Quick verdict
The BLACK+DECKER EasyCut EC500B is a sensible countertop opener when repeated cranking is the part of can opening that hurts or tires the hand. Its motor rotates the can after the cutting wheel has been engaged, and a magnet holds the separated lid. That is a meaningful reduction in repetitive work.
It is not a hands-free appliance. The user still has to lift the can onto the base, line its rim up with the guide, press the lever firmly enough to pierce the lid, and lift the lever to release the can. Someone who can manage those short actions but struggles with a full manual circuit is the clearest fit.
Skip it when precise alignment or a firm downward press is the main barrier, when the kitchen cannot spare a roughly 11-inch-high appliance, or when the pantry relies on rimless, angled-corner, peel-off-foil, or rolling-key containers. Those are boundaries in BLACK+DECKER’s own instructions.
Check the exact BLACK+DECKER EC500B on Amazon. Confirm model EC500B or EC500B-T and UPC 050875506275; price and stock can change.
Hand-demand map
Most electric-opener reviews compress the whole task into “easy to use.” That hides the useful question: which movements disappear, and which remain?
| Task | What the EC500B changes | Remaining demand |
|---|---|---|
| Bring the can to the opener | Nothing | Lift and place the can on the base |
| Align the rim | The guide provides a fixed target | Visual and hand coordination still matter |
| Start the cut | The motor takes over after engagement | Press the lever firmly enough to pierce the lid |
| Travel around the lid | Motor rotates the can | No repeated hand cranking |
| Control the lid | Magnet retains the separated lid | Lift the lever and remove the can without spilling |
| Clean the cutter | Cutting assembly is removable | Unplug, remove, hand-wash, dry, and reinstall |
This is why the EC500B can be a strong fit for reduced endurance without being the answer to every grip, tremor, reach, or coordination problem. It trades a repeated winding motion for a short sequence of positioning and lever actions.
Exact model: EC500B versus EC500B-T
The current BLACK+DECKER appliance page identifies the product as the Easy Cut Extra Tall Electric Can Opener and uses retail SKU EC500B-T. The official use-and-care artwork names the appliance EC500B while also printing SKU EC500B-T. Current retailer records use EC500B and UPC 050875506275.
Those records describe one black EasyCut extra-tall countertop opener, not two performance tiers. The -T is a retail/SKU form, not evidence of a different motor, cutter, or capacity. Buyers should match the model family, UPC, tall body, removable cutting assembly, rear multi-tool, one-touch lever, wide base, and built-in knife sharpener.
Do not buy on the BLACK+DECKER brand name alone. Older Spacemaker units, vintage tall openers, and similarly named marketplace listings may have different controls, mounting, parts, or manuals.
Can-fit map: “most sizes” has limits
BLACK+DECKER says the optimized extra-tall design opens most can sizes. That is narrower than “any can.” The official EC500/EC500BC family manual gives four explicit exclusions:
- rimless cans;
- cans with angled corners;
- peel-off foil tops;
- cans opened with a rolling key.
The mechanism needs a conventional raised rim that the guide and cutting wheel can track. A severe dent at the rim, an irregular seam, or a crushed corner can disrupt that path even when the container is nominally a normal can. Do not force a damaged container through the cutter, and never use the opener on a swollen, leaking, badly rusted, or otherwise suspect can.
The removable multi-tool is the intended route for bottle caps and pop-top tabs. It does not turn a peel-off foil container into an EC500B-compatible cutting job.
Counter and cabinet fit
Target’s current product record lists the body at 11 inches high, 9 inches wide, and 6.37 inches long, with a weight of 2.99 pounds. Treat those as a planning envelope, not a promise about the exact usable clearance beneath every cabinet.
The footprint consumes about 57.3 square inches of counter surface (9 × 6.37). A buyer also needs working room in front for the can and above the lever for the hand. An 11-inch body under a 15-inch cabinet gap leaves only about four inches before accounting for lever travel, fingers, and the can-loading motion. Measure the real spot rather than checking appliance height alone.
The wide base is meant to stabilize the appliance, but this analysis did not measure sliding force. Use a dry, level counter. If the body moves while the lever is pressed, stop and correct the surface or placement rather than bracing a powered appliance awkwardly.
The counter-versus-wall-outlet positioning checklist helps plan cord reach and a dry work zone. If the opener would need to be lifted from a cabinet for every can, include that extra handling in the decision.
What the lever and magnet really do
The documented sequence is straightforward: place the can on the base, raise the lever, align the rim with the guide, and press the lever down firmly until the blade pierces and rotation begins. After the circuit, lift the lever to release the can. The magnet retains the cut lid.
That mechanism removes continuous cranking, but it concentrates effort at the start. A large lever gives more contact area than a small manual knob; it does not prove that every user can supply the needed pressure. If a user cannot align the rim or engage the cutter reliably, repeated retries can erase the benefit of motorized rotation.
