How to Use a Corkscrew to Open a Bottle of Wine

Don’t let a simple cork stand between you and a bottle of wine! There are several types of corkscrews, and most are simple and easy to use. The basic technique is to screw a metal spiral into the bottle's cork, then pull it outwards. We’ll show you how to use a wide array of corkscrews, from simple wine keys to counter-mounted levers.

Using a Waiter’s Corkscrew

Unfold and place the point of the corkscrew in the center of the cork, and twist the corkscrew clockwise until it’s almost entirely screwed in. Then fold the notched arm down onto the lip of the bottle, and pull the lever arm upward until the cork is removed.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Using a Wine Key (Waiter’s Corkscrew)

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Open the wine key and cut the foil off the top of the wine bottle. Unfold the wine key. You’ll notice a long, metal spiral, called the “worm,” and a flatter portion that serves as a lever. Some wine keys also have a short blade which you can use to cut through foil if a cork is covered in it. Use the point of the worm, or the included blade, to cut all the way around the foil of the bottle. Cut just under the bottle’s lip, then peel the foil away and discard it.^{[1]
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- The spiral and lever parts will be folded into the wine key handle. Unfold them and your key is ready to use.
- Wine keys are a great choice for an inexpensive, easy-to-use, and portable corkscrew.
Poke the sharp tip of the worm down into the center of the cork. While applying slight downward pressure, gently twist it clockwise until only one spiral of the worm shows.^{[2]
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Fold the notched arm down against the lip of the bottle. The notched arm has 1 or 2 indentations on its sides. Bend this arm down so that one of these fits against the lip of the glass bottle, next to the cork. This will provide leverage to help you extract the cork.^{[3]
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- On keys with 2 notches, use the upper notch first, then switch to the lower notch later if you need more leverage once the cork starts to rise out of the bottle.
4
Lift the key’s lever arm to remove the cork. Firmly but gently pull on the lever arm, which is opposite the notched arm. As you pull, the cork will lift out of the wine bottle, until it’s eventually completely removed. Twist the cork off the worm and discard it.^{[4]
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- Use your other hand to hold the bottle in place as you pull the cork out.
- Take your time. If you try to force the cork out, it may break before it is fully removed.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Using a Winged Corkscrew

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Lower the corkscrew’s levers and remove the foil around the cork. A winged corkscrew has 2 long levers (the “wings”) positioned on the sides of a center ring. Inside the ring there is a long metal spiral (the “worm”), controlled by a tab at the top that can be twisted. Start by lowering the wings toward the center ring. The worm will rise simultaneously.^{[5]
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- Also, use a sharp object to cut the foil around the lip of the bottle, then remove it. Practice caution if you use the point of the worm to do this.
- Winged corkscrews are fairly common and user-friendly, but are less portable than other small corkscrews.
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Place the center ring over the cork. The center ring is just a little wider than the opening of a standard wine bottle, so it fits easily. Keep the wings down as you position the corkscrew.^{[6]
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- It can help to first lift the wings, then position the worm in the center of the cork, then lower the wings again, which may result in a more precise uncorking.
The sharp tip of the worm will pierce the cork. As you turn the tab, the worm will continue to wind its way into the cork, and the wings will rise. Keep turning gently until the wings are raised all the way up toward the tab.^{[7]
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Fold the levers back down. Grasp the levers with one or both hands and gently lower them back towards the sides of the corkscrew and the bottle. As you push them down, the cork will start to lift up and out. Satisfying!^{[8]
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Research source} If the cork doesn’t come quite all the way out, gently twist and rock it side to side until it is fully removed. Enjoy your wine!
- Use your free hand to hold the bottle in place if you have to pull the cork out at all.
- Don’t forget to unscrew the cork from the worm before putting your corkscrew away.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Using a Simple (Pocket) Corkscrew

