Imagine you are enjoying a picnic with your loved ones, complete with bread, cheese, a bottle of wine, but forgot to bring the opener?! Does not matter. There are many simple ways to uncork a wine bottle so you can enjoy it. From pulling the cork of a bottle with household appliances, to pushing it in, or even using your shoes, you can enjoy your wine without having to open it with a tool. Perhaps the simplest way is to push the plug in, as long as the splinters aren't a problem for you. You can also use a knife to open a wine bottle without having to put anything in it. Try using several methods and find out which one works best for you!
Step
Method 1 of 8: Pushing the Stopper into the Bottle
Step 1. Find a blunt tipped object
The tip of this object should be smaller than a bottle stopper as long as it doesn't puncture, damage, gouge, or break it. Ordinary pens or markers (including highlighters) with caps may be suitable. You can also use a long cylindrical rod such as a lip balm or a small knife sharpener. You can also use carabiners.
Step 2. Place the bottle on the floor or a stable surface
You can hold the wine bottle on your lap to hold it in place, or simply place it on the table.
Wine bottles can also be placed against a wall or other vertical object, then pressed horizontally. Press the wide side of the bottom of the bottle to make it easier for the cork to enter. Hold the bottle neck and the tip of the object to prevent it from slipping. Be sure to place the bottle on a surface that is firm enough so that it will not curl, or a protected place, such as a wall covered in piles of scrap paper
Step 3. Place the object over the bottle stopper
The bottle stopper is usually slightly buried in the neck of the bottle. If the stopper is level with the mouth of the bottle, press it with an object to push it in. This way, the object you use to squeeze the stopper won't slip to either side of the bottle.
Step 4. Press the bottle stopper inward
To avoid splashing the wine, point the bottle away from people. Holding the bottle with one hand and the pusher with the other, press the stopper firmly into the bottle. Be prepared because the wine may be splashed when the cork falls into it.
- This method is fine, but there may be debris from the cork in your drink.
- The area around the bottle (including your clothes) should be protected from stains, as you may be exposed to wine splashes. Don't use this method to open red wine when you're wearing nice clothes, or doing it on the carpet. Have a napkin to cover the neck of the bottle as you push the stopper.
Method 2 of 8: Using a Knife
Step 1. Prepare a folding knife or fruit knife
Choose a knife that fits easily into the neck of the bottle. You can also use a serrated knife, which will give you a firmer grip on the bottle stopper.
Be careful when using the knife. Don't get hurt
Step 2. Insert the blade into the stopper of the bottle
Press and pull the knife repeatedly on the bottle stopper. Don't press the knife down too hard. Insert the knife through the cork of the bottle.
Step 3. Turn the knife to the right and left to slowly remove the bottle stopper
Once the knife is stuck in the stopper of the bottle, turn it around while slowly pulling it out. Be careful not to break the cork and get into the wine.
Step 4. Pry the bottle stopper with a knife
Use a knife to pry the bottle stopper from the side. Gently slide the knife between the edge of the stopper and the wall of the bottle. Gently squeeze the stopper by pointing the knife at your body so that the tip moves inward like a lever.
It's best to hold the neck of the bottle slightly under the knife with your other hand while pressing the stopper from the side
Method 3 of 8: Using Shoes
Step 1. Remove the protective layer of the wine bottle
Make sure there isn't any plastic or foil covering the cork so that all that's left is the bottle and the stopper. To open the protective film of the bottle, simply slide it upwards until it comes off. If it doesn't come off, pull the label if it's there to expose the top of the protective film. Another way is to cut off the protective layer by slicing a knife around the edges.
Step 2. Place the wine bottle in the mouth of the shoe
You can wear any flat shoes (not high heels or flip-flops), as long as they're big enough to hold a bottle of wine. Insert the bottom of the bottle into the mouth of the shoe so that the stopper is pointing up. To keep the bottle in the shoe, hold the bottle with one hand, and hold the shoe with the other.
Step 3. While holding the wine bottle, gently knock the shoe mat against the wall
While holding on to the shoes and the wine bottle, knock the shoe sole against the wall a few times. Position the wine bottle horizontally and only hit the base of the shoe that holds the bottle. The shoes will prevent the bottle from breaking, but don't knock too hard. Just a few strong bumps should be able to shift the bottle stopper due to the increased pressure inside the bottle.
- If you're having a picnic and can't find a wall around, try banging your shoe against a pole or tree. Just make sure to point the shoe properly so the bottle doesn't slip out of your grip!
- If you don't have a shoe that can hold a wine bottle, you can wrap a towel or place a book under it before banging it. The purpose of the shoe is to prevent the bottle from breaking due to impact.
Step 4. Remove the bottle stopper
Once the stopper is sticking out about 2 cm from the mouth of the bottle, all you have to do is pull it out by hand. Now, your drink is ready to be enjoyed.
Method 4 of 8: Using Screws
Step 1. Prepare the screws and pliers
The further the thread spacing on the screw the better. Make sure that all objects that come into contact with the bottle stopper are clean. Dirty objects run the risk of contaminating your drink.
Step 2. Turn the screw into the bottle stopper
Turn the screw in the center of the bottle stopper until only about 1 cm is left. You should be able to turn the screw with just your finger, but if you're having trouble doing this, use pliers to help you out.
Turn the screw slowly so that the stopper doesn't break into small pieces
Step 3. Pull the screw with pliers
Use pliers to pull the screw, the bottle stopper should come out. The nail pick on the hammer can also be used instead of pliers, as can a fork. You just need something that can grip the screw more firmly than your hand.
