Cuisinart CCO-50N Can Opener Review (2026)

Cooks who prefer a top cut for draining liquids through the lid gap, and households wanting a durable countertop staple. Edge-safety-first buyers and arthritis users needing the lightest lever should look at smooth-edge rivals.

Cuisinart's power pierce starts the cut without a struggle, and the wide base keeps the unit planted through tall cans. Owners report clean, single-pass cuts as the norm.

The magnetic holder catches the lid as the cut completes, keeping it out of the food, a small detail that matters with soups and sauces.

The activation lever assembly removes for washing, which addresses the hygiene problem of countertop openers: dried residue around the cutting wheel.

Make it a weekly habit and the cutter keeps its bite and its manners.

Against the Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch, the Cuisinart leaves a sharper top-cut edge but offers the washable removable lever and the draining-friendly top cut; the Hamilton Beach wins on edge safety and lever effort. Against the Zyliss Easi Can, the Cuisinart is faster and outlet-powered for volume, while the Zyliss is a battery handheld that stores in a drawer and stops automatically.

If small children handle cans, or anyone in the home has reduced sensation in their hands, a smooth-edge model is the safer default.

If counter space is zero, no countertop model fits, including this one.

Owners report this countertop model is louder than handheld battery models, which matters in quiet early-morning kitchens but is typical of corded countertop power. The magnetic lid holder keeps cut lids out of food, yet owners note the magnet can drop small lids if they are not seated properly, so let the cut complete and support very small lids as you lift. The sturdy wide base stays stable and does not walk across the counter in normal use. Combined with the removable lever for washing, the daily routine is simple: seat the can squarely, cut in one pass, lift the lid by its center, and wash the lever on a regular cycle.

The top cut has one practical advantage owners use daily: leave the cut lid resting in place and tip the can to drain liquid through the small gap before lifting the lid fully away.

That habit suits tuna, beans, and vegetables in liquid, and it is the main reason some cooks prefer this traditional cut over a smooth side cut even while handling the sharper lid edge with care.