In which tabitha tries desperately to replace worn out kitchen gadgets.

 

Who knew that getting a new can opener would be a difficult thing to do. I know I would be considered old-fashioned but I prefer hand-held manual can openers. For one thing, they are quieter and generally faster than their electric counterparts. They also take us less storage space, and most importantly, they don’t require electricity, which makes them handy in a power outage. 

 

For years, I have used Swing-away can openers. I got my first one from my grandfather, who had been using it for who knows how long. The main opener is practically indestructible metal construction. The rubberized handles are applied over the metal handle to make it comfortable. I confess that I have occasionally even used one to crack ice without harming it.  Eventually though,  the blade does get dull.  I have been using my current one for probably 10 – 15 years, so it is about time.

 

You’d think it would be a simple thing to send my husband to the store for the can opener like the one I had. Sadly, the assignment would prove to me more difficult than anticipated. The first product my husband brought home was a generic store brand opener. This one was flimsy, poorly designed, and immediately rejected. I think I sent it back without every trying to open a can. Thinking perhaps, that he had misunderstood my instructions. I showed him the can opener again and pointed out the brand name. Meanwhile, I continued struggling with the dull blades of my trusty Swing-away.

 

The next time, he brought home a Faberware opener. The design wasn’t bad, it was a pretty color, and it was comfortable to hold. However, the handles were hollow so they tended to hold water. For the first month or so, it worked pretty well. Then without warning, the gears started slipping and the device quit working. It would make the first pierce but the gears didn’t advance the blade around the can. On  a good day, I might get a cut long enough to drain the liquid from the can but nothing more. Oh well, back to the Swing-away.

 

The third time, my husband decided to go all out and get the Cuisinart version. This one had a very comfortable handle design  and a super-sharp blade. The metal of the opening mechanism seemed lightweight and the the joint was a bit loose. It worked like a dream for the first can or two. However, after about two weeks of use, something went wonky with the handle. The handle turns but it doesn’t advance the gears.  At all. I can turn the handle all day but the opener doesn’t move, so the can will never open. And this was an expensive can opener too. You guessed it, back to the Swing-away.

 

The fourth brand we tried in the test kitchen is the OXO Good Grips. I have been really pleased with all the OXO products that I have used so hopefully this one will work. The design is sturdier than the Cuisinart. It feels nice and solid in the hand and the joint isn’t wobbly. It is by far the most comfortable one to hold. The turning handle is easy to grip, the holding handles are well padded; the blade is nice and sharp. So far, so good.   I only just started using this one so hopefully, I don’t have to continue my search again next week. But if I do, I still have my trusty Swing-away to fall back on.