Love my garlic press and not ashamed that I use one. Still have my original purchased in Zurich years ago. I am a very good chopper and mincer but love the substance the garlic press produces.

I love my garlic press too! All the garlic juice ends up in your dish instead of on your cutting board. I don't feel too much like a rub though: I bought one because Cook's Illustrated recommended it. The Kuhn Rikon Epicurean is fantastic!

*rube, not rub

I love my old garlic press, too. In addition to the speed of getting pressed garlic out of it, I like that my fingers don't need major scrubbing to remove the garlic smell from them. We recently got a fancy, new, self-cleaning garlic press, but I keep going back to my old favorite!

I don't think there's any reason to waste the time mincing and creating a paste by hand with a knife but the garlic press is what i'd recommend either. I use a microplane to mince the garlic, the benefit being that I can grate multiple cloves without having to open and close the press every time. And it's not unitasker!

Yay! I too felt like a cheater using my garlic press. (I had my first one in college thanks to my friend, broke it and now am onto #2.) I felt bad since "real" cooks always mince their garlic. IMHO, to get that fine of a mince with a knife is a) a time suck, and b) requires much more patience and knife skills that I am willing to devote. Glad to see I am not alone :-) Press on, sisters!

Not ashamed to say it, I love my garlic press. It is seriously one of my favorite kitchen tools, though I have had others in the past that I would not have said the same thing about. I have the Trudeau garlic press, and it is fantastic. Every last useable smidge of garlic ends up in your dish, minced in the most delightful way. It has a great weight in your hand, and seriously makes me smile.

I love my old-school garlic press as well. I never thought of it as uncool, and despite some of its shortcomings, it's probably one of my most used items in the kitchen.

I didn't know it wasn't cool. I don't know when I acquired mine but it has always been a kitchen staple - even when I was in college. And that was over 20 years ago.

I love a good garlic press! Speaking of which, could someone please recommend one that I can purchase that won't break on second use? I've had terrible luck lately!

I use mine to press ginger as well. It can be a little more difficult, as ginger is a bit more fibrous, but it is worth the squeeze -- no pun intended.

Perhaps I've mellowed over the years enough to give it a go again...earlier eras found me way too impatient with the cleaning process. I switched to using a microplane and will probably stick with it now. No fuss, just a quick rinse under the tap and a hit with the dish brush and that's it. All the good garlic juices are in the pot plus I like the way it disappears into the food, even when fresh.
All said, I DO admire your affection (and patience) for it!
ohm...

I was converted by an Ikea garlic press that opens at the side so it's really easy to clean. Totally worth it now.

America's Test Kitchen absolutely defended the garlic press too. There is zero reason, taste-wise, you shouldn't use one (unless you need slices or larger pieces of garlic). My mom always used one, I own one, I use it all the time. No shame!!!

The defense, also @yulichka for reviews:
http://www.americastestkitchenfeed.com/gadgets-and-gear/2012/06/in-defense-of-the-garlic-press/

Oh also, you can use it for mincing ginger, or for anchovies for a dressing or soup.

Love my garlic press SO much. Busy mom here (volunteer, part-time nurse, homeschooler) includes cooking healthy, whole-foods for my family and this is by far is one of the most used tools in my kitchen.

I never realized that using a garlic press was something to be ashamed of!

My parents are both excellent cooks and choppers, as am I but a garlic press has always been in the kitchen and gets used almost daily, and when I moved out, my mom gifted me with a basic set of kitchen essential tools and a garlic press was one of them.

There are times when I chop it, but in most dishes that require garlic to be small or minced, the press is the way to go!

I would've never considered it to be a cheating tool.
I think sometimes that these 'kitchen trends' or 'cool kitchen tool' phases are just irrational & make people believe that they are being lazy, when in fact, for example - the garlic press is an entirely valid tool and as mentioned before, you get it nicely minced, the juices go into your dish and you don't have to scrub your fingers for days after!

I've used a garlic press for ten years, love it and wish I'd gotten one years ago. The coolness factor is irrelevant.

I have Pampered Chef's garlic press. It works great but I love the vintage simple look that yours has Sara Kate. Press away with no guilt!!

@criv227 - fantastic! thank you!

