Home & Kitchen · Head-to-head
Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch Electric Can Opener (76606) vs Kitchen Mama Auto Electric Can Opener (CO1100)
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Electric Can Openers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch is the easy default: cheap, a light-touch side-cut opener that leaves a smooth lid. The Kitchen Mama Auto is the pick when counter space is tight or hands are weak, trading the wall outlet for cordless, one-button convenience.
Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch Electric Can Opener (76606)
Buy itA countertop opener that cuts along the side of the can for a smooth lid with no sharp edges.
- Side cut leaves a smooth, touchable lid, per the maker
- Easy-touch lever that the maker says needs only a light touch, and it opens pop-top and regular cans
- Cuts the side of the can rather than the top, which keeps the cutting wheel away from the contents
- Compact tower at 10.2 inches high, 4.67 wide and 5.01 deep per the maker
- Tall footprint that lives on the counter rather than in a drawer
- The maker page does not list an automatic shut-off, so check the manual before assuming hands-free
Kitchen Mama Auto Electric Can Opener (CO1100)
Buy itA palm-sized, battery-powered smooth-edge opener that is the friendliest option for tired or arthritic hands.
- Cuts the side seam for a smooth, no-sharp-edges lid you can lift off cleanly
- One-button operation (press to start, press to stop), so there is nothing to grip, twist, or hold down
- Cordless and pocket-sized, ideal for RVs, boats, dorms, and drawer storage
- Blade sits on the outside seam and stays out of the contents
- Runs on AA batteries, and weak batteries can stall it partway around a large can
- Slower and fussier on oversized or dented cans than a countertop tower
Side by side
The 7 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch Electric Can Opener (76606) Our pick | Kitchen Mama Auto Electric Can Opener (CO1100) | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Anyone who wants a countertop opener that leaves a smooth, touchable lid. | Small kitchens, travelers, and anyone with limited hand strength who wants a safe, effortless cut. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$ · mid-range |
| Cutting type | Smooth-edge (side cut) | Smooth-edge (side cut) |
| Leaves a safe, blunt edge | Yes | Yes |
| Hands-free auto-stop | Not listed | No (press to stop) |
| Blade contacts food | No | No |
| Arthritis / grip friendliness | Good (light-touch lever) | Excellent |
| Footprint / storage | Countertop tower | Handheld, drawer-size |
| Power source | Corded | AA batteries |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch Electric Can Opener (76606) if
anyone who wants a countertop opener that leaves a smooth, touchable lid.
Know before buying: tall footprint that lives on the counter rather than in a drawer.
Pick the Kitchen Mama Auto Electric Can Opener (CO1100) if
small kitchens, travelers, and anyone with limited hand strength who wants a safe, effortless cut.
Know before buying: runs on AA batteries, and weak batteries can stall it partway around a large can.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch Electric Can Opener (76606) - A countertop opener that cuts along the side of the can for a smooth lid with no sharp edges. Choose the Kitchen Mama Auto Electric Can Opener (CO1100) instead if small kitchens, travelers, and anyone with limited hand strength who wants a safe, effortless cut.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Electric Can Openers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).