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13. Manual Can Opener

A woman is carefully opening a can of tomato paste on a kitchen counter using a white plastic can opener. She is preparing a meal for which she uses both fresh and pureed preserved tomatoes
Credit: Shutterstock

It seems obvious, but it’s amazing how often people forget this one. You can stockpile all the canned food you want, but without a can opener, you’re stuck. Electric models won’t help if the power’s out—manual is the only way to go. Choose a sturdy metal version with a comfortable grip, not a flimsy dollar-store model that breaks after one use. Keep one in your kitchen, one in your emergency kit, and maybe even one in your car. Some multi-tools come with a can opener built in, which is great for backup. Also, practice using it if you haven’t before—struggling with an unfamiliar tool while hungry is not ideal. It’s one of those things you won’t miss—until you really need it.