A Guide to Edlund Can Openers
For nearly a century, Edlund has been creating innovative equipment to help simplify, streamline, and speed up prep tasks in commercial kitchens and is best known for its vast selection of can openers. Whether your kitchen needs to open fewer than five or more than 500 cans each day, an Edlund can opener will be up to the task. Your purchasing decision will be impacted by your operation type and your kitchen's maximum can capacity, but the level of maintenance a can opener requires may also factor into your final choice.
Manual or Electric?
Edlund can openers are classified as manual, electric, or crown punch. Manual and electric models are separated by their recommended daily can capacities and the ways they're operated. Electric models are a necessary investment for high-volume foodservice operations opening more than 50 cans a day. However, they can also be an attractive upgrade for commercial kitchens hoping to increase productivity and lessen the physical strain that prep work may have on employees. This is because electric can openers are operated by the simple push of a button, while manual can openers use hand-cranked levers. Most kitchens that open no more than 50 cans each day will likely be satisfied with an Edlund manual can opener.
Crown punch can openers can be manual or air-powered and are designed to open cans in one stroke, making them the most efficient and user-friendly type of Edlund can opener. Because they open cans with little time wasted between each can, air-powered crown punch can openers are especially suited to high-volume environments where hundreds or thousands of cans must be opened each day. Depending on the model, crown punch can openers can tackle a few hundred to as many as 3,000 cans per day.
The Edlund can opener reference chart below will allow you to compare different models by type, cans-per-minute rating, and cans-per-day recommendations.
Edlund Can Opener Reference Chart
| Type | Model | Per Minute | Per Day Max. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual | S-11 | 4-6 cans | 50 cans | NSF certified; dishwasher safe |
| Manual | U-12 | 4-6 cans | 50 cans | Disassembles for cleaning; stainless steel gear, knife, and shaft |
| Manual | #1 | 4-6 cans | 50 cans | "Old Reliable" for up to 11-in. cans |
| Manual | #2 | 4 cans | 15 cans | "Old Reliable" for up to 7-in. cans |
| Manual | SG-2 | 4-6 cans | 15 cans | NSF certified and dishwasher safe; disassembles for cleaning |
| Manual | G-2 | 4 cans | 15 cans | Disassembles for cleaning; stainless steel gear, knife, and shaft |
| Electric | #266 | 4-7 cans | 75 cans | Single-speed model |
| Electric | #203 | 4-7 cans | 75 cans | Two-speed model |
| Electric | #270 | 5-8 cans | 200 cans | NSF certified; stainless steel knife holder, gear, and cover plate are removable for cleaning |
| Crown Punch | #700 | 6-10 cans | 200 cans | Manually powered; designed for a standard can size |
| Crown Punch | #610 | 8-12 cans | 400 cans | Air-powered; 610M indicates magnetic lid remover |
| Crown Punch | #625 | 8-12 cans | 2,000 cans | Air-powered, heavy-duty model |
Using & Caring for Edlund Can Openers
To ensure you get the most out of your Edlund can opener, the company has provided the following maintenance and usage tips.
The S-11 and SG-2 can openers are constructed entirely of stainless steel and can be cleaned in a dishwasher. However, other manual can openers include nickel-plated cast iron components, which are more likely to rust if they are put through a dishwasher. To prevent rusting on these parts, Edlund recommends operators dry them thoroughly after each wash cycle before applying a food-grade vegetable oil coating. Some models, like the U-12 and G-2, are made mostly of nickel-plated cast iron with some removable stainless steel components that can be dishwashed without worry.
The edges of Edlund knives and crown punch blades are not designed to be sharp, since they fold metal to create a smooth edge and avoid creating metal shavings. If they stop functioning as easily as they should, crown punch blades can be reconditioned at the factory. To prevent any interruptions in can opener operation, Edlund recommends purchasing a replacement set of knives or blades with your can opener. Gears are designed to open 5,000 cans each, and the reversible blades will open about 2,500 cans on each side. Both of those components should be replaced at the same time, but they should be regularly inspected and promptly replaced when they begin to show wear and tear.
When choosing a can opener, Edlund recommends basing your daily can usage on your maximum estimated amount. Purchasing a can opener that is not rated for the maximum number of cans your commercial kitchen opens each day can cause avoidable strain on the unit and lead to the premature replacement of can opener components.
