How To Open A Can Without A Can Opener? - []

How To Open A Can Without A Can Opener?

How do you open a can without the tab?

Download Article Download Article The invention of the tab made opening soda cans super easy. By pulling up on the tab with your index finger and thumb, the tab will pierce the can and create an opening. If your can’s tab fell off or is broken, there are several alternative ways to open the can, from using friction to prying it open with a butter knife.

  1. 1 Place the index finger of your dominant hand under the tab’s ring. This is the upper portion of the tab with a hollowed out center, closest to the edge of the can. Your finger goes behind the top of the tab.
    • The opposite end of the tab will be more in the center, and it will be the end to physically open the indentation.
    • If you can’t get your finger under the tab, use a butter knife or other flat object to pry the tab up.
  2. 2 Rest your thumb on top of the tab to maintain your grip. Using the same dominant hand, put your thumb on the very center of the can. This should be on the bottom of the tab, helping to direct it. Advertisement
  3. 3 Hold the can with your other hand to keep it in place. This is super important so that you don’t end up spilling the drink everywhere. Grasp the side of the can so that the tab is facing you, making it easier for you to open it.
    • Hold the can on a stable surface to avoid spilling it.
  4. 4 Lift the backside of the tab using your thumb and index finger. Your thumb will be pressing down on the can while your index finger lifts up the back of the tab. You’ll feel resistance, but keep lifting the tab up until you pierce the opening of the can.
    • Make sure you have a firm grasp on the can with your other hand while lifting the tab to prevent the can from moving.
    • The bottom of the tab will put pressure on the part of the can that opens, making a hole once the aluminum is pierced.
  5. 5 Push the tab back down, if desired. Once you’ve lifted the tab completely, the hole in the can should be open and the tab will be vertical. You can push the tab back down to its original position to get it out of the way, making it lay flat again.
  6. Advertisement

  1. 1 Create a hole in the can using a can piercer. Can piercers have a sharp end in the shape of a triangle, allow you to make holes in the aluminum. Place this pointy end against the top of the can (it doesn’t matter where), and hold the can in place with your other hand. Use pressure to pierce the can to form a hole.
    • Pour the drink into a glass or cup, if possible, to avoid cutting your lip on the pierced opening.
  2. 2 Rub the lid of the can using a skinny, blunt object. Use the object, such as a lighter or key, to create friction against the front of the indentation—right where your lips would go when you’re taking a sip of the drink. Rub the object back and forth quickly on this spot until the lid bursts open while holding the can steady with your other hand.
    • This method often creates a loud pop when successful.
    • Make sure the object isn’t sharp—you’re trying to create friction, not tear the lid open with the object.
  3. 3 Use a blunt butter knife to push the indentation open. You should see a light line where the tab would open the can, showing where the aluminum would break. Place a butter knife right on the edge of this line while holding the can steadily with your other hand. Apply pressure with the knife until it creates an opening, similar to how the normal tab would work.
    • Do this with the butter knife facing away from you for safety reasons.
    • You can also use a flathead screwdriver.
  4. Advertisement

Add New Question

Question How do you open when you have nails on? Ghost Lee Mann Community Answer Ask a friend to open it for you, or get a butter knife and do the method explained above.

Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

  • Wait a few minutes to open the soda can if it’s shaken up.
  • Try not to squeeze the can too tightly when opening it without a tab, as this might cause it to spill over.

Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

  • Can piercer (optional)
  • Cup (optional)
  • Blunt object (optional)
  • Butter knife (optional)

Article Summary X To open a soda can, slide the tip of your index finger under the end of the tab at the top of the can. Brace your thumb on the opposite side of the tab and hold onto the can with your other hand. Then, use your index finger to pry up the tab so that it pushes in the seal at the top of the can.

Is it OK to open a can with a knife?

Picture this: you’ve just returned to the cabin you’re renting with your friends after a full day of skiing on the slopes. Chill-ridden and ready for your favorite can of soup, you search high and low in every cabinet for a can opener but to no avail.

You’re left wondering: “How do you open a can without a can opener?” Although takeout may start to sound like an inevitable option, you should know there are several ways to open a can without a can opener. If you ever find yourself in such a tricky (and hungry) situation, here’s a little tutorial to brush up on some survival skills.

