OXO Corkscrew

Product Information

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. 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. Fold the opener down and place the lower of the double-jointed metal arms on the edge of the bottle. Use that leverage to get the cork about halfway out of the bottle.

Our frontrunners required little to no setup prior to use, and each model included additional helpful tools to aid with the opening process, like foil cutters or replacement corkscrews. A wine key is that other tool that is just so essential to us as bartenders,” says Rochelle Tougas, general manager of FM Kitchen & Bar in Houston. “This is my favorite wine key I’ve ever owned." If you’re looking for a foolproof lever-style wine opener without any manual stress or labor, consider the Rabbit. This also makes for one hell of a gift for that wine lover in your life. Winged corkscrew: Just as its name hints, this corkscrews has two arms or "wings" that shoot up during cork removal. These classic wine openers are popular for their small profile and general reliability. "I like its classic style and the fact that it works," says Nicole Papantoniou, senior testing editor and producer of the Kitchen Appliances Lab.

This functions very well as a hinged waiter's style corkscrew, but without some of the moving pieces that broke down on the last one that I loved. The "hinge" is more of a pop-out feature inside (rather than outside) the handle, making it a little less likely to get banged around in a drawer, cooler, etc. The handle has that good OXO texture, making it easy to grip and use. 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.

With a built-in foil cutter and substantial design, the OXO Winged Corkscrew is comfortable to hold and simple to use. Efficiency: How long does the wine opener take to effectively open a bottle of wine? How effectively did the opener work overall, considering effort and pressure involved? 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.

Our top picks for the best wine openers

There are countless varieties of wine opening tools, with widely different designs and functionality. Which one you choose comes down to how much wine you drink (and thus how often you’re likely to use it), how comfortable and experienced you are with opening bottles and how easy it is to store. There are good options for any budget regardless of which type of opener you use. A foil cutter would be a nice addition, but outside of that detail, it’s a reliable, fail-safe, entry-level option that helps you easily remove a cork without breaking it. It depends a bit on the corkscrew, but for a simple wine key (sometimes called a waiter’s corkscrew), the process is as follows: Who is it for? Those who need a bit of assistance removing stubborn corks from bottles and don’t mind paying a premium. How much should I spend? It's not the most comfortable to hold, but the Truetap Double-Hinged Corkscrew removes corks smoothly and effectively. It comes in many different colors so you can find one that fits your personal style.

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. The best budget corkscrew: Pulltap Wine Essentials Waiter’s Friend Double Lever Corkscrew | Buy now When selecting the best wine opener for you, it's important to consider what you value most in the little kitchen gadget. It might sound silly to put any thought into it, but it's helpful in the long run since you'll end up keeping it for a while. Here are a few examples of popular wine opener styles to help: I will be the first to admit that I feel there are only two flaws with this cork screw. However, in my defense, I only need this corkscrew to perform two tasks (cutting the wine wrapper and pulling out the cork). Unfortunately, both of which this corkscrew does not do very well. Therefore it gets a score of 0/2.Overall, the Coravin Timeless Three is a great investment for those who are very, very serious about their wine. If you’re looking for a classic waiter’s corkscrew, we recommend this sturdy OXO Steel Double Lever Waiter’s Corkscrew. Compact and easy to store or carry with you anyplace (picnic, anyone?), this stainless steel corkscrew has a balanced hand feel and a comfortable, nonslip silicone grip. And it has a longer lever than the other waiter’s friend-style openers we looked at, giving you more leverage and an easier time opening tougher bottles.