A garlic press is one of the most useful small tools in the kitchen, but people often avoid it because they think it is hard to clean. Here is when it is worth having.
When a garlic press is worth it
- You cook with garlic several times a week.
- You want garlic without the smell on your hands.
- You want a quick, even crush without chopping.
The downsides
- It can be fiddly to clean if it isn’t taken apart.
- Some presses waste a little garlic in the chamber.
- Chopping gives you more control with very small amounts.
Crushing unpeeled garlic
Some presses crush unpeeled cloves. That saves time and avoids the papery skin.
How to clean a garlic press in a minute
- Use it immediately after crushing, while the garlic is still soft.
- Take the press apart if it has a removable chamber.
- Rinse under hot water and use a small brush for the holes.
- Dishwasher safe presses can go in the top rack.
Other tools that help with garlic and ginger
Ginger is hard to crush, so a grater or zester does the job well. A 5-hole lemon zester grates fresh ginger and garlic finely.