While it’s possible to open a can with a rough surface or a pocketknife in a pinch, we’d rather involve fewer sharp edges. We’ve found a safe, easy solution to opening a can without a can opener. So, consider using another standard tool in your cutlery drawer instead of prying the can open with a knife.

Is it safe to use a knife instead of a can opener?

Use a Box Cutter – Although this method isn’t as safe as using a spoon, if you’re on a hike or camping with no other options, a pocket knife or box cutter will do the trick.

Hold the can firmly in your hand on a stable surface and puncture the tip of the knife through the top of the can.Once you’ve successfully made a whole, repeat the process around the edge of the can until you’re able to carefully open its lid.

With less elegant tools, like a box cutter, you may need to use kitchen towels or wear gloves for extra skin protection, says Welsh.

Which tool do you use to open a tin?

Download Article Easy ways to get to your food when you can’t find your can opener Download Article Are you stuck without a can opener? No problem: can lids are made with a thin piece of metal that isn’t difficult to break through. You can use a variety of tools like spoon, a pocket knife, a chef’s knife or a rock to break through the lid without contaminating the food inside.

  • The easiest and safest way to open a can without a can opener is by rubbing a metal spoon around the top edge of a can lid until you pierce through the thin metal.
  • Rubbing the top of the can on a rough surface (like a rock or a slab of concrete) can also work in a pinch to wear away the lid seal and free your food.
  • You can also use a sharp object like a knife or screwdriver to puncture the can lid multiple times until the lid can be pried free. Take extra care when using sharp objects to prevent injuring yourself.
  1. 1 Place the can on a stable surface. Use one hand to hold it firmly in place while you work the spoon with your other hand.
  2. 2 Position the tip of a spoon against the inner edge of the lid. The lid of the can will have a small, raised lip that has been crimped to seal the can closed. You want to position the spoon in a spot along the inside of this lip.
    • Hold the spoon so that the inside of its bowl is facing the lid of the can.
    • You need a metal spoon for this method. Any other material won’t work.

    Advertisement

  3. 3 Rub the tip of the spoon back and forth. Work it over the same small area right where the edge of the lid is crimped. The friction from rubbing the spoon back and forth will begin to thin the can lid. Keep going until you have rubbed through the lid.
  4. 4 Scoot the spoon over and keep rubbing. Rub the spot next to the first area you rubbed. Keep going until you have rubbed through the lid. The hole you have made in the lid is now slightly bigger.
  5. 5 Continue around the edge of the lid. Keep scooting the spoon over and rubbing through the lid until you have circled the entire can lid. The lid should now be loose. Don’t tip it upside down, or your food will spill out.
  6. 6 Pry open the lid. Dig the spoon under the edge of the lid. Pry the lid upward until it pops out of place. Carefully lift it away to reveal the food inside.
    • If you find it difficult to pry off the lid with the spoon, try using a knife instead. You can use the knife to saw through any small parts of the lid that remain connected to the can.
    • The lid will be sharp, so be careful not to cut your finger on its edge when you pry it off. Use your sleeve or a towel to protect yourself if necessary.
  7. Advertisement

  1. 1 Place the can on a stable surface. A table at hip height is ideal. Stand over the can so you can access it easily.
  2. 2 Position the tip of the knife against the inner edge of the lid. Hold the knife so that is vertical, rather than at an angle. Grip the handle such that your fingers won’t be in the way of the blade if it slips. The back of your hand should be facing up.
    • This method is more effective than attempting to saw the lid off using the blade of your knife, That will ruin your knife and potentially leave metal shavings in your food.
    • Make sure the knife is completely extended and locked into place, so it won’t slip.
    • This method can also be done with a chisel, screwdriver, or another sturdy thin object similar to a pocket knife,
  3. 3 Lightly smack the back of your hand. Use your second hand to lightly smack the back of the hand that’s gripping the knife handle. This gentle smacking motion will cause the tip of the knife to puncture the lid of the can.
    • Do not smack too hard. You don’t want to lose control of the knife.
    • Smack with your hand open, and connect with your palm. This will help you maintain control.

