened, injured or spoil the contents. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to consider the algorithm of actions when working with the most popular openers.

If you have the simplest can opener available, you need to act in stages.

• In any place along the edge of the can lid, a sharp part must be made to make a hole and widen so that a wedge enters into it. To break through the cover, simple pressure will most likely not be enough, so you can carefully hit the handle from above.
• Resting the middle part against the rim, it is necessary to make up and down movements with uniform pressure until a slot of the desired length is obtained (along the entire circumference to remove the cover completely or half to bend it).

In the case of a mechanical can opener, things are a little simpler.

• Place the cutting head close to the inner edge of the bezel, the handles must be spread apart (after fixing, they must be connected).
• The device moves in a circle due to the rotation of the handle. Continue spinning as long as necessary.

Electric models of can openers usually come with detailed instructions for use. The battery-powered model can be installed directly on the jar and started by pressing a button. In an electric opener, which is powered by a network, the jar must be held.

When opening canned food, several not very pleasant situations can arise. The most insignificant of these is damage to the can and the products inside it. Moreover, in addition to violating the presentation, microbes and even metal filings can get into the contents. In addition, a person can get injured, both during opening and after (you need to take into account the sharpness of the cuts). To prevent this from happening, you must adhere to a certain sequence of actions.

• Place the jar on a flat, non-slip surface (you can lay a tea towel under it). This will help prevent slipping and tipping over. In no case should you open canned food on the weight or on your knees - the tool can slip off and injure a person nearby.
• Always secure the opened tin can with your free hand.
• All tools, even modern ones, must be used with extreme caution. Keep your fingers away from sharp parts of a wedge, wheel, or other cutting element. If you doubt your own abilities or have never had a similar experience, it is better to seek help.
• All instruments must be washed or disinfected to avoid the introduction of germs. The jar also needs to be washed and dried.
• Watch out for old rust on tools. Any can opener must be inspected for defects before use, otherwise it may break during the opening process.
• Watch out for sharp cuts and jagged edges. As a rule, most hand openers produce just such an effect. More modern models have fewer such errors, but not all of them. For disposal, it is better to hold the jar and the cut lid by the middle parts.

Choosing a good can opener, there are several very important factors to pay attention to.

• If the knife is intended to be opened by hand, it is better to opt for a solid metal base. But the handles and valve can be plastic coated. The steel must be of good quality so that it does not corrode over time.
• When buying, you need to focus on previous experience and choose either something similar, or something completely simple. For beginners who are faced with the purchase of kitchen utensils for the first time, simplicity and ease of use are important.
• When choosing, it is important to take into account the reviews and recommendations of those who have already tried this or that can opener. Manufacturers with a long-standing reputation are preferable to unfamiliar, but cheap fakes, because a really high-quality opener will serve for more than a dozen years.
• When inspecting a product for the first time, it is important to assess how easily all of its parts function. The sleek, non-slip handles and body are an added bonus.
• Be sure to find out how you need to care for the device.
• Much of the choice depends on the lifestyle and habits of the owner. For example, if canned food constitutes the main part of a person's or family's diet, then it is clearly not worth saving on a knife to open them. If outings are planned, it is important to have a compact model that does not depend on electrical power.
• Such devices are often made multifunctional. For example, add bottle cap openers, etc. Most often this leads to an increase in cost.

For an overview of the electric can opener, see the video.