Got a bottle of wine at home you’ve been meaning to crack open? Aside from using a spooky bat corkscrew, there are several ways to open a wine bottle.
Corkscrew
Starting off with the most obvious, corkscrews are the go-to method for opening wine bottles. There are several types of corkscrews that’ll get the job done.
The first type is the winged corkscrew. Situate the corkscrew on top of the cork, twist the handle until it’s implanted, and press the handles down.
There’s also electronic cork screws. All you need to do is hold them over the cork, and they do all the work for you.
Serrated Knife
If you don’t have a corkscrew on hand, a serrated knife just might get the job done. Don’t use a huge one, though. Go for a smaller knife.
A smaller knife will 1) work better with the cork, and 2) ensure that you don’t slice your hand open. First, cut a slit in the center.
Slide the knife in between the cork and bottle and slowly push it towards you. Keep jimmying it like that until the cork loosens.
Push the Cork Down
If you can’t figure out how to remove the cork entirely and you really want to drink the wine, just push the cork down. It’ll be fine.
The cork won’t affect the taste. If bits of the cork break off into the wine, you can strain it with a cheesecloth or sieve.
You can push it down with your thumb. Alternatively, you can use a blunt object, like a marker or a screwdriver handle. Refrigerate the bottle afterwards.
House Keys
To open a wine bottle without a cork screw, you can use a sturdy house key. You’d use it similarly to how you’d use the serrated knife.
Make sure not to stab it straight down. Instead, do so at an angle (about 45 degrees), until it’s firmly lodged in the cork.
Then, twist both the key and cork, until the cork comes loose. This method is essentially the same as using a corkscrew, only you’re creating your own.
Clothes Hanger
This is a little complicated. Since the hook part of a hanger is too large for a wine bottle, you’ll have to make your own.
Cut off the bottom of a wire hanger with pliers. Then, fashion the straight wire into a small hook that could fit into the bottle.
Afterwards, slide the hook part into the bottle’s opening, so that it’s next to the cork. Situate the hook underneath the cork, then pull it up.
Hammer
This method of opening your wine bottle is more heavy-duty than the others, but it works. Start by putting a long screw in your cork.
Make sure that about an inch of the screw is showing, but that it’s still lodged in there. Then, it’s time to bust out the hammer.
No, you won’t be bludgeoning the bottle. Use the other end of the hammer to pull on the screw. The cork will be pulled along with it.
Shoe
This method is a little unorthodox, but it’ll work. You’ll have to be careful, though. It basically requires a lot of brute force.
First, put the wine bottle in a shoe. Bulkier shoes, like sneakers or work boots, seem to be the go-to option. Then, slam it against the wall.
While you should be careful, the shoe is meant to absorb the impact. Repeat until the cork falls out. You can also use a towel.
Lighter
If you want to open a wine bottle without brute force, this is a good way to do it. Before starting, remove any foil.
Hold the lighter at the neck of the bottle, right under the cork. However, remember to rotate the bottle. The whole neck needs to be heated up.
After a little while, the cork will slowly slide out, as the heat expands the air inside the bottle. Just take it slow, and it’ll go fine.
A Screw and Pliers
This uses a very similar method to the hammer, except you’re using pliers instead. If you don’t have access to a hammer, these’ll do nicely.
Start off by inserting the screw the same way you would with the hammer. That means about an inch should be exposed. Pinch it with the pliers.
Once the pliers are holding the screw, twist it. The cork should be twisting right alongside it, and will pop out in no time.
Scissors
Okay, so the house key and the knife didn’t work. Well, you’re in luck. You can open a wine bottle with the pair of scissors.
The principle is the same as with a regular corkscrew. First, stick one of the blades into the cork, with the other one sticking up.
Next, spin the blade and cork, pulling it upwards at the same time. Don’t use the other blade as a handle. Instead, hold it by the fulcrum.
Bike Pump
This might seem a tad overcomplicated. However, if you’ve got a bike pump and some time on your hands, you can give it a go.
It’ll also take a much shorter amount of time than the other methods. After pumping for less than ten seconds, the cork will pop out.
Don’t pump for too long, though. You don’t want to accidentally break anything. The cork will pop out quickly, so there’s no need to overdo it.
Spoon
This uses the same method of opening a wine bottle as a house key or serrated knife. To do this, you’ll use the end of the spoon.
First, use a sturdy spoon. Then, stab the end of the spoon into the wine cork. Make sure it’s firmly lodged inside of it before twisting.
As with the key or the knife, you’ll need the spoon to be angled. Once everything’s in place, twist the spoon until the cork is removed.
Tweezers
This doesn’t call for any old pair of tweezers. The same tweezers you use to pluck your eyebrows might not survive plucking out a wine bottle’s cork.
If your tweezers are strong, though, this just might work. Both of the tweezer’s prongs should be situated on either side of the cork.
The prongs need to be about halfway in for this to work. Put pressure on the bottle’s neck as you pull the cork out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it okay to push a cork into a wine bottle?
Yes, it should be fine. As mentioned earlier, if bits of the cork break apart and are in the wine, you can strain it out with a sieve.
Ultimately, the cork won’t affect how the wine tastes. If the wine is cheap, it really doesn’t matter, though it’s up to you.
You might want to drink it in one day, just to be on the safe side. And no, we don’t mean by yourself. Share with some friends.
How do you pop a broken cork?
Many of the cork-removing methods described above will also help with removing broken pieces of it. A corkscrew or a nail will work exceptionally well.
You could also accept your fate and buy a cheesecloth. If none of the other methods are working, then this at least ensures you still get your wine.
Lay a cheesecloth over the top of the bottle and tie a rubber band around the base. This will filter out any bits of broken cork.
How long until wine goes bad without a cork?
Short answer: it totally depends on the type of wine. A good indicator, however, is if it smells or tastes vinegary. That’s how you’ll know it’s gone bad.
Red wine usually takes up to five days to go bad after it’s been opened. If you refrigerate it, that is. Dark reed wines tend to last longer.
Sparkling wine doesn’t last as long, because of the carbonation. Dessert wines last the longest — if stored properly, they can last for weeks!
Does a dry cork mean bad wine?
Unfortunately, yes. While it’s not totally damning — it’s not the only sign of spoiled wine — it’s not exactly a good sign, either.
When your cork is dry, it means that your wine is oxidizing. When wine is exposed to air, the flavor starts to change, mostly for the worse.
You won’t get sick from drinking oxidized wine, thankfully. However, it’s not ideal. So, if you notice a dry cork, don’t let it sit there.
How do you cover a bottle without a cork?
Lots of wine brands use plastic screw caps to solve this dilemma. If your bottle comes with one, definitely use it. It’ll help keep your wine fresh.
If your wine bottle doesn’t come with one, not to worry. Simply cover the top with plastic wrap, and seal it with a rubber band.
You don’t want to have to use plastic wrap all the time, though. We recommend that you invest in a reusable wine bottle stopper.
Which tool is best used to open a wine bottle?
Ultimately, a corkscrew is best and easiest. Aside from that, you want to use tools that mimic a corkscrew as best as they can.
For that reason, we favor the house key method. However, pushing the cork down is a lot less of a hassle, so that’s what we usually do.
Any method that involves tools or slamming things is going to be a bit more difficult and dangerous. They’ll work, but they’re not super easy, either.