    Safety Tip: Take extra care when using a knife to open a can to prevent injury. Using safety gloves is a good idea for this approach.

  4. 4 Scoot the knife over and make a new hole. Position the tip of the knife a few centimeters over and repeat the technique to puncture the can again.
  5. 5 Continue until you’ve punctured holes around the edge of the can. Circle the entire lid, as you would with a can opener. The lid should now be loose.
  6. 6 Pry off the lid. Slip the tip of the knife into one of the holes. Use it to pry the lid off. Gently pull the lid from the can.
    • If necessary, use a smaller knife to saw through remaining connected parts of the lid.
    • Cover your hand with a towel or your sleeve before prying off the lid. This will protect your hand from getting scratched by the lid.
  7. Advertisement

  1. 1 Find a hard, flat rough surface like a rock or a piece of concrete. A smooth rock won’t create enough friction to puncture the lid of the can.
  2. 2 Position the can upside down against the rock. Positioning it upside down will allow you to break the seal, which is located on the top of the can.
  3. 3 Rub the can back and forth over the rock. Applying firm downward pressure, use a scrubbing motion to create friction between the rock and the can. Keep going until you see moisture appear on the rock or on the lid of the can.
    • Turn the can over to check it every so often. You want to stop as soon as you see moisture. This means the lid is thin enough to break through.
    • Don’t rub so hard that you rub right through the can lid. Your food will spill all over the rock.
  4. 4 Use a pocket knife to pry open the lid. The seal should be thin enough to allow you to easily slide the blade into the can near the edge of the lid. Push up with the knife to gently pry off the lid. Finish pulling off the lid, then discard it.
    • If you don’t have a pocket knife, try using a spoon, a butter knife or another tool.
    • Or find a rock you can use to knock the lid of the can inward. This isn’t ideal, since you may contaminate your food with small bits of rock or dirt.
    • When you pull off the lid, cover your hand with your sleeve or a towel so you won’t cut yourself.
  5. Advertisement

  1. 1 Position the can on a stable surface. A table as high as your hips is ideal. Do not place the can on your lap or in between your legs. The knife could slip and injure you.
  2. 2 Hold the knife where the handle meets the blade. Grip the top of the knife with your palm directly over the joining place. Your fingers should rest against the side of the handle, safely away from the sharp edge of the blade.
    • Make sure you have a firm grip, This method can be dangerous if your hand or the knife is slippery.
    • Do not use this method with a knife smaller than a chef’s knife. A chef’s knife is a large, heavy knife that weighs more than a pruning or steak knife. You need the relatively heavy weight of the blade to effectively puncture the lid of the can.

    Safety Tip: Take extra care when using a knife to open a can to prevent injury. Using safety gloves is a good idea for this approach.

  3. 3 Position the heel of the knife against the inner edge of the lid. The heel of the knife is the place where the blade is widest. It’s at the opposite end of the blade from the tip. Place it up against the raised lip at the edge of the can’s lid.
    • The heel should be centered right under the place where your palm is gripping the knife.
    • Make sure it is firmly positioned against the edge of the lid, so it won’t slip.
  4. 4 Press the heel of the knife into the can. Press down firmly so that it punctures the can, creating a small hole. If you have trouble puncturing the can, try standing up and leaning over it. Hold the knife in place with one hand. Place the other hand on top. Apply steady pressure with both hands and push down until the can is punctured.
    • Do not strike the can to puncture it. The knife may slip and injure you. Instead, apply slow, steady pressure until the knife breaks through the can.
    • Don’t be tempted to use the sharp tip of the knife to puncture the can. The heel is more stable and less likely to slip. Also, if you use the tip you’ll ruin the edge on your blade.
  5. 5 Scoot the knife over and make a new hole. Move it a few centimeters along the edge of the lid. Use the same technique to create another hole right next to the first one.
  6. 6 Continue until you’ve punctured holes around the edge of the can. Circle the entire lid, just as you would with a can opener. The lid should now be loose.
  7. 7 Pry open the lid. Insert the tip of the knife into one of the holes. Push up to pry off the lid. Be careful to point the edge of the blade away from your body so that it won’t hurt you if it slips. Remove and discard the lid.
    • If necessary, use a smaller knife to saw through remaining connected parts of the lid.
    • Consider covering your hand with a towel or your sleeve before prying off the lid. This will protect your hand from getting scratched by the sharp lid.
  8. Advertisement

