Cordless Can Openers

Cordless can openers are compact, convenient

Automatic can openers are also available in cordless versions. Many are small, comparable to or slightly larger than manual can openers, so they can be stored in a kitchen utensil drawer. These can openers operate on battery power and don't require users to twist a hand crank in order to open cans, combining the convenience of an electric can opener with the small size of a manual can opener.

The Hamilton Beach Walk 'n Cut Compact can opener (*Est. $25) is recommended by several expert review sources. In a review by Wired, the Walk 'n Cut Compact takes second only to the now-discontinued Sharper Image No-Hands Auto Deluxe Can Opener in terms of cutting speed, balance, and cleanliness. The Walk 'n Cut Compact earns a place on a review of arthritis-friendly can openers as well as an article on six electric can openers at About.com. Both reviewers say the Hamilton Beach Walk 'n Cut Compact is small enough to fit in a drawer and offers one-handed, automatic operation. It features a magnetic lid holder to keep the lid in place and is capable of opening any size can. In addition, the Walk 'n Cut Compact can open up to 19 cans before needing a recharge.

The rechargeable Hamilton Beach Walk 'n Cut Compact simply attaches to a can and travels around the edge of the can to remove the lid, shutting off automatically when it's finished. Roughly 70 owners on Amazon.com give the Walk 'n Cut Compact an average rating of 3.5 stars out of five. Most say it works great, but there are some complaints about the longevity of this product. Several owners say the unit stopped holding a charge after several months. A few complain that they have difficulty attaching it to the can, but most owners say that after a few practice tries, it's very simple to use. Owners also appreciate the fact that the Walk 'n Cut Compact takes up little space.

Three guides at About.com each recommend the Black & Decker Gizmo Cordless (*Est. $30) in multiproduct reviews. However, none of these reviewers discuss how testing was conducted (if at all), and in each case, the recommendation is little more than a couple sentences long.

Another cordless can opener, the One Touch Can Opener (discussed in the introduction to this report) receives mixed reviews from professionals and users alike.