By Mike Szostech Last updated
As technology and electronics improve, so many of our other product reviews require updating regularly. Here, there isn’t a lot of new entrants in the best can opener competition, so it’s always a safe bet to stick with what’s been tried and true. The Made-in-USA EZ Duz-It is still the best can open in 2023 for most people.
Can openers are all basically the same, with levers that allow you to pierce the top and clamp onto the cutting rim, a wedge or blade that cuts the tin, and the handle to twist that moves the cutting wedge around the can.
However, although the components are all the same, the build quality, material type, and extras all vary from one can opener to the next.
We’ve rounded up these best can openers that are (mostly) easily available in Canada. If anyone knows of a Made in Canada can opener, we’d be happy to give it a chance to dethrone the Made In USA top choices!
Strongest Can Opener - EZ-Duz-It Can Opener
The all-metal construction and the Made-In-USA quality make this the best can opener for reliably opening cans for years to come.
If you need more and one, check out the 2-pack that
Made by the company that used to hold the contract for the Swing-A-Way can openers (before production was moved overseas), the EZ-Duz-It can opener is a good-ol American made, heavy duty, all metal constructed piece of kitchen machinery.
Other than the handles, that have a rubberized coating for comfort and grip, the rest of the can opener is made of stainless steel.
Get the best price EZ-Duz-It Can Opener in Canada from:
EZ-Duz-It Can Opener Reviews
Serious Eats ranked it as the #1 on their list claiming it was the 'Best Traditional Can Opener' in their product review. [February 2018]
This grabs onto cans easily, has a balanced weight, and cut smoothly through every size can.
Wirecutter ranked it as the #1 on their list claiming it was the 'Our Pick' in their product review. [May 2020]
The inexpensive and durable EZ-Duz-It can opener securely latches onto cans and cuts through their lids with utmost ease.
Reviewed ranked it as the #1 on their list claiming it was the 'Best Overall' in their product review. [July 2020]
Exceptionally durable and well constructed, but only good for right handed people
Best Locking Can Opener - ZYLISS Lock 'N Lift Can opener
The ZYLISS best can opener received mixed reviews with some saying that it appeared likely to break in the future.
This is the Zyliss can opener we used for 2 years in Canada, and then we took it to the tropics with us. It survived the hot, humid weather, and after 2 years there, it's still going strong.
It's easy enough to use this Can Opener that our children can use it. The initial squeeze to press the cutting wheel through the can is the difficult part (just like with all other can openers), but after the can opener is locked on, it's easy to turn.
After the lid is cut, simply click the red 'release' button and then use the magnetic end to lift the cut lid out of the can and squeeze the release to drop it in the garbage (or recycling, or sink).
We did find that the magnet isn't always strong enough to lift the cut lid, especially if it's something sticky like tomato paste. However, this would be similar for any can opener and I blame the food more than the opener.
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Read our full review of the Zyliss Can Opener CanadaBest Can-Opener for Lefties - Kuhn Rikon Safety Can Opener
Works great for right-handed and left-handed people. There's a neat little 'grip' pincher to help grab the lid and dispose of it without touching it with your fingers, which makes it a good option for people with kids that want to help in the kitchen.
Get the best price Kuhn Rikon Auto Safety Lid Lifter in Canada from:
Kuhn Rikon Auto Safety Lid Lifter Reviews
Serious Eats ranked it as the #2 on their list claiming it was the 'Best Safety Can Opener' in their product review. [February 2018]
Intuitive design that makes latching onto cans a cinch
Wirecutter - The Competition [April 2020]
Difficult to operate and required too much work to remove can lids
Reviewed ranked it as the #3 on their list claiming it was the 'Best for Lefties' in their product review. [July 2020]
Fast and easy to use, good for right and left handed users and produces safe edges. May not be as durable as can openers made with more metal components.
