OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener Review (2026): The

Why you should trust this review

I bought this OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener at retail; OXO did not provide it and had no involvement in this review. A can opener seems like the most boring tool in the drawer until a traditional one leaves a jagged lid that slices your finger while you are fishing it out of the can. The whole premise of the smooth-edge design is that it eliminates that risk, so I wanted to confirm it actually works as promised over a long stretch of normal use rather than in a one-time demo.

I use a can opener weekly for beans, tomatoes, broth, and the like, so this got steady real-world duty across more than a year. Everything here comes from that real-world use, not from the packaging copy.

How we evaluated

I used this as my only can opener for thirteen months, opening everything from small tuna tins to tall tomato cans on a weekly basis. After each open I deliberately ran a finger along the rim of both the can and the detached lid to check for sharpness, which is the entire point of a smooth-edge design and the easiest claim to verify directly.

I tested the turning effort on stubborn, tightly sealed cans to judge whether the large knob actually provided enough leverage, and I used the built-in lid-lifter pliers each time rather than prying lids out by hand. I ran the opener through the dishwasher repeatedly to check the stainless cutting mechanism and the cushioned grip for rust, wear, and degradation over the test period.

The smooth-edge result: the headline claim holds up

This is the reason the tool exists, and it delivers. Instead of cutting through the top of the lid, the blade slices the seam around the side of the can, so the lid lifts off cleanly and what remains on both pieces is a smooth, rolled edge. Across thirteen months of weekly opens I ran my finger around the rim every time, and never once found the kind of sharp burr that a traditional top-cutting opener leaves behind.

That matters for more than just avoiding a cut. Because the lid itself has no sharp edge, you can press it down to drain liquid or set it aside without treating it like a hazard, and a child or an older relative can handle the can safely. For anyone who has nicked a knuckle on a jagged tomato can, the smooth-edge result is the kind of small upgrade you do not want to give up once you have it.

Grip comfort and turning ease

The cushioned soft handles are the other half of what makes this pleasant to use. They are thick and grippy enough that I never had to clamp down hard or fight the tool, which matters a great deal if you have arthritis or weak hands, exactly the user OXO’s Good Grips line is built around. Over thirteen months the grip stayed comfortable and never got slippery in a wet hand.

The large turning knob gives real mechanical leverage. On tightly sealed cans where a small flimsy opener would slip or stall, the big knob let me power through with steady, low-effort turns. It tracked the seam without jumping off, and I never had a can it could not finish. The combination of a comfortable grip and an easy-turning knob is what makes this feel like a quality tool rather than a disposable one.

Lid lifter, build, and the learning curve

The built-in pliers at the head are a genuinely useful touch. After the cut, you pinch the detached lid and lift it straight out, so you never have to dig your fingers into the can or pry with a knife. Over thirteen months the lifter gripped reliably every time, which keeps the whole operation clean and contact-free with the food.

On durability, the stainless mechanism held up well through repeated dishwasher cycles, with no rust on the cutting wheel and no degradation of the soft grip over the test period. The cushioned handle is the one part I would expect to show wear eventually after years of heavy use, but at thirteen months it looked and felt new. The honest caveat is the learning curve: if you have only ever used a top-cutting opener, the side-cutting motion takes a couple of cans to get used to, since you clamp on the side rim rather than the top and the feel is different. It clicked for me within the first week and never felt awkward again.

Who should buy the OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener?

Buy it if you hate the sharp edges a traditional can opener leaves, if you or someone in your household has hand-strength or arthritis issues, or if you simply want a manual opener that feels secure and lasts. The smooth-edge cut genuinely removes the cut-finger risk, and the comfortable grip plus the leverage knob make it easy to use for anyone.

Skip it if you want the cheapest possible opener and do not mind sharp lids, since a basic top-cutting model costs less, or if you open a high volume of cans daily and would rather have an electric opener do the work. It is also worth a moment’s patience if you are switching from a top-cutting design, because the side-cut motion takes a brief adjustment.

The verdict

Thirteen months of weekly use in, the OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener does exactly what it promises: it leaves both the can and the lid with safe, smooth, rolled edges every time, while the cushioned grip and big knob make the job genuinely comfortable. The brief learning curve and the eventual long-term wear on the cushion are the only honest caveats, and neither is a real knock. For a safe, easy, durable manual can opener, this is the one I would buy again.