This may seem elemental to many of you, but we are constantly surprised by how many friends don't know how to use our simple, no-frills corkscrew. Blame it on the Rabbit and other easy-open wine contraptions.
This waiter's key corkscrew is all we've ever known — it's what waiters use tableside in restaurants. Below, our step-by-step instructions to using this inexpensive gadget...
Just like a pocket knife, a waiter's key has a fold out blade to cut off the foil around the top of the cork. Run the blade all the way around...
...and off comes the foil.
Then pull down the corkscrew and center it in the cork. Twist.
Once the corkscrew is all the way down, bend the notched lever down so that the end grabs on to the edge of the bottle top. That'll anchor the corkscrew as you pull out the cork.
Our waiter's key is a little old and wonky, so we often have to screw the corkscrew deeper into the cork to get the full extension of the lever necessary to pull it out. There's still a little wiggling involved at the very end.
And, you're finished! We assume you need no instructions on how to pour.
FYI, a waiter's key is extremely inexpensive — save the money you'd spend on a fancy opener and upgrade your wine instead.
Related: How To Throw a Summer Wine Party
(Images: Elizabeth Passarella)
Copyright © 2008 Apartment Therapy
nah, I'll use my opener--not a rabbit but still a godsend with its two plunger type arms--and still upgrade my wine.
view ValHalla's profile
I've got one that has two notches in an extended lever, that effectively eliminates the need to turn the corkscrew a second time to get the full leverage effect.
view Michelle of Montreal's profile
I use one of these--holdover from my waitressing summer.
view lcg's profile
I have one of those and I hate it. I do not have strong hands! The twirly kind with the two arms is my favorite cheapie. My brother gave me a rabbit for Xmas one year. It works very well but it doesn't get used too often because it's such a contraption it's stored away...somewhere...in my tiny weird kitchen.
view cmcinnyc's profile
As far as i'm concerned, this is the only way to open wine.
view kittystockings's profile
yes, one of the best things about past experience waiting tables..my love for my wine key. i especially love that it has a handy little knife.
view hazel8's profile
I worked in a restaurant a few years ago as a manager and was in charge of ordering these types of supplies for our waiters, the double hinged wine key is an upgrade from this kind, there's less of a chance of breaking the cork and you don't have to screw the key in further to use the leverage. You can see a similar one here http://www.wineopeners.com/Pulltap-pulltaps-corkscrew.html
view bcarter82's profile
I love my $3 waiter's friend. Simple, compact, and no need to keep up with a foil cutter. Also, there's something refreshingly manual about using one.
view matmccoy's profile
after breaking one of the twirly kind and seeing the outrageous price of the rabbit, i found the swing-a-way (love them) version of the waiter's corkscrew and can't believe i hadn't used one before. i thought i wouldn't be strong enough to use it, but the leverage factor makes it so easy to pull out the cork - no weight training needed.
view akostalas's profile
It's all I use. No need for frills and gadgets. As a former waitress, I learned it's a tool that I can use for MANY things, not just opening wine. Quite the multi tasker. I love it.
view annaland's profile
wow! i too never knew how to use this tool! i also can't use the doo-hicky that supposedly lets you make rosebud raddishes and the like
view SydneyBristow's profile
I use this kind often (very portable!), as well as the kind with two handles. No motors here.
view UptownGirl's profile