How to Open a Can Without a Can Opener OR

How to Open a Can Without a Can Opener

What do you do when you need to open a can of something but don’t have a can opener? How to open a can without a can opener in this article.

Open

via GIPHY

Has this ever happened to you? You're you're at some weird Airbnb getting ready to open up a can (maybe you're making one of these canned tuna recipes) when you discover that the kitchen doesn't have a can opener — and no one remembered their Swiss Army knife. What to do? You could give up and see what the local takeout options are. But come on. You're no quitter. If you really need to get into that can — and going to the store to buy a can opener isn't an option — what do you do?

With firm pressure, vigorously rub the edge of the spoon back and forth along the crimped edge of the can, where the can opener would typically puncture. Keep rubbing until the metal thins. Eventually, after a few minutes, it will create a hole. Press the spoon into the hole, and pry the edge of the spoon upward around the edge of the can, slowly breaking the top off. Continue to work into the hole along the can’s perimeter until you’ve created a large enough cut to pry the lid open. If you don't have a spoon, this method will work with a screw driver, or any other similarly edged metal item. If you have a strong-enough fork, you can also try to puncture the lid with one of the tines. Though be warned: it also may ruin the fork. (Source: www.countryliving.com)

Lid

That's right: You can open a can with only a metal spoon. Even if you find yourself without a can opener, you likely have a metal spoon in your kitchen. This simple hack is fool-proof. It may sound ludicrous, but with a little friction, the metal of the spoon thins and cuts through the metal of the can lid. It's crucial to use a metal spoon for this trick: plastic just won't work.

Even with the proper tools, opening a can is often quite perilous—the aluminum lid is deceptively sharp and, if you're not careful, can easily incur deep cuts. That danger only multiplies when you don't have a helpful can opener to keep your hands at a safe distance from the can's razor-sharp lid. Although a metal spoon poses less of a threat than a sharpened knife, it's still important to handle the can with care, as the lid is still quite sharp. (Source: www.southernliving.com)