This Ingenious Garlic Hack Makes Peeling Cloves 100x Times Easier (They Slide Right Out!)

How many times have you ruined a nail trying to peel a clove of garlic? For me, it’s too many times to count. I’ve tried every trick to make it easier: shaking the cloves in a jar, smashing it with the side of a knife, and soaking them in hot water. Yet all of these tricks still required me to meticulously peel the skin with ruined fingernails, and it’s never a quick process. Because I am rather determined to use fresh minced garlic instead of buying it in a jar, I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect trick to peel garlic that wouldn’t ruin my manicure — and I finally found it. The trick? Pop it in the microwave.

Here’s how it works: Place the cloves you need to use in the microwave and turn it on for 30 seconds. After about 9 or 10 seconds, the garlic cloves will pop. This is a sign to stop and take them out. The popping noise is the peel popping open, making it easy to simply slide it out with one smooth motion. You don’t even need to chop off the ends. The clove truly does slip right out.

The videos online might seem unbelievable, but trust me; after doing this trick dozens of times, I can confidently say that it truly does work. It will save you a ton of time peeling garlic, especially for those recipes that call for a lot of it, like shrimp scampi or garlic parmesan wings.

Plus, the microwaved garlic is slightly warmed, which I find makes it easier for pressing into a garlic press to mince, chopping on the cutting board, or mincing using a micro blade. All around, it creates a much smoother garlic experience. You’ll never want to buy a jar of the pre-minced stuff ever again. Just make sure to grab a proper garlic keeper to keep your garlic fresh for weeks.