How to Open a Bottle Without a Bottle Opener

Co-authored by Hunter Rising

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!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Tools Around Your Home

1
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]
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- Be sure to use a spoon that that won’t bend or deform when you apply pressure to it.
2
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]
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- 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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3
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]
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- Be careful not to use too much force or you could break the bottle by accident.
4
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.^{[4]
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- This may be difficult since many bottle caps are not meant to be twisted off.
5
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.^{[5]
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- 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.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Opening Beer Bottles on the Go

1
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.^{[6]
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- 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.
2
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.^{[7]
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3
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.^{[8]
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- Some belt buckles have built-in bottle openers. Check the buckle to see if it has an opener on it.
4
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.^{[9]
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- 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.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Getting the Cork out of a Wine Bottle

1
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.^{[10]
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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.
2
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.^{[11]
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- Don’t use a show with high heels or flat soles since you could break the bottle by accident.
3
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.^{[12]
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- 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.
4
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.^{[13]
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- If the cork breaks apart in the wine, pour the liquid through a strainer into a different container.

Community Q&A

Question

Have you tried using a quarter? It works like the key.

Community Answer

Another quarter method is to hold it flat against the top of the neck below the crown and push up with one or both thumbs.
Question

Can you open it with nothing?

Smally ChopyChops

Community Answer

No. 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.

Warnings

Don’t try to use sharp knives to remove a bottle cap or cork since they could slip and you could get injured.

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