The Best Garlic Press

Our Top Pick for 2018: Kuhn Rikon Epicurean Garlic Press
Read our full review.

When you first start to cook, you may ask yourself, do I really need to purchase a garlic press? You may think that you can just use a knife or a fork to cut, mince, or mash your garlic. Then, you start to cook. You quickly realize that while you can use other tools to press garlic, it is a whole lot quicker and a whole lot more efficient to just get the tool that was made for the job. Many professional cooks realize that the flavor you get from garlic that was made with a garlic press is a lot more intense than what you get when you use other utensils.

For this reason, we thought it would be a good idea to review four of the best garlic presses on the market. We’ll look at some of their characteristics, as well as what users have said about them. We will then divide them into four categories, namely gold, silver, bronze, and budget.

Let’s Have a Quick Look of Our Top 4 Picks:

Amazon

The Kuhn Rikon Epicurean Garlic Press is the gold standard for what a garlic press should be. It expertly handles unpeeled garlic cloves, as well as ginger. Since it is made from a robust stainless steel, it is a tool that you will be able to use in your kitchen for years and years. It has a unique lever action, which is different from the majority of garlic presses. This makes it easier to use and surprisingly easier to clean.

The unique lever action on this product makes it easy to squeeze. In just seconds your cloves of garlic are turned into a fine mash. You are going to like this product because it allows you to get the consistency of garlic you want, without having that strong odor on your hands.

Something else that will stand out when you look at the press is that it has a stainless steel sieve that is actually a hinged plate. You can flip the plate up and clean it easily using a sponge. When you open the sieve to put your garlic in, a locking mechanism keeps it in place as you load the garlic.

When you look at the product, you will notice that it has arched handles. This step was taken to make the product ergonomic. It is easy to use even if you have smaller hands. The design of the handle makes it harder for you to pinch your skin in the area where the handles meet.

If you take a closer look at the sieve, you will see that it is full of beveled holes. The reason behind this is that the bevels in the holes allow you to cut the clove very fine, instead of bruising it as it comes out. The result is that the garlic has a powerful flavor.

The holes in the sieve are precision cut, meaning that you get a uniform and consistent grating. This is important when you’re cooking and want your food to have an even taste and consistency.

This Kuhn Rikon Epicurean product is backed by a lifetime warranty. This is something that we like because when we see that a company is willing to warranty the product, it means they have faith that they are putting out something that is good.

Another unique feature of this tool is that you don’t have to peel the garlic before you use it. You can if you want, but because of its unique and powerful design, you can put hold cloves of garlic, including their skin, into the press and will get a smooth, consistent end product.

Reviewers on Amazon.com really like the quality of this product. With more than 1,500 reviews, 76 percent gave the product a perfect score.

Some of the things they liked about about this product include the fact that it is strong for its size. By this we mean that you can put multiple cloves into the press and you do not have to worry whether the press will fail or the garlic will mash. The garlic gets crushed completely. It is forced through the sieve, with little or nothing left behind in the container.

One reviewer on Amazon.com who gave the product five stars said that they love to eat garlic, but they hate to mash and mince garlic. However, after purchasing this garlic press, they added garlic to twice as much of their food now as they did before. They commented that they barely used their last garlic press because it was weak and was a pain to clean. However, with this product, pressing garlic is a cinch and cleaning is very easy too.

When products created by OXO came on the scene, they very quickly rose in popularity. This is because they are sturdy, they are durable, they are attractive, they are designed ergonomically, and they are easy to clean. The OXO Good Grips Soft-Handled Garlic Press lives up to this company’s stellar reputation.

The first thing you notice when you have this garlic press in your hands is that the grip is comfortable. The handles are soft, and they are coated in rubber. This helps to prevent the press from just slipping out of your hand. Something else that are going to notice is that the handles have a slight arch, which add to how comfortable it is to hold it. This product is definitely dishwasher safe. However, you may need to make sure that all of the garlic gets out of the holes after you run it through the dishwasher cycle.

Something you will also notice is that it has a very large container. It can hold multiple cloves of garlic. And you can use this product without peeling the garlic. This is a plus for anyone who needs to cook using a lot of garlic. If you have to peel the garlic first, not only is it time-consuming, but you are usually left with that garlic odor on your fingers.

When you look at the press, something you’re going to notice is that the pattern of the holes is not random. It was laid out with the purpose of making it easy to push garlic through it. This device also has a built in cleaner.

This is a strong kitchen appliance thanks to its sturdy diecast zinc construction. The handles will absorb the pressure that you apply when you squeeze the garlic, thanks their soft plastic design.

The product’s dimensions are 10.5 inches in height, 4.25 inches in width, and 1.5-inch diameter. The overall product weighs 0.85 pounds.

This product was well received on Amazon.com. More than 320 individuals reviewed the product. It received 4.8 out of 5.0 stars.

The reviews that you find range from reviews by kitchen professionals to amateur chefs. One reviewer who dubbed this product the ‘best garlic press on the market’ said that they use garlic in everything, so they need a press that would keep up. The model by OXO more than fit the bill.

Another reviewer referred to this product as a powerhouse. They stated that they have had this product for many years, and they always use it when they need to mince a clove of garlic. They like it because of its ease-of-use and how quickly they can make light work of peeled or unpeeled cloves. They refer to this product as semi-self-cleaning and say that they have not found a press that can give a finer mince than this one.

We were really happy with the quality of this product. We feel that it would be a nice addition to your personal or professional kitchen.

