How to Open a Can Without a Can Opener: Learning how to open a can without a can opener is not difficult if you know what to do. It just requires practice and doing a little extra effort to make it work. Once you learn how to open a can, you will be able to open cans at will.
The key to learning how to open a can without a can opener is preparation. First, position the opened can on a solid, level surface. With one hand in your lap, use the other hand to support the knife you will use to cut the tab on the can (after loosening the grip on the can with your free hand, of course). Hold the flat blade of your knife firmly against the side of the tab and position the point just forward of the hole you are cutting into.
Hold your free hand beneath the open end of the can, parallel to the direction of the hole. Position the second finger of your free hand on the opposite side of the metal file as your can opener. You should be able to feel the metal file scraping the can as you slide it along the length of the tab. You may need to bend your wrist slightly to get the file downward into the can without making any marks on the metal file itself.
You will need to look at the slot at the top of your opener to determine where the slot ends and begins. The slot will be lined up when the can is halfway opened. Slide the knife over the edge of the tab and push the blade down until you feel resistance as you do so. This means you are halfway through the can. It is advisable to push the knife further down before you reach the very bottom as you do not want the contents of the spoon to spill out onto the floor as you open the can again!
Holding the top of your can slightly upwards and then applying pressure on the sides of the top where the slot meets the lid will help you to slide it open without damaging the knife or the blade. If the lids of cans are easy to open, place the can slightly open and then slide the knife up against the top lids. Then press down gently on both sides to guide the knife up and down. Do not push the knife too far up as you may damage the plastic or bend the knife.
Another method of how to open a can without a can opener is to use your fingers to push the lids of jars open by force. To do this, you must have very strong fingers as anything less than that would be nearly impossible. Place the jar with the contents inside at the side of your table or armchair so that the jar is in the middle of your space. Squirt some water on the jar and then use your fingers to push the top half of it open – after that, you can either use the fingertips to guide the opening to the right or left.
Another option for how to open a can is to use the metal file. Hold the file with two hands width apart and file the rim of it down so that the sharp end is right at the tip of your finger. Keep pushing it down until the teeth of the file hit the edge of your spoon. Stop pushing the file down until you hear a click sound as the file has passed completely through the metal. Stop pushing the file down and hold the file in one hand whilst pressing your fingers gently on the sides of your spoon to guide the opening of your can.
Another way of how to open a can without a can opener is to use a knife. To do this, grasp the knife with one hand whilst pointing the blade of the knife at the center of your roof. Squirt some water onto the knife and then use your fingers to guide the knife to the opening on your can. Again, be careful to watch the space around the opener as you don’t want to spill anything onto the can when you’re trying to open it!