TheSpruceEats - Best Safety [November 2020]
This can opener automatically grips the can as you begin twisting the top handle
Best Electric Can Opener - Hamilton Beach Smooth Cut Electric Can Opener
If you don't have the strength for manual can openers, this electric option could be the best can opener for you.
It will take up more counter space because you can't simply throw it in a drawer like the other can openers, but it's simple to use and cuts through all sizes of cans easily.
Get the best price Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch Can Opener in Canada from:
Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch Can Opener Reviews
Wirecutter ranked it as the #3 on their list claiming it was the 'Also Great' in their product review. [April 2020]
Bulkier than the manual versions, but great electric can opener
Good Housekeeping - Sturdiest Electric Can opener [November 2020]
It cuts fro the side, and the one-touch lever for attaching cans is on the back at the top which helps prevent the can opener from tipping forward like others.
OXO Good Grips Locking Can Opener
The locking feature on this can opener is good for those with weaker hands - after you initially clamp the can opener onto the can, the spring-loaded latch holds it tight while you twist the knob.
This particular Good Grips can opener has a magnetic feature to pick the cut lid out of the can and allows you to dispose of it without touching it with your fingers.
Get the best price OXO Good Grips Locking Can Opener in Canada from:
OXO Good Grips Locking Can Opener Reviews
Wirecutter - The Competition [May 2020]
This locking can opener was our previous top pick, but after a year started failing to latch onto cans properly.
OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener
OXO Smooth Edge can opener leaves no sharp edges once a can is opened. That makes this the best can opener for using in a kitchen with kids, or if you are particularly concerned about injuring yourself on a food tin can.
Get the best price OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener in Canada from:
OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener Reviews
Reviewed ranked it as the #2 on their list claiming it was the 'Best Safety' in their product review. [July 2020]
Easy to use can opener that produces safe edges, at an affordable price.
TheSpruceEats ranked it as the #1 on their list claiming it was the 'Best Overall' in their product review. [November 2020]
Constructed of high quality stainless steel that's dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
Other Options for the best can opener
The Amco Swing-A-Way can opener has been around for years and year, and it has great reviews and people that remember using it in their mom’s kitchen as a kid. However, sometime around 2008, production moved overseas to China.
Since then, reviews on the Swing-a-Way openers have been mixed – some say they are still the best can opener, while others say they are no longer as reliable or sturdy as they used to be. Sometimes it goes on sale for less money than our top choices above.
In Canada, the Starfrit Little Beaver can opener is consistently among the best sellers in the can opener category. It’s actually one of the lower priced safety-style can openers.
With about 2000 reviews and a 4.5 star rating, this Starfrit would seem like a good buy. Similar to the Zyliss Lock N’ Lift option for the best can opener, however, it’s mostly made of plastic so longevity may be an issue. And, it doesn’t have any of the locking or magnetic features that the Zyliss can opener does.
From Oxo, people have been using the basic Good Grips model reliably for years. It’s often the cheapest can opener of all the ones on this list, too. What we don’t like about it is that the metal only extends part way into the handle, with the plastic cover piece making up the rest of the handle surface. It seems like a spot that could lead to cracks and decrease the longevity of this can opener.
Ikea offers a pretty decent can opener at a great price. It looks very similar to the sturdy Made in USA style can openers, and although we’ve only opened about 50 cans with it so far, it’s still performing as good as it did when it was new. It’s typically priced at $5.99, but with Ikea’s strange delivery costs it will be close to $20 after shipping. If you live near an Ikea, it’s worth checking out.
Are there any cheap best can openers?
Can openers have been around since 1858. Sure you can get a can opener from the dollar store, and it will even work pretty good the first few times. But after the 17th can of beans (approximately), the blade will not pierce the top of the can easily, the gear teeth will be stripped out and smoothed off, and your can will not open. It will just frustrate you.
For a mid-priced option for the best can opener in Canada, if you live near an Ikea, then check out their 365+ Vardefull can opener.
Here’s what a cheap can opener can do brand new. If you rarely open a can and just need on in the drawer for the odd time, this will probably do just fine.