Using a garlic mincer has health benefits, too! Smooshing the garlic (my technical term), releases the antibacterial, antiviral, blood thinning, and possible cancer preventing activities of allicin contained in the garlic. Andrew Weil, MD insists garlic is pressed, not minced, in his restaurant for this very reason. So good for you!!

www.monicawilfong.com

I didn't know they were uncool--and I've got two! (I had one and received another as engagement present by an avid cook). I can't bear to part with either of them as they both work well and press in different sizes. Yulichka one is OXO (bigger holes and is easy to clean) and the other is Zyliss (light-weight and smaller holes).

I recommend the Oxo Good Grip press. I have had mine for over 13 years... Yes bought it while working at a housewares store in college.

To the rest of you..You guys are weirdos to think garlic presses are fancy cooking tools. Its not like a strawberry hauler or corn husker...

I have always used a garlic press. However, over time they get funky and hard to clean and eventually break, depending on the type. I have had cheap ones and high end. However, my NEW FAVORITE TOOL is this little garlic rolly thing with blades. I can store the extra minced garlic in the fridge right inside the tool! Gotta check it out. It's seriously cool AND easy. And who CARES about cheating by not using knives? Purists are so funny. To each his own in the kitchen if you are creating healthy, delicious food from scratch! http://tgt.biz/15lgjcu

It's a toss-up. I could never figure out which was grosser--Play-Doh that reeked of garlic, or pressed garlic with tiny bits of Play-Doh in it. Never stopped us from multi-purposing it!

We we moved to our rental in England in the early 90's they had an amazing old garlic press. Then when we were transferred to Moscow, I bought a brand new one to leave at the house & took the old one. It made several moves with me & then was lost on my move to the US. I have one now, but it's new & can't compare.

Press on, sisters - lol!

That one looks exactly like the one my mother used when I was growing up. Ahh memories :)

I have the Pampered Chef one. It's lasted years, and can go in the dishwasher without going black. I love that you don't have to peel the garlic first. I don't always use it, but if I'm in a hurry, it's the quickest way to get garlic into what I'm cooking.

I love my garlic press. I think it is my favorite kitchen gadget. Even though it is a single-use item and generally eschew them, I use it every time I use garlic. It has more than made up for the space it takes in our gadget drawer.

No shame in using a garlic press!

I also use it to mince habaneros and jalapenos for guacamole.

Never thought of it before, but it would probably be good for olives as well when one wants sort of a paste.

I'm proud to be using a garlic press. I've saved a LOT of time while prepping because of it! But, I do want to use it for more than just garlic at times. Thanks to other comments, now I have some suggestions!

I've owned at least 5 garlic presses, and every one has broken. I'm fortunate to live along side a garlic farm that grows german white hard neck garlic - simply the very best. Each clove is so huge and dense, that even when halved or quartered they can't pass through the presses I've owned.. I'd love suggestions on a strong, durable press to handle this variety. Thanks.

I use a garlic press as well. Mincing doesn't get the same result. I have to admit I'm a little reluctant to pull it out because it's another thing to clean but I really like how the garlic flavor then just melts into the dish.

Oh, a garlic press can do more then just, well, press garlic! When a recipe calls for a small amount of freshly ground/cracked spices (such as peppercorns or corriander seeds) try doing it in your garlic press!

i discovered some time back that smaller peeled chunks of ginger in a garlic press will yield ginger juice, which is great for recipes where you want the flavor without the chunks, or instead of powdered in a pinch (but be careful, it's flavor is pretty concentrated!)

We've owned and tested many Garlic Presses over the years - including most of the brands mentioned above - and our hands-down favorite is the Joseph Joseph Garlic Rocker - it produces larger bits of garlic that crisp up wonderfully, cleanup under the tap doesn't require digging out residual stuff, and the stainless steel acts as a 'garlic smell remover' ... and it also works well for ginger.

Used mine last night to press garlic onto pizza at the last minute. No shame, just good food.

I have an old garlic press that I use a lot.......I didn't know I was supposed to be ashamed of it. I also have a very, cheap vegetable peeler that I need to replace and I can't find one that works as well:(

I loved the superior feeling I used to get chopping my garlic by hand. Then, one fateful day, my girlfriend's Mom gave me a garlic press as a gift. Now I take joy in using my garlic press and couldn't imagine it any other way!

