The garlic trick
Posted by hotcooknmama on Feb 09, 2010 · Member since Sep 2009 · 848 posts
You guys may already know about this, but it's new to me, & saves a lot of time! So thought I'd share...
This is from my sister, whose roommate is a chef: to prep a lot of garlic quickly, peel skins from cloves and cover garlic on cutting board with a scrap of plastic wrap; then, using a rolling pin/ mallet/ wide-bladed knife, just pound the h*** out of it, till it's pretty well smushed; go over the pile once or twice with a chopping knife, and voilla! A huge pile of garlic, ready to go!
I love garlic, and hate unnecessary prep time... & this is SO much faster than the 'chop each clove' approach I used back in the olden days!
If this is common knowledge, & I'm just slow to catch on... please forgive the extraneous post.
:)
Yes, definitely whack them to get the paper off. I usually use the flat side of a knife, but any hard, flat object will do. SO much easier than peeling with your fingernails.
Also, I love my garlic twist. I use a ton of garlic...used to use a garlic press, but I haven't even touched it since I bought my garlic twist. You can fit 3-4 cloves at a time and it also works for ginger (slice thinly across the grain first) and chiles, and it's super easy to clean. Best. Thing. Ever.
http://www.garlictwist.com/
(Sorry if that counts as advertising. I'll take it down if I need to).
http://www.garlictwist.com/
It's like a little marijuana grinder.....what a cool idea....I think I'll get one....thanks!
yeah i whack it hard with the paper on after i cut off the stem end then pull the paper off and it's already smooshed and ready for the quick chop.
another good trick is to wrap a brick in tin foil to smash the garlic with little effort or time.
After removing the skin of course.
I can't seem to manage the 'proper' garlic-whack, to just remove the skin... somehow I always end up mushing the skin into the delicious part. Maybe I just have too much frustration in my life right now?! Need to take up an aggressive sport or something, then perhaps I could control my application of force... for now I just peel 'em, THEN whack... but may try it again the other way, someday when I feel calmer about some personal things; maybe I can master it then.
;)
Sounds like you might be whacking it too hard (that sounds wrong somehow...or is it just me?). I just rest the side of my knife on it lightly, make a fist over the blade with my other hand, and let gravity do the work. You're just trying to loosen the skin, not completely mush the garlic with the skin still on. Once the skin's off you can whack it as hard as you like to mush it up. ;)b
yes the prep time used to be annoying, now I press down hard on it with the side of a big knife to get the paper off then press it in my garlic press...saves soooooo much time. other note, I wash my garlic press immediately because its much easier to get the stuff out....you can just pull it out by the skins mostly
Yes, definitely whack them to get the paper off. I usually use the flat side of a knife, but any hard, flat object will do. SO much easier than peeling with your fingernails.
Also, I love my garlic twist. I use a ton of garlic...used to use a garlic press, but I haven't even touched it since I bought my garlic twist. You can fit 3-4 cloves at a time and it also works for ginger (slice thinly across the grain first) and chiles, and it's super easy to clean. Best. Thing. Ever.
http://www.garlictwist.com/
(Sorry if that counts as advertising. I'll take it down if I need to).
I have this too and am also a big fan! It's so easy. Only issue is that it can be hard to get all the garlic out of it. I usually have to get a toothpick and scrape in between the prong things. Is there an easier way that I'm not aware of? But man does it do a good crushing job, and you can fit a bunch of cloves in at once.
Okay so I have to admit... I have only been buying big jars of pre-minced garlic because well I am a lazy ass... Is it really that much better to use fresh garlic?
Okay so I have to admit... I have only been buying big jars of pre-minced garlic because well I am a lazy ass... Is it really that much better to use fresh garlic?
Yes! I used to be a jar garlic kind of gal, because it was so fast and easy. However, fresh garlic tastes 10x better, and it's better for you, because the compound allicin degrades in about 10 minutes, and this is the compound that's so good for you. It's the antimicrobial, antibacterial, and everything else good you've heard about garlic compound. So, I try to chop garlic last thing. I decided it was worth it!
Another vote for fresh over jar garlic. I used to use the jars too, but bought some fresh on a whim once and never looked back. DH's family has all switched to fresh garlic as well, after our recommendation (we bought garlic twists as gifts for them). Jar garlic now reminds me of stinky socks. :P
Laur b., do you turn the garlic twist back and forth so the garlic is in 2 triangles when you open it? (Hard to explain...they have pics on the website). If so, there shouldn't be much stuck in the teeth. If you're adding a liquid ingredient after the garlic, you can swish a Tbsp or 2 in the garlic twist before adding it to the dish.
yup, I never buy bottled garlic. For one thing, I go through too much and it would be an expensive way to get it. Also, I'm a fan of anything fresh over anything processed where there's an option, and it just isn't that hard to peel+chop/press garlic cloves : )
hmmm... well i just about finished my jar... and i recently purchased fresh... i will have to give it a try to see what all the fuss is about... what is the easiest way to prep it? should i get a press? that garlic twist thing? do it with a knife? I am confused
I just take a big can of tomatoes or beans and hit them once to break the skins, pull the skin off and then beat it again a few times to crush it. Then it pretty much breaks up in the sauce or saute. Easy peasy.
Great idea....
Best investment I ever made in my kitcehn was a good quality metal garlic press for about $8.00. I use a lot of garlic.
Best investment I ever made in my kitcehn was a good quality metal garlic press for about $8.00. I use a lot of garlic.
yup. I think mine cost a bit more than $8 but it was a gift.
I've got a zyliss metal press and I love it
http://www.zyliss.ch/auxx/produkte2007/12050-zoom.jpg
This may be a really stupid question: Do you have to peel it before it goes in the press?
mine claims that you don't have to but I tend to do it anyway. I don't really find it takes that long/is that hard. Esp. if you use the 'whacking' technique advocated above! : )
If I lived closer to anyone I'd be happy to give away my garlic press, but by the time I pay shipping costs it wouldn't be worth it. I think my press was about $7AUD, and the garlic twist was about $16USD.
You don't absolutely have to peel garlic before pressing it, but I think it's a bit easier if you do. I also used to cut off the end where it attaches to the bulb.
Sounds like you might be whacking it too hard...
Teehee! I can honestly say: this is the first time anyone's ever told me this.
;D
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