Zyliss Safe Edge: defies tradition, slightly awkward
Pros: Hygienic, safe, comfortable grip
Cons: Mechanism is initially slightly awkward to operate
I've been using my swing-a-way, conventional can opener happily for decades, never really giving it much thought. I am truly surprised that innovation was possible here. If I hadn't tried this can opener recently, I would have probably scoffed at the idea, thinking, what's next, reinventing the fork? But this can opener impressed me, particularly the comfortable, single handle. I am not experiencing the hand fatigue I am accustomed to trying to squeeze two handles simultaneously. It's evenly weighted and cleverly simple, it stores easily in a drawer, and comes with a 5-year warranty.
The biggest sells are that this can opener does not leave sharp edges on the can or the lid, and that the lid will never fall into the food, making opening cans more hygienic.
The downside is that I found turning the handle more awkward than with my swing-a-way, and more difficult. It could be that this is due to decades of using the conventional version, but at least one other person seemed to have a little trouble as well:
Perhaps the most counterintuitive part is that I am opening the can from the top all of a sudden, when I am used to doing so from the side. Also, pulling off the entire lid is a bit more cumbersome.
