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If you ever find yourself without a bottle opener, there are many alternative ways to get the bottle cap off. If you’re around the house, you can use different tools and utensils to pry the cap off. While you’re away, you may have enough in your pockets to open a bottle in a pinch. If you need to open wine , there are easy ways to pull out the cork. No matter what type of bottle you have, you’ll be able to open it easily!
Steps
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Pry open the bottle with the edge of a spoon. Hold the bottle by the neck with your non-dominant hand so there’s about 1 inch (2.5 cm) between the top of your hand and the cap. Position the edge of a metal spoon underneath the cap and rest the handle against your hand. Push down on the handle to pry the bottle cap off of the bottle. [1] X Research source
- Be sure to use a spoon that that won’t bend or deform when you apply pressure to it.
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Use a pair of scissors as a makeshift bottle opener. Open a pair of scissors halfway so the blades make a V-shape, and place the point where the blades cross under the bottle cap. Push the handles down and slightly squeeze them together to pry open the bottle and pop off the cap. [2] X Research source- Alternatively, you could try to cut along the ridges on the cap until it comes loose from the bottle.
- Make sure the scissors are pointed away from you so they won’t cut you in case they slip.
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Pop the cap off the bottle using a hammer . Position the back of a claw hammer so it grips underneath the bottle cap. Pull the hammer’s handle down toward you to lift the cap. Once the cap pops off, set the hammer aside and enjoy your drink! [3] X Research source
- Be careful not to use too much force or you could break the bottle by accident.
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Try twisting the cap off with a rubber band or cloth. Wrap a rubber band or cloth around the bottle cap multiple times until you can get a good grip on it. Twist the cap counterclockwise so to loosen it to see if it comes off. The added leverage from the rubber band may make the cap spin off of the bottle.
- This may be difficult since many bottle caps are not meant to be twisted off.
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Place the bottle cap against your countertop to knock the cap off. Set the edge of the bottle cap against your counter, and tilt the bottle to a 30-degree angle. Hold the bottle securely in place with your non-dominant hand while you hit the cap with your dominant hand . It may take 2-3 hits to fully remove the cap, but it will come off due to the force. [4] X Research source
- Be careful not to break the bottle while you hit it.
- The drink inside the bottle may start to foam up if it’s carbonated. Make sure it doesn’t spill onto anything you can’t easily clean.
Warning: This may damage your countertops so only do it if you’re sure your counters can handle it. Avoid doing this on wooden countertops since they could easily get nicked or dented.
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Loosen the cap with your keys until it falls off. Hold the top of the bottle cap securely with the thumb on your non-dominant hand. Use the end of a key, either for your home or your car, and slide it under the edge of the cap. Pull the back of the key up to lift the edges and loosen the cap from the bottle. [5] X Research source
- You may need to lift the edges of the bottle cap in multiple places for it to come off. Work your way around the cap until it’s removed.
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Position a lighter underneath the cap until it pops off. Hold the bottle with your non-dominant hand so there’s 1 in (2.5 cm) of space between it and the bottle cap. Hold the bottom edge of a lighter underneath the edge of the cap, and slide your hand up along the bottle neck to hold it in place. Push the lighter down over your hand so it pushes up against the cap and pries it off. [6] X Research source
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Use the edge of a belt buckle to simulate a bottle opener. This works best if you have a belt with a metal buckle or clasp. Undo your belt and remove it so you can easily use it. Place the metal U-shape of the belt buckle and place it under the bottle cap. Pull the buckle backward to bend the cap and open the bottle.
- Some belt buckles have built-in bottle openers. Check the buckle to see if it has an opener on it.
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Pry the bottle cap off with a steel or titanium ring. Put your hand over the bottle cap so your ring catches the underside of the bottle cap. Tilt the bottle to a 45-degree angle toward your hand so it grips onto the ring. Grip the top of the bottle and tilt your hand back so the ring pries open the bottle. [7] X Research source
- If your ring starts to dig into your finger before it removes the cap, then stop so you don’t hurt yourself.
Warning: Don’t use rings made out of precious metals, like silver or gold, since they could deform when you try to open a bottle.
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Turn a screw into the cork and pry it out with a hammer for a makeshift opener. Turn a screw by hand through the center of the cork, and stop so the screwhead is 1 ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm) above the cork. Use the back of a claw hammer to grip the screw, and rock it back and forth to loosen the cork. Try turning the bottle until the cork pops out. [8] X Research source
Tip: You can also use a drill to put the screw into the cork, but be careful not to break through the side of the bottle.
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Place the bottle in a tennis shoe and hit it against a wall if you don’t have tools. Put the bottle into the shoe and hold it tightly against the insole. Hit the heel of the shoe against a hard surface, such as a wall or countertop, to work the cork out from the bottle’s neck. Once you can get a good grip on the cork, pull the rest out by hand. [9] X Research source
- Don’t use a show with high heels or flat soles since you could break the bottle by accident.
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Use a bike pump to force the cork out of the bottle. Make sure your bike pump has a small needle attachment on the end. Push the needle along the side of the neck so it extends past the cork’s bottom. Pump the air slowly and watch the cork to see if it rises out from the neck. Once you can get a grip on it, then pull the cork out by hand. [10] X Research source
- If you don’t see any progress after a few pumps, then take the needle out of the bottle. The pressure could build inside the wine bottle and break it.
