One of the simplest ways to elevate just about any savory dish is to add some freshly minced garlic to the pan. While simple in theory, mincing garlic is anything but easy in practice. At least, if you’re lacking the right tools.
Garlic presses can make a huge difference in how much effort you have to put into mincing garlic. But only if the press you choose is well-designed, durable, and produces consistent results.
To help you find the best garlic press to meet those important specifications, we tested and reviewed the top-selling products on the market. Below, you’ll find our top 5 picks as well as some helpful resources for choosing and using your new garlic press.
Table of Contents
The Top Garlic Presses at a Glance
- Best Overall – Gourmet Easy Store Garlic Press
- Runner Up – Zyliss Susi 3 Garlic Press
- Easiest to Clean – Orblue Garlic Press
- Best All-in-One – Kitexpert Garlic Press
- Best Budget – Kitessensu Garlic Press
What Does a Garlic Press Do?
A good garlic press allows you to uniformly mince a clove of garlic into tiny pieces with just the squeeze of a fist. They can save time, effort, and sanity, especially for those of us who lack the knife skills and patience to mince garlic with a knife.
Garlic presses work by combining a flat piston with a flat surface covered in small holes. When squeezed together with a garlic clove in the middle, the piston press forces the garlic through these tiny holes, crushing the garlic into minced pieces.
This minced garlic product can be used to cook with or added raw to dressings, sauces, and more.
Garlic presses, also known as garlic crushers, all have a similar design. But the results can be quite different depending on the materials used to make the press, the quality of the manufacturing, and the design execution.
The Best Garlic Presses
To find the best garlic press on the market, we tested the top-rated products for durability, ease of use, consistency, and ease of cleaning. Here are the five products that made the cut.
Best Overall: Gourmet Easy Store Garlic Press
- Material – Stainless steel
- Durability Score – 5/5
- Ease-of-Cleaning Score – 5/5
- Stand-Out Feature – Two-piece design
We chose the Gourmet Easy Store garlic press as our top pick for two simple reasons: It’s incredibly durable, and it features an intelligent design that makes it easy to clean while adding even more to that durability.
This stainless steel garlic crusher is made of cast single-piece steel without joints for unparalleled durability. The curved, ergonomic handles are solid and thick to resist bending and the press and basket are crafted as a continuation of the handle to avoid weak spots.
Adding to that durability is the unique two-piece design. The top press rests inside a groove on the bottom basket for smooth operation. But, the two pieces are not connected which means there are no hinges to break or hooks to snap off.
This two-piece design also means this press is incredibly easy to clean. Simply remove the top handle for unobstructed access to the basket. It’s dishwasher safe and fits easily into the utensil baskets, unlike most single-piece presses.
The downside to a two-piece garlic press is that you have to keep track of both handles in your drawer. But, given the quality of this press, how easy it is to use, and the consistent size and shape of the minced product, we think the risk is worth it.
As an added bonus, the Gourmet Easy Store garlic press comes with a five-year warranty.
Runner Up: Zyliss Susi 3 Garlic Press
- Material – Aluminum
- Durability Score – 4.5/5
- Ease-of-Cleaning Score – 4.5/5
- Stand-Out Feature – Cleaning features
Coming in at a close second to our top pick is the Zyliss Susi 3.
This garlic press has a unique, compact design that looks somewhat like a sleek stapler. The curved handles and tight design make it easier to grip and pinch than many other options we tried.
Another great design feature is the push-through press, which features nubs that press into the grater holes to produce more product and leave a cleaner surface behind. This combined with the attached cleaning tool (which stores in the handle), make this press super easy to clean.
Our main gripe about the Zyliss is that it’s made of aluminum. This metal is notoriously less durable than stainless steel. That on top of multiple hinges drops the durability score on this press a touch.
The biggest complaint we saw in the durability department is that the press piston has a tendency to snap off, though this is rare.
But, for an easy-to-handle garlic press that produces super-small minced pieces with impressive consistency, it doesn’t get much better than this option from Zyliss.
Easiest to Clean: Orblue Garlic Press
- Material – Stainless steel
- Durability Score – 4/5
- Ease-of-Cleaning Score – 5/5
- Stand-Out Feature – Swing-out press surface
If cleaning out the little holes in your garlic press drives you crazy, you’ll appreciate the smart design of this press from Orblue.
This stainless steel crusher features a swing-out press surface which allows easy access to those often-clogged holes. But, unlike other presses we tried with this feature, this one retains its durability.
The swing-out feature usually makes the press surface less rigid, allowing it to bend, thus limiting the yield. But this Orblue model has a stabilizing lip on three sides that keeps the press surface firmly in place.
