opening a tin of tuna

I open it over the sink where the splashes can be washed away. The cans I buy in Waitrose don't have a ring pull, so I have to use a can opener - a Culinaire Magican, which I have had for ever!

I have started to buy the no drain tins, usually when on offer, so no nasty spills and I do use one of those ring flicker uppers and pullers as I dont think even Mr Universe could pull some of the ring pulls these days!

I also buy the no drain tins I can't abide 'wet' tuna. They can be difficult to open I agree.

I thought that it was only me who found that ring pulls defeated me. I am usually scrabbling with a pair of scissors to open the ring pull and then like others, have to be careful the liquid does not splash down my front.

I'm curious tanith do you not add anything to your tuna such as mayo if you like it dry ?
I buy the non ring pull cans and put a couple of sheets of kitchen towel underneath before opening and then press down on the lid to squeeze the juice out into the sink.
Stupidly I've never thought of giving the juice to the cat !

Lakeland sell a Magipull ring pull opener for £3.79. I've bought several for myself and family members. Good value and they do work.

The tuna I buy doesn't have a ring pull, but I use an electric can opener ( simples!)
Then I have a John West tuna strainer which fits neatly over the opened can, and drain the juices into the sink ( being without a cat at the moment) the strainer came free with the tuna a few years ago, but you can probably buy one.

ninathenana I like the tuna dry for OH he won't eat mayo but I do add some to mine. I find the no drain tuna just so much more meaty than those that come with oil/water sometimes its quite mushy depending on the manufacturer of course.

Since ruining a favourite jumper years ago opening a can of tuna I now do it much more carefully but I wouldn't call it fail-safe! We have tried the dry one too, much less messy but no juice for the cats and it needs mayo or something to soggy it up a little.

I began having difficulty with all sorts of cans when I started developing arthritis in my fingers. I invested in a hands free battery operated can opener. I bought a JML one, it opens every kind of can including ring pull cans.

I don't have a problem with ring-pulls (unlike push and twist bottle tops!) but agree that the no-drain tuna can be a bit dry. I refer it in sunflower oil, open the tin over a double sheet of kitchen roll and drain down the sink in a sieve, pressing with a fork to get rid of most of the oil.

prefer, not refer

There is a little gadget that pulls rings for you.get one from amazon or a big store. There is also a popper which breaks the seal on jars making them easy to open.

I have a culinaire battery operated tin opener - wonderful! But for ring pull problems, I found that inserting the handle of a wooden spoon in the ring as a 'finger' works very well. Most of the time And always over the sink.

This is excellent for all ring-pulls;

www.amazon.co.uk/Safe-Easy-Ring-Opener-Mobility/dp/B004P336PE

DH opened the tin of tuna the other day as I find them difficult (it didn't have a ring pull).
I didn't realise he had done it, picked it up and fishy water went all over the work surface, down the cupboards, in an open drawer and all over the floor.
There seemed to be a lot of brine in that tin!

Thanks for all the good ideas, I'll have to get that ring pull gadget.
The trouble with fishy juice from tins etc is that it usually contains oil and is very difficult to wash out of clothes.
I once spilt some juice from a bag of kippers on my jeans and the smell wouldn't go. I rang the local radio station (before internet days) and someone actually answered - use dilute hydrogen peroxide.

Sainsburys and Waitrose do Albacore Tuna in a glass jar. A bit more expensive, but you can use half, then screw the lid back on for another day.

I prefer the tin opener tine, but Lakeland have a brilliant ringpull thingy - it also has a "hole" for bottle that are hard to open.

www.lakeland.co.uk/4418/Magipull-Tin-Can-Ring-Pull-Opener

tin not tine

I've bought tins of tuna (the small ones) in a pack of three which have foil lids which are easier to pull open. I used to dread opening them as my cat would be there the instant I got it out of the pantry! The current feline doesn't do human food

I once discovered Tuna in a sachet it was brilliant you just ripped off the top and tipped it out a bit like microwave rice sachets but I never saw them again and I don't even remember who made them but I know I used them cos I bought 4 and took them on holidays to make up packed lunches.. I must try looking online for them.

I like the albacore tuna as well... I find other tuna smells and tastes like what I would think cat food would!

Even if you can pull the ring, sometimes it gets half way and you run out of leverage. OH discovered if you then push the lid down (reversing your pulling) then pull again, the leverage advantage returns and the lid actually will come off!

I do this over the sink and then use the loose lid to press down onto the tuna and 'squeeze' the water out and down the drain. Or if you are fussy, put the tuna in a fine metal mesh strainer (not a sieve which has big holes).

Lately my Sainsbury's has not had the Taste The Diff albacore in water, only olive oil (supply problem I was told). So I definitely am using the strainer now to get rid of the oil. lso, I refrigerate the tin, the oil then forms lumps and are easy to pick out, then just rinse the tuna in the strainer.

I prefer tuna in spring water, but still find it so messy that whether ring-pull or can opener, I put marigolds on and do it in the sink!