How to use a can opener?

Canned foods can be found in almost every family. But not everyone can cope with their discovery. Most often, it is necessary to use a can opener, which can both simplify this process and create additional difficulties. To work with a can opener for canned food was as convenient as possible, it needs to be chosen correctly, and also to study all the features of operation.

The development of technology has affected all areas, including kitchen appliances. Currently, you can find many models of can openers. Some people prefer time-tested, others - new items to simplify the process of cooking. But each such device has its advantages and disadvantages.

The first group of openers can be attributed to all those that use their own efforts. As an example, there are several options.

• Classic can opener consisting of a working part and a handle. In the working part there is an emphasis in the form of a loop and two wedges: a large one - for opening cans, a smaller one - for covers from glassware. The handle can be plastic, wooden or metal. This is one of the first time-tested models. Its positive sides include simplicity of design and reliability. But in working with her is not always easy.

• Mechanical can openers with a wheel, a handle for rotation and locking knobs. To open in this case, you need even less effort. However, success depends on the correctness of compliance with a particular algorithm of actions. From the same depends on the evenness of the cut. There are many models of such openers, but it is better to choose all-metal ones, since plastic handles are less durable.

• Semi-automatic. Here the working part is enclosed in a plastic case. It is much easier to work with them than the previous ones. The can is easily fixed, you do not need to control the operation of the knife mechanism. But the movement due to the rotation of the handle manually. That is, the principle of their work is almost the same as in previous varieties with a twist. In terms of cost, they are slightly different from the more familiar mechanical options.

More simple varieties can be countered with improved electric can openers. They can work both from batteries and from the network. In the first case, the model will be more compact and mobile (can be used in any conditions, even in nature). In the second case, we will see a full-fledged electrical device that can cope on its own with a large number of canned food in a few minutes. To do this, just need to put the bank in the right place and click.

In addition to ease of use, their advantage is safety. All sharp parts are hidden inside the case, and the person himself is not involved in the process, which means that the possibility of injury is almost zero. In addition, these devices are suitable for cans of any size and have a nice modern design.Claims may appear only to the price, but if a person often has to deal with this problem, then in combination with other advantages, the device pays for itself.

At first glance it seems that opening cans is quite simple. But if there is little or no experience in this business, the results can be deplorable. As a result, the jar can be opened only partially, get injured or spoil the contents. To avoid this, it is necessary to consider the algorithm of actions when working with the most popular openers.

If there is the simplest knife for canning, you need to act in stages.

• At any place along the edge of the can lid, it is necessary to make a hole with the sharp part and expand it so that a wedge enters it. Simple punching is unlikely to penetrate the cover, so you can gently hit the top of the handle.
• Resting against the middle part of the rim, it is necessary to make movements up and down with a uniform pressure to obtain a slot of the desired length (around the entire circumference in order to remove the lid completely or up to half to bend it).

In the case of a mechanical can opener, everything is a little simpler.

• Install the cutting part near the inner edge of the rim, the handles must be divorced (after fixing, they must be joined).
• The device moves in a circle due to the rotation of the handle. Continue spinning until necessary.

For electric models of can openers usually there is a detailed instruction manual. The model on batteries can be installed directly on the bank and run by pressing a button. In an electric opener that works on the network, you need to hold the jar.

During the opening of canned food there may be some not very pleasant situations. The most insignificant of them is damage to the can and the products inside it. Moreover, in addition to the violation of the presentation, microbes and even metal filings can get into the contents. In addition, a person may receive injuries, both during opening and after (you need to take into account the sharpness of the cuts). To avoid this, it is necessary to adhere to a specific sequence of actions.

• Set the jar on a flat non-slip surface (you can put a kitchen towel under it). This will help avoid slipping and tipping. In no case can not open the canned on the weight or knees - the tool can slip and injure the person nearby.
• The opened tin can must be fixed with the free hand.
• To use all the tools, even modern ones, you need to be extremely careful. Keep your fingers away from sharp parts of a wedge, wheel or other cutting element. If you doubt your own abilities or have never had such experience, it is better to ask for help.
• In order to avoid microbes, all instruments must be washed or treated with a disinfectant. The bank also needs to be washed and dried.
• Be wary of old rust on tools. Any can opener must be inspected for defects before use, otherwise it may break during the opening process.
• Beware of sharp cuts and jagged edges. As a rule, the majority of manual openers give just such consequences. In more modern models of similar errors less, but not all. For recycling the jar and cut off the lid is better to keep the middle part

Choosing a good can opener, Attention should be paid to several very important factors.

• If the knife is designed for opening manually, it is better to stop the choice on a solid metal base.But the handles and the valve may have a plastic coating. Steel must be fairly high quality, so as not to succumb to corrosion over time.
• When buying, you need to focus on previous experience and choose either something like that, or something completely simple. Beginners, faced with the acquisition of kitchen utensils for the first time, important simplicity and ease of operation.
• When choosing it is important to consider the reviews and recommendations of those who have already tried one or another can opener. Manufacturers with a long-term reputation are preferable to unfamiliar, but cheap fakes, because a truly high-quality opener will serve more than a dozen years.
• During the first inspection of the product, it is important to evaluate how easily all its parts function. Smooth, non-slip handles and body are an added plus.
• Be sure to find out how to care for the device.
• In many ways, the choice depends on the lifestyle and habits of the owner. For example, if canned food constitutes the main part of the diet of a person or family, then it is obviously not worth saving on the knife to open them. If nature forays are planned, it is important to have a compact model that does not depend on electrical power.
• Often, such devices make multi-functional. For example, add bottle openers, bottle caps, etc. This most often leads to higher prices.

An overview of the electric can opener can be found in the video.