An impromptu picnic and you forgot the corkscrew? Here is a handy trick to know that can save you the day, or just allow you to show off to your friends during an upcoming aperitif or barbecue!
Impromptu evening, picnic at the beach, aperitif at the office… Sometimes you don’t have a corkscrew to hand. To anyone this has ever happened to, you know how frustrating it can be! Here is a trick to successfully open your bottles without a corkscrew, MacGyver style, and impress your guests at a future dinner!
The key technique to open a bottle without a corkscrew
One of the best alternatives to the corkscrew, the key (or a sharp knife, or a screwdriver… In short, any sharp and solid object). If you forgot your corkscrew or can’t find yours, you must have a key on you. Here’s how to open a bottle with a simple key:
- Use the key to remove the collar from the cap.
- Push the key as far as possible into the cap, tilting it slightly. It may take a bit of strength.
- Pull on the key as with a corkscrew until you succeed in removing the cork.
Good to know : this technique only works for corks, but not plastic ones.
Other techniques to amaze your friends to open a bottle without a corkscrew
If the technique of the key caught our attention because for us it is the easiest and the least dangerous, we found on the web many other ideas that are sometimes a little eccentric!
- The shoe technique, also known as the “debabouchage” technique: after removing the collar around the neck, place the bottom of your wine bottle in the heel of a flat shoe, ideally a sneaker. Then tap the shoe several times, holding the bottle firmly against a hard surface like a wall or a tree. The cork will come out little by little and when it is 2/3 out, you can remove the cork manually.
- The candle or lighter technique: you just need to heat the neck just below the cork. The heat will magically pop the cork out.
Attention, some of these techniques can be dangerous or bad for the wine, so take precautions. For example, if the technique of the shoe is not well mastered, the bottle could break and you could open your hand. Be extremely careful, and don’t wait until the end of the evening after a few drinks to try this method. Regarding the lighter technique, we do not recommend it especially for great wines because heat is not recommended for wine, and you could burn yourself. Caution !
* Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, consume in moderation.