A bottle opener is one of the handiest tools a bartender or anyone can have. Usually, there are several of them behind the bar, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Most people think that using a bottle opener is as simple as opening a soda can.
However, it’s much more complicated. Like most people, if you opened a bottle for the first time in college, it was probably meant to impress the opposite sex. You may have noticed that it didn’t go so well.
These steps will ensure that your next bottle opening experience will result in applause from all of your friends instead of snickers and laughter.
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How to Use a Bottle Opener
Open the bottle by holding the bottle opener in one hand and the bottle’s neck with your other. Place the opener on the bottle cap, then twist with a quick motion, and let the opener’s force lift the top off.
Getting the motion right takes a little practice, but it will become second nature after a few tries.
Hold the bottle opener in place for 10 seconds or until you hear a popping sound, signaling that the cap has been removed. Slide the opener out of the cap and safely discard it.
Types And Uses Of Bottle Openers
A bottle opener is a tool that you use to open a bottle, cap, or beer can. Bottle Openers provide a convenient, effective way to open bottles.
These things are fantastic and can be used on wine bottles or beer bottles, and some models even work with aerosol cans.
Bottle openers are designed for use on bottles with crown caps (usually found on beer bottles) and on screw-top wine bottles, but not on twist-off wine bottles.
Bottle openers typically consist of two pieces: a hinged arm, which slides down the side of a bottleneck and grasps it by the neck, and a pivoting handle on the end of the arm, which the user will twist to remove the cap or seal.
Many bottle openers, like church keys, winged corkscrews, and lever-style openers are handheld openers and pocket-sized openers. These openers can be more convenient because they don’t take up much space.
Wingnut Corkscrew
A wingnut bottle opener has two wings inserted through the top and bottom of the bottle’s cap. The wings are then twisted around to grip the cap and remove it from the bottle.
Church-key Opener
A churchkey is the oldest design of bottle openers and has been around since the late 1800s in America.
It is a simple metal rod with a sharp edge that punctures through both sides of the cap to remove it from the top of the bottle.
Crown Cork Opener
The Crown Cork Opener is the world’s best-known opener. The opener’s easy to use, fits in any pocket, and is as much at home in a professional kitchen as it is at the dinner table.
It works by inserting the opener into the cork, then twisting and pulling to release the cork from the bottle.
Most crown corks are high-quality metal. The device is excellent for anyone who has difficulty opening wine bottles or has arthritis in their hands.
Speed Opener (‘Bar Blade’)
A speed opener is used to open a can without damaging the can or the lid. The speed opener is inserted in the top of the can and then rotated around the circumference of the top of the can.
An effective way to open a can with a speed opener is to insert it at a 45- degree angle, then turn it clockwise until it becomes lodged into the lip of the can.
Wall-mounted
A wall-mounted bottle opener is a bar accessory placed on the countertop or hung on a wall for easy access. It is an excellent addition to any home bar and will make any occasion feel more welcoming.
People who do not have enough space in their kitchen for a built-in countertop prefer them or those people who enjoy entertaining guests by inviting them into the kitchen.
The Basics Of Opening Bottles
Every bottle is different in shape and size, and they vary in difficulty of opening. There are many techniques for opening a bottle, but the easiest way is to use a bottle opener. You can also use a key or countertop if you don’t have an opener.
1. Opening with an Opener
- Use different hands to hold the bottle opener and the unopened bottle.
Then grasp the beer bottle by the base. Hold the bottle opener by the handle to reveal the flat end with the cut-out region in the center.
- Wedge the opener’s sharp edge beneath the bottle cap’s side.
Examine the cut-out area on the flat end of the bottle opener. Then place the bottle so that the tapered portion of the opener is below the cap.
- With your dominant hand, raise the bottle opener’s handle.
The far side of the bottle opener’s cut-out component will push down on top of the bottle cap when you lift the handle.
At the same time, the sharp edge of the bottle opener will elevate the side of the cap, pushing it to bend upward.
- Discard or recycle the cap
After you’ve removed the bottle cap off the bottle, you should dispose of it properly.
2. Opening with a Key
Have you ever had to open a bottle with a key? If so, then you may have been unable to open it.
The key may not have opened the bottle because the key was not the right shape, or it did not have the right shape.
If you want to open a bottle with a key and succeed, you can take steps.
- Use a flat metal key.
The first step in this process is to find a flat metal key. You will want to choose a key that has been made of thick material, and you will want to make sure that it is thin enough to fit into your keyhole.
You need the right size because if it is too big or too small, you may not be able to open the bottle successfully.
- Make sure it’s clean.
If you have chosen the right size key, you will want to make sure it is clean. You don’t want any residue from your pocket or anything like that on the key.
The reason for this is because if there is something on the key, then it could get stuck in the bottle cap and cause you to have a hard time getting it out.
- Twist the key’s outward-facing edge down
Twist the key’s outward-facing edge down with your hand. The edge trapped beneath the bottle cap presses upon the bottle cap as you twist the key’s outward-facing edge down. Twist until the section of the bottle cap you’re working on pulls away from the bottle.
3. Opening with a Lighter
You will need the following:
- A cheap lighter
- A bottle
- Take hold of your bottle by its neck.
The thumb should hold the lighter on top of the bottleneck, and forefingers should grip it tightly. The thumb should be closer to the mouth to have better leverage.
- Adjust the lighter under the side of the bottle top.
You should angle the lighter upward at a 120-degree angle from the top of the bottle cap. Move your index and thumb without losing your grasp to make room for the lighter.
- With your hand, press the lighter’s top end down.
Keep a tight grasp on the bottle’s neck with your other hand. When you press down on the lighter’s top end, the bottom end begins to rise, bringing the side of the bottle cap with it.
- Continue to press down on the lighter’s top end.
If you raise the edge of the bottle cap, but it does not snap off, gently assist the top of the bottle with your fingers. If you can’t still open your bottle, try again by repeating these steps. The cap should then be discarded or recycled.
4. Opening a Bottle Using a Countertop
- Place the bottle on the lip of the countertop with the cap facing down with one hand.
- Hit the bottle’s cap with your other free hand while holding onto the bottle firmly.
- Continue to attempt until the beer bottle’s cap comes off. It may be necessary to smash the cap multiple times until it pops off. If the cap still doesn’t come off after multiple tries, re-check your grip on the bottle.
Conclusion
Bottle openers are a great way of opening up bottles, but it can be tricky to get it right every single time. Using the above steps, you can ensure that your bottle opener doesn’t fail you when you need it most!
In this article, we’ve discussed the four most common ways of opening beer bottles and different types of openers. Hopefully, you can now easily identify what kind of opener is best for your current situation, so you can never get stuck with this handy tool!