Another tip: Use it to juice small key limes that are too small for the regular citrus juicer. Just cut them up into quarters or halves and squeeze in the garlic press. It is kind of tedious but so is trying to use any other method.

And to agree with a lot of the posts, it is just a good, quick way to smash up some garlic for recipes.

I work at the greatest kitchen store and we sell a lot of variations on the garlic press. In my book there is no equivalent. I let mine dry on the counter and the flaky garlic residue peels right off. A little soap and water and done. Nothing to be ashamed of!

Having my fingernails smells like garlic for days after a bout w/ a few cloves and a knife is reason enough to use the press. But I do enjoy pulling off the little bit that's left on the press too. Ha!

My garlic press stays in the basket on my counter that holds the garlic! It is a VERY cool gadget!

Here's my theory--the person who introduced the garlic press to the masses was the Frugal Gourmet, back in the 80s. Suddenly every suburbanite with an underused McMansion kitchen had one. So among the foodie purists it gained the taint of a superfluous tool whose task could be better accomplished by a REAL cook with a good knife, etc. And the Frugal Gourmet turned out to be one of those tasteless relics of the 80s like big hair and shoulder pads--what were we thinking? That phony piety! But the fact is, a garlic press is a damn efficient tool where you don't wind up with a 'garlic spot' on your cutting board or the lingering garlic finger effect as you handle other ingredients, so I have always had one in rotation.

Another vote for the Microplane 4431 Fine Grater. The intensity of grated garlic surpasses other rendering methods, IMHO.

I use a hand held Rasp, in fact I use it for cheese, chocolate even carrots if I'm in a hurry OXO makes a good one. I hate cleaning the garlic press (I still have my mom's) and since I'm left handed it's better not to cut small items..

I have a garlic press too, it's from Zyliss, though the older model as I bought it I think 14 years ago.

My Mom once had one too, also the Zyliss, but hers was MUCH older but age had it hard for her to use it as she lost some strength in her hands, so bought it minced, in the jar.

I use mine all the time, and as Sara Kate does, drape it over the utensil crock so it's within easy reach and use it pretty much all the time I need to mince garlic.

I had the same revelation. I thought that since I'm classically trained in the kitchen, people would look down on me if I used a press. But you know what? I got REALLY, REALLY TIRED of mincing garlic by hand, and I decided I just didn't care anymore! See some of my other fav kitchen tools here:

http://www.foxeslovelemons.com/2013/02/kitchen-equipment-essentials-part-i.html

What snoot would think a garlic press is un-cool or not useful? Infact most of the things that are being posted are completly logical and useful tools. People need to get over themselves. I mean it's a flippen garlic press. It assists in mashing up your garlic. Who would have an actual issue with that. Rant over :)

People are snobs about having a garlic press?! Lol whatever you need to make yourself feel better I guess.

There is at least one other use for it - mine has a nice heft to it, so I use the flat side to chop nuts, banging them in a baggie on top of a cutting board, when I'm too lazy to get the food processor out. Thanks for the microplane idea - I hadn't thought of that but will try it for garlic soon! I like having a variety of textures of garlic in any one recipe - so I'll slice some, mince some and put some through the press, all into one soup or stew or sauce (yes, I LOVE garlic!)

There is at least one other use for it - mine has a nice heft to it, so I use the flat side to chop nuts, banging them in a baggie on top of a cutting board, when I'm too lazy to get the food processor out. Thanks for the microplane idea - I hadn't thought of that but will try it for garlic soon! I like having a variety of textures of garlic in any one recipe - so I'll slice some, mince some and put some through the press, all into one soup or stew or sauce (yes, I LOVE garlic!)

Hi Yulichka....a little pricey, but I love my Rosle garlic press. I like that it is stainless steel...but those nice old ones you can pick up in consignment shops from time to time are great!

I use my garlic press when my garlic mincer isn't around (husband - he does the most perfect mince, he's a great prep cook!)! I think there are some uses where it is nicer to chop or mince, but I certainly have no issue or snobbery about presses!!!

I use my garlic press when my garlic mincer isn't around (husband - he does the most perfect mince, he's a great prep cook!)! I think there are some uses where it is nicer to chop or mince, but I certainly have no issue or snobbery about presses!!!

