The 12 Best Corkscrews

If you have just started drinking and collecting wine, you’ll soon discover you need a fair amount of equipment.

For starters, it pays to invest in a wine cooler so you can keep your favorites reds and whites chilled at the optimum temperature. If you need to keep both reds and whites for short-term consumption, you’ll need to consider a dual-zone wine cooler.

Once you get your wine at the stage where it’s ready to drink, though, you’ll need some help removing the cork. By the end of today’s guide to the best corkscrews, you should have no problem choosing the right one for your needs.

Now, while you might imagine buying a corkscrew would be one of the easiest decisions you face on the buying trail, if you skip the planning and steam in, you might get lucky and find a great corkscrew. More likely, though, you’ll end up with something entirely unfit for purpose. Cheap and low-quality corkscrews abound. Focus on the following pointers when you’re comparing corkscrews and you’ll find the best fit the easy way.

• Type of corkscrew: The main choice you’ll face comes down to a decision between manual or electric corkscrews. Only you know whether you can physically remove corks, or whether you need a helping electric hand. We review plenty of both style
• Type of cork: You’ll find both natural and synthetic wine corks. Not all corkscrews are designed to cope with all types of cork. A synthetic cork is remarkably dense and requires more effort to remove than a natural cork. Natural corks, on the other hand, are much more brittle. We draw your attention to how well these corkscrews cope with various corks so you can easily choose the right one for your needs
• Ease of use: This is arguably the single most important element of your buying decision. If you’re opting for an electric corkscrew, you should make sure the process is straightforward. All of the electric models on our shortlist qualify admirably on this count. If you’re choosing a manual corkscrew, you should scour plenty of user reviews to get an idea of how the corkscrew performs.
• Size: If you want a travel corkscrew, or you’re planning to use the corkscrew in a commercial setting, you need to look for something that’s small and compact, ideally pocket-sized. Many of the units we review today fare well on this front. Electric corkscrews obviously can’t offer the same degree of portability. What counts here is making sure you have enough room to accommodate the opener and charger on the kitchen counter. If you’re struggling for space, one of the corkscrews we review comes with no additional base, so keep your eyes peeled for the Secura down below!
• Price/performance: Think about more than the bottom line when you’re looking to establish value. If you drink wine every night with dinner, consider a corkscrew as an investment. Pay a little more and you’ll get a corkscrew built to last.
• Aesthetics: Function is much more important than form with wine corkscrews, but you should choose the best-looking model among those on your shortlist. Why shortchange yourself with something ugly cluttering up the kitchen?

OK, with those basic sketched in, let’s launch right into our corkscrew reviews!

The 12 Best Corkscrews

1. Our Pick: Barvivo Professional Waiters Corkscrew

• Type: Waiters corkscrew
• Weight: 0.25 pounds
• Dimensions: 4.7 x 0.6 x 1.2 inches

Our overall favorite corkscrew is a back-to-basics model in a style favored by service staff the world over. How does this classic waiters corkscrew shape up, then?

Firstly, you can choose from multiple finishes to complement the stainless steel body. From black or gold resin to rosewood or ebony, inject a splash of color and texture to suit.

This corkscrew features a double-hinged fulcrum. This gives you the power and precision to extract even the most fragile corks without any debris making its way into your wine bottle.

If you have a wine collection featuring bottles with both natural and synthetic corks, this corkscrew will make light work of all of them. You’ll have the cork out and the wine decanted in seconds flat.

A few users have pointed out that the foil cutter is awkward to pull out until the corkscrew is broken in somewhat.

With an ergonomic, non-slip handle and a highly efficient fulcrum, this is a no-nonsense corkscrew for much less than you might imagine.

2. Secura Electric Wine Opener

• Type: Electric corkscrew
• Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Dimensions: 12 x 2.7 x 7.5 inches

Next up we have the most striking corkscrew on our shortlist. Secura makes a range of appliances that harness technology without bewildering the user. This corkscrew manages to deliver exceptional performance with push-button ease.

