Multi-tool openers will vary slightly depending on model, but the basic premise is to insert the end of the opener into the container and twist until you hear a “pop” or feel it give way. From the early 1960s to the early ’70s, the zip-top was the world’s go-to tab. “Fraze was riding the wave of aluminum,” says Liebhold. “Cans were historically made of steel. But steelworkers, these big, bruising people, were more focused on railroads and bridges, not lightweight cans. This allowed the aluminum industry to compete, to take over the can industry. And, curiously, it’s easier to make a pop-top out of aluminum than steel. It was a bizarre alignment of forces.” Still, the pull-off zip-top left consumers holding a razor-sharp piece of detached aluminum, wondering where to trash it. Those who lived during its heyday may remember the zip-top and the havoc it wreaked well. Zip-top cons

Everyone’s had one of those embarrassing moments where you have to ask for help to open a jar. Fortunately, the human race has come up with an answer – the Meyuewal Bottle/Jar Opener. Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten the point of this article, it comes with a bottle opener as well. We’ll get to that in a moment. First, we want to talk about the jar opening tool here. Had Fraze remembered his church key at that 1959 picnic—had he never been forced to wield his car fin as a can opener—we might not have the modern pop-top. But the owner of Dayton Reliable Tool Company, a machine tool business, did forget his church key, and while the episode maddened him at the time, it had him uttering that age-old inventors’ creed: “There must be a better way.” Early cans, a niche item, were opened with a chisel and hammer. “Glass jars were more popular because consumers could see through the container,” says Amy Bentley, a food historian at New York University. “In the beginning, there was a lot of distrust over canning because, at the time, there was so much food adulteration. Being able to see the product boosted consumer confidence.” In 1795, during the French Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte, troubled by his troops’ spoiling rations, offered a 12,000-franc prize to anyone who might advance food preservation. Fifteen years later, French chef Nicolas Appert finally won Napoleon’s prize by inventing the first hermetically sealed glass container; that same year, 1810, English inventor Peter Durand patented the first tin-coated iron cans.Material: A bottle opener should be durable since its purpose is to open well-sealed bottles and cans. Look for one made of stainless steel or quality silicone for a safe grip. Even among stainless-steel options, you’ll find some with silicone parts to provide an anti-slip grip. Bottom Line: While you’ll have to break out tools to install this wall-mounted bottle opener properly, it’s not a difficult task. Plus, once you’re done, you’ll be able to keep one hand free while popping caps off, and you’ll never have to search for a bottle opener again. Final Thoughts In 1974, the New York Times reported, “The accidental swallowing of tabs and rings from beer and soft drink cans is becoming a serious medical problem. … Beverage consumers have swallowed the aluminum pull tabs and rings, which lodged in the esophagus, or gullet, and required emergency surgery for their removal.” These accidents happened because many people would pull the tab off and immediately drop the metal ring down into the can before drinking its contents, the article goes on to explain. “This is the procedure that many environmentalists have advised the public to do as a means of reducing the litter problem and protecting wildlife.” Tab trials Using a bottle opener is simple and straightforward. For church key types, simply place the flat end underneath the bottle cap and press down to pull it off.

There are a few different types of bottle openers, each designed for its own specific purpose. The most common is the classic “church key” opener, which has a flat end that can be used to pry off metal caps from bottles and cans. Be sure to dry the tool off with a soft cloth afterwards so that any moisture doesn’t cause it to rust or corrode. Unless the manufacturer specifically says otherwise, you shouldn’t put the opener in the dishwasher. Cons: Assembly is required to mount this bottle opener on the wall. This is made specifically for the classic bottle cap only.

It’s important to keep your bottle opener clean and free from dirt, dust and grime. To do so, simply wipe down your opener with a damp cloth after each use. If the opener is especially dirty, you can also use some mild soap and water to clean it thoroughly. With five different-sized holes, it will fit on all standard-size jars sold in the supermarket. Just place this around the lid, tighten it in your hand, and screw the lid off with ease. The leverage makes opening jars 10X easier. When using a winged opener, firmly grip the bottle and slide the serrated portion under the lip of the cap. Then, press down on one side of the opener until you hear a “pop” sound as it releases from the bottle. As the commodity caught on in the mid-19th century, American inventor Ezra J. Warner, spotting a need, designed the first can opener: a blade that sawed a circle around the lid’s rim, leaving a sharp metal edge in its wake. Patented on January 5, 1858, Warner’s invention aided Yankee troops during the Civil War. Sixty-eight years later, on May 20, 1926, Charles A. Bunker patented the modern can opener.