Rösle Stainless Steel Can Opener with Pliers Grip, 7-inch

There seems to be some confusion among users of this product. Even the company refers to it as "side-cutting", when it appears to me that it actually opens up the top seam of the can. The removed lid will then fit neatly and snugly back; good for several days in the refrigerator. Since it does not cut in conventional fashion, one also doesn't get any brackish or metallic taint/ taste to the contents.To use, the opener is placed atop the can, with the turning handle "up". [ Think "perpendicular" to the placement of a conventional opener.] Squeeze the grip handles with moderate pressure until the top seam is "pinched" in the roller mechanism, and instrument closes fully. Then simply turn the handle as one would with a conventional opener, one full revolution. On some cans, it will be immediately obvious that it has opened; others may require slight upward pressure, after removing the opener. It doesn't take "King Kong" strength to operate, but some of the elderly, arthritic, or others with reduced grip strength may find that this is not the ideal opener for them. I use this opener almost exclusively, and love it - but my wife can't stand it. This personal preference may explain some of the poor reviews [ I cannot think of any other reason for them.]This is the most hygienic opener I have ever used, as no cutters ever touch the contents of the can. Partly for this reason, I gave it a 5-star rating for "easy to clean" - little cleaning is actually needed. Design, materials, sturdiness and functionality are all first-rate. I gave it a 4-star rating for ease of use because of the slight learning curve involved, as well as the fact that those with significant impairment of the hands might be better served with an electric opener.Mine has opened many hundreds (1000 + ?) cans, and seems to work as well as when it opened the first one, quite a few years ago. In addition to cooking at least two meals a day at home, I also am the principal cook for a local veteran's charity. We usually prepare our luncheons in commercial/ institutional kitchens, and I use this opener exclusively, there, also. The largest cans I encounter in such establishments are the #10 cans, and it handles them with ease [Works just as well on tiny cans.] Although I have used this opener for years, I recently (August 2019) purchased two more, as I had mislaid the first (found a few days later.) The new ones appear as well made as the first, I expect that they will last as well, but they don't yet have the length of service of the original one.I have tried to relate my personal experience for the benefit of fellow customers, as well as clear up some confusion. I have not been compensated or remunerated for my review. I would close by saying that this item is an example of getting what one pays for (take a look at the Rosle garlic press as well) - the more cooking that one does, the more one will appreciate it. Just keep a close eye on yours if covetous fellow cooks are nearby [ just kidding - mostly].

I have been using this Rösle Stainless Steel Can Opener for almost a year now. I have not found any cans that I cannot open with it. This is rather expensive for a can opener but this is well worth the money. This is the best can opener that I have used. The handle turns easily and there is no mess at all. After opening the can, the can opener is as clean as before it opened the can. I rinse the can opener as a habit but it really does not need to be rinsed.The cutter never touches the contains of the can. I just use the pliers to remove the lid and my hands never touch the can contains. Both the lid and the can have no sharp edges after it was opened.Unlike conventional can openers, this one clamps the lid from the top. Your guests might be confused if they try to use this.This Rösle Stainless Steel Can Opener is both designed and made superbly. I highly recommend this.Update 3/09/2019I revised the 5 stars rating to 2. My can opener stopped working a couple of months ago. It now would not open any cans. I think it lost the clamping pressure on the rim and it no longer works. May be the issue is the cans are using thinner material or the can opener mechanism loosen over time. I think if the can opener opens thick cans too often, it would no longer able to open normal or thinner cans. It worked great while it lasted. I hate to see people buy this on my recommendation and later find out that this opener does not last. This is an expensive can opener and it should have much longer useful life.Update 3/19/2019After I updated this review, I wrote an email to Rösle and requested for service. The Service Rep asked me where I am located. I told her that I am from California, US. She asked for my address so she could send me a new one. I promptly replied with my address. This exchange of email took 2 days. I received an UPS delivery notice on the 6th day after the email that I was getting a replacement. On the 7th day, UPS delivered my new can opener. It took exactly a week from me sending an email to receiving a new opener.I downgraded this Rösle can opener from 5 stars to 2 stars because it did not last. However, I am overjoyed that Rösle replaced it.I am revising the rating back to 5 stars. This kind of Customer Service will keep me as a Customer for life.BTW. The new one is identical to the old one. The new one does feel tighter and the pliers close with a tighter gap.

Our old KitchenAid can opener died on us after a few years, so I went shopping. And found the Rösle.What's different about it:1 It's solid stainless steel (except for the magnet).2 It opens cans from the top.3 It doesn't leave any sharp edges.4 Opened/partially used cans can be re-closed simply by placing the lid back on the can.There's a little bit of a learning curve, since its geometry is a bit different from the typical can opener, but once that code is cracked, using it is a breeze.Unsure how long it will last (construction looks like the 'tank-built' variant of can openers), but I expect decades. In the meantime, we love it. RECOMMENDED.