So, I love Alton Brown. I think he's cool and I love knowing the science behind my food. I don't consider him all that pretentious, but he hates "uni-taskers" aka kitchen tools that only have one use. Granted, some people in these comments have listed a few others so he's obviously wrong in that regard. Regardless, I first learned that a garlic press was unnecessary/"uncool" while watching one of the episodes from the early years of "Good Eats."

I personally don't feel strongly one way or another. I don't have one and have gotten along just fine without one. I have contemplated getting one many a time, but the need has never so urgent that I remember to get one while at the store. I like using my zester/microplane, because of how fine it gets the garlic, but it still does make your fingers smell. I say to each their own.

How do you get the black off of the press after the dishwasher?

I bought an OXO garlic press at least 15 years ago, and it's still in fine shape. Best part about it is a red plastic thing with little "teeth" on it: when you open it up to get out the skin, all you have to do is lift the handle all the way back, and it cleans it right out!

And for the person needing a new veg peeler, you can't go wrong with OXO. They last forever, and will take all the abuse you can throw at it!

This is a ridiculous story. Who cares if you use a garlic press and why oh why do we have to divide our tools into cool and uncool.

I love my Pampered Chef garlic press. Completely dishwasher safe and, like the entry above, comes with a mini "hairbrush" looking thing (that hides in the handle) to push the excess skin out of it.

Anthony Bourdain is never coming to my house, so I use my garlic press without fear of snarky hipster put downs. I have the exact model pictured. I don't peel the garlic before I press it - the papery husk makes it easier to clean the press after using.

I don't care if a garlic press or other tools are cool or uncool. Who decides that anyway? Some TV celebrities who think they are better than the rest of us? Everybody is entitled to do and use what they want, regardless of what is popular right now.

When on earth did aspects of cooking become cool/uncool? Cooking is about what goes into the process and enjoying the end result - not the latest/greatest/priciest/most-exclusive gadget.

I'm sure you've heard "people who care don't matter, and people who matter don't care". I think it's time for new friends. Or maybe it's just your concern with being "cool" that is just so... uncool.

My 87 year old Italian mother was using a garlic press long before the Frugal Gourmet graced the TV screen. Never occurred to me not to own and use one. It saves the cutting board from getting stinky.
Dorie Greenspan always uses a garlic press with the added step of removing the germ first. This is how I do it now too.

I've liked using one too, but all my garlic presses have broken after just a few months. Does anyone have a robust version they'd like to recommend?

Back off the Frugal Gourmet! I love Jeff.

That's his name, right? Yeah, I love whats-his-name-beard-and-glasses.

I can't be sure, but I think it was Anthony Bourdain who shamed us out of using garlic presses in "Kitchen Confidential." Something to the effect of "and for the love of god, don't use a garlic press." Ridiculous. It's not that like ridiculous banana slicer on Amazon. For most amateur chefs it's just more efficient.

My old beloved garlic press bit the dust after 30+ years of use. I went a whole month without one. Thankfully, my sister-in-law had a Pampered Chef party and I got myself one of those. I love it. It is even better than my old one and it is dishwasher safe!!! There is no way I'll ever go without one again.

Just bought one -as a bit of joke for my partner, after watching Jamie's 15minute meals and seeing how indispensable he deemed one. What a revelation! We are both good with a knife, so never felt the need for one, but would now never be without.

There's a world of difference between cooking at home and in a professional kitchen. I've said it before, knife skills and other 'chef-y' affectations are hugely overrated. If you're not cooking for paying customers, then just relax and enjoy the process, no one is judging you, certainly not whether your tools of choice are cool enough!

maybe i just never gave my garlic press a fair chance, but i'm more enamored of my garlic zoom. it only does about one clove at a time, but it's a very fine mince without the mush that i seem to get with a press. i also use it for onions, which i pretty much hate, so i want them in the smallest possible pieces when i cook with them.

I love my garlic press!

I, too, was shamed into never having a unitasker in my kitchen, not to mention years of living in a toy sized manhattan apartment made me scale back on well, everything. But, honestly, the garlic smell on my fingers vs the shame of having something from "the pampered chef" in my apartment, well was no contest.

ALSO! i recently started using it in lieu of my mortar and pestle (moving to the suburbs allowed me to purchase freely) to crush fresh coriander, anise, even peppercorns. Free yourself!

