Manufacturer-documented model guide
OXO Soft-Handled Can Opener
May fit: Opening stored canned meals without electricity.
Consider another setup: Limited grip or wrist motion; choose packaging you can open safely.
Manufacturer research; no hands-on testing. Source records checked on 2026-10-04.
A hand-operated can opener can make shelf-stable canned food usable when power is out, but the can and tool still need safe handling and the user must be able to turn the knob comfortably. OXO lists cushioned handles, a large knob, and a stainless-steel cutting wheel for SKU 28081.
- Listed dimensions
- 7 × 2 × 3 in — source for Listed dimensions, checked 2026-10-04 (opens in a new tab)
- Manufacturer care instructions
- Hand wash the can opener. — source for Manufacturer care instructions, checked 2026-10-04 (opens in a new tab)
Quick answer
Check the opener already in your kitchen
Try the planned cans with your existing manual opener during an ordinary meal. Check whether each person who may need it can grip, turn and control it. A working tool you already own or ready-to-eat pouches may close the gap without another purchase.
Test one day of your no-cook menuCheck the motion before you need it
OXO's Soft-Handled Can Opener is operated by turning a large knob while the handles hold the tool against the can. The company describes cushioned handles and an oversized knob, but those details cannot predict an individual's comfort or grip. Try the motion with an ordinary can on a stable counter. If it slips, hurts, or takes more force than the user can manage, make a different food choice part of the outage plan.
Use it with food that needs no cooking
A manual opener solves only the opening step. It does not provide heat, safe water, or a way to keep refrigerated food cold. Pair canned items with shelf-stable foods that household members can eat as prepared, and keep pull-tab packages or ready-to-eat alternatives for anyone who may not be able to turn the tool. Follow the food package directions and the household's normal allergy and dietary checks.
Treat the cut edge as sharp
OXO documents a stainless-steel cutting wheel but does not claim a smooth-edge cut. Keep fingers away from the cut lid and wheel, set the opened can on a stable surface, and do not reach into the can to retrieve food. Transfer the food with a clean utensil. If the lid bends or the tool slips, stop and use a safer alternative rather than forcing it.
Hand wash and put it back ready
OXO's product-set instructions specifically say to hand wash the can opener; the other tools in that set are dishwasher safe. Wash and dry the opener by hand after use, keep it where the intended user can reach it, and practice before an outage. No weight value is listed on the product page, so compare handling directly instead of assuming it is lightweight.
Documented research · not hands-on tested
Research notes: Soft-Handled Can Opener (SKU 28081)
We compared OXO’s exact SKU 28081 specification and care records with the household task of opening a no-cook meal. We assessed operation, cleaning, sharp-edge handling and alternatives; we did not test grip comfort, opening force or durability. A working existing opener or packaging that needs no opener remains a valid alternative.
- Evidence checked
- 2026-10-04
Documented strengths
- Manual operation removes electricity from the opening step for compatible cans; this can close a specific gap in a no-cook pantry.
- The documented cushioned handles and large knob give the household a clear mechanism to try before relying on it; they do not guarantee comfort.
Limitations
- The user must still grip, turn and stabilize the can. Ready-to-eat pouches or pull-tab packaging may suit a person who cannot do that safely.
- Hand washing requires cleaning water, and the documented cutting wheel is not a verified smooth-edge mechanism. Treat cut lids and the wheel as sharp.
What remains unknown
- Opening force, individual comfort and long-term durability have not been measured by us.
- The current manufacturer specification leaves the weight value blank.
Public sources
Verified source record
Manufacturer specifications used in this guide
Each figure links to the product page or manual used for that field, with its own check date. Manufacturer specifications are not independent performance measurements. Source records checked on 2026-10-04. We have not tested this model hands-on.
- Opening method
-
Manual rotary can opener with large cushioned handles and an oversized turning knob.
Checked 2026-10-04. Source for Opening method (opens in a new tab)
- Cutting wheel
-
Stainless-steel cutting wheel; the manufacturer does not describe a smooth-edge cut.
Checked 2026-10-04. Source for Cutting wheel (opens in a new tab)
- Listed dimensions
-
7 × 2 × 3 in
Manufacturer-listed dimensions.
Checked 2026-10-04. Source for Listed dimensions (opens in a new tab)
- Manufacturer care instructions
-
Hand wash the can opener.
OXO's set page says the other set tools are dishwasher safe but the can opener is hand wash only.
Checked 2026-10-04. Source for Manufacturer care instructions (opens in a new tab)
- Listed weight
-
Not verified in this source record
The U.S. product page displays the weight unit but no value.
Checked 2026-10-04. Source for Listed weight (opens in a new tab)
- The manufacturer does not publish a weight value on the current U.S. product page.
- OXO describes a stainless-steel cutting wheel but makes no smooth-edge claim; handle opened lids and the wheel as sharp.
- Cushioned handles and a large knob do not establish that an individual can operate it comfortably; test the motion before relying on it.