![](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/openergood.jpg)
Often used for prying off lids or puncturing cans, the traditional bottle opener, also known as a Churchkey, became popular in the 1930s. Even though it’s a staple in nearly every kitchen the Churchkey is capable of more than most people realize. Here are 5 practical uses for your trusty bottle opener.
![1. Remove Chestnut Shells](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/chestnuts.jpg)
1. Remove Chestnut Shells
An easy way to remove the shells from chestnuts is to use the pointed end of a bottle opener to pierce the tops and bottoms of the shells and then boil the chestnuts for 10 minutes.
![2. Cut Packing Tape on Cartons](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/boxgood.jpg)
2. Cut Packing Tape on Cartons
Can’t wait to open that long-awaited package on your doorstep? If you don’t have a penknife handy, just run the sharp end of a bottle opener along the tape. It should do the job quite nicely.
![3. Deploy as a Shrimp De-Veiner](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/shrimpgood.jpg)
3. Deploy as a Shrimp De-Veiner
If you don’t have a small paring knife on hand when you’re getting ready to de-vein a batch of shrimp, don’t worry. Just use the sharp end of a bottle opener. It just happens to be the perfect shape to make this messy chore a breeze.
![4. Scrape the Barbecue Grill](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/bbqgood.jpg)
4. Scrape the Barbecue Grill
Looking for an easy way to clean off the burned remnants of last weekend’s meal from your barbecue grill? If you have a bottle opener and a metal file, you’re in luck. Simply file a notch about 1/8-inch (3 millimeters) wide into the flat end of the opener and you’re ready to go.
![5. Loosen Plaster or Remove Gout](https://www.readersdigest.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/plastergood.jpg)
5. Loosen Plaster or Remove Gout
It may not be the carpenter’s best friend, but the sharp end of a bottle opener can be handy for removing loose plaster from a wall before patching it. It’s great for running along cracks, and you can use it to undercut a hole – that is, make it wider at the bottom than at the surface – so that the new plaster will “key” into the old. The sharp end of the opener is equally useful for removing the old gout between your bathroom tiles before regrouting.