At a glance, it’s hard to determine what this appliance is! It looks more like a speaker than a corkscrew, but that’s part of the appeal.

All you need to do is pop this device on top of the wine bottle you want to open, push the button, and watch the cork slide out almost instantly.

As with most rechargeable electric corkscrews, you’ll be free to uncork up to 30 bottles on a single charge. This should be more than enough for most reasonable purposes. If you leave the corkscrew unused for 3 months, you should charge it to help preserve the battery.

This corkscrew will comfortably run on either 110 volts or 220 volts giving you an appliance suitable for use all over the world.

For a quiet, seamless, and effortless way to remove your wine corks, put your trust in Secura.

3. True Truetap Waiters Corkscrew

• Type: Waiters corkscrew
• Weight: 0.15 pounds
• Dimensions: 3.5 x 0.75 x 7 inches

Next up in our curated cross-section of the best corkscrews comes another classic waiters corkscrew from True Truetap.

You can choose from a staggering array of colors, from stainless steel or copper through to lime green and bright pink. You’re not buying a corkscrew to look at, though, so how does this thing perform?

The double-hinged fulcrum gives you first-class leverage, so you’ll easily whip out even the most stubborn corks. The best part? The efficiency of the design means you’ll need very little effort to achieve this.

Once you’ve driven the worm into the cork, the non-slip nature gives very little resistance when you’re removing it. This is something that blights many cheap and ineffective corkscrews.

Compact and easy to slip in your pocket, this is a superb corkscrew at an almost throwaway price point. What are you waiting for?

While most users seem very satisfied with this dinky corkscrew, a few complain about an overall flimsiness. Considering the budget pricing, we really don’t feel there’s much to gripe about here.

4. Hicoup Wine Opener

• Type: Lever corkscrew
• Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Dimensions: 5.6 x 2.1 x 9.5 inches

Next up is a cheap but efficient corkscrew from Hicoup in classic wing style.

The stainless steel and plastic build feels sturdy, and this is a reasonably heavy corkscrew. In return for this extra weight and heft, you can expect a decent lifespan from this thing, a welcome change from the many throwaway corkscrews that seem to come apart after a few weeks.

The handle is designed to be easy to grip, and it allows you to get plenty of purchase when you’re struggling with longer, tougher corks.

The polished helix worm cuts down on the effort you need to put in with cork extraction. It can easily work down inside even the lengthiest cork, then all you need to do is pull the cork out with little resistance.

We found a handful of complaints from users who claim they damaged corks using this corkscrew. Overall, though, user sentiment concerning this affordable and effective corkscrew is largely positive.

5. OXO Steel Vertical Lever Corkscrew

• Type: Lever corkscrew
• Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Dimensions: 2.5 x 7.6 x 7.2 inches

Next in our hunt for the best corkscrews comes another entry from the ever-reliable OXO. How does this corkscrew stand out in a crowded pack?

This is a vertical lever corkscrew that allows you to uncork wine bottles using just 2 simple movements. Kiss goodbye to wrestling with corks and say hello to seamless bottle opening.

This unit is capable of dealing with both natural and synthetic corks, so any bottles are fair game.

The foil cutter on this corkscrew is removable for your convenience. Onboard storage when you’re done ensures you never misplace this tiny but crucial tool.

Releasing the corks is just as easy as removing them. All you need to do is pump the lever and the cork comes away clean from the non-stick screw.

Most users appear pretty satisfied with this corkscrew. We found a few complaints about the price, and a few more gripes concerning lifespan. Overall, this is a simple but effective manual corkscrew from a brand you can rely on.

6. Viski Double-Hinged Corkscrew

• Type: Waiters corkscrew
• Weight: 0.15 pounds
• Dimensions: 2.5 x 1.5 x 6.5 inches

As we reach the midpoint of our curated collection of the best corkscrews, we have a commanding gold-plated unit from Viski Belmont. What do you get beyond the glimmer of gold?

