Get the lid off a can without making a mess

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know of a way to get the lid off a can without making a
mess. Whether I use a hand cranked can opener, or an electric one,
the lid is still always below the top of the can, and no matter what I
do, it never fails that food ends up all over the place and runs down
my arm. After a life of fighting the lids I still have not found a
method to get the lid off without a mess. I finally decided to ask
for tips..... (I am referring to tin cans bought in stores, not
canning jars).

I've never heard of such a problem! The lid should drop into the can and
you can use the tines of a fork to lift it and remove it without disturbing
the contents of the can. Alternately, just don't open it completely; leave
a little bit unopened. Again using a fork, raise the lid to an upright
position and empty contents of said can. This is also good if you need to
drain liquid from the can. Just press down on it and drain off the liquid,
then proceed as directed raising the lid up and emptying the contents.

Jill

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know of a way to get the lid off a can without making a
mess. Whether I use a hand cranked can opener, or an electric one,
the lid is still always below the top of the can, and no matter what I
do, it never fails that food ends up all over the place and runs down
my arm. After a life of fighting the lids I still have not found a
method to get the lid off without a mess. I finally decided to ask
for tips..... (I am referring to tin cans bought in stores, not
canning jars).

Anyone?

Yeah, okay. Guess my "troll-dar" ain't workin'. Right.

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know of a way to get the lid off a can without making a
mess.

The trolls are out tonight.

Brian

--
If televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who
won't shut up.
-- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com)

On Fri, 27 Apr 2007 23:52:39 -0500, [email hidden]
magnanimously proffered:

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know of a way to get the lid off a can without making a
mess. Whether I use a hand cranked can opener, or an electric one,
the lid is still always below the top of the can, and no matter what I
do, it never fails that food ends up all over the place and runs down
my arm. After a life of fighting the lids I still have not found a
method to get the lid off without a mess. I finally decided to ask
for tips..... (I am referring to tin cans bought in stores, not
canning jars).

Anyone?

Simple. Use a strong magnet. Works a treat.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know of a way to get the lid off a can without making a
mess. Whether I use a hand cranked can opener, or an electric one,
the lid is still always below the top of the can, and no matter what I
do, it never fails that food ends up all over the place and runs down
my arm. After a life of fighting the lids I still have not found a
method to get the lid off without a mess. I finally decided to ask
for tips..... (I am referring to tin cans bought in stores, not
canning jars).

Anyone?

Opening canned foods is not a big deal. I use a mechanical can openers
with heavy plastic gripper handles. This kind of can opener has been
available in most supermarkets for a few dollars for at least a decade;
its nothing new and its about as old fashioned as one can get, except
that the handles are plastic, which helps improve gripping.

The trick is to avoid separating the lid from the can all the way when
you use your can opener. When I get to within an 1/8 inch of the point
where I started opening the can, I stop opening and set the can opener
aside. At that point, I simply pry the lid off the rest of the way with
a knife or spoon and bend it to completely separate it from the can.

This is how I have been opening canned goods for decades. The lid comes
off fairly clean and I avoid having it fall into the can's contents.

[email hidden] wrote

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know of a way to get the lid off a can without making a
mess.

No way, you must starve.
--
Vilco
Think pink, drink rose'

business said:

Does anyone know of a way to get the lid off a can without making a
mess.

No need to get the lid off... just lift the lid, then do your
*business*... no mess in a can!

Don't forget to flush your business...

Sheldon

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know of a way to get the lid off a can without making a
mess. Whether I use a hand cranked can opener, or an electric one,
the lid is still always below the top of the can, and no matter what I
do, it never fails that food ends up all over the place and runs down
my arm. After a life of fighting the lids I still have not found a
method to get the lid off without a mess. I finally decided to ask
for tips..... (I am referring to tin cans bought in stores, not
canning jars).

Aside from the tips others have mentioned, you could get a side cutting or
smooth edge opener. They cut into the side of the top rather than down into
the top. The top can then just be lifted off by the rim. I've never used on
myself, so I don't know how well they work. Here are two versions available
from Bed Bath and Beyond, one manual and one electric:

Manual
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=12742371

Electric
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=13016879

--
wff_ng_7 (at) verizon (dot) net

wff_ng_7 wrote on Sat, 28 Apr 2007 15:50:13 GMT:

wn> <[email hidden]> wrote:
??>> Does anyone know of a way to get the lid off a can without
??>> making a mess. Whether I use a hand cranked can opener,
??>> or an electric one, the lid is still always below the top
??>> of the can, and no matter what I do, it never fails that
??>> food ends up all over the place and runs down my arm.
??>> After a life of fighting the lids I still have not found a
??>> method to get the lid off without a mess. I finally
??>> decided to ask for tips..... (I am referring to tin cans
??>> bought in stores, not canning jars).

