How to Easily Open a Can Without a Can Opener

If there’s one thing I learned in culinary school it’s to always use the right tool for the right job — a whisk to incorporate air into cream, a fish spatula for pan-frying halibut, a microplane for the perfect pith-free orange zest. But sometimes, we find ourselves without adequate tools, and if there’s a second thing I learned in culinary school, it’s that there’s more than one way to open a can. In the event that you find yourself wanting to open a can with no can opener in sight, here are a few ways to tackle the task.

To use a paring knife to open a can without a can opener, you have to be very careful. Point the tip of the paring knife into the inner edge of the can and use the back of your hand to apply pressure until the knife breaks through the surface. Carefully but firmly use one hand to hold the can steady, and the other hand move the knife up and down to create an opening large enough to get the contents out. You can stop there, or if you need to remove the lid fully, continue doing the same thing around the edge of the can until you can pry the lid open. 

It’s important to remember that a can is just a relatively thin layer of metal, so if you find a tool that’s strong enough, it should be able to get past the aluminum and into the good stuff. A chef’s knife works particularly well if the can is filled with liquid like broth or juice.

To open a can with a chef’s knife, place the heel of the knife along the inner edge of the lid, use the other hand to keep the can steady, and carefully but firmly use the corner the knife breaks through the surface. To remove the entire lid, continues slowly moving the heel along the edge until you can pry the lid open. 

This method is all about patience. Firmly grasp a spoon toward its bowl and rub it back and forth in a line along the top of the can until you form a groove. Keep working that groove, and eventually you’ll create a hole. Next, using the edge of the spoon, work the hole open around the perimeter of the can until you can remove the lid. This method will create jagged edges, so be very careful removing the lid.

I would imagine that Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson could probably open a can just by looking at it menacingly, but there’s another rock that can get the job done too: an actual rock. Whether you use a big rock or a stretch of concrete, the idea is the same: Rub the top of the can on a flat edge of a rock to break the seal of the can. This method will take a while, so stick with it. Again, be very careful. Use a towel or piece of cloth to wipe the metal shavings from the lid before removing it.