Best Can Opener I Have Owned – Even NASA Likes It!
Written: Jun 03 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: easy to use, stainless steel, gear-driven cutting wheel, durable, reliable, portable, efficient
Cons: manual operation may be difficult for people with hand problems
The Bottom Line: I am opening the can containing the Bottom Line with a Swing-A-Way can opener.
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| dlstewart's Full Review: Swing-Away White Can Opener |
Interesting how sometimes the simplest of items makes our lives a bit easier. Take the Swing-A-Way Can Opener for example. It’s a manual can opener with a basic design, yet it always performs and has never broken. The two Swing-A-Way can openers I currently own are over 15 years old. In today’s world of disposable appliances ... it’s a testimony to how well these can openers are made. NASA even sent the Swing-A-Way can opener into space via Skylab – the first can opener in space!
Description
In case you are wondering whether these can openers have changed in design during the last 15 years, the answer is no. Why change something that works so well?! The Epinions photo at the top of this review is exactly how my can openers look. The metal part of the can opener is constructed of stainless steel. The handles are 3 1/2" long and are covered with smooth plastic. When the handles are closed, the opener is 7" long.
When the handles are moved apart, they swing open on a rivet. The handles open so wide that they form a horizontal line that measures 13" long when measured from handle tip to handle tip.
A 3 5/8" long metal handle on the side of the can opener is manually turned. When turned, the handle sets into motion a gear-driven cutting wheel. The cutting wheel has a 3/4" diameter.
As a bonus, along the bottom edge of the opener (just above the handles) is a curved bottle opener.
Each can opener comes mounted on a plastic-wrapped blister card.
Working the Opener
Turn the handle. Okay ... I couldn’t resist saying that! This can opener is so easy to operate.
1. Hold the can opener with the handles slightly apart.
2. Place the cutting wheel above the rim of the can.
3. Firmly close the handles so that the cutting wheel bites into the top of the can.
4. Turn the handle (either direction works) so that the cutting wheel travels the rim of the can.
5. Continue turning the wheel, stopping just shy of completely cutting open the lid.
6. The lid will tip upwards.
7. Open the handles of the can opener to remove it from the can.
8. Carefully, fold back the lid to pour out the can’s contents.
The Swing-A-Way can opener is designed to open cans without needing a lot of muscle power. The metal handle is wide enough to grab and turns easily, too. If one has arthritis or other hand problems such as carpal tunnel, then this might not be the can opener to use. Using the opener does require opening and closing the hands and bending the fingers, which could be painful for someone with hand trouble.
Why Two Can Openers?
I knew you would ask this question! One day while opening a pet food can it occurred to me that using one can opener for people food and pet food might not be the best idea. Sure some people might consider canned pet food a form of pate (at least in the movies it happens!). But I didn’t like the thought of using the same can opener for people cans and pet food cans. So I purchased another can opener that was designated as the people-food-opener.
Having two can openers has worked out well. At the time I purchased these can openers, the handles came in a variety of colors. The red-handled can opener was used for pet food, and the blue-handled can opener was used for people food.
Manual vs. Electric
I have tried electric can openers and have had poor results with them. The two most annoying problems I have encountered with electric can openers are: 1) Sometimes the cutting wheel doesn’t sink into the lid, 2) Many times the cutting wheel rides the edge of the can without cutting the lid. Also, electric can openers use electricity, which costs more money than my turning the crank of a manual can opener.
The Swing-A-Way can opener is easy to use and stores neatly in a drawer or cabinet. This can opener also travels well on picnics, camping or vacation. It’s a reliable, efficient, durable product.
Cleaning & Care
The manufacturer recommends that this can opener be washed by hand. Do not soak the opener or hold it under a faucet. Instead, use a small brush and damp cloth to clean accumulated food residue and juices from the gears and cutting wheel. It is also suggested to towel dry the opener to “preserve the finish”.
I admit to breaking the rules. {shhhhhh ... don’t tell anyone!} Both of my can openers have been held under running water beneath the kitchen faucet. I have never soaked them in a bowl of water. However, I have held the can opener under the faucet while scrubbing the cutting wheel and gears with a toothbrush. (I never use an abrasive brush or sponge on other areas of the can opener as I don’t want to harm the finish.) If food particles are in hard-to-reach areas, then I use a wooden toothpick to gently pry them free. When finished cleaning, I blot the can opener dry with a towel and then let it air dry in the dish drainer.
These can openers have not rusted. The stainless steel is still shiny, too. Other than a few scratches from over 15 years of use, these can openers could almost pass for new.
Likes
* Easy to use
* Has not broken with 15-plus years of use
* Plastic handles are easy to grip
* Metal handle is simple to turn
* Gears turn smoothly
* Central pivot allows can opener to open wide
* Opened can lid tips upward for easy handling
* Designed so opened can lid does not fall into the can
* Portable – no electricity needed
Dislikes
If this can opener is not cleaned regularly, then food build-up can occur around the gears and cutting wheel. Accumulated food can gum up the gears and eventually (if the food build-up is allowed to grow), the food particles can fall into whatever can is being opened. Yuck!
The simple solution is to periodically clean the can opener to avoid food build up. An even easier solution is to not buy the can opener – but I like the Swing-A-Way can opener too much to part with it!
Purchasing
I can’t remember what I paid for the can openers; it’s been too long. However, many online stores sell these openers. Here are a few examples of prices:
Cooking.com – $9.75
Drugstore.com – $7.59
Acehardware.com – $7.79
Lately I have only seen these can openers with white handles ... with one exception –
For $8.99, Kitchenetc.com sells a Swing-A-Way can opener that is called “Swing-A-Way Signature”. The can opener gears and cutting mechanism work the same way as the regular Swing-A-Way can opener. However, the shape of the handles is different, instead of flat rectangular handles ... the Signature can opener has blue rounded contoured handles with a hole in the end of each handle for hanging the can opener if desired. The manufacturer labels the Signature can opener as ergonomic.
Summary
I am very pleased to own two Swing-A-Way Can Openers. Even though most of our pet food is now purchased in bags or in cans with the snap-open lids ... I keep the pet food can opener on hand. The people-food can opener is constantly used to open cans of vegetables and other canned foods. For can openers that are over 15 years old, these Swing-A-Way can openers show little signs of aging. I have no doubt they will last a very long time.
I hope you have found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Additional Information
Swing-A-Way Manufacturing Co.
St. Louis, MO
5-year limited warranty
Swing-A-Way Manufacturing Co. warrants this Can Opener to be free from defects in material or workmanship for 5 years from its date of purchase.
Please read my other reviews:
Kitchenetc.com (online store)
Cooking.com (online store)
Rubbermaid Space-Saver Dish Drainer
Silicone Potholder / Trivets
Farberware Cutting Board
Pyrex Round Storage Bowls
Rubbermaid Stain Shield Round 1.1 Quart Storage Container
Mini Measuring Cup
Pyrex 4-cup Measuring Cup
Amco 4-cup Stainless Steel Measuring Cup
Le Creuset Bean Pot with recipe
Braun Coffee Grinder (and flax seed)
Copyright 2004 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
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