Every year at Christmas time, it’s the same old thing being yelled out in kitchens across the country, “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!”
No, it’s not from TBS’s 24 Hours of A Christmas Story marathon, but from people who don’t know how to properly open a bottle of champagne.
And that’s why Web Watch is happy to bring you these handy tips on the PROPER WAY TO OPEN A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE without worrying about damaging your home or injuring someone with a flying errant cork, courtesy of Korbel – makers of fine champagne and other beverages.
Because reading Web Watch with just one eye because you wanted to rush to get your drink on at Christmas or New Year’s Eve is just crazy.
First, keep in mind that a champagne cork is holding back just under 90lbs of pressure. You don’t want to be staring at that cork head-on.
With that, some tips:
- Your champagne should be chilled for at least four hours, and not shaken.
- Remove the foil cap from the top of the bottle
- Carefully, remove the wire harness from the cork
- Holding the neck of the bottle away from you, other guests, and any significantly breakable objects, hold the cork firmly in one hand and the base of the bottle in the other
- Slowly, turn the bottle while holding the cork steady. The cork will slide out gently with a soft pop. Web Watch has been told to also cover the cork with a kitchen towel while doing this — the towel will stop the cork from flying, and be there in case there’s any spillage. But we’ll trust Korbel has the right info here for amateurs.
And don’t ever use a corkscrew to open a champagne bottle. Remember those 90lbs of pressure? You don’t want to go near that with a sharp, pointy object.