Can't Openers

or: They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To

Growing up, it seems like we always had the same stalwart set of kitchen gadgets. I'm fairly certain that further inspection of my mom's current kitchen would reveal many of these decades-old tools still residing in her drawers. Kristen and I haven't been quite so lucky. In 5 years of marriage, we have already gone through 3 can openers. With all the advances in technology these days, it seems like a can opener is something we should have perfected by now (or perhaps modern technology has allowed companies to perfect how to build things that will break immediately after their warranty expires). Here's a quick overview of our can opener history:

KitchenAid
We received our first can opener as a wedding gift. A brand known for quality, this one worked without a hitch for a few of years until, without warning, it started neglecting to cut all the way through the metal on opposite ends of the lid, leaving it loose but still very much attached.



Michael Graves
When choosing a replacement can opener, we unwittingly fell into the old form vs. function conundrum. This one was sure nice to look at, but struggled with its lone task for only about a month before it started to spin out, failing to even cut the can at all.




Farberware
Frustrated by our ongoing bad luck, Kristen picked this one out because it was the cheapest one at the store, using the logic that if it was eventually going to break, we might as well spend as little money on it as possible. Inevitably, I was attempting to open a can of spaghetti sauce a few weeks ago when the plastic knob cracked, rendering it useless.

So in our exasperation we turn to you, our loyal readers, to help us avoid wasting our money on another shoddy kitchen gadget. If you have found a particular brand that works well and has lasted for a reasonable amount of time, please let us know. Or, if you have had an experience similar to ours, feel free to vent.