Zyliss

Zyliss has an exceptionally strong reputation in the r/BuyItForLife community, particularly for their garlic press and can opener. Dozens of users report decades of reliable use — 20, 30, even 30+ years — across multiple product categories. The few criticisms that exist are minor and product-specific rather than brand-wide.

Across multiple product categories — garlic presses, can openers, graters, spatulas, and knives — Zyliss consistently earns 10–30+ year lifespans in community reports, with only minor and isolated quality complaints.

Zyliss products are celebrated for extreme longevity across kitchen tool categories, with users routinely reporting 15–30 years of regular use. The garlic press in particular is considered the gold standard by many, and the can opener draws similarly loyal fans.

• Garlic press widely used for 20–30+ years without failure
• Can opener lasts a decade or more, including dishwasher use
• Cast aluminum construction resists rust and wear
• Ergonomic design praised for ease of use across multiple tools
• Spatulas and knives also reported to last a decade-plus with daily use
• Recommended by America's Test Kitchen and Cooks Illustrated

Criticisms are scattered and mostly product-specific: some users report hinge failures on the garlic press, cleaning difficulties on newer rotary graters, and aluminum oxidation discoloration from dishwasher use. A few note the included plastic cleaning tool is fragile or poorly designed.

• Hinge on some garlic press models can crack or fail over time
• Newer rotary grater hard to clean; cheese clogs the drum
• Aluminum press can oxidize and leave black residue if dishwashered repeatedly
• Included plastic cleaning tool tends to break or get lost
• Weak lid-lifting magnet on Lock N' Lift can opener noted by some users

One user described having a Zyliss garlic press for 30 years with multiple uses per week, saying it has never once let them down — and that they used it to hammer nails once with no ill effects.

A commenter who switched away from Zyliss to a competitor's can opener came back, noting the EZ-Duz-It rusted within a month and that Zyliss never rusts and is dishwasher safe.

One user recalled inheriting their parents' Zyliss garlic press from the early 1990s and noted it still works perfectly, calling the vintage blocky model superior to newer curved designs.

A long-time can opener user reflected on buying what seemed like an overpriced, over-engineered plastic device in college in the 1990s — and reported it is still in regular daily use 30 years later.