For our bronze product, we decided on the ORBLUE Propresser Stainless Steel Kitchen Garlic Press. This is a sturdy kitchen tool that will get the job of pressing garlic done quickly and efficiently. One of the main features that we liked about this product is that it has an extra large reservoir box. This box gives you the ability to crush a few cloves at one time. You will spend less time peeling and crushing garlic, and more time working on your favorite dishes.

The ORBLUE is made from stainless steel. This means that you do not have to worry about it rusting. Also, it will not become weak as it ages, and it will not bend or break, even if you use it frequently. It has unique handles that have been precision engineered to give you good leverage. Your hands, wrists, and arms will not get tired if you have to crush lots of garlic at one time.

The tool is unique because it is multipurpose. It can press more than just garlic. It will also press ginger and other food items. The garlic press includes a peeler. You simply place the garlic cloves inside of the plastic tube, roll them with one single motion, and all of the garlic peels are removed. Both the press and the peeler can be tossed in the dishwasher in order to make cleanup a cinch.

Our bronze product weighs 9.3 ounces. You will notice that the press comes with a loop at the end of the handle. This gives you the option to hang it for storage instead of placing it in a utensil drawer. It is great to purchase for yourself, and it is also a great gift.

Now that you know all the basics, you may be wondering what people who have used the ORBLUE have to say about it. First, you will be happy to know that more than 2,500 individuals have rated and reviewed this product on Amazon. They have given it a 4.8 out of five star rating. About 88 percent love the product so much they gave it a perfect rating.

The vast majority of reviewers love to the fact that they spent less time in the kitchen because of this product. Getting rid of the peels was easy with the roller, and crushing the garlic was quick and simple. They did not feel fatigue in their hands and said that it is all that you would want in terms of a garlic press. They like it because it is solidly constructed and easy to clean.

When you look at our budget product, you are not going to see something that is cheap and flimsy. Instead, you are going to see a high quality tool that has a very luxurious style. You will be surprised to find out that this product is under 10 bucks.

The Easi-Pro is made from nickel. This means that it is durable, high quality, and dishwasher safe. When it comes to cleaning a garlic press, the ability to pop it in the dishwasher with all the other dirty dishes means that you will spend less time in the kitchen after preparing a nice meal. You will spend no time picking individual pieces of garlic out of the press.

It has a relatively simple design, but it has been designed in an ergonomic way in order to give you a solid grip. The Easi-Pro is cushioned to make using the product more comfortable. Even when it is wet, you will still be able to have a firm grasp on this tool.

Since it is on the smaller side, you can easily store it almost anywhere in the kitchen. It weighs 3.2 ounces. You will feel no fatigue in your hands and wrists after using the product.

About 20 people have reviewed this product on Amazon and more than 80 percent gave it a perfect rating. It has an overall 4.6 out of five stars. The vast majority of people who commented on this product thought it was a great gadget. They thought that it was easy to clean, looked attractive, and got the job of pressing garlic done easily.

One individual thought that the construction of the press could have been better. They did not like the fact that it only has a single hinge. They thought that it should have two hinges in order to make the job of pressing cloves of garlic easier.

We believe that for its price, the Easi-Pro is a great option that will last and make your time in the kitchen more enjoyable. It is affordable, durable, easy to use, and easy to clean.

Pre-purchase considerations

Stainless Steel

Many would agree that a stainless steel garlic press is superior to other materials. However, they tend to be on the more expensive side. Some of the benefits that come from purchasing a stainless steel model include the fact that they are robust, it is very unlikely that they will break or bend, and they will not rust. Even though most can be put in the dishwasher, there are some experts who believe that dish washing detergents can ruin stainless steel, leaving molted marks on them.

Metal and Plastic

Stainless steel is not the only option available for modern garlic presses. There are metal and plastic models available as well. Each has their pros and cons. Some other metal options include pure metals and alloys that include aluminum. You may find that other metal options are less expensive, but some tend to peel. No one wants metal peels in their food. Plastic presses are usually considered the weakest press on the market and have the shortest working lifespan. However, quite a few of them have clever designs and may have the ability to do more than simply press garlic. They are usually available in many colors and have an ergonomic design.

Self-Cleaning or Easy to Clean

Many individuals feel that it is less work to peel garlic, mince it, and then clean up all the utensils than it is to work with a press that is difficult to clean. If the product is not self-cleaning, which may include a plate that presses out unused garlic through the holes, or it is not easy to clean, you are going to spend a lot of time cleaning and removing garlic from the holes. You may even end up having old garlic in a fresh dish.

Brand-Name

We do not feel that it is always important to buy a product that is from a well-known company. However, there are some benefits that come from purchasing a garlic press with a brand name. For example, certain companies are well known for creating products that are durable, easy to clean, and attractive. When you purchase a garlic press from one of these companies, you are almost sure to be happy with the product you purchase. Additionally, working with a well-known company will likely mean that the product will come with a guarantee or warranty. If you are unsatisfied with the product, you may even be able to return it and get your money back.

Comfortable Handles

Most people only press a few of cloves of garlic for a couple of dishes here and there, so they may not think that they need a press that is comfortable. However, you want something that is going to be easy to squeeze and that will sit comfortably in your hand. You also want something that has a grip in case the press gets wet. The last thing you want to do is be fumbling around with a slippery product or have your hands ache after squeezing solid metal.

Conclusion (Wrapping it up)

As you can see, there are quite a few things to consider when it comes to finding the best garlic press. In addition to looking at the characteristics of each press that is available, you want to consider how often you are going to use the press. If you will only use it now and then, you may want something on the less expensive side and that will only press a clove or two of garlic. If you will use it more often, purchasing a press that has a large box will make your time in the kitchen a lot more enjoyable. You may even be interested in one that does not require you to peel the garlic. We hope that this review has helped you see what is available and will help you make a good consumer decision.