OXO Corkscrew

Product Information

With a built-in foil cutter and substantial design, the OXO Winged Corkscrew is comfortable to hold and simple to use. Laguiole Waiter's Corkscrew: The single-lever Laguiole works about as well as the design allows, but it’s slower than a double-fulcrum version of the waiter’s-friend corkscrew. Wine key: Also known as a waiter's corkscrew. It's typically double hinged and contains a foil cutter and handle on one side, a screw in the middle, and two notched pieces on the other side. To use it, open up both sides and insert the screw. Bring the side with the notched pieces down vertically and push the top piece inwards to rest on the lip of the bottle. Pull the handle on the other side to bring the cork out halfway. The notched piece should provide enough leverage. Once there's enough space, switch to and move the bottom notched piece to the lip of the bottle and continue pulling the handle to completely remove the cork.

Francis Kulaga, Certified Sommelier and General Manager & Beverage Director at Birch & Rye in San Francisco, says the most classic corkscrew options are the waiter’s friend style, an ‘ah-so’ two-prong corkscrew, and the Durand, which is a brand that has conveniently combined the two styles into one. Each of these three styles is manual but simple enough to use with some practice. For those looking for something more effortless, an electric corkscrew is a better choice — and for that, look to the Secura Stainless Steel Electric Wine Opener. As the Ozeri owner’s manual indicates, all you need to do is position the opener directly above the bottle to make sure it’s centered on the cork. From there all we had to do was hit the LED-lit blue “down” button to activate the opening process and let this electric wine opener do its thing. Additionally, we consulted with sommeliers and beverage directors to get recommendations for the best corkscrews, plus a few expert tips on how to properly open wine bottles. As someone who drinks wine very regularly, I've tried many different types and versions of corkscrews. While the rabbit and wing styles are easy, they are, in my opinion, way too bulky to store and carry to be worth buying. The chunky lever-style corkscrew is the fastest way to open a bottle of wine, but that ease comes at a price: It's much larger than the other corkscrew styles, eating up significantly more drawer or counter space.There’s a misconception that the more expensive, gadgety corkscrews are easier and better, but that’s rarely the case for me," says Goddu. "Use whatever’s easiest for you, but for me, that’s my trusty wine key.” Take it slow and be firm with it. "Good old careful muscle is the best way to get out a stubborn cork," said Jordan Salcito, founder of wine brand Ramona and former beverage director at Momofuku. Ease of use: Is the model ergonomically sound? Does it feel comfortable in the hand? How difficult is the setup process?

Everyone has their favorite kind of corkscrew. For most beverage professionals, a good old wine key or waiter’s corkscrew is the holy grail tool, but if you prefer a winged model or electric option, that’s great, too. Whatever will best help you open your favorite wine bottles is the one you should choose. If you’re seasoned at swinging open bottles, the Pulltap Professional Corkscrew is bar none. Affordable, high-functioning, and built to last, it’s a workhorse option for every occasion. If you want an option with a bit more pizzazz, BarVivo’s Professional Corkscrew with a wood handle adds elegance to a standard waiter’s key.If you’re looking for a great version of a classic, then the Beneno Premium Wing is an excellent fit. With a sturdier build than your average winged corkscrew, the Beneno also boasts not only a capped bottle opener, but wings that are fitted with a soft grip to make pulling them down that much easier. And best of all, if you have any problems with it, it comes with a lifetime warranty. Being a winged corkscrew, it isn’t as compact or pretty as some of the others, but if you want a reliable corkscrew that is far less easy to lose – this is a great choice.

During the actual uncorking process, we noted how smoothly each wine opener worked to seamlessly dislodge the cork. While some manual or pronged wine keys required a bit of muscle to wedge the corkscrew into the cork, we found that a few lever-style and electric wine opener models also required an equal amount of muscle to operate, which we took into account. Electric corkscrew: As the name suggests, these wine openers are powered entirely by electricity, so are no effort at all to use. All they require is to align your bottle properly before pressing a button and voila, drinks for everyone. They are pricier than the others and will require charging, so you have to be prepared and are far less transportable than other options. There isn't an easy answer to this per se, but you're more likely to find corks in older vintages of wine. But that being said, just because a wine has a screw cap, it doesn't mean it's poor quality and that you should steer clear of purchasing it. There are plenty of great wines being made with screw caps. Some models include additional bells and whistles like foil cutters, pour spouts, vacuum stoppers and advanced wine preservation systems. In the manual wine corkscrew category, for example, there are single-lever as well as double-lever models, the latter commonly referred to as the classic waiter’s friend. As rechargeable batteries have made their way into tools in every category, the electric wine opener has become much more popular in recent years, with brands like Oster and Ozeri introducing more luxe models, which include charging stations, easy-to-read LED buttons and cordless functionality. Winged Corkscrew: This classic corkscrew design uses a pair of “wings” that raise as you twist the screw into the cork. Once the screw has a firm grasp, you simply push both wings downwards, and both screw and cork pop out. Generally very cheap but less compact than the waiter’s friend, this is an affordable at-home staple.

This Pulltap option is a workhorse of a wine key. Designed with professionals in mind, the hinged double-lever system and serrated knife blade make it a breeze to open bottles with both long and short corks. “The two-step construction means you rarely break a cork,” adds Rutherford. “I have had the same one for at least ten years, and it has never done wrong by me." Lever corkscrew: Simply push down and pull up with this wine opener. It requires a bit of arm strength, but the two-motion mechanism is attractive to those who want a seamless experience. You can't enjoy a good bottle of wine without a trusty wine opener. Some wine openers break after just a couple uses, some require too much strength, and others simply take up too much space. That's why we asked the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute for their personal recommendations and favorites. Comfort: Some wine opener designs require more hand strength and dexterity, while others — like electric openers — are more ergonomic and can do all the work for you. Your physical abilities and preferences can help you narrow your search.

If you’re looking for a slightly smoother and simpler experience, a lever-style wine opener gives you more leverage and requires less hand and arm strength to use. Thus, a lever-style opener might suit someone who is starting to collect wine and open more than two bottles per week, or it might appeal to the infrequent wine drinker who doesn’t open bottles often and hasn’t developed the muscle memory to use a waiter’s friend accurately. A lever-style device does take a bit more storage space, so you’d want to factor that in, but it’s always ready to go, unlike an electric wine opener. Electric wine openers take the guesswork out of opening a nicer bottle of wine. If you’re a collector or you’re gifting a wine collector, a more expensive yet reliable electric wine opener is the best option. While electric openers require a charge, a simple press of a button is all that’s required physically to uncork a nicer bottle you’ve been saving.The foil cutter seamlessly slides into the opener for easy storage. In case one screw breaks, an additional one is included, which is helpful, just in case. Being a chef who often cooks with wine, I’ve tried and fumbled with many wine openers and preservation systems,” says Hugh Acheson, the owner of Five and Ten and a judge on "Top Chef." “But Coravin is different—it is easy to use, preserves perfectly, and pours perfectly." While electric wine openers aren’t necessarily a go-to for serious oenophiles, they do have their moments, especially for those who might otherwise struggle to remove a cork. Electric wine openers are also perfect for anyone who just isn’t comfortable with a wine key, lever system, winged corkscrew, or other manual tool. Plus, they're fast, easy, rechargeable (if not battery-powered), and often come with a display base and an accessory or two.