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How To Open Wine Without a Corkscrew

Find yourself with a bottle of wine and no way to open it? Try these nifty tricks to pop the cork ASAP.

Picture this: You've got a killer Cab that you're dying to pour for guests or a scrumptious Sauvignon Blanc that your dinner recipe calls for a dash of. The only problem? You can't find the proper tool to bust it open. Don't stress—if you're wondering how to open wine without a corkscrew, rest assured that you have several different options.

While a corkscrew is obviously the simplest and most straightforward way to open a wine bottle, it's not the only way. That said, it's worth noting that other methods aren't completely foolproof, and may require a little practice before you can remove the cork perfectly. It's also important to exercise caution with each method. Not only to avoid damaging the cork or breaking the bottle, but also for your own safety.

Fortunately, we've rounded up some of the safest options. So, next time you're scratching your head over how to open wine without a corkscrew, consider one of these easy and effective methods.

Push the cork in with a wooden spoon

pushing a corkscrew into a bottle of wine
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

If you're trying to figure out how to open wine without a corkscrew in the safest way possible, look no further than this method. All you need is a long-handled wooden spoon in your kitchen (or another blunt object of similar size and shape) to push the cork into the wine bottle.

Press the spoon to the top of the cork, adding increasing pressure until the cork slides right into the bottle. If you really want to get the cork out of the wine, you can pour it into a decanter. But the advantage to this method is that it's likely to keep the cork intact, so you probably don't have to worry about crumbs of it ending up in the wine.

Keep in mind, because of the pressure from the cork, there's a chance that some of the wine will squirt out of the top. You probably will want to wrap the top with a kitchen towel to avoid any messes.

RELATED: Easy, healthy, 350-calorie recipe ideas you can make at home.

Pull the cork out with a screwdriver and a screw

screwing a nail into a cork
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

Not sure how to open wine without a corkscrew while avoiding damage to the cork? Simply grab a screwdriver, a long screw, and a hammer. With a little strength and patience, you should be able to remove it in one piece. First, use a screwdriver to insert a long screw into the cork.

pulling a cork out of a bottle of wine using a nail and a hammer
Kiersten Hickman/Eat This, Not That!

When there's about an inch of the screw left, wedge the backside of a hammer under the screw and carefully pull upward until the cork pops out.

Rebecca Strong
Rebecca Strong is a Boston-based freelance health/wellness, lifestyle, and travel writer. Read more about Rebecca