Add New Question

  • Question Can I open a can with a fork? This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This is a very difficult method and it will probably destroy your fork, but it can work if you’re desperate and have no other options. Position the fork so one of the tines is on the inner edge of the lid, then push down hard to puncture the top of the can. With the rest of the tines still on the outer edge of the can, work the fork up and down and move it around the edge of the can to slowly tear through the metal of the lid. Once you’ve opened it up enough, you can use the handle to help pry open the top the rest of the way.
  • Question What’s a good way to open a Spam can without an opener if the ring pull breaks off? This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer Try putting a flat-head screwdriver against the groove where the can is supposed to open. Tap the handle of the screwdriver with a hammer until the lid begins to split open. You can then pry it open the rest of the way with the handle of a spoon or fork.
  • Question Could I use scissors? You can use any bladed object with enough of a point to pierce the can – assuming it is made of a material harder than the can material). The advantage of the concrete or rough rock method is that it will not damage the edge of your blade.

See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

  • Visit your neighbor and borrow a can opener! Even when camping, many campers are willing to share their can opener with fellow campers.
  • Survival can openers (flat pack) can be purchased from stores that stock military, survival or camping gear. These are far simpler than the usual can openers but are easy to carry around and keep in your hiking or backpacking gear.

Advertisement

  • Food from cans that are burst or punctured prior to you trying to open them should never be eaten, as the food will have spoiled and likely contain bad bacteria.
  • Any method that doesn’t involve a proper can opener risks leaving metal slivers or filings in the food contents of the can. Be very careful to avoid this or to remove any slivers that you see. Working under good light will help you catch any metal shavings glints.
  • Methods outside of a can opener carry more risk of self-injury. These methods are not suitable for children under any circumstances. Use appropriate precautions and take your time when trying to open a can without a proper opener.
  • Don’t try to cut off the lid with a bread knife. You’ll end up with metal shavings in your food.

Advertisement

  • Spoon
  • Chef’s knife
  • Pocket knife
  • A hard, rough surface like a rock or a piece of concrete

Article Summary X If you need to open a can but you don’t have a can opener, you can use a spoon instead. Hold the spoon’s handle and place the tip of the spoon into the groove on top of the can. Press down firmly and move the spoon back and forth along the groove.

Once the groove splits, slide the spoon into the opening and move it up and down to pry the lid off. You can also open a can with a knife. Place the tip of the knife between the edge of the lid and the rim. Then, tap the butt of the handle with the palm of your hand to drive the tip of the knife through the lid.

Pull the knife out and put the tip between the rim and the edge next to your first cut. Tap the handle with the palm over your hand again to make another cut. Repeat the process until you’ve gone all the way around the rim, then pry the lid off with the tip of your knife.

What damage can a knife do?

Human Anatomy or ‘Vulnerable Areas of your Body’ – The below graphic and following bullet points will give you a reasonable understanding of the most vulnerable ‘slashing targets’. Each ‘successful’ cut or slash can or will either lead to rapid blood loss and subsequent death (most likely caused by a) shock and b) blood loss, or dramatically decrease your mobility.

The side of the neck and throat just about even with the adam’s apple. This area contains the Carotid Artery and Jugular Vein. If either is cut the attacker will bleed to death very rapidly. The Carotid is approximately 1.5″ below the surface of the skin, and if severed unconsciousness will result in approximately 5-15 seconds. A powerful cut to the outer side of the pectoral muscle can potentially sever the cephalic vein which will bleed profusely. A powerful cut across the front of the deltoid muscle may sever the cephalic vein. A slashing cut across the biceps can a) disable any motion of the arm and b) as it contains multiple veins it can cause rapid blood loss. A slashing cut across the inside of the elbow joint. In addition to the numerous veins, this area also contains the ligaments that enable motion in the forearm. A horizontal cut across the neck and throat will not only sever your Jugular Vein and cause death, but it will also cut the trachea and ligaments that control movement of the head. A powerful slash across your pectoral muscle will destroy your ability to throw punches with any power. A powerful vertical slash, leading to the penetration of the abdominal wall will result in loss of motion, and possible disembowelment. A powerfulhorizontal slash to the abdomen leading to the successful penetration of the abdominal wall will result in loss of motion, and possible disembowelment. A more than one-inch penetrating slash to the inside of the forearm between the radius and ulna bones will sever the radial artery (this artery runs across the top of the radius bone 2-4 inches behind the base of your thumb). is. Severing the radial artery can result in unconsciousness in as little as 30 seconds, and death in as little as two minutes. The brachial artery run along the inside of your arms. This artery is deep, but severing it will result in unconsciousness in as little as 15 seconds, and death in as little as 90 seconds.

