Lessons from a Can Opener

@AnhedonisPřed rokem

Even though it was patented back in the 80’s, it’s still cutting edge technology.

@theletters9623

also on the "someone will have taught you how to use a can opener" assumption, I want you to picture three 20 year olds standing around a kitchen counter trying to figure out how to open a can of tomato paste bc somehow all three of them were never taught how to use a can opener. That is one of my most formative life experiences

@Dr.Quarex

I love the concept of Toxic Midwesterninty. My mother grew up in a house where her father literally would add new rooms from industrial or construction cast-offs, and impressive though it was, her attitude of "you can literally get by in ljfe using garbage" often was at odds with great outcomes. I appreciate her lessons on making do with literally whatever you have, and I am sure it made me actively more creative. But I am also proud that just last month I stared at the 25-year-old speakers I was once again fiddling with to get sound to come out of both at once, and suddenly said "fuck this" and threw them away and bought new ones. It was like $20 to solve a problem I had at least weekly. It was revelatory.

@miles11we

The opening and the "assume a standard can in a frictionless vacuum" hit me just right and I was howling with laughter

@laurenbradley6833

Your bit at about 17 mins in is actually spot on for people with executive dysfunction! It's common in folks with ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and other issues. Not quite where you were going with that but thinking that way has blown my mind and really helped me in my day-to-day life.

@allenjunge4127

9:35

@ElectroBOOMPřed rokem

It's funny! I had seen the safety opener a long while back used by somebody. I thought it was a very good product and looked for it and instead got the 2nd type of opener you mentioned which didn't work well at all. For a long time I thought what I had seen was a hallucination until you mentioned it here! I'm going to get it now that I know it is real!

@027erod

I have a standard can opener but my life changed when I learned you can also cut the lid seam with them like the safety opener does! If you clamp the wheels to the inner and outer sides of the lip, so the handles both are parallel to the lid, it pops the whole top off cleanly! Makes me crazy that I could have been doing that my whole life.. Thank you for shining a light on such over looked and ever faithful kitchen utensils!

@someoneelse1904

The circular cutting wheel openers are generally designed to be used flat so that they cut into the top of the can itself, below the seam, thus leaving no sharp edges on the lid and preventing the lid from falling into the food. Additionally, CS-tvr Atomic Shrimp used one of the seam can openers and later found a needle-sharp shard of metal in his food, which seems pretty serious.

@gunnythegamedev

You should do the history of screws. It's a simple topic that shows how the smallest of changes can lead to dramatic innovations.

@MidasKeyboard

It’s actually super interesting to me, and ever since I realized I’ve never not done it; however you can use a traditional can opener like the safer one, just by turning the rotating gear to the top of the lid so that the blade cuts the double seam! I have always done it this way and it’s changed my can opening life.

@marktutty3644

My first "taught" can opener was a lever style, which often resulted in a lid looking like a circular saw blade. Have migrated through a few designs since and settled on the safety side seal cutter type, and I note that the whisps of metal are worse if the tool is getting old and not cutting all the way through first time around. While the lid might not go back on with an air tight seal, it does mean you can cover the contents if putting in the refrigerator and not have the contents dry out or massively taint the refrigerator with smells

@martinlebl631Před rokem

Now I expect a video on cans. From the hard soldered ones, that could be quite dangerous if done improperly, through the war year ones, to the modern ones with liners that essentially eliminate problems with botulism. And all the rabbit holes to square cans, flat cans, integrated openings, whether key, pop top, etc, to the self heating cans for military, and survival use. Easily another video or two in there.

@SpeedNintendo

As someone who eats a lot of soup, I bought one of these can openers as soon as I saw this video. And wow, they are an absolute game changer. As you said, everything in the can slides right out! No fighting with sharp edges from the pull tab or a "regular" can opener. Thank you so much, you have saved me from endless (mild) inconvenience.

@byusaranicole

I have one of each type of can opener, but both have squeeze-handles. I like the "new" type. It makes it so much easier to use a scraper (without damaging it) to get the contents out of cream of soup cans or even more important: sweetened condensed milk cans.

@someoneelse7629

I knew they existed, I even had one a long time ago that I lost, but have lived with a regular one since then, it's working, it's good enough and I don't open very many cans. (pull tab cans are unusal here)

@HardlyNormal12

These can openers do seem a little obscure and hard to find, at least here in my locality in Western Australia. I decided to seek one out after watching this video, and I had to go to a fancy kitchen shop to find it. Totally worth it! I Struggle to open pull top cans, this thing makes them a breeze with the added bonus of no food getting stuck around the edge!

@physicsteachr

I remember finding one of these while housesitting for a friend. I don't know how, but I figured it out without directions (nothing was gonna come between me and my food). But "how" it worked was a mystery to me for years. I finally bought one myself but it didn't last very long before it was either too dull or got bent.

@lunarobversePřed rokem

"Assume a standard can in a frictionless vacuum." This, this right here is why I love your videos. Thank you!

@pauljones2510

Update: Was at the store the recently and decided to look for this type of can opener. Was not only surprised to find this kind of can opener, but also even more surprised to find two brands. They looked essentially the same. I bought the less expensive model. Used it for the first time this morning. It's truly amazing.