Tips 1: Remove Broken Corks

February 21, 2024

Tilt the corkscrew 45 degrees. If the cork left in the neck is large and fairly close to the opening, try using the corkscrew again. Don't drill the long curled section straight out of the middle, but drill in at an angle to keep the cork piece intact.

If the cork is too deep to get a good angle, try drilling vertically along the edge of the cork near the neck of the bottle.
If you have a winged bottle opener, it's difficult to drill the hole at an angle, just go through the middle again and you'll be fine.

Twist the cork in with gentle pressure. Turn the corkscrew clockwise to insert it into the cork, you may only need 3 to 4 and a half turns to get a firm grip on it. Use gentle pressure and try not to use too much force when twisting as this may push the cork into the bottle.

Remove the cork as normal. If you're using a wine key corkscrew, place the notch on the corkscrew's metal arm over the rim of the wine bottle and pull up on the handle to remove the cork. If you have a corkscrew with wings, simply press the wings to lift the cork.

If the cork doesn't come out all the way, gently pull and twist the corkscrew to remove it all the way.
Don't worry if the cork breaks or falls into the bottle! Just strain the wine through a sieve, cheesecloth or even a coffee filter before drinking.