We’ve all been in this frustrating situation. You have a great bottle of wine ready to be served for your dinner party, but finding out your corkscrew is nowhere to be found.
Whenever this happens, don’t panic. We have the best hacks on how to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew. Read on.
10 Hacks of How To Open A Wine Bottle Without A Corkscrew
10. Cut The Cork
A bottle of wine is usually sealed with corks, so cutting or slicing it with a cutter or sharp blades is one way to open it.
This procedure can work well, but you might shred cork bits in your wine while cutting it, so better to strain it in a sieve before drinking.
9. Drill A Screw Into The Cork
The screw method is one of the simplest ways to open a wine bottle. Wood screw, hook screw, or you can use any long screw in this procedure.
Just put and twist the screw into the cork and slowly pull it out with your fingers. You can use pliers or hammers to take out the cork.
8. Use A Screw, Screwdriver, & Hammer
This method relies on having a toolbox at hand, getting a screw, a screwdriver, and a hammer.
Twist the long screw into the cork using the screwdriver. Rotate it carefully into the cork until it is less than an inch exposed.
Place the back of the hammer under the screw to lock it, and simply pull it out of the bottle.
7. Hook The Cork With A Hanger
Using a wire hanger is another hack to open your wine bottles without a corkscrew.
Twist and make a u-shape or a mini hook with the last half inch of the hanger with pliers.
Position the twisted wire hanger on the top of the cork and gently wiggle and rotate it into the bottom of the cork.
Make a slight pull, and this will gradually remove the cork.
6. Use Wooden Spoon Or Any Blunt Object Similar In Size
If you can’t tug the cork out, do the opposite and slowly push it down with a wooden spoon.
You must apply pressure and push consistently with the spoon or any dull object similar in size into the cork.
Keep a tight grip on the base or neck of the bottle while pushing the object.
5. Pump It Out
Pumping the cork out will need any air pump with a needle attached to it, just like a bike pump.
Put the needle through the cork until the needle reaches the space between the wine and the cork.
Gently pump a slight amount of air into the bottle. The air pressure will help to pop out the cork, so be careful to pump it too quickly.
4. Twist It
Keys Or Serrated Knife
The key method works like a charm, just like the knife method.
Your keys and a serrated knife, or a pocket knife, could help wiggle out corks in less than a minute.
Once the key or knife is about an inch deep into the cork, start wiggling it out upward. Make the same movement until the cork is out.
Scissors
Using the safety scissors method needs more control. Hold the bottle tightly with one hand while the other hand twists the scissor blade halfway into the cork.
After a few rotations of the scissors, simply twist the bottle; avoid the sharp side of the scissor.
Do the twisting of scissors and the bottle alternatively until it’s far enough to pull upward with your hands.
3. Wrap The Wine Bottle In A Thick Towel & Force It Open
Bang It Against A Wall
A little warning, the wall method is for brave souls, and do this with extra caution.
You simply need a bulk towel wrapped around the bottle of wine and ensure it’s completely covered.
Hold the bottle with the towel and bang the bottom part of the bottle against a vertical surface repeatedly.
This method might get a bit dangerous, and you might get broken glass, so consider this a last resort.
Smack A Shoe
Smacking a shoe method is similar to banging the bottle in the wall but a little risky.
This method works best with a shoe with raised sole; a leather loafer is a great example. [1]
Remove the wine bottle’s protective cover before placing it into the shoe directly. Find a hard flat surface to smack it with a firm hit.
Stop smacking when the cork is partway out, and remove the cork with your fingers.
2. Apply Heat To Make The Cork Move Out
Applying heat to the neck of the bottle of wine can be done by putting it in a pan of boiling water.
This procedure can remove the cork but might end with a mulled wine if not done correctly.
When the cork slides out of the bottle, quickly remove the bottle from the hot water.
Alternatively, you can use direct heat or flame from a candle or lighter to make the cork pop out.
Read: How Much Wine To Get Drunk
1. Pull The Cork With A String
Make a hole in the cork with the sharp object. Tie a knot and put it through the hole with the help of a sharp object.
When the knotted string is down the cork, remove the sharp object and start pulling the string until the cork is out.
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FAQs
How do you open a wine bottle with a lighter?
To open a wine bottle with a lighter, you must carefully apply the lighter’s flame onto the neck of the wine to get a cork out of the bottle.
The flame causes the air inside the bottle to push the cork upwards. Keep applying heat until it’s popped out.
What type of shoes can open a wine bottle without a corkscrew?
A flat shoe with a hard-raised rubber sole is the best shoe type you can use to help you open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew.
When hammered into a hard surface, the hard-raised rubber sole will protect the wine’s base or punt. [2]
What’s the easiest way to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew?
One easy method is to use a screw and a pair of pliers or a hammer to pull the cork out.
Can I use a shoe to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew?
Yes, the shoe method involves placing the bottom of the wine bottle inside a shoe and hitting it against a wall until the cork loosens and pops out.
Is there a way to push the cork into the bottle without a corkscrew?
Yes, you can use a long, sturdy object like a wooden spoon handle or the blunt end of a knife to push the cork into the bottle.
Can I use a key to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew?
Yes, you can use a key to twist and push the cork down into the bottle until it’s submerged, then carefully pour the wine out.
What if the cork breaks while trying to open the bottle?
If the cork breaks, you can use a strainer or cheesecloth to filter out any cork pieces while pouring the wine into a decanter or another container.
Is it safe to use heat to remove a cork from a wine bottle?
Applying heat to the neck of the bottle with hot water or a blow dryer can help expand the glass and loosen the cork, but caution should be taken to avoid damaging the wine or bottle.
Final Thoughts
A bottle of wine is commonly sealed with a cork or a screw cap. Screw caps are easy to open, while cork needs a corkscrew—but not always.
Whether you can’t find your corkscrew or are tired of using it, these clever procedures with household items can help you pop out the cork in just a minute or even less.
Having these do-it-yourself techniques, you might end up with cork pieces in your wine.
A friendly tip, strain your wine into a coffee filter or sieve before serving to remove the floating bits from the wine.
References:
- https://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-6380,00.html
- https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/loafer
