In 1858, American inventor Ezra Warner patented a can opener, replacing the hammer-and-chisel method for the US Army and grocers

Canning began in 1795, sparked by a French inventor who aimed to create food preservation solutions for military purposes. By 1858, a Connecticut businessman had patented an early can opener, designed for grocery and military use, though it resulted in sharp edges. It would be many years before a safer version became widely available, thanks to innovators like Warner, who focused on making such tools user-friendly for all.