What Is a Can Punch

A church key is a can opener that has a triangular pointed end. You might want to poke two holes in the top of your pineapple juice can with your church key before serving it. Originally, church keys actually resembled large keys (thus the name) and were used to pry open caps or corks from bottles.

Can opener poke holes?

A church key is a can opener that has a triangular pointed end. You might want to poke two holes in the top of your pineapple juice can with your church key before serving it. Originally, church keys actually resembled large keys (thus the name) and were used to pry open caps or corks from bottles.

Why is bottle opener called church key?

To protect their aging beers in their monasteries, the monks locked them away in lager cellars, for which only the monks had the keys. It is theorized that the openers reminded someone of these keys — either because of their shape or use — and started calling them “church” keys.