The magnet reduces the need to reach into the can for a loose lid. It should still be kept clean, and an opened can or lid should never be tested by running a finger around the edge. The EC500B is a conventional top-cut opener, not a side-cut smooth-edge design.
Cleaning and ownership routine
The removable cutting assembly is the most useful ownership feature after motorized rotation. BLACK+DECKER instructs users to unplug the appliance, remove the assembly, hand-wash it in warm soapy water, rinse, and dry it thoroughly before reinstalling. The powered body should be wiped with a damp cloth and never immersed.
This routine matters because residue at the wheel, guide, or magnet can interfere with alignment and lid retention. A buyer who cannot comfortably remove, wash, dry, and refit the assembly may need help even if the opening cycle itself is manageable.
The appliance is rated for household use. The current manual lists 120 V, 60 Hz, and 1.5 A and carries a two-year limited-warranty statement. We did not assess electrical draw, motor life, cutter wear, noise, repairability, or long-term reliability.
EC500B versus nearby opener types
| Option | Better when | Main compromise |
|---|---|---|
| BLACK+DECKER EC500B | Repeated cranking is the barrier and counter space is available | Alignment, firm lever engagement, cleaning, and storage remain |
| Smooth-edge manual opener | Lid-edge handling matters and winding remains comfortable | Still requires grip and repeated turning |
| Handheld automatic opener | Counter space is scarce | Battery routine, stopping, compatibility, and lid retrieval vary by model |
| Large-knob manual opener | Familiar motion and drawer storage matter | The hand still supplies the full cutting circuit |
For the manual-lid-handling route, see the OXO Smooth Edge Can Opener review . The handheld-versus-countertop electric comparison separates storage, alignment, and power routines.
Who should buy it
Choose the EC500B when the user can lift and position ordinary cans, can make a deliberate lever press, and wants the motor to remove repeated wrist turning. It fits a household that opens conventional cans often enough to justify a permanent countertop place and is prepared to clean the removable cutting head.
The clearest buyer is not “every senior” or “everyone with arthritis.” It is someone whose limiting step is repetitive cranking rather than can lifting, precise alignment, lever pressure, or cleanup.
Who should skip it
Skip it when the primary difficulty is tremor, visual alignment, shoulder reach, lifting a full can, pressing down firmly, or removing and washing small assemblies. Also skip it when the required containers are mostly pull-tab, peel-off, rimless, angled-corner, or rolling-key designs.
A countertop opener can also be the wrong trade when it has no safe dry position near an outlet. In that case, the appliance may spend its life in a cabinet and add a lifting task before it removes a turning task.
Research method and limits
We reconciled five current or retained records: BLACK+DECKER’s current product listing, two official BLACK+DECKER manuals, Target’s current identity and dimensions, and the public Amazon identity trail for ASIN B07BHLX96Q. The structured artifact contains two identity forms, six normalized facts, four hand-demand stages, four can-shape exclusions, three derived fit findings, and source-level provenance.
We did not buy, operate, measure, clean, noise-test, endurance-test, force-test, or inspect this appliance. We make no current price, stock, seller, rating, review-count, speed, sharpness, durability, disability-fit, customer-consensus, or personal-safety claim. The hand-demand map is a task analysis from documented operating steps, not a clinical assessment.
Sources
Final verdict
The BLACK+DECKER EC500B creates a useful, specific trade: it removes the repeated cranking circuit while preserving can lifting, rim alignment, a firm engagement press, release, and cleanup. That makes it a strong fit when hand endurance is the bottleneck and a weak fit when alignment or setup is harder than turning.
The best reason to buy it is not the extra tools or the broad “easy” label. It is the documented transfer of one repetitive task from the hand to the motor. Measure the counter, check the cans actually used, and confirm the exact model before buying.
Frequently asked questions
Does the BLACK+DECKER EC500B open every can?
No. BLACK+DECKER says the design opens most can sizes, while its manual excludes rimless cans, angled-corner cans, peel-off foil tops, and rolling-key cans.
Is the EC500B hands-free?
No. The motor rotates the can, but the user still positions it, aligns the rim, presses the lever firmly to pierce it, and lifts the lever to release it.
Can the cutting assembly go in a dishwasher?
The official manual says to hand-wash the removable cutting assembly in warm, soapy water, rinse it, and dry it thoroughly. The powered body should be wiped and never immersed.
What is the difference between EC500B and EC500B-T?
BLACK+DECKER uses EC500B for the appliance and EC500B-T as the current retail SKU. UPC 050875506275 joins the records to the same EasyCut extra-tall black opener.
See Also
If you are weighing this model, also compare it with OXO Smooth Edge Can Opener Review: Safer Rim, Still Manual, Uccello Kettle Review: Easier Pouring, Three-Cup Minimum, and Tramontina Professional 10-Inch Fry Pan Review: A Practical Nonstick Pick.
For broader context before you decide, Best Jar Opener for an Emergency Preparedness Kit and Best Electric Can Opener for Arthritic Hands: Buying Guide help round out the trade-offs.