Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch Review

Our verdict

The Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch in brief. Who it's for: the Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch is right if: you want reliable smooth-edge cutting and extra-tall can capacity without paying for automatic stop or a premium fi.

What You Are Buying

The Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch is a corded, countertop electric can opener with a black-and-chrome housing.

The design centers on a single push-down lever that clamps the can and starts the motor in one motion.

There's no touchscreen, no presets, and no automatic shutoff indicator, just a straightforward mechanical interface that's been essentially unchanged across model updates for years.

Performance

Standard cans (15 to 20 ounces): Consistent, clean smooth-edge cuts across can types, from vegetables to soup.

The cutting wheel stays clear of the food inside throughout.

Extra-tall cans (28 to 32 ounces, coffee and juice cans): This is w here the Smooth Touch separates itself from cheaper competitors.

The extra-tall clamp accommodates these without repositioning or partial cuts.

What It Does Well

The push-down lever is the standout design choice.

It requires only light downward pressure to engage, rather than a sustained squeeze, which matters for anyone with reduced hand strength as well as anyone who just wants a fast, simple daily task.

Extra-tall capacity is a genuine differentiator at this price.

The smooth-edge cut is consistent can after can, leaving no sharp exposed metal on either the lid or the can rim, a real safety upgrade over cheap manual openers.

What Falls Short

The motor runs until the lever is released or the cut completes; there's no beep or indicator light.

This is a minor adjustment for most users but worth knowing going in.

The housing is straightforward black-and-chrome plastic and metal, functional but not premium-looking on the counter compared to pricier stainless steel competitors.

There's no cordless or under-cabinet option in this specific model, so it needs a permanent spot near an outlet.

Who Should Buy It

The Hamilton Beach Smooth Touch is right if: you want reliable smooth-edge cutting and extra-tall can capacity without paying for automatic stop or a premium finish, and you're comfortable with a permanent countertop appliance.

Consider alternatives if: you want automatic stop and a longer warranty (Cuisinart Deluxe), you want cordless drawer storage (Kitchen Mama Auto), or you want to free up counter space entirely (Black+Decker Spacemaker EC600).