The corkscrew feels very solid and looks great on the kitchen counter with your wine decanter.

The 5-turn worm technology combined with a non-stick screw and outstanding leverage combine to make light work of even stubborn and tough corks. Whether the cork is natural or synthetic, this corkscrew will pull them out without any breakage or debris.

Unlike some stiff and clunky corkscrews, the mechanism here is smooth and efficient. You won’t need to put in any effort while that impressive leverage does the hard yards for you.

Although this corkscrew looks substantial enough, you’ll find it lacks the robustness required for commercial use. As long as you’re planning to use this corkscrew at home, though, you’re in safe hands.

7. Monopol Westmark Two-Prong Cork Puller

• Type: Dual-prong corkscrew
• Weight: 0.15 pounds
• Dimensions: 11 x 1 x 6.5 inches

If you’re looking for a sleek and elegant corkscrew, this two-pronged offering from Monopol Westmark is well worth popping on your shortlist.

Fortunately, this is not a case of form over function, though. Not only does the hardened steel corkscrew look great, but it should also deliver years of faithful service.

The corkscrew is equipped with dual prongs made from hardened steel. These are designed to work well with most types of corks.

All you need to do is gently slide the thin prongs into the cork on your wine bottle and you should find you can extract it without any damage or splintering.

When you’re done, you can clean the corkscrew with some warm soapy water. Make sure you dry it thoroughly before packing it away, and that’s the extent of upkeep required here.

If you’re in any doubt about this corkscrew, it’s backed by a comprehensive five-year warranty. This shows the confidence the manufacturer places in this product and allows you to buy with complete confidence.

8. Oster Electric Wine Opener

• Type: Electric corkscrew
• Weight: 1 pound
• Dimensions: 5.5 x 15 x 5.3 inches

Many people prefer the effortlessness of an electric wine bottle opener, and considering the rock bottom price of this unit, that’s no surprise.

If you have problems with arthritis, you’ll find the Oster a smart investment that will have the corks out of your bottle without you needing to strain your joints.

Using this thing couldn’t be much easier even if you’re not too technically-minded. One-touch operation will uncork your wine in seconds flat.

The opener comes with a charging base bundled. It takes up to 8 hours to impart a full burst of charge, and this allows you to open up to 30 wine bottles before it needs a boost.

There’s a foil cutter to help you trim away the bottle covering. The handle of the unit is soft and non-slip, so you won’t end up with your favorite wine bottle smashed on the floor.

The only real gripe with this unit concerns issues if the power dies with the cork in the bottle. Make sure you always keep this opener fully charged to avoid this.

9. IPOW Wine Opener

• Type: Wing corkscrew
• Weight: 0.5 pounds
• Dimensions: 8 x 0.3 x 3 inches

Not everyone is looking to invest in a costly corkscrew, so this next offering from IPOW is ideal for all the bargain-hunters out there. Even better, you won’t need to compromise efficiency to achieve a bargain.

Made from lightweight zinc, this compact corkscrew is super-simple to use. Just twist the corkscrew into the cork on your wine bottle and then use the twin handles to extract it without leaving any residue or splintered wood in your wine glass.

The tip of the corkscrew is sharpened so it slides into the cork with minimal resistance.

Although the corkscrew is user-friendly and lightweight, you might find it fails to last as long as you would like. We feel you need to take the price into account when assessing likely lifespan.

Choose from three colors to suit and enjoy uncorking your wine with the tool used by waiters the world over.

As an added kicker, there is a beer bottle opener on top of the corkscrew, giving you a multipurpose tool well worth your investment.

10. Brabantia Classic Corkscrew

• Type: Spiral corkscrew
• Weight: 0.21 pounds
• Dimensions: 2.9 x 1.7 x 2.9 inches

As we near the end of our showcase of wine corkscrews, we have a classic with a twist from Brabantia.

This is a wide-bodied spiral corkscrew that should make a neat fit with just about all wine and champagne bottles.

The onboard foil cutter gets things off to a strong start by slicing neatly through any wrapping on the bottle.

