Whether you drink alcoholic beverages or not, you may have heard the term ‘church key’ quite often. Before getting into further details, we should first know that ‘church key’ is a slang used to refer to beer can/bottle openers.
The name was often chosen as the can opener of that time created a triangular opening on the surface, which closely resembled the commonly designed roofline of church buildings. But that does not answer our question; why is can opener called church key?
Even though church and alcoholic drinks are not associated with each other, the stories behind the name ‘church key’ are interesting. There are various myths, but we have narrowed it down to the most legitimate stories. Keep reading to know more about it.
Brief History of Church Key
Nearly a hundred years ago, beer was sold in bottles, and the transition to using cans instead had just begun. However, those cans did not come with pulling tabs until the 1960s, and it was impossible to easily crack open a cold one.
As a result, a tool was becoming more and more popular for opening cans; you guessed it right. A can opener was used to puncture on both sides of the can to allow flow of the beverage. Surprisingly, the procedure resembled a simple task of opening doors – maybe a church door.
Eventually, newer can/bottle openers became more and more similar to church keys in appearance; church caretakers usually carried large old-fashioned keys. Monks also used similar keys to store their precious freshly brewed beer for aging.
Is it possible to open a can with a church key? Of course not! The rounded end, i.e., the mouth of the bottle openers used back then, closely resembled the handle of large church keys. This is how can/bottle openers started getting referred to as church key.
Apart from the slang, the name is also used as a joke as it reminds a person about religion and keeps him from drinking alcohol. Despite having various theories of how the name originated, people are not bothered by it, and church keys or can openers are widely used household item in the US.
Why Would You Need a Can Opener/Bottle Opener?
Can openers are extremely useful in modern times as a ton of edible products such as tinned food, alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages can be easily opened with them. These tools have also become very popular among the masses, and collecting them has become a hobby among enthusiasts.
There are various designs and types available to purchase from on the internet. In fact, you can get a custom can/bottle opener if you are looking for something more personal. Simply put, a can opener can serve numerous purposes, including helping your kitchen work or cracking open a bottle of beverage with your friends and family. In the following section, we speak about various types of can openers and their applications. Fun fact; a church key is one type of can opener!
Types of Can Openers
There are various kinds of can openers, each of which is suitable for different scenarios. I think you should read our article everything about can opener to know in-depth about it. The most commonly used can openers are:
1. Claw-Type Opener
This is the most basic form of a can opener and is commonly available in kitchens. These openers come with a small piece of metal over the blade that prevents it from touching the contents of the can.
2. Butterfly Can Opener
Using this can opener may get slightly complicated, but it is very precise in cutting open cans. Once you get the hang of the mechanism, it is actually very easy to use.
3. Bunker Can Opener
These can openers are the easiest to use. It can be used with just one hand to open cans. It is used in a similar manner as butterfly can openers.
4. Side Can Opener
All other types of can openers remove the top lid of a can but leave the rim inside. This is where a side can opener comes in handy; it can take off both the lid and the rim off a can.
5. Electric Can Opener
Even though these models make the task of opening a can easier, it can only be a practical choice if you have a very busy schedule or suffer from wrist pain. This type of opener is particularly useful for people who suffer from joint pain or have other types of health issues as they come in under-cabinet models and counter-top models.
6. Church Key
The star of this article, church keys, is an ideal choice for campers and beer drinkers. It is very easy to use and can also be used to open glass bottles.
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Getting back to the main topic of our article, why is can opener called church key?
Was it given by the monks who would store beer in cellars? Or was it because the surface of cans cut by these tools would look like a church’s roofline? My best guess is, we will never know for sure.
But the most plausible theory seems to be its similar appearance with keys used in churches. Despite all these theories, can openers surely caused enough commotion to become a collectors’ item in modern times!
Thanks for reading…