Here’s a quick tutorial to help you brush up on some survival skills in case you ever find yourself in such a difficult (and hungry) situation. We’d prefer to use fewer sharp edges, even though it’s possible to open a can with a rough surface or a pocketknife in a pinch. Without a can opener, we have discovered a simple, secure method to open a can. Therefore, instead of attempting to pry the can open with a knife, think about using another common tool from your cutlery drawer.
Best Method: Use A Spoon
Try using this method if you have some free time and a spoon. First, get the right grip: Gripthe bowl (i.e. not the handle) of a sturdy spoon in the palm of your hand so that your four fingers are firmly grasping it. The bowl should be close to the handle, where the tip of your index finger should rest. Your pinky should be positioned inside the bowl’s curve to stabilize your grip and make it easier for you to control the tool. Just below your pinky, the spoon’s tip should protrude slightly.
Apply firm pressure and firmly rub the spoon tip along the can’s crimped edge, which is where the can opener would normally make a puncture. The metal will thin if you rub it repeatedly. It will eventually make a hole after a short period of time. When the spoon is inserted into the opening, slowly pry its edge upward around the can’s edge to separate the top. Once you’ve made a cut big enough to pry the lid open, keep working into the hole along the can’s edge.
If you don’t have a spoon, this method will work with a screw driver, or any other similarly edged metal item. You could also try using one of the tines of a fork with enough strength to pierce the lid. A word of caution though: it could also mutilate the fork.
How To Open A Can With A Metal Spoon
- Place the can firmly in position on a stable table or countertop.
- With your other hand, hold the spoon over the can at a 90-degree angle. The spoon’s bowl should be close to the bottom. With the inside of the spoon’s bowl facing in, place the spoon’s tip against the can’s inner lid. Where the lid and rim of the can meet, place the spoon in the groove there.
- The can’s lip should be rubbed with the spoon’s tip. Working it back and forth over a small area will cause the metal to erode and the spoon will eventually wear through the lid. Once you’ve covered the metal rim of the can, move the spoon to a new, smaller area. The lid should be loose once you’ve gone around the entire can.
- To pry the top upward, wiggle the spoon underneath the lid. The edge of the lid will be extremely sharp, so take care not to touch it with your finger. The lid should be thrown away after using a towel to protect your hand.
We understand that sometimes a metal spoon might not be convenient, even though we prefer the safest techniques that are readily available in these circumstances. Here are two more alternative techniques for opening cans without a can opener.
Alternate Method: Chef’s Knife
If you need to get into the can a little more quickly, and/or are relatively secure in your knife skills, you can try opening the can with the heel of a chef’s knife (the part of the blade nearest to the handle) using it like an old-fashioned can-opener. This is safer than using the point, which could slip (or even break), injure you, and ruin your knife. However, you’ll need to locate a knife without a bolster that protects the heel (the bolster is the substantial component that some knives have in front of the handle).
To begin, firmly grasp the handle and place the back corner (the heel) of the blade along the inside edge of the can’s rim. Pushing the corner of the heel downward and digging in at an angle, somewhat akin to an old-fashioned lever-type can opener, will perforate the lid. Be careful to keep your fingers away from the blade. Continue doing this around the can’s rim until the lid has become weak enough to be pried open.
Alternatively, if you have a pocket knife or a small paring knife, you can put the can on a flat, sturdy surface and try to puncture the can with the tip of the knife. Be cautious because the knife can easily slip if the can or the knife are not properly controlled. The lid will eventually come off if you continue to make holes evenly spaced along the can’s edge.
Use A Box Cutter
If you’re on a hike or camping and have no other options, a pocket knife or box cutter will work, though it’s not as safe as using a spoon. Place the can firmly in your hands on a solid surface, and then pierce the top of the can with the knife’s point. Repeat the procedure around the can’s edge once you’ve created a successful whole until you can carefully open the lid. Welsh warns that you may need to use kitchen towels or gloves for additional skin protection when using less stylish tools, such as a box cutter.
How To Open A Can With A Pocketknife
Consider a scenario where the circumstances are even worse and you are on a hike without a metal spoon but with your go-to pocketknife. There’s no need to worry; you can still eat the soup can you brought. While using a metal spoon to open a can is undoubtedly riskier, in times of need, desperate measures must be taken.
Hold the can firmly in your hands. Start by piercing the can’s top with the knife’s tip on a flat surface. Make more holes around the can’s top edge until you can pry the lid off.
How To Open A Can With Household Tools
Even if you aren’t hiking, your home likely lacks a can opener. Examining your toolbox can serve as a substitute for a metal spoon. The can’s lid should be punctured using a box cutter, pliers, or screwdriver. Use caution when using these tools, such as the pocket knife technique.
How To Open A Can With A Rough Surface
Are a can opener, metal spoon, and a pocketknife all off limits? Although it might seem as though you’ll have to get by on the granola bars you brought for the duration of your camping trip, all hope is not lost. One more manual method that requires a lot of strength and perseverance is available for opening cans without a can opener.
Find a rough surface, such as a rock or concrete slab, and use it to sand down the can’s ridge until the top seal is broken. To sand the top of the can evenly, make sure to rotate the container. When the top finally pops, be prepared with a spare t-shirt or sweat rag to catch and clean it off. The top seal is pressed against by periodically squeezing the can’s sides. You’ve hit (liquid) gold when there is moisture on your homemade sander, and the can’s seal should be broken.
Remember: Safety First
Important safety warning: Adults should use extreme caution when attempting these methods; children should not. When you try to pry open a metal can, the edges can become sharp, and if you’re not careful, you could get hurt. Additionally, after you’ve opened your food, make sure it’s free of any small metal fragments.