When you place this opener over your wine bottle, you’ll always bore down into the center of the cork thanks to the inbuilt centering ring.

The worm of this corkscrew is treated with a non-stick coating, so you won’t get any resistance when uncorking.

When the corkscrew is not in use, the spiral tip is concealed and protected by the tough body.

Ideal for uncorking almost any wine bottle, this attractive and long-lasting corkscrew looks great and performs in line with its looks. The only real drawback here is reported difficulty with returns, so buyer beware.

11. Chef Select Waiters Corkscrew

• Type: Waiters corkscrew
• Weight: 0.15 pounds
• Dimensions: 5 x 4 x 0.5 inches

We have time for a couple more corkscrews before we round out today, so how does this model from Chef Select stand and fall?

Not only is this classic waiters corkscrew extremely efficient when it comes to cork removal, but it’s also one of the cheapest wine corkscrews that doesn’t sacrifice performance to achieve a bargain.

Made from stainless steel and available in five different colorways, this lightweight cork remover will last for years as long as you keep it clean. You won’t even need to hand wash the corkscrew either since it is safe to slip on the top shelf of your dishwasher for hands-free cleanup.

The worm of the corkscrew is sharp and designed to penetrate even tough wine corks.

As with all corkscrews in this class, you’ll benefit from an integrated foil cutter and bottle opener, giving you everything you need in a compact package. The unit measures just five inches long allowing you to pop it in your pocket or store it in small spaces with ease.

Although the corkscrew feels reasonably solid overall, you may want to exercise caution when using the handles as they feel quite lightweight and fragile.

If you’re looking for a no-nonsense corkscrew with no bells or whistles, this waiters corkscrew is one of the best options in a crowded market segment.

12. The Durand Vintage Cork Remover

• Type: Vintage cork remover
• Weight: 0.55 pounds
• Dimensions: 2.2 x 4.6 x 6.3 inches

Last but not least in today’s roundup of the finest corkscrews is perfect for anyone who collects vintage wine, particularly when the bottles have fragile or damaged corks.

This is not the cheapest option at your disposal when you’re hunting for corkscrews, but is it worth the money?

Rather than a traditional wine corkscrew, the Durand is a dedicated cork removal devices featuring two distinct components.

Although this device might look intimidating, it’s remarkably easy to use. Simply screw the helix so it penetrates the center of the wine cork. There is a stabilizer bar that rests against the cork. The unit is equipped with a pair of blades. Insert the longer blade into the cork first followed by the short blade. Make a rocking motion with the handle. This will slowly push the blade into the compromised wine cork.

You should find that when you uncork the wine, the cork remains intact with no pieces of broken wood marring the wine in your glass.

Although this is an expensive and non-traditional corkscrew, it’s unbeatable for anyone who drinks lots of older wine.

FAQ

1) What is a waiters corkscrew?

A waiters corkscrew is sometimes called a wine key. This is the most common type of corkscrew used in commercial establishments, and it’s also a smart choice for home use. Waiters corkscrews are compact, affordable, and offer the most traditional method of uncorking your wine. Most of this type of corkscrew are equipped with foil cutters and bottle openers.

2) How do I use a waiters corkscrew?

• Cut the foil below the lip of the wine bottle.
• Remove all foil from the neck of the bottle.
• Position the worm in the center of the wine cork and twist so it slides into the cork.
• Place the first notch on the corkscrew on the tip of the wine bottle.
• Pull out the remainder of the cork.
• Reverse the motion of the corkscrew to get the cork out of the worm.

3) What is a pocket corkscrew?

A pocket corkscrew, as the name makes clear, is designed to fit in the pockets of pants or aprons. Many of these corkscrews come with a sheath. This sheath can be used to form a crossbar and provide extra leverage when removing stubborn corks. Bartenders and servers find this style of corkscrew indispensable. The drawback of this type of corkscrew is the extra force required when uncorking.

4) How do I use a pocket corkscrew?

