Step-by-step guide: how to pop your champagne bottle like a pro from now on
Horror scenario: you’ve been appointed the champagne popper at the party… and popping the champagne goes completely wrong. And all this while you’re not even trying to theatrically shoot the cork into the air. No, simply opening the bottle calmly goes wrong. But das war einmal. With these tips, you’ll open that champagne bottle like a pro from now on.
If you want to open a bottle of champagne, you have to pull out the cork. That in itself isn’t too difficult. What is difficult is pulling the cork out in a controlled manner. And that’s crucial. There is a huge amount of pressure inside a champagne bottle. If you pull the cork out too quickly and carelessly, champagne will spray everywhere. What a waste!
First step: grab a tea towel
To open the champagne, first grab a tea towel. It gives you much better control over the cork when you pull it out of the bottle. You can hold the cork more firmly as soon as it shoots out of the bottle. What you want is to hear a light hissing sound and a small ‘pop’ when you open the bottle. No bang and no sound like an exploding waterfall.
Opening a champagne bottle: step by step
Ready to pop—er, open it in a controlled manner? Follow the steps below and you’ll be the champagne hero of the party.
1. Remove the foil
You’ll never get the cork out of the bottle with the foil still around it. So remove that first. Look for a small pull tab and carefully pull it so that it cuts through the foil. Can’t see a pull tab? Then use (carefully) a sharp knife or the tip of a corkscrew to cut through the foil. Then remove the foil completely.
2. Remove the muselet
A wire muselet around the cork keeps it firmly in place. Step two is freeing the cork from its muselet. If all goes well, the wires of the muselet meet at a certain point. Twist this piece until the wires come loose and you can remove the muselet from the cork.
3. Move the cork
Now comes the most exciting part. Grab your tea towel—remember: your indispensable accessory—and wrap it completely around the cork. Hold the towel against the neck of the bottle with one hand. Leave a small ‘air bubble’ around the cork so it has room to come loose. Hold the bottle firmly with one hand and use the other to wiggle the cork (with the towel around it) out of the bottle. Remember: take it slowly!
4. Remove the cork
As you wiggle the cork out of the bottle, there comes a moment when the pressure becomes too great. You’ll feel it: the cork tends to shoot out of the bottle. Use your towel to hold back the pressure on the cork as much as possible. The cork will shoot into the towel, allowing you to catch it in time.
Want to impress even more, and is it a party that could use some drama? Then you can also saber the champagne bottle. Entirely at your own risk, of course, and this is where practice really is required.
Read also:
- Crémant: the best budget buy for Champagne lovers
- This champagne cake is the most delicious cake you’ll ever taste (and it’s available to buy in the Netherlands)
- Recipe: cotton candy champagne cocktail
