I love cooking with garlic, but it isn’t always easy to use. I found this wonderful kitchen tool for making fresh minced garlic easy!
If you’re like me, you enjoy cooking with the freshest foods that you can, and this includes using fresh garlic cloves. I have been using fresh minced garlic for many years now, but I always hated trying to peel and mince the garlic.
For a long time, I just used the prepackaged minced garlic that you can buy in the spice section at the grocery store. It still added some of the garlic flavor to our meals, but it just wasn’t the same.
Originally Published On: October 3, 2017
Last Updated On: April 23, 2020
Tips for Cooking with Garlic
I started buying the fresh heads of garlic from the produce section and using that. I learned a few things:
- Fresh garlic tastes so much better.
- Fresh garlic is stronger and requires less than the dried spice.
- Peeling and mincing fresh garlic is annoying and time-consuming.
Trying to peel garlic is never easy. There are so many little layers to peel off of each individual clove of garlic, and then it leaves your hands smelling for hours later. Once that is done, there’s actually mincing the garlic. Have you tried that with just a knife? It isn’t easy.
Once that is done, there’s actually mincing the garlic. Have you tried that with just a knife? It isn’t easy. It’s so small that I am always worried about mincing my fingers in the process. It also was never easy to get the garlic close to the same size, and we would sometimes end up biting into a large chunk of it. Have you done that? It’s not pleasant.
Although it wasn’t always easy, I still did this for a while because we preferred the taste of the fresh garlic over the dried seasoning.
Use This Tool for Cooking with Garlic
About 2 1/2 years ago, I heard about a garlic press, and I was intrigued. I started doing just a little bit of research (mostly looking through the reviews on Amazon) and it seemed to be the answer to my garlicky prayers! So of course, I ordered it right away.
Let me tell you, this thing is AMAZING!
Having a garlic press saves me so much time in the kitchen, and frustration, and potential injuries. It’s so easy to use.
- Pull the garlic cloves apart from the head of garlic.
- Put each one in the garlic press separately, peel and all, and squeeze.
- Use a knife to scrape the minced garlic off the edge.
- If the clove is too large for the press, I sometimes have to cut it in half, but otherwise, I don’t have to do much else.
- I use a knife again to easily get the peel out of the press to use again.
The one that I have, the AYL Best Garlic Press also comes with a cleaning brush. Some of the areas are a little small and hard to get a regular cleaning brush into, so it’s great to have one designed for the size and shape of the press. Even better, it’s dishwasher safe! I’ve never actually put mine in the dishwasher, I don’t like to put any of my cooking tools and gadgets in there, but many people in the reviews say they have
And what’s great is this works for more than just garlic. I’ve used this to mince ginger as well. It’s a little harder because the ginger is denser than the garlic, but it still works just the same. I just noticed I have to cut the ginger into smaller pieces, but it still works just the same.
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I’ve been hand chopping my garlic and then washing my cutting boards but noticed that the garlic never fully washed off. So now I’m debating between a garlic press or a special garlic cutting board! I love cooking with garlic and it’s absolutely one of my favorite things to add.
I love my garlic press! It’s so much quicker than chopping and you don’t have to peel it either!
I have this strange attraction to the smell of freshly crushed garlic, but alas, I am allergic to it! Isn’t that sad! to GARLIC!!!! makes eating out or when traveling very challenging. I do use my crusher for ginger as well! Thanks for sharing.
Oh, I would have a hard time with that allergy as well, I’ve never even heard of it before! And yes, it does work well for ginger too!!
I have a garlic press, but need a new one because the screws fall out and have to constantly be put back in. I use it ALL the time! I am going to check out the one you have – maybe it’s better quality and will last longer than mine.
Oh man, I would be lost without mine! I use it all the time and this one has held up really well!
I agree, the garlic press is a must have tool. Quuck and easy, it’s one if those staples that will transform your life in the kitchen.
I never knew just how much it would until I had one!
Wouldn’t be able to live without my garlic press. There is no way I’m mincing garlic with a knife!
Seriously, I used to all the time! I don’t know why I didn’t get one sooner!!
You bet garlic is the best and the main ingredinet in many of my recipes I love it!
Yes! It’s so good, and such a cheap way to add so much flavor!
That’s the story of my life! Buying minced garlic because I’m too lazy to peel and mince the cloves, geez, that’s really annoying! And I didn’t know such a contraption existed. I also prefer the taste of the natural garlic!
Give it a try! I was so doubtful until I bought one. Now I tell all my friends who love to cook about it!!
We have that and we use especially when we need a lot of garlic in the recipe. These are awesome tips on how to cook with garlic.
Yes, definitely helpful when you need a lot of it!
This garlic press seems really convinient and quick! I must get one for my kitchen. I always too lazy to peel garlic although it’s an important ingredient in many dishes.
It’s an amazing tool to have! As you said, garlic is in so many things and this makes it so much easier!
Garlic presses are so helpful! I often use my mom’s but now you’re making me think I should add it to my wedding registry!! 🙂
Cheers, Sarah Camille // SCsScoop.com
I would definitely add it to the wedding registry, what a great idea!
I make a lot of dishes with garlic and hate peeling garlic too. I sure do need to get Garlic press.
It makes such a difference!
Garlic presses are definitely amazing. I do love the flavor of garlic. And I do know how difficult it can be to peel and mince the garlic. So I definitely know the press is a better option.
I lost my garlic press (sigh) and I love to cook with garlic. It’s a staple food for me, like bread. Your post reminded me of buying one.
Oh that’s so sad, I would have to replace mine right away if it was lost!
I have a small tool that chops garlic up quickly and I love it! It helps to keep the garlic smell off my hands.
Awesome! Trying to get the smell off your hands is the worst!!
I cook with garlic all of the time. I definitely need this. Thanks for the link!
I hope you love it as much as I do!