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Assemble the corkscrew and remove the foil from the cork. The simplest corkscrews are “T” shaped, just a spiral metal “worm” with a handle attached at the top. Travel corkscrews, however, often have a worm with a plastic handle capped by a sheath that narrows at one end. Pull the sheath away, then slide it into the base of the corkscrew to make a handle.^{[9]
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- Before you start, use a sharp object to cut the foil around the lip of the bottle, then remove it. Exercise caution if you use the point of the worm to do this.
- The handles of some simple corkscrews will fold down against the worm. If yours is like this, just raise them upwards until the tool resembles a “T” shape.
- Pocket corkscrews are the most portable, but require a little more elbow grease than other types.
Hold the bottle securely in one hand. With the other, position the sharp tip of the worm in the center of the cork and gently but firmly twist it clockwise, applying downward pressure as you do.^{[10]
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Research source} Keep screwing it in until only the last turn of the worm sticks out of the cork.
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Pull the cork out. Grasp the “T” shaped handle, and slowly pull upwards to remove the cork. Gently pull, twist, and rock the cork from side to side until it comes all the way out. Then serve!^{[11]
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- Take your free hand and hold the bottle at the neck as you pull the cork out.
- Unscrew the cork from the worm after removing it.
- Remove the sheath from the hole and place it back over the worm when you are done if you are using a travel corkscrew.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Using a Mounted or Lever Corkscrew

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Clamp or mount the corkscrew onto a solid countertop. Many old-school, mounted lever corkscrews are clamp-mounted. Unscrew the clamp, then position it around the lip of a solid, sturdy countertop. Then twist and tighten the clamp until the corkscrew is stable and doesn’t move.^{[12]
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- Some mounted corkscrews must be screwed onto a surface. If this is the case, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to mount your corkscrew, as methods vary by model.
- Mounted corkscrews are a great option for businesses or restaurants that need to open many bottles, but are the most expensive and least portable option.
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Remove the cork foil and insert the nozzle into the corkscrew opening. Use a sharp object to cut the foil just around the bottle’s lip, then peel away the foil. Then, insert the bottle’s mouth up and into the corkscrew’s opening.^{[13]
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- Insert the bottle as far as it will go, and hold it there with 1 hand.
- Some models of mounted corkscrew provide a clamp to keep the bottle in place.
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Work the lever to remove the cork. Some mounted corkscrews operate by pulling the lever down, then back up. Others operate simply by pulling the lever up and over the device. Operate the lever with a firm hand, and do your best to operate it in one smooth motion.^{[14]
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- After, reverse the lever to release the cork.
- Some models allow you to re-cork a bottle by reinserting the bottle into the corkscrew and reversing the lever.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Using Other Corkscrews

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Cork extractor A cork extractor is a handy tool for removing corks without damaging them. To use one, remove the foil from around the cork. Then, squeeze the prongs of the extractor together and slip them around the cork, on either side, so that they’re wedged between the cork and the nozzle. Rock the cork extractor from side to side while pushing down.^{[15]
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- Once the extractor is as far down the cork as possible, hold the bottle with one hand and twist and pull the extractor with the other, until the cork is removed.
- Work the extractor down slowly. Going too quickly or pushing too hard may push the cork into the bottle.
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Continuous corkscrew A continuous corkscrew takes all the levers out of the equation. To use one, remove the foil from the bottle’s nozzle, then place the worm of the corkscrew in the center of the cork. Then, just turn the handle counterclockwise continuously until the worm works into the bottle and is pulled out.^{[16]
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- Turn the handle counterclockwise to free the cork from the corkscrew.
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Electric corkscrew Electric corkscrews take all the work out of opening a bottle. Just remove the foil from the cork, then place the opening of the electric corkscrew directly over the cork. Once positioned, press the “down” button to screw the worm into the cork, then press the “up” button to remove the cork.^{[17]
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- Press the “down” button again to free the cork from the corkscrew.

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Can I store wine after drinking half the bottle?

Community Answer

Yes! Just put the cork back in and screw it down with the corkscrew. It works great.

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Tips

Most Swiss army knives have a basic corkscrew on them, which makes them handy for opening bottles while out and about.

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