Kuhn Rikon Auto Deluxe Safety Lid Lifter, Red
by Kuhn Rikon
List Price:
Our Price: $19.95
You Save: $2.30 (10%)
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Category: Kitchen
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: Kuhn RikonBrand: Kuhn Rikon
Model: 2272
Color: Red
Product features:
- Safely and easily removes lids, leaving a smooth edge that is suitable for resealing with a plastic lid
- Handle made of stainless steel; ergonomic handle; dishwasher safe
- Great for resealing dog and cat food cans, or coffee cans
- Turn knob is comfortable to hold and turns easily; cuts from the side leaving the rim smooth, not sharp or jagged
- LidLifter jaws clamp on to remove lid from can and then releases into trash with a push of a button
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Kuhn Rikon Auto Deluxe Safety Lid Lifter, Red
Customer Review: Comparing "Deluxe" to "Ergo" model
Summary: 5 Stars
I actually own both this model, and the cheaper (same brand) "Ergo" model. I asked my mom for this model for Christmas, but she got me the Ergo instead. Seeing my disappointment, my girlfriend got me this one.
The "Ergo" is not so ergonomic. In fact, it's UNergonomic. It just looks futuristic. The worst part about the "Ergo" is its knob, which simply is too large and thick to turn easily. You end up using a lot of your wrist, instead of including your fingers to twist. Basically you have to make a fist, and turn with your wrist.
The Ergo's handle also has a rubberized coating to the plastic. While that makes it "grippy", all such coatings I've ever seen, eventually end in degrading in peeling off in a slow-motion, unappealing mess. That hasn't happened on mine, though (yet, anyway), after more than a year of medium use.
The Deluxe is NOT all metal. The knob (part you twist) is actually plastic. That was a disappointment. I had hoped it'd be coated metal. The knob plastic has a "grippy" feel similar to the Ergo, but does not appear to be "coated" with anything--the plastic itself is kind of grippy, but less-so, which is a good thing because twisting such a knob requires constantly repositioning your hands.
The Ergo's handle is shorter and stubbier, but that's not too bad, it's okay, though the longer handle of the Deluxe is slightly easier. It's the knob which annoys me every time I use it.
The Ergo is also entirely plastic except for the mechanism, "ergo" the cheaper cost. The plastic makes the Ergo lighter, and shape makes it shorter--which... shouldn't be relevant, unless you're camping. Just saying.
That said, the Ergo is not HARD to use, just slightly annoying each time. I actually find the mechanism to open cans with less resistance than the "Deluxe" model, and I'm not sure why. So there's a bit of a tradeoff, but I'd still rather use the Deluxe.
Now for the similarities. The "business" end of these are actually almost exactly the same. By that I mean the part which actually opens the can, and the 'beak' which forms the LidLifter. I compared side-by-side, and I think the mechanisms are actually made from different components--which, if true, is bizarre, considering the components are almost exactly the same, and exactly the same concept. And those components appear to be of the same quality.
I now keep the Ergo at work, and the Deluxe at home. I kept the little carboard display base the Deluxe came in, which stands it vertically, and, after all, is something to be proud of and could be "displayed" in your kitchen if keeping it in the cardboard base weren't tacky--but it's just easy for me to grab.
I'd say if you were giving this as a gift, don't cheap out, go for the nice one. If you're buying it for yourself and want to save some money, you'll get a lot of use out of the cheaper one, and the actual opening mechanism appears to be the same or the same quality. In practice, the difference isn't so great, they both have their pros and cons, and the price reflects that. Both are made in China, unfortunately. This, despite a Swiss flag and the word "Switzerland" underneath the company's logo. That's like making Harley-Davidsons in China and putting "USA" under the logo.
These side-opening can-openers don't get dirty or require cleaning like traditional openers. In restaurants, Alton Brown says the first thing govt inspectors look at is the can opener, because it's difficult to keep clean, and rarely is. There's no blade with these guys, and the food never gets touched. I mean, there literally is no blade. It uses pressure to force the can top off its natural assembly joint. I hardly ever have to use the LidLifter on either model. I usually just push up with my thumbnail(s). On a stubborn can, I'll get lazy and use the "beak", and then it's no contest.
