Can openers are arguably an unsung hero in the kitchen. However, they are also often thrown in a junk drawer or left in the back of the pantry until a recipe calls for canned goods — getting rusty and dull way before we replace it.
When you finally snag a new can opener, you may go for the old school version you’ve had for years without considering a more efficient option, like an electric can opener.
An electric can opener does the work for you — no more wrestling with an unopened can or having to line it up perfectly with the rim. They’re armed with impressive features like hands-free cutting and lid-lifting capabilities that can make opening cans easier and quicker no matter how much experience you have in the kitchen.
Like everything, there's a plethora of electric can openers on the market. So we decided to put a few to the test and figure out which ones are actually worth buying. By the end of our tests, we found picks that are both efficient and won't break the bank. Seriously — our top picks are both around $30 and made the entire can-opening process truly exhilarating (who knew!)
Who should use electric can openers?
Electric can openers can be beneficial for anyone experiencing arthritis, joint pain or grip loss. They are among the items that Dr. Gbolahan Okubadejo, a spinal and orthopedic surgeon, previously told Shop TODAY can "limit the need for gripping, twisting or fine motor control."
How we tested electric can openers
We scored each electric can opener in four key areas on a scale of 1-5 (1 being the worst, 5 being the best):
- Performance: How well does it work? Does it leave any sharp or jagged edges?
- Noise level: How loud or quiet was it?
- Ease of use: Are the instructions complicated? Is the device itself intuitive?
- Ease of cleaning: Are any parts dishwasher-safe? Does anything need to be taken apart and/or cleaned in a special way?
We used each can opener on three cans in varying sizes — 8 ounces, 15 ounces and 28 ounces.
We also spoke to Karena Wu, board-certified clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy and board chair of the NYC Arthritis Foundation, who emphasizes the importance of easy-to-use kitchen tools for all abilities.
Best overall handheld electric can opener
Performance: 4/5 | Noise level: 4/5 | Ease of use: 5/5 | Ease of cleaning: 5/5 | Overall average score: 4.5/5
Proctor Silex far outperformed the other handheld options we tested, earning a final score of 4.5. Not to mention, it is the best-looking model in our lineup.
This rechargeable can opener is portable, sleek, hands-free and fast. The blade is self-aligning and stops automatically, taking the guesswork out of the process. While it does not have a magnetic lid lifter, it includes a small latch that does the trick more consistently than the other electric can openers with magnets we tested.
As we approached the big 28-ounce can, we weren’t totally sure if it could successfully cut through the entire circumference successfully because the can was so large and the device is so compact. But the Proctor Silex electric can opener proved us all wrong and produced a clean, smooth cut with no visible residue.
It's no coincidence that this was also a winner in our 2025 Gifts We Love awards!
Best overall countertop electric can opener
Performance: 5/5 | Noise level: 5/5 | Ease of use: 3/5 | Ease of cleaning: 5/5 | Overall average score: 4.5/5
The Cuisinart electric can opener is sleek, quiet, fast and was able to cut through our biggest can with no struggle.
This hands-free machine can support the weight of an entire can (even the 28-ounce one) while cutting through the lid, holding on by a magnet once the lid is fully cut. As we gradually increased the can sizes, it was genuinely thrilling to see it in action.
We did, however, hit a few bumps in the road. While setup proved to be simple, the instructions were extensive and made the process feel less intuitive. And though it was quiet, fast and consistent, the actual opening of the can was fairly messy with a cut more jagged than the Proctor Silex.
Between our two top picks, consider your priorities: clean and smooth or fast and powerful.
More electric can openers we tested
The runner-up:
Performance: 4/5 | Noise level: 5/5 | Ease of use: 5/5 | Ease of cleaning: 4/5 | Overall average score: 4.5/5
This countertop can opener was a close runner-up to Cuisinart, as we had a nearly identical experience while testing. The biggest difference came when the machine was physically cutting the can and the cleanup process that followed for us.
While the appliance is fast, quiet and is equipped with an extremely strong magnet, the process proved to be quite messy. With the most jagged cut thus far, the contents inside each can consistently wound up in the nooks and crannies surrounding the blade. Cleanup became a cumbersome experience.
Additionally, such a powerful magnet often caused the lid to get stuck on the tool — making the dangerous, jagged edges an even larger issue.
If carefully removing the lid poses no problem, this is a really stellar can opener. The magnet was stronger than every other electric can opener we tried and the machine itself was able to cut each can all the way around on the first try with no resistance.
However, we couldn’t give this electric can opener the title of "best overall" while keeping cleanliness and accessibility in mind.
Easy to store:
Performance: 3/5 | Noise level: 5/5 | Ease of use: 3/5 | Ease of cleaning: 4/5 | Overall average score: 3.75/5
Canslab presented us with a solid handheld option, and the added perk of a wall mount for convenience. In line with the other handheld brands, this can opener was intuitive, fairly fast and only required the press of a single button.
We ran into a few issues on our smallest test can. It was unclear whether the magnetic lid lifter struggled to remove the lid, or if the blade itself failed to fully cut through the metal. With our second can — and extra pressure during the process — we confirmed that the cut was successful but the magnet lacked strength.
Luckily, this can opener came with a backup lid lifter — a latch on the side to lift from below. While it was nice to have the backup lid lifter in case the magnet didn't work, it begs the question: how useful is a dual-function design when the most convenient method isn’t reliable?
Frequently asked questions
Wu says an electric can opener is more accessible since “there is much less effort in using an electric can opener and less strain on hands and wrists,” she says.
She recommends electric can openers to her patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or any loss of dexterity in the fingers and hands. “The traditional manual can opener can be difficult to maneuver when the hands are unable to hold the opener while cutting through metal.”
Wu even shares that she struggles with traditional can openers as she has mild arthritis in her thumb.
First consider if you have the counter or storage space for a tall tabletop can opener or if you’re looking for a portable one.
Also consider your needs and the functionality of the can opener. Is it one where you have to press a button to operate it or is it automatic?
Some electric can openers require some disassembling to clean while others only need a simple wipe down with a damp cloth. All brands recommend you avoid submerging the can openers in water or putting them in the dishwasher.
No matter what, you should always refer to the instruction manual for your specific model.
Why trust Shop TODAY?
Jillian Gonzales is a Producer for the Commerce team at NBC — regularly producing shoppable segments on the TODAY Show such as Steals & Deals, Shop This List, What To Shop This Week, and more. She’s participated in testing for protein bars for the Ranked series, produced Ranked segments on TODAY and tests many products before we air them on the show.
Elena Zayas co-wrote this article and is an NBC Page.
Meet the experts
- Dr. Karena Wu, PT, DPT, OCS, COMT, CSCS, CKTP, CPI, FAAOMPT, is a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy and the owner and director of ActiveCare Physical Therapy in New York City. She is also the board chair of the NYC Arthritis Foundation.
- Dr. Gbolahan Okubadejo, MD, FAAOS, is a spinal and orthopedic surgeon in the New York City area and the head of The Institute for Comprehensive Spine Care.