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Push the cork into the wine bottle if you can’t get it out. Use your fingers to push the cork deeper into the bottle so it falls into the wine. If you can’t push it by hand, use the handle of a long utensil, such as a wooden spoon, to help force it down further. [11] X Research source
- If the cork breaks apart in the wine, pour the liquid through a strainer into a different container.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionAre there any other ways to open a bottle?Yasmin Rosales is a Bartending Expert based in South Florida. She is the Founder, CEO, and Lead Bartender at Stir it Up Mobile Bar, a mobile bar serving all of South, Florida. Since its founding in 2020, Stir It Up has become a highly respected name in the local event and mobile bartending industry, and prides itself in delivering excellence and an unmatched experience as a preferred luxury bar service. Yasmin has 18 years in the event and hospitality industry, and has made it her mission to infuse joy and a touch of sophistication into every event. In addition to Stir it Up, she owns several satellite bars, a refurbished horse trailer bar named “Glory” and manages a team of bartenders who love the industry as much as she does. She recieved an AS from Broward College in Crime Scene Technology.You can also use a different bottle to open a bottle. To do this, grip one bottle firmly by the neck, then use the edge of the second bottle's cap to hook under the cap of the first bottle. Lever the second bottle upwards, using it like an opener to pop the cap off of the first bottle.
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QuestionHave you tried using a quarter? It works like the key.Community AnswerAnother quarter method is to hold it flat against the top of the neck below the crown and push up with one or both thumbs.
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QuestionCan you open it with nothing?Smally ChopyChopsCommunity AnswerNo. It is impossible unless you don't count the hands here. You can't just open a bottle out of thin air in the middle of nowhere, That's magical and impossible to do in the real world.
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Tips
- Always try turning the bottle cap first to see if it has a screw-top or if you really need a bottle opener.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- I find it really easy to open bottles with an eyelash curler. Open the curler, put the bottle inside the opening on each side, and just gently wiggle the curler to pop the cap off.
- Never ever try to force a bottle cap open by hand if it's not a twist off. You're just going to end up cutting your hand open.
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Warnings
- Don’t try to use sharp knives to remove a bottle cap or cork since they could slip and you could get injured.Thanks
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Things You’ll Need
Using Tools Around Your Kitchen
- Spoon
- Scissors
- Claw hammer
- Countertop
- Rubber band
Opening Beer Bottles on the Go
- Keys
- Lighter
- Belt
- Ring
Getting the Cork out of a Wine Bottle
- Screw
- Screwdriver
- Claw hammer
- Tennis shoe
- Bike pump
References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/KBlWyrj2UUM?t=36
- ↑ https://www.delish.com/food-news/a45808/how-to-open-a-beer-without-a-bottle-opener/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/ai78FR69LzA?t=11
- ↑ https://www.delish.com/food-news/a45808/how-to-open-a-beer-without-a-bottle-opener/
- ↑ https://vinepair.com/articles/how-open-bottle-without-bottle-opener/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/dIpMXn2oKWo?t=20
- ↑ https://www.delish.com/food-news/a45808/how-to-open-a-beer-without-a-bottle-opener/
- ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/packages/ultimate-wine-guide/how-open-wine-bottle-without-corkscrew
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-open-a-bottle-of-wine-without-a-corkscrew-article
About This Article
Article Summary
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To open a bottle without a bottle opener, try using a spoon. First, hold the bottle 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the cap in your nondominant hand. Then, put the head of the spoon under the lip of the bottle with the bowl facing up. Turn the spoon so the handle is pointing away from the bottle, and press the head of the spoon between your hand and the bottle cap. Now, press the handle of the spoon down while holding the bottle firmly with your nondominant hand. The pressure from the spoon should pop the top of the bottle off. If you don’t have a spoon, you can use any ledge or countertop with a 90-degree edge. First, place the lip of the bottle cap on top of the edge of the counter or table. Then, make a fist and bring the side of your hand down on top of the bottle to pop the cap off. Be careful if you’re using this method on wood or soft surfaces like particleboard, since the teeth on the bottle cap can leave marks behind. To open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew, you can use a serrated knife. First, insert the knife into the cork at a 45-degree angle. Hold the knife steady and slowly rotate the cork in a circle. Once the cork starts to move, pull upwards to gradually raise it out of the bottle. To learn how to get the cork out of a wine bottle without a bottle opener, scroll down!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Never force anything with scissors, sure way to cut yourself badly. A small flat-tipped screwdriver worked very well for me. Insert where you can, and rotate slightly to pry the edge of cap away slightly. Just keep repeating around the cap." ..." more
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"Never force anything with scissors, sure way to cut yourself badly. A small flat-tipped screwdriver worked very well for me. Insert where you can, and rotate slightly to pry the edge of cap away slightly. Just keep repeating around the cap."
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"It works on bottles that aren't beer ones. I just did 2 and worked a bottle you'd need a opener for, it was great. My family and I kept forgetting to buy one so we tried 2 and they worked on both. I am just so happy I found an alternative."
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"I cut my hand open on the bottle cap and had to get stitches when I was pushing it against the countertop. Then, once I got home from the hospital I tried the belt thing and it worked like a charm."
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"I used the key method, but I like the lighter method, so that I wouldn't damage the indentations on the key."
"This helped me to see the pictures of how objects should be put under the cap and where to apply the force."
