How to open a bottle of wine when you don’t have a corkscrew? Here are 7 easy ways to pick from!
Oh, that awful moment when you really need a glass of wine but you just can’t get it out of the bottle! It’s terrible! ‘ve experienced it many times at parties hosted by people who weren’t wine fans and had no corkscrew around their places.
By far, the worst moment I needed a corkscrew and didn’t have one was on my honeymoon. My husband and I wanted to have a bottle of wine in our hotel room, but the Universe said ‘No, no’! We had to improvise.
Luckily, the same way cavemen figured out how to get the coconut milk out of the coconut and the fish out of the lake, wine drinkers have long figured out how to get the wine of the bottle. Yes, even without a corkscrew.
Also, more and more wine producers have started to bottle their wine in bottles that don’t require a corkscrew, which is so great. However, if the bottle you’ve got from the store isn’t one of these and still requires a corkscrew which you don’t have, here are some ways to get it out.
1. If you don’t have a corkscrew, you can get the cork in with a blunt object.
Instead of getting it out, you can push the cork in using the handle of a wooden spoon, or another such blunt object that won’t cut the cork.
Push the cork down slowly, and be very careful, because there’s a great chance it will splash a little at the end. So, if you care about your shirt, furniture, or wall, do this somewhere you can clean afterward.
2. You can get the cork out using a screw.
To be honest, I find this one pretty difficult. You need to be very strong to get the cork out using a screw. However, if you’ve got what it takes, here’s what you need to do: you need a long screw- the longer the better – a screwdriver and a hammer (or another tool you can use to just pull the screw out, like pincers or a monkey wrench);
Using the screwdriver, you’ll have to screw it into the cork, until there’s an inch or so left out. Now the hard part: somehow, you’ll have to pull it out. This requires a lot of effort, so if you’re a strengthless chick like I am, better choose another way to get the cork out.
3. You can open a bottle wine without a corkscrew by using a key.
Similar to the previous ‘technique’, this one is a little bit easier because the key has some kind of ‘a handle’ – if we can call it that way. You can also use a serrated knife, which is even better. Unlike the previous solution, you won’t insert the knife or the key straight down into the cork, but at a 45-degree angle. Afterward, turn the top of the key, or knife, slowly, in a circle, and twist the cork out.
4. If you don’t have a corkscrew, you can pump the cork out using a bike pump.
Although, if you haven’t got a corkscrew in your house, I doubt you’ll have a bike pump lying around. I mean, seriously, a corkscrew is part of the essentials, whereas a bike pump…
Anyway, if you don’t have a corkscrew but you do have a bike pump – the kind with a needle attached, you can stick it in the cork, making sure the needle reaches the air between the cork and the wine. Then, pump some air. the cork will come out from the pressure.
5. To open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew, you can smack the it against a wall.
Now this one I’ve tried myself several times and it’s been successful… maybe 7 out of 10 times. The rest of the times… let’s just say I’m thankful it didn’t happen at my place. If this goes wrong, it will be messy, so think twice before you give it a go. It’s important to not hit the wall very hard.
Also, make sure you wrap the bottom of the bottle in a very thick towel or use a shoe as shown in the picture. If it’s not the first bottle you’re opening and you’re a bit tipsy, maybe just try one of the other suggestions.
6. To get the cork out, you can slap the wine bottle with a shoe.
This is a safe way to get the cork out without a corkscrew, but it will take a while. Place the bottle upside down between your legs, and slap it with a shoe until the cork comes out. Make sure you keep your eyes on it and stop before it comes out for good.
7. If you don’t have a corkscrew, you can use heat to get the cork out.
This trick works, but you have to be careful: the wine should be at room temperature. If it’s cold, it can explode from the sudden temperature change. You have to apply heat right under the cork, using a blowtorch or a lighter. Be very careful, as playing with fire is never a good idea.
If you enjoyed these cool wine bottle tricks, read some more DIY projects, life hacks, and useful tips and tricks here.
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