There are certain kitchen gadgets we use without giving them much thought. Until they become difficult to use. The manual can opener is a perfect example. Clamp it onto the can. Squeeze the handles. Start turning. Keep turning. Readjust it when it slips. And hope the little wheel actually makes it all the way around. For many of us, that’s merely annoying. But if your hands aren’t as strong as they once were—or twisting and gripping just aren’t as comfortable anymore—that simple can of soup can suddenly become a surprisingly stubborn opponent. That’s why this week’s Geezers, Gadgets and Gizmos Product Spotlight caught our attention.

Meet the Kitchen Mama Auto Electric Can Opener

This is one of those gadgets whose purpose can be explained in about five seconds.

Put it on top of a can. Press the button. Let it do the work.

The Kitchen Mama Auto Electric Can Opener is a cordless, battery-powered electric can opener that travels around the can for you. Unlike a traditional opener that cuts down through the top of the lid, Kitchen Mama uses a tilted blade that cuts along the side of the can.

When it has made its way around the can, press the button again to stop it. No squeezing two handles together, no cranking a little knob around and around and no electrical cord taking up space on the counter. Sometimes the smartest gadget isn’t particularly complicated. It simply eliminates a job you don’t enjoy doing.

Here’s What We Like About the Idea

1. It takes gripping and twisting out of the job

This may be the biggest reason the Kitchen Mama makes sense. A traditional manual can opener requires you to hold the handles together while repeatedly turning a crank. With the Auto, the motor and drive gear do that work instead. Kitchen Mama says the opener’s gear grips the rim and moves the device around the can automatically. That could make it particularly appealing to anyone who finds traditional can openers uncomfortable to operate. But we wouldn’t label this a “senior gadget.” Who wouldn’t rather press a button than fight with a can opener?

2. It Cuts Along the Side

Here’s a feature we find particularly interesting. The Kitchen Mama doesn’t cut through the top of the lid in the traditional way. Its tilted blade cuts around the side, which the manufacturer says leaves a smooth edge on both the lid and the can. The blade also doesn’t contact the food inside. That’s a clever redesign of a tool most of us probably assumed didn’t need redesigning. Apparently it did.

3. It’s Cordless

The original Kitchen Mama uses four AA alkaline batteries, which aren’t included. That means there’s no cord and no need to dedicate permanent counter space to another appliance.

• Use it.
• Put it back in the drawer.
• Done.

That’s particularly attractive if your kitchen counters already contain a coffee maker, toaster, air fryer, blender and enough other appliances to qualify as a small electronics store.

4. There’s a Catch

There almost always is. Despite some descriptions of automatic can openers as “one touch,” the original Kitchen Mama does not automatically shut itself off. That’s important. You press the button once to start it and press it again after it completes its trip around the can. Kitchen Mama distinguishes this original model from newer models that offer automatic shutoff. It also isn’t designed for every conceivable can. Kitchen Mama says the original works with almost any cans but not soda cans with sloped edges. We’d rather tell you that now than have you discover it after buying one.

Do You Really Need an Electric Can Opener?

Maybe not. If your $8 manual can opener works perfectly and you have no trouble using it, there’s no compelling reason to replace it simply because somebody added batteries. That’s not what Geezers, Gadgets and Gizmos is about. But if opening cans has become frustrating—or you simply like the idea of eliminating the squeezing, gripping and cranking—the Kitchen Mama starts making considerably more sense. And that’s the test we’re increasingly using when we look at gadgets:

Does it solve a real problem?

In this case, we’d say yes. It takes an ordinary kitchen chore and makes it easier. No artificial intelligence, no app, no Wi-Fi password and no monthly subscription. Four AA batteries and a button. There’s something rather refreshing about that.

The Bottom Line

The Kitchen Mama Auto Electric Can Opener isn’t going to revolutionize your kitchen. That’s precisely why we like the idea. It solves one small, recognizable problem. And sometimes those are the gadgets that end up earning a permanent place in the drawer.

Pro’s

✓ Less gripping and twisting than a traditional manual opener
✓ Cordless and compact
✓ Side-cut design creates a smooth edge
✓ Simple start/stop operation
✓ No app, Wi-Fi or subscription

Things to Know

• Requires four AA alkaline batteries — not included
• Original Auto model doesn’t shut itself off automatically
• You still need to press the button again to stop it
• Doesn’t work with every can shape, including sloped-edge soda cans
• Wipe clean only; don’t immerse it in water or put it in the dishwasher

Keep Exploring with Geezers Gadgets and Gizmos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’re Alyson Grisham and Garrison Leykam, bringing two generations and two perspectives together to explore the products, technology and ideas that can make life easier, safer, more connected—and a lot more fun.

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A Note from Geezers, Gadgets and Gizmos

We haven’t personally tested this product, so we’re presenting it as a product worth considering. Some of the links in this article are Amazon affiliate links. If you make a qualifying purchase through one of them, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. That support helps us continue researching products, creating articles like this and bringing you practical information about technology that can make everyday life better.