How to Open Canned Food Without a Opener

Are you struggling because you don’t have a can opener? Don’t worry: the lid is made of a thin piece of metal so it shouldn’t be hard to break. You just need to use a spoon, kitchen knife, pocket knife or even an ice cube to open the box and use it right away. It only takes a few minutes to try one of the ways below to enjoy canned food.

Table of Contents

Using a Pocket Knife

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Place the can on a firm surface. A hip-height desk is a good idea. Stand higher than the box to make it easier to do.

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Place the tip of the knife on the edge of the box lid. Hold the knife upright. Hold the knife tightly so it doesn’t slip and injure you.

This method is much more effective than the blade method. That could chip your knife and drop metal chips on your food.
Make sure you hold the knife firmly and straight so it doesn’t slip.
This can also be done with a chisel or something hard, thin, and sharp like a pocket knife.

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One hand holds the knife, the other hand pats the top of the knife handle. This force will act to puncture the lid of the box.

Don’t slap too hard if you don’t want your hand to slip and slide the knife.
Use the palm of your hand to clap. This helps you control your force.

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Lift the knife and slide it to the side to make a new hole. Place the tip of the knife a few centimeters from the old hole along the edge of the box lid and repeat the above technique.

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Continue until you have punched a circle with as many holes around the lid as you can with a can opener. You can now open the lid of the box.

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Lift the lid. Insert the tip of the knife into one of the holes just made and lift the lid of the box.

If necessary, use a small knife to cut away the joints between the holes just punched.
Wear gloves or cover your hands with a towel to protect your hands because the lid of the box is quite sharp.

Use a Spoon

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Place canned goods on a firm flat surface. Hold the box in one hand, spoon in the other.

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Place the pointed end of the spoon on the inner edge of the lid. The lid of any canned food has a rim where the manufacturer welds the piece of metal to the side of the can to keep the food sealed.

Hold the spoon so that the indentation of the tip of the spoon rotates toward the lid of the can.
You should use a metal spoon. Spoons made of other materials will not work.

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Ray the tip of the spoon in a very small range. Friction between the tip of the spoon and the lid of the can will thin the metal lid. Continue rolling until you puncture the lid of the box. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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Pick up the spoon and continue to run it into the spot next to the hole you just punched. Keep doing this and you will see the original hole getting bigger and bigger.

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Do the same all around the edge of the box lid. Move the spoon around and puncture the lid of the can until you make a full circle. The lid of the box has now been cut off. Do not push the lid down, or the food will spill out.

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Open the box cover. Insert the spoon under the edge of the lid of the can. Lift up the spoon and the lid of the box will curve up to reveal the food inside.

If you find the spoon a bit too big to slip into the slot and lift the lid, try with a knife. You can also use a knife to cut off any remaining metal from the lid.
The lid of the box after cutting is quite sharp, so be careful not to cut your hand when holding it. Use gloves or a towel to cover your hands if necessary.

Using a Kitchen Knife

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Place canned goods on a firm flat surface. If you have a hip-height desk, even better. Do not place the box on your lap or between your legs. The knife may slip out and injure you.

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Hold the knife handle. Hold the knife firmly, fingers on the handle, keeping a safe distance from the blade. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Make sure you hold the knife firmly as this can be dangerous if your hands or the knife are slippery.
Do not use this method with any knife smaller than a kitchen knife. We recommend using a kitchen knife as it is larger and heavier than a paring knife or a steak knife. You need a knife heavy enough to effectively pierce the lid of the box.

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Place the shank (the widest part of the blade, facing the tip) on the inner edge of the can lid.

The handle of the knife should be directly under your hand.
Make sure the knife handle is fixed and stabs straight down to the inner edge of the lid to prevent the knife from slipping.

Use Stone

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Find a flat rock or a piece of cement. It is best that the stone or piece of cement has a very rough surface. A smooth cobblestone won’t be rough enough to grind the lid of a lunch box.

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Place the food box face down on the rock. This makes it easy to grind the weld metal between the lid of the box and the side of the box. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

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Grind the box back and forth on the rock to create friction. Continue until you see water come out on the rock or the lid of the box.

Turn the canister frequently to check. Stop as soon as you see signs of water. That means the lid of the box is thin enough to be penetrated.
Don’t grind too hard if you don’t want the lid to suddenly puncture and the food spill out.

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Use a pocket knife to punch the lid of the box. The welded metal between the lid of the box and the opening of the box is thin enough to be pierced. You can easily cut and pry the lid of the box.

If you don’t have a pocket knife, try with a spoon, butter knife, or anything similar.
Or find a rock to knock for the lid to fall off. This way is only reluctant because you can dirty the food in it.
And don’t forget to protect your hands with gloves or a towel to avoid unnecessary injuries when you remove the lid of the box.

Advice

Ask the people around and borrow a can opener! Even when camping, many people are willing to share their cans with other campers.
You can also easily find can openers in many stores along with camping gear. So much simpler, because the can opener is very compact, easy to carry anywhere, so always carry it in your hiking or camping backpack.

Warning

Don’t try to cut the lid off with a bread knife or you’ll end up with metal crumbs falling inside.
For those boxes that you have tried to open before but failed, do not eat anymore, the food may already be spoiled. When choosing to buy canned goods, also avoid dented boxes due to shipping errors because the quality of food in those boxes is not guaranteed.
None of the above methods are recommended, as these are only reluctant measures without special tools, so there are risks. The above methods are not suitable for children under any circumstances. Always be careful and don’t be in a hurry if you try these methods.
Any method other than using the correct can opener carries the risk of leaving metal chips in the food inside. Work very carefully to minimize and immediately remove any debris you see. It is best done in a well-lit environment.

Things you need

Spoon
Kitchen knife
Pocketknife
Rock

Steps