All of the potential injuries following any of the above highlighted cuts could be prevented. For those who already wearing body armour (bullet or stab resistant vests ), I strongly recommend our slash resistant Combat Shirt or UBAC, offering outstanding cut and slash protection to many of the above highlighted vulnerable areas, to which your body armour will not offer any protection whatsoever. For those of you who are not wearing any type of PPE currently I would suggest you look at some type of garment offering 360 degrees of cut/slash protection, effectively preventing the laceration of arteries and veins i.e. our slash resistant jackets,

The objective for me writing this article is based on my believe that there are men and women out there who have made a professional choice in their lives to protect other human beings, facilities, venues, events and infrastructure from the bad guys. I believe those men and women have the moral and legal right to be equipped appropriately, and this article simply highlights the risks and threat they face sometimes on a daily basis.

Risks and threats the general public is not aware of or simply cannot see or even comprehend. Colin Mackinon, Technical Director of PPSS Group and man with 26 years of operational experience in the UK Police Force (Counter Terror, Surveillance, Covert Ops and Firearms Unit says: “It is imperative that companies, and their management teams, have an overall process of risk identification, risk analysis and risk evaluation, forming part of a dynamic and up to date risk assessment.

Once all the risks have been identified and evaluated, control measures and ‘treatment’ must be put in place in order to keep the residual risk as low as possible. Operational Management teams within companies have a legal obligation to ensure their staff and teams are provided with adequate equipment and measures.

The context and Risk Assessment forms the base for all operational concepts and decision making.” We at PPSS Group are extremely passionate about the safety of security professionals, and our mission is to let the world know that their safety can be significantly improved, without compromising their ability to operate and function effectively.

What knife is best for opening cans?

How to open a can with a knife – Yuriy Golub/Shutterstock Using a knife to open a can cuts straight to the point, but be careful — it’s not as safe as the spoon method. It’s also an easy way to damage your knife, so don’t use your best kitchen knife to hack open a can of tomatoes. As per Country Living, the best method for opening a can with a knife is to use the heel of a chef’s knife like a traditional can opener.

Using the heel is safer than using the tip, which can readily slip or break. To open the can, place the can on a stable surface and grip the knife firmly by the handle. Place the heel of the knife — the rear end of the cutting edge just before the handle — against the lip of the can. Firmly press the heel of the knife into the lid of the can using the lip as a lever.

Once you’ve created a hole, work the knife along the edge of the can until you can pry the lid off. Keep in mind that this method won’t work for all chef’s knives, especially if the blade is attached to the handle with a thick bolster. If all else fails, while cutting directly into the can isn’t recommended, you can use a pocket knife or paring knife to puncture the lid at a 90-degree angle.

Why do we still need can openers?

I eat a lot of beans. I’m vegetarian, and I’m busy, so canned beans are a staple in my diet. And nothing gives me greater joy than when I pluck a can out of the cupboard and see one of these bad boys on the top: Of course this is a thing. Why would you want to dig out a can opener, crank it all the way around the top, and risk slicing yourself on the edge when you can just rip that shit right off in two seconds. In fact, canned fish like sardines have long had peel-away lids, so it’s kind of surprising it took so long for the technology to migrate to cylindrical cans.

But the peel-off style of cans are still fairly uncommon, making a can opener a required kitchen tool even for the most basic cook. You can’t even eat a can of soup without at least having some kind of can opening device. This is a mechanical tool that was invented in the 1850s (oddly, about 50 years after the can was invented) and though a few modest improvements have been made in the century and a half since, it’s essentially the same device now as it was then.

