Simply as you’re about to make some baked beans, you understand that your can opener was left at dwelling.
How may this occur? You even used a guidelines!
Effectively, there’s no level in beating your head about it now. What’s finished is completed. The true query is – what to do now?
Fortunate for you, I do know how one can clear up the issue! The identical factor occurred to me on my final tenting journey.
After all, I solely realized it when it was too late. The one factor I may do at that time is get artistic. And I actually did.
I attempted a bunch of various issues. A few of them labored, some didn’t.
At present, I’ll share with you some different choices you need to use to open a can and not using a can opener.
Let’s leap straight to the purpose!
Opening Cans With no Can Opener: 6 Totally different Strategies
You’d be stunned what number of issues across the campsite can work as a substitute for a can opener.
Can’t consider something? Listed here are six strategies of opening cans with out an precise can opener:
1. Use a Steel Spoon
You may not have a can opener with you, however there’s a 99.9% probability you packed up utensils, together with a spoon.
Now I do know it would sound ridiculous, however a spoon is definitely skinny sufficient to pierce via the can but sturdy to not break within the course of.
For this, it must be manufactured from steel, not plastic.
Amongst all of the options to a can opener, a spoon is certainly the most secure possibility out there.
In comparison with different choices, the spoon doesn’t have any sharp edges you can get harm on.
After all, the opened can itself will be sharp sufficient to get minimize on, so that you must watch out whatever the device you’re utilizing.
The way to open a can with a spoon:
- Set the can on a sturdy floor, ideally on the peak of your hips. Maintain the can firmly in place with one hand, whereas the spoon is within the different.
- Your grip across the spoon needs to be agency, in order that it doesn’t bend when you begin making use of stress. Maintain it across the half the place the spoon head meets the deal with – in any other case, that’s the half the place it may well bend.
- Place the tip of the spoon in opposition to the inside fringe of the can lid, at a 90-degree angle. Face it in order that the within of the spoon bowl is dealing with the lid of the can.
- Rub the tip backwards and forwards over a small space. This may create friction that may trigger the lid to slowly begin to get thinner.
- When you pierce your approach in, transfer to some different spots across the lid and do the identical factor. Do that on each inch or so.
- If the opening is massive sufficient, dig the spoon underneath the lid and check out prying it upwards.
- Proceed doing this across the perimeter till the lid comes off.
2. Tough Floor
Let’s say you may have virtually nothing that may function a can opener different.
What if I informed you you can really use your environment to open it up? And I’m not saying about smashing it down with a rock.
To be sincere, this technique can contain rocks, nevertheless it’s not as “smashing” as you would possibly assume.
Principally, you want a tough floor, like a big rock and even concrete, that may work as sandpaper.
This technique would possibly require barely extra time than others, however hey, at the very least you received’t stay hungry for for much longer!
Put together some paper towels or cloths to wash up any spillage.
Because you’re working your approach via the wrong way up, it’s virtually unavoidable to don’t have anything leaking onto the floor beneath.
The way to open a can with a tough floor:
- Place the can the wrong way up on the tough floor.
- Rub the can backwards and forwards in opposition to the floor, as in the event you had been scrubbing the ground. This may create friction and skinny down the can lid.
- Once you see moisture showing on the floor, this implies the lid is about to interrupt. That is the place you wish to cease. In any other case, the content material of the can would possibly get spilled round.
- Seize a pocket knife, spoon or something comparable you may need at hand. At this level, the lid needs to be skinny sufficient so that you can pierce it. For those who don’t have something, you may at all times seize a smaller stone that you just’ll use to knock the lid inwards.
- That’s all! The one factor that’s left so that you can do is to wash up the mess you created whereas opening the can this manner.
3. Pocket Knife
When you’ve got a pocket knife (or any regular-sized sharp knife for that matter), it’s also possible to use it to open the can.
This technique is as shut because it will get to an actual can opener. It’s comparatively mess-free and, apart from the knife, requires a sturdy floor to place the can on.
Whereas this technique is relatively simple, ensure you’re further cautious when utilizing the knife.
For those who don’t preserve a agency grip and stress always, it may well slip and doubtlessly minimize via the pores and skin.
Contemplate carrying gloves for further security whereas working with a knife.
The way to open a can with a pocket knife:
- Place the can on a sturdy and flat floor. Ideally, you need the floor to be across the peak of your hips for higher management.
- Grad the knife in your dominant hand, and place it vertically in opposition to the inside fringe of the lid. Lock the knife into place with stress, in order that it doesn’t slip.
- Use your different hand to evenly smack the knife deal with. This may slowly pressure the knife in the direction of the lid, finally piercing it. Don’t do it too laborious, because the knife would possibly find yourself slipping and hurting you.
- When you pierce your approach in, scoot the knife over and do the identical factor once more. Proceed doing so till you’ve pierced holes round the entire perimeter. This could make the lid free sufficient so that you can open it up.
4. Cooks Knife
For those who’re assured in your knife expertise, it’s also possible to use a chef’s knife for opening the can.
For this technique, it’s essential to solely use cooks and never a fillet or veggie knife.
The burden of the knife does half the job right here, so doing it with another sort of knife wouldn’t be as efficient.
The way to open a can with a kitchen knife:
- Place the can on a secure floor. Ideally, you need one thing that’s about the identical peak as your hips.
- Seize the knife along with your dominant hand, gripping it the place the blade meets the deal with. Be certain that your fingers are away from the sharp aspect of the blade, so that you just don’t by chance harm your self. Maintain your thumb on the aspect of the blade, to forestall getting minimize by the “heel.”