• Remove all the foil from the bottle.
• Unsheathe the corkscrew. Position the sheath at the corkscrew’s base to form a crossbar.
• Slide the worm into the cork.
• Pull on the handles and remove the cork.
• Reverse the motion to remove the cork from the corkscrew. Hold the cork as you perform this action.

5) What is a wing corkscrew?

A wing corkscrew works well with synesthetic corks and are straightforward to use. This type of corkscrew also makes a great option if you uncork wine bottles with corks of varying sizes. Compatibility is almost universal with a wing corkscrew. This style of corkscrew is inadvisable for uncorking wines with natural corks or vintage wines with fragile corks.

6) How do I use a wing corkscrew?

• Cut away the foil from the lip of the wine bottle.
• Remove the foil then position the worm in the middle of the cork.
• Twist the lever until the wings have completely risen.
• Push down on the wings while pulling the cork from the bottle.
• Turn the handle in a counterclockwise direction to remove the cork from the corkscrew.

7) What is an electric corkscrew?

An electric corkscrew offers the easiest method of opening wine bottles. All you need to do is push a button and the corkscrew will do all the work. This type of corkscrew is an ideal choice for anyone with arthritis or limited functionality in their hands.

8) How do I use an electric corkscrew?

• First, remove all the foil from the wine bottle.
• Position the electric corkscrew on the bottle neck. Make sure you keep this corkscrew in a vertical position.
• Switch the corkscrew on and it will insert the worm automatically before removing the cork fuss-free.
• Take the corkscrew off the wine bottle once the cork is removed.

9) What is a lever corkscrew?

Lever corkscrews are rapidly becoming more popular due to their ease of use. You can typically uncork a wine bottle using just two motions, a forward motion as you insert the worm into the cork and a second motion as you gradually remove the cork from the bottle. This type of corkscrew affords you maximum control with the handle firmly grasping the neck of the wine bottle. Ideal for use in home kitchen or front-of-house in a bar or restaurant, lever corkscrews are well worth considering.

10) How do I use a lever corkscrew?

• Remove all the protective foil wrapping from the wine bottle.
• Ensure the lever is facing up then put the corkscrew on the top of your wine bottle.
• By pushing down on the lever, you can slide the worm right into the cork with relative ease.
• When the lever has been fully pushed down, pull back up on the handle. This will remove the cork from the bottle.
• Take the corkscrew off the wine bottle then flip the handle up and down. This should remove the cork.

11) What is a wine cork extractor?

A wine cork extractor is an innovative device featuring a pair of prongs. The prongs are designed to slide between the cork and the wine bottle, enabling seamless removal with minimum fanfare. This type of corkscrew makes a great choice for natural corks. If you uncork fragile or vintage corks using these devices, you shouldn’t end up with any damage or breakage. You can pick up wine cork extractors for much less than you might imagine, and they provide one of the most versatile uncorking experiences.

12) How do I use a wine cork extractor?

• Remove all foil from the wine bottle.
• Slide the prongs of the extractor so they go between the cork and the wine bottle. Hold the neck of the bottle firmly as you perform this motion.
• Use a side-to-side motion and push the prongs down. At the same time, apply gentle force to the handle.
• Twist the extractor fully once the prongs are inserted fully. This will remove the cork.
• Slide the cork between the prongs of the extractor and discard.
  

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Conclusion

Finding the best corkscrews can be challenging. The reason for this is that there are so many cheap and shoddy units flooding the market, it’s hard to know which ones are any good.

Stick with any of the wine corkscrews we review today, and you can buy with a clear awareness of their benefits as well as their drawbacks. If you encounter a corkscrew not on our shortlist, we hope you find some useful tips in our introductory buying guide. Take this into account and you should easily find the right corkscrew for you.

Before you hustle off on the corkscrew trail, bookmark Slow Wine Magazine. We’re here to bring you all the best products for the wine lover in your life so we can save you time and money. We update our content with fresh guides regularly, so be sure to come back soon!