Step 4. Pull the screw with a corn cob holder
You can replace the pliers with a T-shaped corncob stitch. Place the corncob stitch so that the end is clamping the screw. Place your index and middle fingers on both sides of the stitch clamp, and pull up.
Be sure to use a corncob skewer with the side of the clamp that is smaller than the tip of the screw
Step 5. Use bicycle hangers instead of screws
Prepare a bicycle hanger. Insert it into the stopper of the bottle. Grasp the vinyl-covered side of the hanger, pulling the bottle stopper out. This way, you don't need pliers or anything else to remove the cork.
Method 5 of 8: Using Clothes Hangers
Step 1. Straighten the hanger wire
Prepare a hanger and straighten the curve.
Step 2. Shape the end of the wire into a small hook
Use the pliers to make a hook by bending about 10 mm of the end of the wire 30 degrees (similar to a fish hook).
Step 3. Slide this wire between the stopper and the wall of the bottle
This wire should be inserted against the wall of the bottle (don't point the hook inward yet). Press the wire down until the latch is under the bottle stopper. You have to push the wire at least 5cm down to do this.
Step 4. Rotate the wire 90 degrees
The hook on the wire will grip the bottom of the stopper so you can remove it easily. Simply twist the hanger wire so that the hook moves to the center of the bottle.
Step 5. Remove the bottle stopper
Move the coat hanger slowly up and down to loosen the bottle stopper. You may want to wear gloves, as the clothes hanger wire can injure your hands. The hook on the wire should go into the cork of the bottle when you pull it, and move it out with it.
Step 6. Use a coat hanger as a corkscrew
A coat hanger can also be used instead of a bottle opener. Once the grooves are straightened, you just need to insert them into the center of the bottle stopper. Twist the coat hanger while pulling it out slowly. In this way the stopper can be removed gradually.
Method 6 of 8: Using a Paperclip
Step 1. Prepare two paper clips and a pen
Partially straighten the paperclip, but keep the U-shape. Pull the outside of the paperclip in a straight line without aligning the U-shape on the inside.
Step 2. Slide one of the paper clips against the wall of the bottle
Slide the U-shaped part of the paperclip between the stopper and the wall of the bottle until it is under the stopper, while the straight side is sticking out of the bottle. Rotate the paperclip 90 degrees so that the U side will be under the stopper when you pull it up.
Repeat this step on the other side of the bottle stopper. Use the second paperclip
Step 3. Bring the two ends of the paperclip together
Twist the two ends of the paperclip together. The two ends of the paperclip wire must be tightly held together so that they do not fall off when the cork is pulled out.
Step 4. Remove the bottle stopper
Place an appropriate tool, for example, a spoon handle, a pen or pencil rod under the coil of wire. Slide your fingers under the tool. With the wire between your middle and ring fingers, gently pull the stopper out of the bottle.
Method 7 of 8: Using a Hammer
Step 1. Prepare 3 short nails and a hammer
Ideally, use a nail that can go right into the bottom of the bottle stopper.
Step 2. Gently hammer the hammer to insert the nail into the bottle stopper
Place the nails close to each other. Don't hit the hammer too hard, or the cork will break into pieces.
Step 3. Place the prying side of the hammer on the nail
The hammer on the hammer must be able to grip the nail tightly to remove the bottle stopper.
Step 4. Pry the nailed bottle stopper out of the bottle
Just pull the hammer and slowly remove the bottle stopper. You can slide the bottle stopper up and down to make it easier to remove. You can also use nails and a hammer to hold the stopper in position, then twist the bottle to remove it.
If the bottle stopper doesn't come out, attach another nail perpendicular to the previous row of nails, then try again
Method 8 of 8: Using Scissors
Step 1. Prepare the scissors
Instead, use craft scissors or children's scissors (not scissors equipped with safety).
Step 2. Open the mouth of the scissors as wide as possible
Make sure not to touch the blade. Just hold the scissor handle and open it as wide as possible.
Step 3. Insert the sharp blade of the scissors into the center of the bottle stopper
Gently squeeze the bottle stopper and push the blade of the scissors through half of the cork body. Be careful not to push the bottle stopper in or break it.
Step 4. Rotate the scissor handle while pulling it up
Hold the wine bottle tightly with one hand while turning the handle of the scissors. Alternatively, grab the handle of the scissors and twist the wine bottle. The bottle stopper will come out with the blade of the scissors as long as you stick it deep enough. Otherwise, the cork may stick out of the bottle so you can remove it by hand.
Tips
- Open the scissors carefully. Insert the blade of the scissors into the center of the bottle stopper, then press and use it as a lever to remove it.
- If pliers are not available, wrap the string around the screw and pull it up.
- The whole method here takes time and effort. If you can get to the store easily, it's a good idea to buy a corkscrew.
- Warming the bottom of the bottle may help you remove the stopper. However, don't let it get too hot as there is a risk of breaking the wine bottle.
Warning
- Be careful with sharp objects, and don't use them while you're drunk.
- Opening a wine bottle with your teeth can cause tooth decay.
- Using any of the methods above forcibly can cause the wine bottle to break.
- Point the bottle away from your body as you push the stopper in to avoid splashing the wine.
- Depending on the storage, the bottle stopper should be dry and could crumble in the wine. So, be careful when opening so that the cork of the bottle remains intact.
