Temperatures are rising, which means it's prime time for outdoor gatherings. And in order to host a successful summer party, you'll need to stock up on the essentials. Do you have an outdoor blanket? A cooler? Delicious picnic-approved snacks?
But there's one major item on our checklists that often gets overlooked: a bottle opener. There are few things worse than reaching for a cold beer and discovering that you left your bottle opener at home. But you shouldn't let this minor party foul ruin your night.
Just like there are hacks to open wine bottles without a corkscrew, you can rely on some handy hacks to crack open a cold one without a bottle opener. With your choice of several common objects, you can easily use leverage to pop off the metal cap and get back to celebrating. But whatever you do, please don't use your teeth (your dentist will thank you).
1. Keys
Holding a key in your dominant hand and a beer bottle in the other, place the tip of the key under the cap. Then you can just push upwards, wiggling it around if necessary, until the cap pops right off.
2. Another Beer
If you're hosting a party outside, there's a good chance you have some extra bottles laying around. This TikTok-approved hack actually works! All you need to do is flip one bottle upside down and align the cap with a second upright bottle. With just a flick of the wrist, you can pop the top cap off in seconds.
3. Another Beer + Your Foot
If you want to use another bottle to open your beer and add extra style points, you need to try this hack that involves kicking the bottom of the bottle.
4. Metal Utensil
The same technique applies here as it does when you use a key. The only difference is that you place the end of a fork or spoon under the cap.
5. Scissors
Scissors are a great option for opening bottles because you have the added leverage of two different blades. All you have to do is place the bottle cap between the two blades, lightly squeeze, and push the scissors upward.
6. Lighter
For this hack, you should hold the bottle by the neck and place the lighter at a slight angle under the bottle cap. Using your other hand, you can push the lighter down until it pops the cap on the other side.
7. Door Frame
You know that metal piece in the frame of a door? Consider that a wall-mounted bottle opener.
9. Dollar Bill
This hack may seem unbelievable, but it actually works! Fold a dollar bill until it's sturdy enough to act as a bottle opener.
10. Eyelash Curler
It's unlikely that you'll be bringing this with you to a backyard barbecue, but an eyelash curler is an effective substitute for a bottle opener in a pinch.
11. Countertop
Basically any surface with a defined edge can work as a makeshift bottle opener. However, it's advised that you save this hack for outdoor tables or ones you don't mind damaging.
12. Ring
Place your hand over the beer bottle and carefully place the edge of your ring under the bottle cap. From there, you can carefully pull your hand up and out to remove the bottle cap.
13. Belt buckle
You'll need to take off your belt for this one, but getting to sip on a cold beer is worth the extra step. All you need to do is place the buckle under the cap and use it just as you would with a standard bottle opener.
If you have any more bottle opening hacks that we didn't include here, let us know in the comments.
