cleaning a can opener

[marys]

I take an old towel and clamp down on it as if I am opening a can and then turn the handle so the towel moves through the blades. Since I'm not sure how to make mine apart, this seems to work pretty well.

[Gail]

Have you tried one of those hand-held can openers which slices the lid off horizontally under the crimp? Not only do you not jet the jagged edges, but the openers stay clean and rust free. Mine cost like ten dollars and takes a bit more muscle to use than the conventional kind, but heck-- my arms can use the workout!

[valchemist]

Gail, I love mine too. It is the best kitchen gadget I ever bought. The first day I tried it, I threw my other manual can opener and my electric can opener in the trash. Highly recommended!! I can't believe that something actually works just like they say it works. Val

[hlao23]

I'm almost too embarressed to ask this because it means I'm confessing to using canned food (Horrors! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/redface.gif) No, really I only use it fooooooor. . . dog food . . . yeah, dog food. That's it. Nothing else. I swear. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif

I use a hand held can opener because I'm not willing to give up any counter space. I generally try to wipe it off with a wet cloth after using it but that doesn't really seem to do the trick. Washing it makes it rust because I can't dry out all the little tiny spaces.

Any ideas? Is there such a thing as a rust-proof can opener?

[This message has been edited by hlao23 (edited 06-22-2001).]

[This message has been edited by hlao23 (edited 06-22-2001).]

[gertdog]

Canned food? Nooooooo! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Okay but really, in a moment of need last year (i.e. my old opener broke) I bought a pyrex brand can opener at the grocery store. It's made of beige plastic, and it comes apart into two easy-to-clean pieces. And it's dishwasher safe. It's not the smoothest-operating can opener I've ever used, but I love that I can get it clean.

Is the dishwasher an option for your opener? If so, I'd give that a try.

[Curleytop]

Hey, that sounds great! What is the name of the "horizontal can opener"??? Where can you buy it?

[Jewel]

On the infomercials a year or so ago it was touted as (lower voice to Don Pardo level) SAFETY CAN ! I don't have one because I had just got my OXO Good Grips opener that still hasn't given out on me, but when I'm ready to replace it, the Horizontal Bad Boy will probably be the one! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[chefbec]

Pampered Chef also makes a Smooth-Edge Can Opener; guaranteed not to rust. I just hand wash and dry it, and it works like a dream. No sharp edges on either side of the can. If anyone needs one, please e-mail me privately or talk to your personal PC rep.

[valchemist]

I got mine on QVC...more than $10, but worth every penny. Here is a link. Oops, editing here...I see that once you click on the link, you will need to scroll down the list and click on the "Safety Lid" to see the product.
http://www.qvc.com/asp/frameset.asp?nest=%2Fasp%2 FIsItemNumberRedirect.asp&search=SQ&frames=y&referrer=QVC&txtDesc=can+opener (http://www.qvc.com/asp/frameset.asp?nest=%2Fasp%2FIsItemNumberRedirect.as p&search=SQ&frames=y&referrer=QVC&txtDesc=can+opener)

[This message has been edited by valchemist (edited 06-23-2001).]

[Lynn B]

I have a Zyliss and it got sorta rusty, too. The store exchanged it once for me, but the second one got rusty too. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif So I guess it's just one of those things. Anyway, I put it in the dishwasher. After all, what's it gonna do to it -- make it RUST?!!!!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Lynn

[Vanessa]

I have an electric can opener (tall kind) but I use the hand can opener too. I have an unused toothbrush that I keep near to wash the can opener then put it standing up in the drainer. I have never had rust on mine but if you wanted to be sure and dry it off well just use your blow dryer (does the trick in a minute)

[Curleytop]

After reading about all the dirty can openers, I decided to clean mine http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/redface.gif too!
I tried the rag idea, not bad, then I sprayed the wheels and gears with pam, used a toothbrush, and then got some papertowels, and made believe I was opening a can. It worked pretty well, but it still "looks"
rusty. I have an old can opener, I got it in the grocery store years ago, this one can go into the dishwasher, but when one of my sons saw it, he thought it was a piece of
c**p. I use this old one for opening tuna!

