Electric Can Openers

West Bend Electric can opener best overall

Electric can openers are designed either to sit on a countertop or be mounted under a cabinet, a feature that can save valuable countertop real estate if your space is limited. Generally, reviewers tend to prefer countertop styles over those that are mounted.

The West Bend Electric can opener (*Est. $30) is a countertop model that receives rave reviews from both professional and consumer reviewers. It comes in four colors: white, black, metallic and red. The tall height of this can opener allows it to open larger cans, and its slim design doesn't take up much counter space. This can opener features a removable chrome cutting accessory that is dishwasher-safe, so it's easy to remove buildup on the cutting edge. It also features cord storage in the base of the unit, as well as a bottle opener and knife sharpener, making it a multi-functional kitchen appliance. The West Bend Electric automatically shuts off when finished opening a can; users don't have to release a lever to stop the motor.

Boston Globe reporter John M. Guilfoil singles out the West Bend Electric can opener in an article on affordable kitchen appliances, while GaltTech.com praises its ability to open larger cans, convenient cord storage and automatic shutoff. Consumers at Amazon.com, Walmart.com and Target.com also like the West Bend Electric. More than 260 owners have weighed in at Amazon.com, giving the West Bend Electric an average rating of 4.5 stars out of five. Reviewers particularly like the fact that the cutting unit is detachable and can be placed in the dishwasher, and many say the unit is attractive. Owners say it's quiet, doesn't cause food to splatter once the can is opened, leaves no jagged edges and is reasonably priced. Several reviewers at Target.com and Walmart.com note the West Bend Electric's substantial weight, meaning it remains stable when opening large cans.

Reviewers are less enthusiastic about other electric can openers. The Hamilton Beach Heavyweight can opener (*Est. $25), for example, is less expensive than the West Bend, but receives mixed reviews from consumers. Like the West Bend Electric, the Hamilton Beach Heavyweight is extra tall to accommodate large cans and features a bottle opener and knife sharpener. More than 40 owners give the Hamilton Beach Heavyweight a perfect five-star rating on Walmart.com, with most saying it's easy to take apart and clean, quiet and durable. Reviews on Amazon.com, however, are less positive, with several owners saying this can opener does a poor job of gripping cans and tends to shred the can label during cutting. A common complaint is that a plastic gear that operates the cutting mechanism breaks, and there is no replacement part available. Some say the magnet isn't strong enough to hold a can lid, the cut edges are jagged and there tend to be scraps of metal and label left in the food.

Consumers frequently complain about can openers that leave sharp and jagged edges. Most can openers that use a side cut are able to eliminate sharp edges by cutting directly below the lip of the can's lid. One example is the Hamilton Beach SmoothTouch can opener (*Est. $30), which is recommended in a list of arthritis-friendly can openers at About.com. The side-cut feature of this can opener enables it to open both regular cans and cans that have a pop-top lid, which can be difficult for some people to open. Its black-and-chrome design is pleasing to the eye, reviewers say.

Scores of owners on Walmart.com give the Hamilton Beach SmoothTouch an average rating of 4.5 stars out of five, with the majority giving it a perfect five-star rating. Most reviewers say the SmoothTouch lives up to its promise, making a clean cut that isn't sharp and leaves no shavings in the can. Nearly 100 reviewers on Amazon.com also give the SmoothTouch an average rating of 4.5 stars out of five. Comments are similar to those found on Walmart.com. One reviewer notes that the SmoothTouch opener doesn't work as well on cans that have been dented at the rim, and a few mention that they wish this model were hands-free.

Under-cabinet can openers save space, but don't work as well

If you don't like the idea of having a can opener taking up space on your countertop, several models can be mounted under a counter or cabinet. However, reviewers say these can openers don't work as well as their freestanding counterparts, and installation can be tricky. Owners frequently complain about not being able to use these can openers without first opening a cabinet door; otherwise, the lever bumps into the cabinet and can't be lifted the whole way. Mountable can openers usually have additional features, such as knife sharpeners, bottle openers and bag cutters.

Black & Decker manufactures several under-cabinet appliances sold under the Spacemaker brand, including two electric can openers. The CO100 (*Est. $30) comes in either white or black, while the CO95 (*Est. $35) is available in a black-and-stainless-steel combination. We only found a few professional reviews for these can openers. Barbara Whiting, About.com's guide to stay-at-home parents, recommends Black & Decker Spacemaker can openers in her review, but does not mention a specific model. Four owners on ExpoTV.com post video reviews of Spacemaker can openers, giving them an overall perfect rating of five out of five stars.

The Black & Decker Spacemaker CO100 is a four-in-one unit; it functions as a can opener, bag opener, bottle opener and knife sharpener. It comes with a mounting template for easy installation. The unit features automatic shutoff and a swing-open door that allows easy access to the can opener and other tools. It also features cord storage. This unit earns an average rating of 3.5 stars out of five, based on 15 owner-written reviews on Amazon.com. Several owners raise concerns about installation. Some say the lever used to activate the can opener is too long and can bang into a cabinet or door during use. In some cases, the lever can't be rotated far enough to actually use the can opener unless the cabinet door is opened, which poses an inconvenience for some owners.

The Black & Decker Spacemaker CO95 is also a four-in-one unit, with a can opener, bottle opener, bag opener and knife sharpener. It also features automatic shutoff, a swing-open door and cord storage. Only a handful of owners have posted reviews on Amazon.com, where some give it a rating of one star out of five. Reviewers say the product looks nice, but it doesn't work well for larger cans because the door doesn't open all the way.

One feature many owners like about newer electric can openers is a removable cutting unit that allows for easy cleaning; some are even dishwasher-safe. The Black & Decker models described above have removable levers, but reviewers say it's impossible to turn the lever far enough to remove it when it's mounted flush under a cabinet. We found no complaints about difficulty removing the lever on the Proctor-Silex Power Opener Under-the-Cabinet 75400 (*Est. $20), which has a removable, dishwasher-safe cutting lever. On the contrary, owners on Amazon.com say the lever on this unit comes off too easily, often when trying to open a can. Like the Black & Decker models, it is multifunctional, offering a bag slitter and bottle opener in addition to the can opener. This can opener does not have a knife sharpener, but it does offer cord storage and automatic shutoff. Few reviews are available; a dozen owners on Amazon.com give the Power Opener Under-the-Cabinet 75400 an average rating of three stars out of five. Many complain about the lever falling off, and some say the motor is too weak, sometimes failing altogether.