Another thing: if you ever open pet food cans, and you're using a traditional opener, I HOPE you're using a separate can opener just for dog/cat food. Pet food is made with livestock offal which carries a high risk of BSE prion infection (mad cow). Normal sterilization doesn't kill prions, and a microscopic amount can infect you. With these, separate can openers is unnecessary. Nothing intrudes into the food or gets food on it. I still rinse my hands after ever having contact with any pet food, wet or dry. (Oh, yeah--and I stopped eating beef upon learning more.)
I have successfully opened pull-tab type cans, too (like pineapple or fruit). I prefer to use the can opener, because it's simply safer, and gives a bigger mouth than the pull tab. I'm lazy, but actually, using the can opener to me is easier than pulling the tab, as it's easier to get the contents out. I've done huge and small cans, and always got them open. Like some have said, on occasion I've had to go 'round twice, especially on the bigger cans, but it's easier the second time around anyway. You can feel the "give" when you've reached your way around the can. Turning gets a lot easier.
It's also fascinating to get to see how cans are put together, as these break the bonds of the tops of the cans. You see the elastic adhesive they use to seal the tops of the cans. It's a gummy substance which sometimes stretches in threads like cheese lifting off a slice of pizza. I've almost never gotten any of that stretchy sealant into the food; it breaks almost immediately and I'm sure it's non-toxic anyway. Looks like a rubber compound, has no smell, not much is used. The rubbery stuff actually helps kind of make the can airtight again when you sit the lid back on, something you can't do with a traditional opener.
With either one, there seriously is no going back to traditional canopeners. I hunted for an alternative after slicing myself very badly on a restaurant-sized eight-pounder can. I think these also make cans safer for people who process cans for recycling. This way, I can safely include the lids in recycling (I'm not sure if I'm supposed to or not).
I almost bought the battery-powered motorized one on the TV ads, not knowing of alternatives. I have this crazy idea that canopeners should not need electricity (considering their potential emergency use), and I actually prefer non-motorization when possible. So I searched for "side-opening can-opener" and eventually discovered these. The name for this genre is technically "safety can opener".
I'd say the important thing is that you GET ONE, regardless of model, just choose one. Either one is SO far light years ahead of ANY conventional canopener, regardless of price of any conventional canopener, you'd do right by yourself with either one. Seriously, you will not be going back, either way. If in doubt, buy the cheaper one first, and decide you want the all-metal one, give the cheaper one to a friend or family member, and when they use it, they will appreciate you!
This is a seriously good gift, which may not be understood at first when received, but should be upon use. So include a can of fruit or something, for an immediate demonstration, ha.
Description of Kuhn Rikon Auto Deluxe Safety Lid Lifter, Red
With the Kuhn Rikon Auto Safety LidLifter it is now possible to open a can and never, ever touch the lid. All you do is place the opener on the can and begin turning the comfortable knob. The tool automatically locks in place. The tool cuts from the side leaving a rim smooth, not sharp or jagged. The tiny, strong jaws on the side of the opener remove the lid. Press down on the white button to close the jaws on the lid and when you are ready to drop the lid into the recycling container, just release the button. Safe, ergonomic and just plain cool. 7-inch Red with Stainless Steel HandleThe Deluxe Safety LidLifter is the perfect 7-inch kitchen tool for anyone tired of dodging the jagged edges of cans and lids. Unlike conventional openers, the Safety LidLifter cuts into a can below the rim of the lid, so there are no sharp edges, the blade never touches the food, and the final turn of the crank doesn't inconveniently drop the lid into the can's contents. The turning mechanism works smoothly for both right- and left-handers, and the soft turning knob provides a comfortable grip. Best of all, the cute puffin-beak-shaped lifting clamp means you never have to touch a lid. --Emily Bedard
Can Openers
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