[Laura B]

Gosh, you can get those can openers just about everywhere now. Check walmart or some kitchen supply store. I don't know the brand of mine, but I bet Oxo makes one. I love mine!

Well, I looked on Amazon and it appears that Oxo does not make one like this, only regular ones.

[This message has been edited by Laura B (edited 06-23-2001).]

[Zinnia]

Like Vanessa-I have "unused" toothbrushes in several areas of my house. I use one for any knobs on appliances in the kitchen, one in bathroom for corners in shower/tub and sink, a soft dry one to "dust" crevices in furniture, etc. (You can sterilize them in a tall container with bleach & hot water and let them sit).
Oh, and my point was--( http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif), that I saw a poll on Dateline 'what the most un-sanitary thing in everyone's kitchen' was and #1 was, the can opener; both electric and manual-it doesn't matter.. Everytime you use it-clean it, and if it can be taken apart and put in dishwasher do it-be sure it's clean each time you use it and everytime. Sorry to be so long winded!
Everyone here has awesome ideas-some I haven't even thought of but will be using too. TY! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Zinnia

[hlao23]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll get started on trying them. I had wondered if the "safety" can openers were less messy. Everytime I see those it makes me think of the episode of Everybody Loves Raymond when his wife bought that kind of can opener and then Ray couldn't drain the tuna. I guess it cuts the lids off a different size. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[AD]

I often find some canned foods a big help in saving time and money. It may seem off-topic, but what's so negative about canned foods? I can understand a problem with prepared canned foods (soup, chili, mixtures, etc.) but I couldn't do without tomato paste, canned crushed tomatoes, and canned beans. Those are actually the only things that ever touch my can opener, so I just wet a paper towel and wipe off any visible juices, followed by a swipe behind the blade to get whatever is not visible.

[Curleytop]

I am with you AD! I am NOT going to make these from scratch, like tomato sauce, or sliced canned tomatoes and black beans and garbanzo beans or even the much (hated by my dh) TUNA. There certainly is a place for a can opener in the kitchen! I am going to go to Macy's and see what they have!

[hlao23]

Originally posted by AD:
It may seem off-topic, but what's so negative about canned foods?

I wasn't trying to be negative, just silly. If I remember correctly canned food is a "food snob" thing that some people confessed to on a thread a while ago so I thought I'd just do a little bit of teasing when I asked my question. Just thought it might get a laugh. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[Gail]

Curleytop,

I just saw your question. Since you're somewhere fairly close to me, my cheapie opener is a Culinaire and I got it at that place (Is it Bed, Bath and Beyond or Linens and More, something like that...) in the shopping center on Hawthorne and Del Amo. Big place, next to a furniture store.

[Laura Wick]

I have a regular can opener, purchased at TJ Maxx with the black cushioned handles. I was in the hospital for a week as a child with food poisoning. Almost died.

Every time I use my can opener, I open it all the way and put it in the silverware rack of the dishwasher. It is three years old and has never rusted.

[Pat]

Zinnia! I love it! My husband teases me about cleaning things with a toothbrush. He said I was the only person who would do such a thing. I can't wait to tell him that I am not alone and that there are other people who want things to be clean.

[Curleytop]

Originally posted by Gail:
Curleytop,

I just saw your question. Since you're somewhere fairly close to me, my cheapie opener is a Culinaire and I got it at that place (Is it Bed, Bath and Beyond or Linens and More, something like that...) in the shopping center on Hawthorne and Del Amo. Big place, next to a furniture store.
Gail,
I think you mean Linen'nThings! One of my favorite places! I got horizontal can opener
in Target yesterday for $9.99. Haven't used it yet! It is made expressly for Target. Their housewares are greatly upgraded from what they were before.
I get all my small appliances from Linen etc
and take advantage of their $5.00 coupon http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/cool.gif Thanks!

[This message has been edited by Curleytop (edited 06-27-2001).]

[Gail]

Curleytop,

The shopping area is on the east side of Hawthorne, bordered by Del Amo on the south, 190th on the North. There's a K-Mart at the extreme end, but the linen place is closer to the middle of the center. I can never remember the name of the place.

Doesn't matter anyway, really if you found what you needed elsewhere. Hope it works for you!