From Mariette Mifflin,
Your Guide to Housewares / Appliances.
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Food openers are basic housewares which we often take for granted, but if you are just setting up a home, refurnishing after a loss, or if you now find that your current supply does not work well for you, it may be time to consider your needs and what's available.

A. There are many openers on the market for various uses, with some that are multi-faceted to increase their versatility, and others are ergonomically designed for comfort or to meet special needs.

Generally, a home will have several types on hand, based on their particular use, and we'll also look at what a basic list would entail. One thing they mostly have in common, with the exception of electric models, is that they are very affordable.

To Open Food Cans and Tins

Every home needs at least one manual rotary opener for their emergency or disaster kit. I would recommend having 2, one that stays in your emergency kit, and one in the kitchen for use during brief power outages, or to supplement another model. There are hand models that have been ergonomically designed for comfort and provide smoother operation than the base models. Units that can be wall-mounted really save on drawer space.

Electric can openers are the easiest, safest and provide the least hand strain when opening food tins. They are available in counter models, units for mounting on the wall or under cabinets, and also in cordless designs. The cost of a small appliance but with the added benefits of ease and comfort.

To Open Milk and Juice Tins For Pouring

Small, easy to store openers that can be used for opening milk cans, and to break the vacuum seal on jars, are a must-have in a kitchen. They can also be used to pry off lids from frozen juice containers or pull tabs from soda cans.

To Open Bottles

There are some small grip or wrench type of openers for bottles, but a soft grip-type liner material, or plastic gloves, will also work quite well. Kitchen shears also usually have a built-in grip opener configured in the handle, which works well on water and soda bottles.

To Open Jars

Jar openers are available in under-the-cabinet slide in and turn models, adjustable wrench-type, and soft grip pads. Breaking the vacuum seal on a new jar, will often make it easier to open, as will running a preserve jar lid under warm water to loosen the ring.

Electric models are more expensive than those previously mentioned, but provide the easiest operation if you cannot apply hand strain to twist off a lid. They can usually accommodate various sizes and heights of jars, making them very handy appliances.

To Open Small Medicine Safety Capped Containers

There are a few openers that have been designed to provide a good grip of the container so the top can be pried off. One such source is http://activeforever.com which carries such openers.

To Cut or Open Other Food Containers

Kitchen shears are the handiest for cutting open other types of food containers or bags. Versatile, many can even be used for cutting food portions and helping with food preparations. There are other small cutters which can be used for opening resealable produce bags, and have a thin cutting blade and sharp end. These are also useful for opening parcels and mail.

Easy Openers for Special Needs

I've compiled a Top Picks of Easy Openers, for those who have trouble opening jars, tins and medicine bottles.

Other Information

Can openers do wear out and require occasional replacing. The cutter and mechanism tends to become dull and performance becomes hampered. Sometimes a good cleaning will restore efficiency, but if that fails, it's time for a new one.

Basic Kitchen Opener List

• Manual rotary can opener - at least one, and perhaps a second designed for comfort, or an electric model.
• Small milk can opener
• Gripper pad or opener for use with bottles and jars
• Kitchen shears
• Small cutter for parcels and resealable bags