wn> Aside from the tips others have mentioned, you could get a
wn> side cutting or smooth edge opener. They cut into the side
wn> of the top rather than down into the top. The top can then
wn> just be lifted off by the rim. I've never used on myself,
wn> so I don't know how well they work. Here are two versions
wn> available from Bed Bath and Beyond, one manual and one
electric:

I tried an early version of one of those side cutters and threw
it out when I discovered the cut edge of the can was razor
sharp. Perhaps they have improved but I have not bothered to
find out.

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.comcast.not

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know of a way to get the lid off a can without making a
mess.

You gotta be smarter than the can.

nb

Vilco said:

[email hidden] wrote

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know of a way to get the lid off a can without making a
mess.

No way, you must starve.

he can still open a bottle of steak sauce and drink up.

your pal,
blake

notbob said:

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know of a way to get the lid off a can without making a
mess.

You gotta be smarter than the can.

That's a real LOL nb!

--
See return address to reply by email

sf said:

notbob said:

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know of a way to get the lid off a can without making a
mess.

You gotta be smarter than the can.

That's a real LOL nb!

Yeah, but the OP was looking for practical advice.
Being told he's overmatched is not useful. :-)

"blake murphy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Vilco said:

[email hidden] wrote

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know of a way to get the lid off a can without making a
mess.

No way, you must starve.

he can still open a bottle of steak sauce and drink up.

your pal,
blake

Yeah, but steak sauce is nasty to him.

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know of a way to get the lid off a can without making a
mess. Whether I use a hand cranked can opener, or an electric one,
the lid is still always below the top of the can, and no matter what I
do, it never fails that food ends up all over the place and runs down
my arm. After a life of fighting the lids I still have not found a
method to get the lid off without a mess. I finally decided to ask
for tips..... (I am referring to tin cans bought in stores, not
canning jars).

Have a drink first. Once the DTs are under control there should be no
problem.

Dave Smith said:

business said:

Does anyone know of a way to get the lid off a can without making a
mess.  Whether I use a hand cranked can opener, or an electric one,
the lid is still always below the top of the can, and no matter what I
do, it never fails that food ends up all over the place and runs down
my arm.  After a life of fighting the lids I still have not found a
method to get the lid off without a mess.  I finally decided to ask
for tips.....  (I am referring to tin cans bought in stores, not
canning jars).

Have a drink first. Once the DTs are under control there should be no
problem.

Drinks schminks... try opening canned tuna with six cats.

Sheldon

On Sat, 28 Apr 2007 17:18:21 -0400, "Kswck" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

"blake murphy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Vilco said:

[email hidden] wrote

> Does anyone know of a way to get the lid off a can without making a
> mess.

No way, you must starve.

he can still open a bottle of steak sauce and drink up.

your pal,
blake

Yeah, but steak sauce is nasty to him.

too bad.

your pal,
blake

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

Does anyone know of a way to get the lid off a can without making a
mess. Whether I use a hand cranked can opener, or an electric one,
the lid is still always below the top of the can, and no matter what I
do, it never fails that food ends up all over the place and runs down
my arm. After a life of fighting the lids I still have not found a
method to get the lid off without a mess. I finally decided to ask
for tips..... (I am referring to tin cans bought in stores, not
canning jars).

Anyone?

First of all, youhave tobe smarter than the can.

I'm guessing that doesn't apply in your case.

BOB

Sheldon said:

Dave Smith said:

business said:

Does anyone know of a way to get the lid off a can without making a
mess. hether I use a hand cranked can opener, or an electric one,
the lid is still always below the top of the can, and no matter what I
do, it never fails that food ends up all over the place and runs down
my arm.

fter a life of fighting the lids I still have not found a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

method to get the lid off without a mess. finally decided to ask
for tips..... (I am referring to tin cans bought in stores, not
canning jars).

Have a drink first. Once the DTs are under control there should be no
problem.

Drinks schminks... try opening canned tuna with six cats.

Sheldon

Now that you mentioned it, Tuna is one of the biggest problem cans to
open. The lid always goes sideways into the contents and causes the
tuna/water to spill over the edge (even without cats). I'll try some
of the tips posted. The magnet sounds like a good idea. Thanks