master-cooks | Here's How People Opened Canned Food Before The Can Opener Arrived

Before the invention of the can opener, people employed various ingenious methods to access the contents of canned food, which was first patented in 1810. Early cans were robust and made from heavy metal, requiring considerable effort to open. One common method involved using a hammer and chisel or a sharp knife to pierce through the metal, though this approach was often cumbersome and potentially dangerous. In some cases, soldiers and explorers, who frequently relied on canned food for sustenance during long journeys, would resort to using bayonets or other sturdy tools at their disposal to cut through the cans. Some inventive individuals heated the cans over a fire to soften the metal, making it easier to break open. Others would use rocks to bash the can until it cracked, a method that was particularly popular among those who lacked proper tools. The process of opening canned food was often a laborious task until the can opener was introduced in 1858, revolutionizing the way people accessed preserved food and making the experience much more convenient and safer for everyone.

An Early history of the can (and its opener)

You can partially credit Napoleon Bonaparte for the can of Campbell's soup you're enjoying tonight. While it may seem like a stretch to link the renowned French general to canned food, Napoleon famously offered a reward of 12,000 francs to anyone who could devise a dependable method for preserving food for his expanding army. Around 1810, confectioner Nicolas François Appert developed an early prototype of a can made from airtight glass, earning the prize money. These glass containers effectively preserved food, and shortly thereafter, metal cans were patented by an Englishman named Peter Durand. Durand's food cans gained popularity and served as the model for the cans that Warner's tool would cut open.

In today's world, if you find yourself without a can opener, you still have alternatives. A spoon is the safest substitute you’re likely to find in your kitchen. You can use the spoon to pry at the edge of the lid until you create a small opening, allowing you to slide the spoon further underneath to lift the lid off completely. A knife can also do the trick, but be sure to watch your fingers closely. Either method is certainly preferable to using a bayonet.

Here's How People Opened Canned Food Before The Can Opener Arrived

An Early history of the can (and its opener)

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