Does the Tornado Can Opener Really Work?

1/5 - (1 vote)

The Tornado Can Opener would be a must for anyone suffering from arthritis, or that has limited hand strength. That is, if it works! It also comes with a bottle popper that is supposed to have you covered on all other containers, so we took a look at how they actually perform.

Overview
Conventional methods of opening cans leave much to be desired. If you’re going with a classic style opener you’ll be left with sharp edges, and you’ll have to be the one to do the work. If you upgraded to an electric model you have to put less effort into it, but you still have the sharp edges, and the lids can end up in the can for you to go fish. Not to mention that you’re giving up valuable counter space to it.

The Claim
The main claim made by the makers of the Tornado Can Opener is that it can open all sizes of cans, and that it’s one-touch meaning you don’t have to exert any effort to get the lid off. They also say that it’s packed with features, like leaving a smooth edge on the lid, using magnets to remove the lid and place it safely in the trash without you having to touch the lid at all, and having enough strength to make it all around the can without getting stuck.

The Appeal
They make a strong case for this being a solid product to have in the home if you are suffering from arthritis, or if you find that you don’t have the hand strength you once did. If you’ve struggled opening cans in the past, you probably didn’t need to be sold very much on the idea behind this opener, you just wanted to make sure that it actually works when you get it home.

The Cost
The total cost for the Tornado Can Opener set is $36 which includes shipping. It

also includes the Tornado Popper, a gadget that should save you from the trouble of opening all sorts of other bottles and cans so you’re never left struggling in vain to open cans or bottles, no matter what form they come in. We’ve also calculated the ongoing expense of replacement batteries, and have come up with a viable solution that keeps this moderately priced.

The Commitment
This product should represent far less commitment on your part when it comes to opening bottles and cans, and it does so with just two simple gadgets. All that you should have to do is place it on the top of the can and press the start button.

Evaluation
The Tornado Can Opener seems like it would work, and if you judge it by the infomercial it’s a wonder product. But we all know that these TV ads are supposed to put the product in the best light possible, and there is often a gap between how they’re displayed in the promo and how they behave when you get them home. One thing we noticed is that in the TV spot they don’t ever show it work from start to finish. They show it moving around the can, and they show an opened can, but they never show an unopened can completely opened by the device.

This uses 4 AA batteries, and even though they say it has twice the power of similar openers, it would have been more believable if it had a stronger lithium ion batter of its own, or if they would have figured out a way to make it corded so it has enough power to muscle through a can. It might work well for the first few cans, but as the batteries start to die out there is a strong likelihood that the performance would suffer, and you’d be left to replace the batteries frequently, boosting the maintenance costs considerably.

Final Tornado Can Opener Review

The Tornado Can Opener most likely works, but the question is for how long before the batteries start to go. They compare it to the OneTouch

and say that it has twice the power, but apparently they mean it takes twice the batteries. There are plenty of negative reviews for the OneTouch, but our at home testing showed it worked. The Tornado is likely in the same boat, able to perform as shown but will likely need its fair share of batteries.

Our Recommendation
This is a can opener that might be worth investing in a set of well-reviewed rechargeable batteries. By equipping it with more power, and loading it up with features, they are making it so you shouldn’t have to struggle with opening cans anymore. The drawback of it using batteries can be overcome, and once you have that handled it should work just fine with no complaints.

What do you think? Does the Tornado Can Opener work or not?

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View Comments

Margaret Asselin says:

March 25, 2020 at 4:18 pm

This is my third Tornado can opener. The first one worked well for awhile then it started clicking and not moving around the can. I changed batteries and no change, just the clicking. I returned it to Walmart and got a new one. That maybe opened 1 or 2 cans then quit. Changing batteries did not help. I returned it again to Walmart and got a new one, the third one. It quit without opening first can. It is on my counter right now to be returned. Don't bother to get one!!
Mr. K says:

March 3, 2019 at 7:29 pm

If you want to waste your money send it to me instead. This item is pure garbage. Like a few other posts it worked for 2 cans then just quit. Yes I checked the batteries, they are good.
Kent says:

February 26, 2019 at 12:38 am

As a uni-pelegic regular under cupboard or manual openers were beyond my capabilities.

The tornado solved a problem. Mine is three years old!! Kent
Pedro says:

January 11, 2019 at 8:19 am

Tornado doesn't work well npt even on full batteries i want my money back
jean says:

November 18, 2018 at 4:03 pm

I have been using the tornado can opener for about 6 months. I love it! I start the opener on the can, it goes around on its own all the way around the lid, and the I pop the lid open. I haven't had a problem yet and I like the fact that I don't have to keep an electric can opener on my counter.
Kathy says:

October 14, 2018 at 6:22 am

This is a piece of junk! I will be returning it. Save your money.
Lynn Price says:

December 14, 2015 at 9:59 pm

I've had my tornado can opener for almost a year and I love it. It works perfectly and am just nearing the need for a battery change.. I've bought one for my mother and my sister, they both love it.
William Kemper says:

October 17, 2015 at 4:15 pm

I purchased one of these Tornado can openers at Wal-Mart What a waste of money. It cuts part way through a can, just enough to make it leak, but the lid stays on and must be opened on my old can opener. I',m very dissapoimted with it. Tried to contact the company, but their phone has been disconnected. There is no way to contact the company except through slow mail. Enail or phone does not let you to talk to anyone. Do not buy Tornado Can Openers, they are a gyp - rip-off.
hooten says:

May 10, 2015 at 5:53 pm

I HAVE HAD 3 TORNADO CAN OPENERS,RECENTLY, I KEEP HAVING TO TAKE THEM BACK TO WALMART FOR EXCHANGE. OPEN A FEW CANS AND THEY HANG UP AND QUIT WORKING. THEY GO THRU BATTERIES AFTER OPENING 2 OR 3 CANS. TAKE MY WORD, SAVE YOUR MONEY AS THEY ARE NO GOOD.
Cathy Bradford says:

June 19, 2013 at 10:35 pm

I was so hopeful, but this was a waste of money and I will be returning the product. I read and followed the instructions. The off button did not work, so I had to remove the batteries to get the tornado to turn off. Worse, it did not fully open the can lid -- though it made a few punctures and a lot of noise trying! I had to finish opening the can with a conventional can opener. The most discouraging part, however, is that all the metal pieces (the parts that are so supposed to hold and cut the can) fell off the devise, and there are no instructions for reassembling it.