Best Garlic Presses For Home Cooks

No one likes mincing garlic. We love it in just about every dish known to man. But ask anyone to chop it into minute pieces for cooking and you’ll find no volunteers. That’s because it’s incredibly tedious. Not to mention, the smell sticks to your fingers for hours on end. And who wants that, right? Fortunately for home cooks, there’s such a thing as a garlic press. Of course, with the wide variety available, how do you know which one will work best for you? Our list of the best garlic presses in the market today should help you make that decision.

Top 10 Garlic Presses Of 2020 Reviewed

1. Alpha Grillers Garlic Press & Peeler Set

The Alpha Grillers Garlic Press & Peeler Set is a lot similar to the Orblue model. It is also made of stainless steel and comes with a peeler and cleaning device. However, the Alpha Grillers model is made of 100% 304 stainless steel and can be used to crush ginger and nuts too. Plus, the large press box flips out for easy cleaning. That’s not all. The manufacturer offers a lifetime guarantee. If at any time you feel that you are not happy with the garlic press, just let them know and get 100% of your money back. However, it is harder to press than some of the models we’ve tested. Also, some users didn’t think the handles were comfortable. And it didn’t come with instructions.

2. KUHN RIKON Epicurean Garlic Press

The ergonomic design of the KUHN RIKON Epicurean Garlic Press was what initially caught our eye. It was specifically designed to fit comfortably in your hand AND give you the right amount of leverage to press the handles together with less effort. The entire device is made of stainless steel for durability. As for cleaning, the sieve hinges out, enabling you to flush out the garlic bits using water. And it comes with a 2-year warranty. However, this garlic press is quite expensive. The press box is small. Also, due to the design, some users report getting their fingers or part of their palm pinched.

3. Zyliss Susi 3

The Zyliss Susi 3 is an aluminum garlic press that features an extra large chamber to accommodate large cloves or multiple small ones. Its ergonomic design ensures that the garlic press fits comfortably in your hands. There’s also a cleaning tool. What makes this stand out is that it is stored away inside the handle of the garlic press so you never lose it. Plus, the press is dishwasher-safe. Even better, it comes with a 5-year warranty. However, the teeth of the cleaning brush can easily break. The unit is made in China. And some users report that it requires a bit more hand strength to use.

4. Orblue Stainless Steel Garlic Press

Best Garlic Press on the Market

The Orblue Stainless Steel Garlic Press is our favorite because it checks all of our boxes. It is made of stainless steel and features a large capacity press box that can accommodate several cloves at a time. The design of the garlic press ensures only a minimal amount of force is required to get results. The unit is dishwasher-safe and even comes with a cleaning brush. Plus, there are loops at the end of the handles for hanging them instead of storing in a kitchen drawer. However, sometimes fiber from the garlic gets stuck on the edges and can be difficult to get out. It is a bit pricey.

5. Chef’n GarlicZoom Garlic Chopper

Technically, the Chef’n Garlic Zoom Garlic Chopper is not a garlic press. Not in the traditional sense, anyway. But if you prefer your garlic minced and not crushed, then this “garlic press” is just the thing you’re looking for. The GarlicZoom features a chamber where you can put the garlic in. Blades inside the chamber are attached to gears and wheels. These blades will mince the garlic as you roll the gadget back and forth. The more you roll, the finer the mince will be. We love that you can fill the chamber up with as much as 3 peeled garlic cloves. And the unit is so compact that you can easily store it in a kitchen drawer.

This is also dishwasher-safe. However, taking out the garlic after it has been chopped isn’t so easy. You have to peel the garlic first before using this device. Also, the lid is a bit flimsy so you need to take care using it.

6. Joseph Joseph 20037 Garlic Rocker

Best Garlic Press for Arthritis

The Joseph Joseph Garlic Rocker isn’t like any of the garlic presses you’ve ever seen. It’s a piece of curved metal (stainless steel) with holes in the middle. Holding both edges of the garlic rocker, you place the garlic beneath the holes and rock the metal back and forth which forces the garlic through the mesh of holes, thereby mincing or crushing it to little pieces. Once you’re done, just scoop out the garlic which is easy enough to do since the garlic ends upheld in the curved design. This allows you to put the garlic directly into your hot pan. This garlic press is incredibly easy to clean; no nooks and crannies to worry about. It is also dishwasher-safe. Even better, it removes any residual garlic smell from your hands. However, it does require you to peel the cloves first. Also, you can only do one clove at a time. In addition, you do have to press hard to get results.

Some individuals had to do a tip-toe in order to place a lot of pressure. That being said, those who have weak hands or are unable to grip a garlic press would have an easier time with this unit since you can use your palms to create pressure.

7. OXO Good Grips Soft-Handled Garlic Press

Best Garlic Press for Weak Hands

Among all the garlic presses in the world (or at least the ones we’ve tested), the OXO Good Grips Soft-Handled Garlic Press provides the most comfortable grip. The handles are soft and provide a non-slip grip, making it easy to squeeze the garlic press. Aside from that, we love the fact that this crusher is so easy to clean. You can flip out the handles and then use the built-in cleaning brush to push out any pulp and skin leftover in the holes and the chamber. Plus, the large chamber can fit multiple large cloves at once which enables you to produce loads of crushed garlic for your dish. And have we mentioned that this garlic press is made of die-cast zinc which makes it extra sturdy? That also makes it dishwasher-safe. However, the holes seem a bit larger than usual so if you like your garlic finely minced, you may require a different model. Also, it’s a bit heavier than other models. In addition, at times, a bit of the garlic squishes to the side instead of going through the holes.

