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How To: Use a Waiter's Key Corkscrew

2008_07_02-corkscrew3.5.jpgThis 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...

2008_07_02-corkscrew1.jpg...and off comes the foil.

2008_07_02-corkscrew2.jpgThen pull down the corkscrew and center it in the cork. Twist.

2008_07_02-corkscrew3.jpgOnce 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.

2008_07_02-corkscrew4.jpgOur 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.

2008_07_02-corkscrew5.jpgAnd, 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)

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Tips & Techniques, Gadgets, Wine, how to, corkscrew, waiter's key

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Comments (12)

nah, I'll use my opener--not a rabbit but still a godsend with its two plunger type arms--and still upgrade my wine.

posted by ValHalla on 2008-07-02 15:39:11
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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.

posted by Michelle of Montreal on 2008-07-02 15:42:28
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I use one of these--holdover from my waitressing summer.

posted by lcg on 2008-07-02 16:50:00
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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.

posted by cmcinnyc on 2008-07-02 16:55:28
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As far as i'm concerned, this is the only way to open wine.

posted by kittystockings on 2008-07-02 18:26:20
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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.

posted by hazel8 on 2008-07-02 18:42:27
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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

posted by bcarter82 on 2008-07-03 02:15:54
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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.

posted by matmccoy on 2008-07-03 09:16:02
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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.

posted by akostalas on 2008-07-03 15:52:30
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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.

posted by annaland on 2008-07-03 15:55:35
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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

posted by SydneyBristow on 2008-07-03 19:03:37
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I use this kind often (very portable!), as well as the kind with two handles. No motors here.

posted by UptownGirl on 2008-07-08 15:02:12
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