Best Can Openers for Arthritis/Elderly

(updated for 2024)

The best can opener for people with arthritis or weak hands is one that requires minimal strength to operate.

So, it’s clear that the best can openers for people with arthritis or the elderly are

and

can openers because these machines do the work for you.

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The Benefits of Electric Can Openers for Seniors and Arthritis Sufferers

Electric can openers are often the best choice for people with arthritis for several reasons:

1) They are incredibly easy to use, requiring minimal hand strength or dexterity. With electric can openers, a simple press of a button effortlessly opens the can, reducing strain on arthritic hands.

2) Electric can openers are generally faster than manual ones, which is not only convenient but can also lessen the time spent with hands engaged in a potentially painful task.

3) Many electric can openers are designed with safety features that prevent sharp edges on the lid, reducing the risk of accidental cuts, a concern for individuals with reduced sensation or control in their hands.

4) they are versatile and can often handle various can sizes and shapes. This flexibility means that one electric can opener can serve for a wide range of culinary needs,

All of these factors combine to make electric can openers a practical and highly beneficial choice for people dealing with the challenges of arthritis.

Drawbacks of Electric Can Openers

The drawbacks of the freestanding electric can openers are that they need electricity to work and take up too much space on the countertop.

Battery-operated can openers require frequent battery changes and are less satisfying for users in terms of their ability to open cans.

Additionally, both types of electric can openers are noisy.

You should be aware that electric can openers completely remove the lid from the can, so there is no way to drain the liquid from the can while food is still in it (like draining the water from tuna). To be able to do this, you will need a manual can opener that cuts the lid from the top.

The Best Manual Can Openers for Arthritis

If you are considering a manual can opener, the best choice is to get one with a large, cushy, and oversized knob that is easy to turn. A manual can opener for arthritis should also have cushy, longer handles for a better grip and more leverage.

The OXO company provides a line of Good Grips can openers that have been reported as easy to operate for people with arthritis.

They offer a model that cuts cans from the top – Soft Handled Can Opener,

and a side-cutting model – the Oxo Good Grips Smooth Edge.

that is

safe (leaving a smooth edge on the can and lid),
sanitary (the cutting wheel doesn’t touch the food),
and easy to maintain (no need to clean after each use since the wheel doesn’t touch the food).