5 Best Garlic Presses to Add Aroma to Your Recipes

Welcome to the world of garlic presses! Garlic is often associated with French food, but in reality it is a staple ingredient used in many cuisines. We love cooking with garlic but we often hear from people that mincing or chopping garlic is a real chore, not only because of the small pieces, but also because of the smell. 

One solution is to buy pre-minced garlic, but for optimal freshness and flavour it is best to freshly mince, chop or press the garlic. When searching for the perfect garlic press, from design and construction to ease of use and cleaning. A garlic press can be a timesaver if multiple cloves are needed for a recipe, and is a worthy addition to your kitchen arsenal. Make your culinary adventures even more aromatic and delightful and peruse our list of recommended presses.

List of best garlic presses

• Most popular – Zulay Kitchen Premium Garlic Press with Soft, Easy to Squeeze Handle
• Best rocker – Joseph Joseph Garlic Rocker Crusher Mincer Press
• Best budget – Garlic Press Rocker, Stainless Steel Garlic Mincer Crusher
• Best garlic twister – Nextrend Garlic Twister 4th Gen – Ginger, Herb, Nuts, Garlic
• Best gift – Gracula Garlic Crusher by OTOTO – Spooky Gifts for Garlic Lovers

Things to consider before buying 

Design and construction

A garlic press needs to be made of durable, sturdy materials such as stainless steel and must not bend or deform when squeezing the handles. A model resistant to corrosion is also important as juice will be released from the garlic. Old fashioned or classic garlic presses have holes to push garlic through when squeezing the two handles together. Some brands are fairly easy to use and others require some extra hand strength. Other models are made to mince the garlic and consist of a hand hold grip with blades, these are called garlic rockers. 

Size

The size of a garlic press required depends on how often it will be handled as well as the quantity of garlic regularly used when cooking. It is important to have a good grip in order to apply the right pressure to crush or press the garlic efficiently. Longer handles make pressing easier but these long presses might not fit in your kitchen drawer. 

Some presses have a chamber size that only fits one garlic clove and other models can fit multiple cloves at once. The hole size determines if the pressed garlic will be minced or more of a paste.

Ease of cleaning

Cleaning is usually the worst part after cooking and it is no different with a garlic press. Cleaning can be done with a good brush under running water, but some brands come with specialty brushes.

Does garlic need peeling before using a garlic press?

There is no firm rule about whether garlic should be peeled before using a press, but we find it easier to use the press with peeled garlic. Unpeeled garlic will need more pressure to get through the holes and the peel might block some of the holes leaving crushed garlic inside the press. You will also need extra cleaning in between pressing cloves. 

Overview of best garlic presses

Most popular – Zulay Kitchen Premium Garlic Press with Soft, Easy to Squeeze Handle

Price wise, it’s hard to beat this garlic press and that’s why it is probably one of the most popular. At the time of writing this review the cost is only about $11, and you get a tool to press garlic as well as ginger or to crush nuts. The chamber is a little small but the comfortable ergonomic handle requires little wrist effort to press and crush the garlic. Simply rinse the residue then place under running water or place it in the dishwasher for thorough cleaning. This model is available in 7 colours.

Best rocker – Joseph Joseph Garlic Rocker Crusher Mincer Press

This curved garlic rocker, made of stainless steel, is the most compact model in this list and designed for crushing and mincing garlic. There are no moving parts and all you need to do is place it on top of a garlic clove, press slightly and rock back and forth. Then scoop out the crushed garlic that is gathered in the rocker. We noticed that this crushed garlic is not as fine as with most hinged garlic presses. Although this tool is dishwasher safe, it is very easy and quick to hand wash.

Best budget – Garlic Press Rocker, Stainless Steel Garlic Mincer Crusher

For those with a weak grip or less energy, this rocker with its ergonomically curved handle has a good grip and is easy to operate. The stainless steel is anti-rust and durable without sharp edges. It’s best to peel the garlic before pressing, and a garlic peeler is provided in this model. Simply crush the garlic by rolling the rocker back and forth. Cleaning is easy under running water, but this tool is also dishwasher safe.

Best garlic twister – Nextrend Garlic Twister 4th Gen – Ginger, Herb, Nuts, Garlic 

This multifunctional kitchen tool can mince garlic, ginger, herbs, and nuts, but we recommend it mostly for garlic as other ingredients need slicing or cleaning before using. The tool peels the garlic in no time and can mince 2-3 garlic cloves at once. It is worth noting this model requires more strength than a rocker or a hinge press.

Best gift – Gracula Garlic Crusher by OTOTO – Spooky Gifts for Garlic Lovers

For those who like fun gadgets, this Gracula vampire garlic crusher is perfect for Halloween, but can surely be used throughout the year. A combination of pressing, crushing, and mincing produces the finest garlic for your recipes. Simply open the tool by taking off the head, pop in the clove, close it and push the two parts together in opposite directions. It’s a bit challenging to clean after use but if you love funny kitchen gadgets, unique housewarming gifts, this item is worth every penny.