We have the technology to make peel off lids, so why are can openers still a thing? The first can opener was patented in 1855, almost 50 years after storing food in cans became a thing, Before that, the best solution we had for opening cans was to cut away the top with a chisel and hammer, according to Meredith Sayles Hughes, an author and food historian, Image: US Patent Office The classic toothed-wheel crank design most people use today was created shortly after, in 1925. Since then, there have been dozens of different designs, but that classic can opener seems to endure. “I remember my father buying an electric can opener and bringing it home,” Hughes told me over the phone.

“I don’t think any of us ever really used it, for some reason.” The idea of yanking a ring to peel off a lid was first introduced in the 1960s—if you’re old enough, you might remember that this design was used to open beer and soda cans back in the day, with the tab peeling off to reveal the opening: Eventually, this peel-off design was applied to full tops of cansin 1980.

That’s right, we haven’t needed can opener for more than 30 years, yet we’re still all cranking on openers like chumps. Part of this is due to cost: the peel top cans are more expensive to produce than the standard design. It’s not so much that consumers aren’t willing to pay more: One market research firm found young people in particular are just not into opening shit, with 28 percent of 25 to 34 year olds saying canned food is hard to open.

  1. It’s more likely that brands themselves are reluctant to make a change, however.
  2. A trends report by the Can Manufacturers Institute from 2005 (there’snot a lot of research on opening cans, surprisingly) said market research shows consumers are down with easy-open cans, but that “our job is to demonstrate to food processors how to meet that demand with reliable technology based on science, not assumption or opinion.” In other words, they were still trying to convince the food producers to get on board.

But even if we completely converted all our cans to peel off lids, Hughes told me it’s hard to imagine the can opener ever completely vanishing. For one, the peel off lids can actually be harder to open for people with limited dexterity—but there are plenty of hands-free can opener options to meet their needs when it comes to traditional tins.

  • And the peel off design isn’t without its flaws, Hughes pointed out that the ring can sometimes snap off, leaving you digging around for a can opener anyway.
  • In terms of keeping food for a long time, keeping it safely, and it being impervious to heat, cold, et cetera, the can is hard to beat,” Hughes said.

“It’s hard to imagine the can going away.” And as long as there are cans, there will be can openers. Besides, you don’t want to risk being unable to open a tin of food in case of a zombie apocalypse, so you might not want to toss out your opener yet.

Can a can opener cause metal shards?

Typically, metal shaving will not occur and will not fall into the can. The electric can opener does require attention when you open a can because it does not stop when it completely opens the can and continues going around it unless it’s turned off; this may cause metal shavings which we all want to avoid.

What is a device used to open steel not tin cans?

Cookbook:Can Opener – Wikibooks, open books for an open world From Wikibooks, open books for an open world | | | | can opener A can opener (also known as a tin opener ) is a device used to open steel (not tin) cans. Simple can openers, like those found in pocket knives, are operated by walking the device around the edge of the can while digging into the lid.

The lid will have very jagged edges after removal. Most can openers press a cutting wheel into the edge of the lid while a rough support wheel presses up under the lip of the can. It is best to purchase a can opener that drives this support wheel to provide easier motion. Non-electric can openers with this feature can be identified by a set of gears behind the cutting and support wheels.

The pictured can opener has such gears, with 2 or 3 teeth visible peeking out above the cutting wheel near the bottom of the picture. Some more unusual can openers cut into the side of the can, often within the seam area so that a nice lid is formed. The lid is not very sharp and does not fall into the food.

  • In this case, the support (and possibly drive) wheel runs around the inside edge of the lid as the can is opened.
  • Be sure to clean your can opener after use.
  • Give it a rinse, then run a paper towel through it.
  • In case you or someone else has been careless, you might also clean the can opener before use.

: Cookbook:Can Opener – Wikibooks, open books for an open world

What is the difference between a can opener and a tin opener?

A can opener is the same as a tin opener.

How does a no cut can opener work?

Just clamp onto the top of your can and turn the knob clockwise. When you’re done, turn the knob counterclockwise to release, then use the pincers to grab the top and pull it off the can.