The Best Bottle Openers

Buying Guide for Bottle Openers

Why buy a bottle opener?

Buy a bottle opener for its convenience: no sweat, blood, or tears involved if you enjoy entertaining and need a durable opener that everyone can use—both arthritic and healthy hands. If you struggle to open jars, cans, or bottles due to an issue with your fingers, hands, or wrists, a bottle opener may help solve your dilemma.

What should you consider when shopping for a bottle opener?

• Material: A bottle opener should be durable since its purpose is to open well-sealed bottles and cans. Look for one made of stainless steel or quality silicone for a safe grip. Even among stainless-steel options, you’ll find some with silicone parts to provide an anti-slip grip.
• Style: Most commonly thought of as a quick way to “pop a top,” bottle openers are used for various containers and come in multiple styles. Choose the opener that will work best for the type of bottles you plan on opening. The popular church-key design has a small metal device with a triangular point at one end for punching holes in cans and a rounded edge at the other for removing bottle caps.
• Size: If you’re opening bottles, you need a quality tool that gives you ample leverage. The standard church key or crown cork opener is about seven inches long and one inch wide. Sizes differ according to the type of bottle opener. It might be to decide first what kind of bottle opener you want, then look for the correct size.

What are the pros and cons of an automatic vs. a manual bottle opener?

An automatic bottle opener will be easier to use since you don’t have to exert as much pressure as you would with a manual one. Another advantage of an automatic bottle opener is that it is less likely to break a cork since it is programmed to apply the perfect amount of pressure. However, you may need a power source to use automatic ones, and if they use a pressure system, you’ll need to purchase other components. As for manual ones, the most obvious con is that you must use your strength and pressure behind them. However, most manual bottle openers are flexible and can be used on different-sized bottlenecks and styles. They may also have built-in features like foil cutters, too.

Our Picks for the Best Bottle Openers

Pros: OXO strikes again with yet another reliable, sensible kitchen tool. This stainless-steel bottle opener has a dual-sided design; one end opens bottle caps, and the other pierces cans. The non-slip, cushy middle inset gives you an excellent grip to puncture tinned fruit and pop open a fruity ale. If you find it needs a deep clean, throw it in the dishwasher.

Cons: The simple design and plain look aren’t for everyone. Also, some say the hook is too thick to grab the edge of all cans.

Bottom Line: You can’t go wrong with this affordable, smartly designed bottle opener. The double-sided opener not only saves space; it saves you from having to buy another bottle opener.

 

Pros: What pizazz the OXO bottle opener lacks, these BARsics retractable flat beer opener more than makes up for. BARsics created this bottle opener with you, busy bartenders‘ and servers’, needs in mind. It features a belt clip and a 24-inch-long tether; at the end is a 15-gauge stainless steel church-key blade. But where’s the fun in that, you may wonder. Each bottle opener has its colorful metal clip base and church key rubber hand grip.

Cons: These bottle openers may fall short in size and strength. They may lack the sturdy leverage needed to open bottles through a shift.

Bottom Line: If nothing else, the BARsics makes a good backup opener for professional bartenders. It could come in handy at parties if you want to help your bottle opener-less friends out. 

 

Pros: For some people, preserving the cap is just as important as opening the bottle. This sleek aluminum and stainless-steel bottle opener will work if you want to keep it for DIY projects or as a souvenir. Place the opener over the cap, push down, then pop up, and your bottle is open. No twisting-wrist action is needed, so most people can use it comfortably.

Cons: This may not be as convenient to carry with you as the traditional design. This will only work on a bottle cap that is the standard size for beer, glass bottled juice, or soda.

Bottom Line: This fun way to open bottle caps might become a fun conversation piece. The easy push-and-pop-up opener adds that extra bit of curiosity to your evening.

 

Pros: Self-described as the “latest” bottle opener for weak-handed people, the Otstar certainly puts on a show with its six-functions-in-one jar opener, five-in-one jar and bottle opener, silicone jar gripper pad, dual-purpose corkscrew, beer bottle opener tool. It’s hard to describe the jar opener and jar and bottle opener, so we’re grateful for the product images that depict their multisize and multipurpose functionality. The silicone jar gripping pad does just about everything, too: It gives a superior grip and works as a hot pad, trivet, or potholder. After this, there’s no need to explain the dual corkscrew-bottle opener.

Cons: While all four pieces of this ergonomic can and bottle opener seem to cover all can and jar opening tool requirements, it just can’t. Customers say that even with eight different jar openings, the tool can’t open all jars, which they find frustrating.

Bottom Line: The Otstar makes a helpful kitchen tool for some people with arthritic hands or other joint conditions that make strong hands weak. Each of the four tools has multi-functionality, which makes this set versatile and practical.

 

Pros: Make opening bottles easier with this wall-mounted option that requires only one hand. Because it’s made of stainless steel, you can use this bottle opener daily without rusting or corroding. Since it’s mounted to the wall, you won’t be able to misplace it or lose it. This bottle opener option comes in a pack of two and has five color options to suit your decor best.

Cons: Assembly is required to mount this bottle opener on the wall. This is made specifically for the classic bottle cap only.

Bottom Line: While you’ll have to break out tools to install this wall-mounted bottle opener properly, it’s not a difficult task. Plus, once you’re done, you’ll be able to keep one hand free while popping caps off, and you’ll never have to search for a bottle opener again.

Final Thoughts

A bottle opener may be something you wouldn’t consider buying for yourself. However, it is a kitchen utensil that is quite handy and essential. Whether you get one for yourself or buy one as a gift, these options can help you fit the bottle-opening needs of just about anyone.