In the name of fewer objects in the kitchen, I use the same small grater that I originally acquired for nutmeg, but also works on garlic, ginger, lemongrass and I'm still experimenting.

The 80's?!?! They've been around a heck of a lot longer than that!! My grandmother had one when I was growing up and I'll be 50!! I always wondered what it was for/how to use it but like a bunch of others here, I use mine all the time. With cherished memories thrown in the pot along with the garlic.

My mother-in-law bought me this garlic twist (http://www.amazon.com/NexTrend-Garlic-Twist-Clear/dp/B000173JMS), and I actually like it more than my garlic press. It's a lot easier to clean than my press, and it does a lot more cloves at a time. Either way, yay for not hand chopping garlic!

I still have my 26 year old Zyliss press. Marcella Hazan and others warn against the overly strong taste, but that is exactly why I like it!

I bought my garlic press after spending time in Italy as a student. All my Italian friends used them.

I still have mine but usually use the microplane these days—easier clean up and faster, finer garlic paste.

Uncool? News to me, I always thought these clunky, troublesome to clean things were something of a design classic effortlessly transporting the northern european user back to balmier days spent on the provencal littoral or similar. Mine is made from the same material as yours and even has a bit for pitting olives! And of course, different garlic preparation methods result in different levels of 'garlickiness' so when to use the press or knife depends on the recipe.

Out and proud presser,

Mike

I don't think there is anything wrong with unitaskers, especially if they are for a task you do frequently. Most people cook with a lot of garlic, so why not use something that makes it easier. That being said, I have never had luck with garlic presses. They just haven't worked for me. I like my knife or microplaner for garlic.

I have a garlic press, and on occassion, use it. I'm always a little put off by what seems to be a much smaller yield than when I chop. Anyone else have that?

Unitasker? I use mine to mince ginger and to squeeze small quantities of juice out of things! Amusingly, I almost never use it for garlic since I generally like my garlic chunkier.

Cool or not cool, those aluminum presses are dangerous. They break. When I was a girl I saw the handyman/gardener help my great-grandmother on a tough clove and almost slice off his thumb when the handle broke. Lesson learned? I cut myself so often knife chopping, and cutting corners as usual, I had started using one of those cute vintage aluminum ones in my collection, (not remembering that awful day,) and as I was pressing a clove it started happening in slow motion horror! I dropped everything immediately and decided then and there to get an indestructible, working garlic press. Like the steel Kuhn Rikon Epicurean. It's an expensive monstrosity, but cheaper than a trip to the emergency room, and it does a flawless job, every time. Is it cool? Who cares - thumbs are cool!

Had no idea that my mother, father and now me were so cooly 'uncool'! I love my press and use it almost nightly. i think the one I have is from pampered chef (prob a big no, no also :) ) and it is heavy duty.

Who said the garlic press was uncool?!
I use mine all the time. About a year ago, I was in a friends kitchen helping prep the meal, and asked where the press was. You'd have thought I asked where they kept the cyanide. "Oh, we have one, but we don't use it" - often, I still think of that moment and am puzzled. It's just easier to use a press. And if that's uncool - well, so be it.

I b.r.o.k,e my garlic press and in a moment of panic ("Jeez - I'm running out of time!") resorted to my Magic Bullet and discovered "garlic-in-a-momento" - it's just quicker.

I never felt the need for a garlic press, not for reasons of cool or not cool, simply that I don't mind larger bits of garlic in my food. My son recently bought me one, in exasperation at my lack of efficient kitchen tools, something he's complained about since he's started cooking for himself at college. Yes, I've become one of those uncool parents (in my 40s!) with blunt knives, uses kitchen scissors to cut meat, and a fork to purée potatoes!

This is the greatest kitchen utensil since the knife.

Dammit SK, now I have to show this to my wife and let her think she won the debate over the usefulness of this little gadget. ;-)

Thank you, I feel the same way: love my old, simple garlic press (which my husband already owned when we married, so it goes way back) and don't consider it uncool. Food tastes equally good!

I would punch in the kisser---anyone---who, to my face, would criticize me for using a garlic press. I did however, migrate to a plexiglass 2-pc. garlic twister/crusher because I didn't have very good success with conventional garlic presses holding up to my needs. The twister/crusher works great and there's nothing to break. (ok maybe not punch, but I'd yell at them, loudly!)