It’s happened to the best of us. In one had you have a lovely bottle of wine you can’t wait to open and in the other … oh, where’s the corkscrew?
But hold on a minute, there are a few options you can try before you smash the bottle and attempt to strain out the glass (please don’t actually do this).
Thanks to some very helpful people on the internet, there are now countless how-to videos showing you different ways to get a cork out of a bottle if you’ve lost your waiter’s friend.
Here are five of the best we’ve found.
Opening a bottle of wine with a spoon
This method looks so simple we can hardly believe it actually works – you can even do it with a key if you find yourself without any cutlery at all!
When you insert the end of the spoon into the cork at an angle and twist the bottle, the cork is gradually pushed out. Once you can see enough of the cork to grab hold of just pull it out and enjoy!
Opening a bottle of wine with a shoe
No, really!
This method needs something to protect the bottom of the bottle (a shoe) and a smooth, vertical surface (a wall).
Read more: Which wine glass should be used for red, white, rosé and sparkling wine?
As you bash the wine against the wall the wine sloshes back and forth, gently pushing the cork out.
We’d recommend going outside for this one – especially if it’s a bottle of red you’re trying to open!
Opening a bottle of wine with a screwdriver
You’ll also need a long screw and a hammer if you’re going to attempt this.
The principle is basically the same as using a proper bottle opener. Simply drive the screw down into the cork and gently pull it out with the hammer – just be careful not to bash the glass bottle as you’re doing it.
Opening a bottle of wine with a lighter
This is a relatively simple concept. As you heat the space just under the cork, the air expands and pushes the cork out.
Read more: What wine goes with roast chicken?
Please do be careful with this method though and make sure you wait for the bottle to cool down before handling it.
How to open a bottle of Champagne with a sword
Okay, this one isn’t so much of a hack as it is a really awesome way of showing off. But please, please, please do not try this at home!
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