- Whereas firmly holding the blade, place the heel on the sting of the lid. Forcefully, press it right down to piece the lid and create a gap.
- Try this for the entire perimeter of the lid. As soon as it will get free, you may pry it off. Place the blade underneath the lid and thoroughly pull it upwards.
5. Scissors
Scissors possibly not be a staple in your tenting gear, however possibly they made their approach into your gear this time.
Your first help package also needs to function scissors, as you’ll want them for chopping bandages.
To make this clear, not all scissors will work for this. You want a pair of steel ones which can be actually sturdy.
Principally, they need to be as hefty as backyard shears, that are virtually unbreakable. And I’m not even speaking in regards to the blades.
It’s the hinge half that may simply snap if you put an excessive amount of stress on it.
The way to open a can with scissors:
- Maintain the scissors in your dominant hand. Whereas conserving the scissor blades closed, place them vertically on the sting of the lid, with the highest of the blades dealing with down.
- Use your different hand to faucet the scissors on the highest a part of the deal with. You don’t wish to smack too laborious, as scissors aren’t often as sharp as another instruments on this listing, and would possibly find yourself sliding and finally hurting you.
- Proceed tapping till you pierce your approach in. Then transfer to another level alongside the sting of the lid and repeat.
- As soon as the lid comes free, use the scissors to pry it open.
6. Utilizing a Bike Device
Let’s say you’re bike tenting. You absolutely have some bike instruments packed up within the occasion that you must do a fast repair.
In that case, there’s most likely a screwdriver or pointy plier in your bag. Effectively, any of those pointy objects can work for opening a can.
What’s additionally nice is that they’re not as sharp as knives, so there’s much less room for accidents.
This technique is relatively just like utilizing a pocket knife or scissors, with just a few modifications right here and there.
The way to open a tin can with a motorbike device or pliers:
- Place a can on a sturdy floor.
- Maintain the device in your dominant hand, whereas conserving the can in place with the opposite one. For those who’re utilizing pliers, open them up as you’ll use just one aspect to pierce your approach via.
- Begin pounding with the sharp edge onto the sting of the lid in the identical spot, till you make a gap.
- Repeat the method across the perimeter, till the can lid feels free sufficient to be eliminated. Pry the lid open with the device, whereas conserving your fingers away from the sting of the lid.
The way to Keep Protected Whereas Opening a Can With no Can Opener
Security is essential, even with a correct can opener.
Personally, I someway handle to get minimize with just about any device.
I attribute that to my clumsiness and never sloppiness when working with completely different instruments, because it looks like one can by no means be too cautious when doing that.
Sporting gloves whereas opening a can and not using a can opener is the naked minimal you are able to do to remain secure.
The vast majority of these options have sharp edges that may harm you. In truth, the can itself is already too sharp, particularly when opened in any of those unconventional methods.
When working with these instruments, it’s greatest to maintain the can on a sturdy floor that’s in regards to the peak of your hips.
This provides you essentially the most management over the grip, so there’s much less probability of the can slipping.
By no means – and I can’t state this sufficient – maintain the can between your legs.
Whereas that’s absolutely a secure place to work with, any of the instruments you could be utilizing for can opening can slip via your fingers, doubtlessly hurting your legs.
When poking a can with a pointy device, at all times preserve your strikes small. Although it would piece it quicker, chorus from swinging too excessive.
For those who miss the spot by as little as 1/64 of an inch, you may by chance stab your self.
FAQ
Is it secure to open a can with a knife?
Utilizing a knife to open a can has its dangers. A pointy blade that may pierce via aluminum is certainly sharp sufficient to harm you as effectively, so you actually should be further cautious when working with such a device.
All the time maintain the knife along with your dominant hand. If doable, put on security gloves when working with a knife.
What do you do in case your can opener received’t work?
In case your can opener determined to budge on you, then strive any of those different strategies that give you the results you want.
There’s absolutely at the very least one factor from the listing you may have at hand. If not, you may at all times resort to utilizing a tough floor and sanding the can.
The way to open a can with a fork?
You should utilize a fork the identical approach you’d use a spoon to open the can. However as an alternative of utilizing the pinnacle of the spoon to pierce the can, you wish to use the deal with as an alternative.
A fork is far simpler to bend in comparison with a spoon, plus the deal with provides extra floor to use the stress.
What’s the best choice/technique to open a can safely?
Amongst all of the options listed, utilizing a chef’s knife might be the quickest and least sloppy strategy to open a can.
Nevertheless, since that’s a really sharp device, that you must be further cautious when utilizing it.
However so far as security goes, utilizing a spoon or tough floor is the least dangerous possibility.
Apart from the can itself, there’s nothing sharp to get minimize on. After all, in the event you’re not centered, you may at all times by chance harm your self with any device.
How do you open a can with out instruments?
For those who don’t have something in any respect, then use any tough floor you’ll find round.
This is usually a massive rock, however even concrete works. Flip the can the wrong way up, and sand the lid over the floor.
Over time, this could skinny it out so that may be pierced with slight stress.
How do you open a can with out ruining it?
Regardless of how cautious you’re, you’ll injury a can whichever technique you determine on utilizing.
However with sharp instruments, like a knife or screwdriver, you’ll be capable to open it with precision and little or no injury.
To Sum Issues Up
For those who go away your can opener at dwelling, it’s not the top of the world. You most likely have some sharp instruments that you need to use as an alternative, resembling a knife or a pair of scissors.
And even in the event you actually don’t have anything, you may at all times discover some tough floor to make use of as an alternative.
Whichever technique you determine on utilizing, ensure you’re taking all of the precautionary measures to open the can as safely as doable.