8. Oye Stainless Steel Garlic Press

Let’s start off with the fact that the Oye Stainless Steel Garlic Press is no ordinary garlic press. It may look like one but there’s more to it than meets the eye. It features a basket like other models. But this one is removable which means there are no nooks and crannies to be wary of. You can easily take it out and flush out any of the garlic bits with running water. To press the garlic, there’s a piston attached to one handle that fits perfectly into the basket when you close it. However, the piston needs to be positioned properly for the garlic press to work. Also, the basket is quite small and won’t fit more than one medium clove.

9. NexTrend 3rd Generation Clear Garlic Twist

This garlic press has been featured in many magazines and has even different awards for being able to produce perfectly minced garlic. So, it’s no surprise that we’ve got the NexTrend Garlic Twist is on our list. It isn’t exactly a press as you can see. It’s made of clear, tough polycarbonate. The two pieces feature “teeth” that mince the garlic when placed inside the chamber and you start twisting away. Now, the best thing about this little gadget is that it can cut up quite a lot of garlic and ginger at once. However, it does require quite a bit of hand strength. Getting the garlic out after it’s been minced can be a little difficult. And the instructions aren’t quite clear.

10. Rosle 12896 Garlic Press

The Rosle 12896 Garlic Press is a German-designed stainless steel device that allows you to mince unpeeled cloves of garlic. Now, this press resembles quite a number of other models with one big exception – the piston that pushes the garlic through the holes features bumps that align perfectly with the sieve so you don’t get a lot of bits and pieces stuck in the holes. To make cleanup even easier, the sieve swings up so you can flush the bits out with running water. However, it is expensive. It can become quite slippery when wet. And the chamber is a bit on the small side; it can only accommodate a medium-sized clove.

How to Choose the Best Garlic Press: The Ultimate Buying Guide

Ah, garlic. You can’t live without them. But you also can’t stand to smell them. The depth of flavor that garlic infuses to a variety of dishes has made it a staple in any kitchen. Unfortunately, that also means wrangling with peel then slicing it thinly before you start mincing it. The entire process takes a lot of patience and really good knife skills. Unless you don’t mind getting big chunks of garlic in every bite. And that’s not even the worst thing. Chopping garlic leaves that a smell that doesn’t seem to go away no matter how many times you’ve washed your hands. With all the inventions made over the past decades, we can safely say that not a lot gets the same appreciation from cooks around the world than a garlic press. However, not all garlic presses are made equal. And the right one for your kitchen will depend on certain factors. If you want to figure out which device suits your purposes best, we’ve got this handy shopping guide that should help.

How Does a Garlic Press Work?

The traditional garlic press is made up of two handles that are attached to each other via a hinge. One of the handles has a container with a grid of small holes on one side while the other has a block (known as a piston) that fits perfectly inside the container when you press the two handles together. To use the garlic press, you just put the clove (or cloves) inside the container and press the handles together to crush the garlic. The result is a garlic paste-like substance.

Some garlic press models are different like the Chef’n GarlicZoom Garlic Chopper, functioning more like choppers. Depending on the model, you place the cloves inside a chamber and activates the “choppers” or blades within to mince the garlic.

Type of Material

Garlic presses can be made of a variety of materials. Each one has advantages and disadvantages. Your choice will be mostly a matter of preference.

Stainless Steel

These are the best choice for those who are looking for the most durable garlic press ever, capable of withstanding heavy use. Most models also don’t lose their “shine” after repeated use. They typically feature rubberized grips on the handles. These do not typically rust and often feature a self-cleaning head. Plus, they neutralize the smell of garlic. However, this can be expensive. The KUHN RIKON Epicurean Garlic Press is a good example.

Aluminum is cheaper than steel but no less shiny. Depending on the quality of the metal used, these can be sturdy or easily broken. Most models feature a self-cleaning design. And they tend to have an epoxy coating to protect the metal from rust. However, when that coating wears off, the metal reacts with the sulfur compounds in the garlic which causes black residue to appear. If you prefer going with an aluminum model, you should check out the Zyliss Susi 3.

The most affordable garlic presses are made of plastic. While there is a handful that is durable, a lot are prone to breaking and not ideal for long-term use.

How Frequently do you Plan to Use Your Garlic Press?

If you plan to crush loads of garlic every day or at least a clove a day, you’re going to need something durable like the Orblue Stainless Steel Garlic Press which is a garlic press made of stainless steel. If you don’t plan to make use of the device often enough, a plastic model will most likely suffice.

How Many Cloves do You Want to Crush at a Time?

The capacity of a garlic press is a factor that you should take into consideration, especially if you plan to make frequent use of the device. You’ll want a garlic press that can hold several cloves at once which means a larger model like the Alpha Grillers Garlic Press & Peeler Set. After all, you’re buying this tool to save time. In addition, make sure that the garlic press you get is able to handle unpeeled cloves. It should be able to push the garlic through the holes but leave the peel behind.

How Easy is it to Clean?

Just by the nature of the garlic press, you know it’ll be a pain to clean by hand. There will inevitably be bits and pieces of garlic stuck in the sieve. To make life easier for you, you need to look for a garlic press that has a self-cleaning head or one that comes with a cleaning device. You may also want one that is dishwasher-safe like the Joseph Joseph 20037 Garlic Rocker.

How Comfortable is it?

If the garlic press doesn’t feel comfortable in your hand, the less likely you are to use it. So make sure to test how it feels in your hand, how easy it is to grip, and if it requires a lot of strength to operate. The OXO Good Grips Soft-Handled Garlic Press features soft handles for a comfortable grip. However, if you are sure that none of these best garlic presses doesn’t work for you, you can check the best knife sets out.