OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener Review (2026)

Who this can opener fits

This is a manual can opener aimed at anyone who regularly works through canned beans, tomatoes, broth or vegetables as part of a meal prep routine, rather than someone who opens a can only once in a while. The smooth edge, side cutting design is specifically useful for people who want to avoid the sharp, jagged rim that a traditional top cutting opener leaves behind, whether that is out of concern for cut fingers while rinsing beans or simply wanting a cleaner edge on a lid you plan to reuse or recycle. OXO's Good Grips line is generally built with comfortable, cushioned handles in mind, so this opener also suits people who find traditional metal handled openers uncomfortable to grip, including anyone with reduced hand strength who benefits from a larger, easier to turn knob. It is a handheld tool, not an electric one, so it still requires manual turning for each can.

How the smooth edge cutting works

Rather than piercing and cutting along the top of the can lid, this opener's wheel cuts into the side of the can just below the rim, which means the sharp cutting wheel never makes contact with the food inside and the can itself is left without a jagged edge once the lid comes off. The opener is made from a combination of brass, stainless steel and durable plastic, with the cutting wheel described as hardened stainless steel. Once the cut is complete, built in pliers grip and lift the lid away from the can, so you can remove it without touching the metal edge directly, which is the main safety benefit of this style of opener over a standard top cutting design. The listing describes the opener as roughly 7.5 inches tall by 4.5 inches wide by 2.25 inches deep and about 0.65 pounds, sized similarly to most manual can openers.

Daily use and care

In daily use, the side cutting mechanism does take a bit of practice compared with a traditional opener, since you are locking the wheel onto the side of the can near the rim rather than clamping straight down on top, and the exact angle takes a few tries to get consistent. Once you get the technique down, the wide side winding knob and cushioned, non slip handles make repeated turning comfortable even across several cans in one prep session. Because the opener uses a locking lid mechanism to hold the lid via the built in pliers, some users find the lid can be slightly fiddly to release from the pliers afterward compared with just picking it up by hand. OXO recommends hand washing this opener rather than running it through the dishwasher, since the mechanism includes small moving parts and a wheel that can be affected by prolonged dishwasher heat and detergent exposure.

Trade offs and how it compares

On this site's can opener rankings, this OXO model sits at the top, just ahead of the Gorilla Grip Heavy Duty Stainless Steel opener, which uses a similar smooth edge, side cutting approach but in an all stainless steel body with a built in bottle opener. Compared with that Gorilla Grip option, this OXO opener leans more on ergonomic handle design from the well known Good Grips line, while Gorilla Grip's version adds the bottle opening function as a bonus feature. Against simpler, cheaper openers that cut across the top of the can, the trade off with any smooth edge design is a slightly steeper learning curve for the cutting technique, in exchange for a can and lid with no sharp edges left behind, which most users come to see as worth the adjustment.

Verdict and who should pick something else

This can opener earns a strong score for combining OXO's comfortable Good Grips handle design with the practical safety benefit of a smooth edge cut, and it is a sensible upgrade for anyone who opens cans often enough that comfort and edge safety actually matter. Shoppers who want a similar smooth edge cutting style but prefer an all stainless steel body, or who would like a built in bottle opener as a bonus, should look at the Gorilla Grip alternative instead. Anyone who only opens a can occasionally and does not want to learn a new side cutting technique may be just as happy with a simpler, traditional top cutting opener at a lower cost.

Frequently asked questions