We didn’t find the handles on this press as comfortable as other options and its durability was lower due to it having multiple joints. But for an easy-clean option for lightweight use, the Orblue garlic press is a great choice.
Best All-in-One: Kitexpert Garlic Press
- Material – Zinc alloy
- Durability Score – 4/5
- Ease-of-Cleaning Score – 4.5/5
- Stand-Out Feature – Attached cleaner
If you have a history of losing kitchen tools in your utensils drawer, Kitexpert has the garlic press for you.
While other presses often come with a separate hole-cleaning tool, this one has the cleaner attached to the other side of the press head. All you have to do is flip the handles around and press the nubbed cleaner into the plate. Once the large pieces of garlic are out, toss the press in the dishwasher for an easy clean.
Uniquely, the Kitexpert press is made of zinc alloy. This metal is lightweight but has a high tensile strength, making it fairly durable. The silver coating on top is more prone to staining than other options, but, in this weight class, you won’t find anything more durable.
Best Budget: Kitessensu Garlic Press
- Material – Zinc
- Durability Score – 4/5
- Ease-of-Cleaning Score – 4/5
- Stand-Out Feature – Affordably priced
Shopping for a garlic press on a budget? This Kitessensu press is worth a look.
This affordably priced garlic crusher has a sleek, aesthetically pleasing design. The rounded handles are easy to grip, though not as ergonomic as others on this list. It’s a bit harder to clean as well, but it does come with a convenient cleaning brush that gets the job done fairly quickly.
The body of this press is made of zinc. This material isn’t quite as lightweight as zinc alloy but it’s fairly durable in terms of tensile strength. The only breakage problem users report is in the hinge, but this is rare.
The Kitessensu has a large capacity bowl and makes quick work of large quantities of garlic. It’s easy to use and store. While it’s advertised as being dishwasher safe, we recommend hand washing and prompt drying to keep the finish looking like new.
What to Look for in a Garlic Press
Each of the garlic presses featured above would make a fantastic buy. But if you want to shop around, it helps to know what to look for. Here are the most important characteristics when considering a new garlic press.
Material
Garlic presses come in a range of materials.
The most durable are made of stainless steel. This metal has a high tensile strength and is also resistant to rust and blemishing.
Aluminum is another great option, though it’s not quite as strong as stainless. It also tends to be more expensive than similarly durable steel options.
Zinc and zinc alloy are lighter-weight options with decent durability, depending on the quality of the metal used. Depending on the finish, these presses may or may not be dishwasher safe.
Plastic is one material you definitely want to stay away from when it comes to garlic presses. While easy to care for, this material is simply not durable enough for the pressure these tools have to withstand.
Durability
The material used to make the garlic press contributes a lot to its durability. But the design also plays a key part.
Single-piece cast presses that do not have any joints are the most durable option. Those with joints are more likely to snap, especially if made from a low-quality material.
Hinges are another common breakpoint. We chose the Gourmet Easy Store Garlic Press as our number one pick because it doesn’t have any joints or hinges, making it incredibly durable and long-lasting.
Consistency
When garlic presses turn out garlic pieces of different sizes, it affects how well they cook. Smaller pieces will burn fast while the large ones don’t get cooked enough.
A rigid press plate that features uniform holes produces the most consistent product. Cheap metals tend to bend under pressure, which results in different-sized pieces being pushed through. These cheaper products also tend to leave more waste in the bowl.
Ease of Cleaning
Every garlic press will require some effort to clean, but how much effort is highly affected by the design.
Products with swing-out press plates, like the Orblue Garlic Press, are super-easy to clean because the holes are accessible with a sponge or rag.
Included cleaning tools can also make the process easier. We especially appreciate products that have the cleaning tool attached, like the Kitexpert Garlic Press. Designs like this one help prevent the additional tools from getting lost in the drawer.
The Right Way to Use a Garlic Press
Once you pick your new garlic press, you’ll need to make sure you’re using it the right way. And there is a right way!
Here’s everything you need to know:
- First things first, do not peel the clove. Quality garlic presses (like all those featured above) are strong enough to push the garlic flesh out of the paper cover without leaving anything behind. So save yourself some time and sanity and don’t worry about peeling your garlic before you press it.
- If you struggle to get enough force behind your press to fully close it, try cutting the tip off the clove first. This breaks the skin tension and gives the flesh space to move as it’s crushed. When the garlic is free to move away from pressure, you don’t have to apply as much to get good results.
- Once you’ve pressed your garlic, use a sharp knife to scrape away all the flesh from the outside of the holes. This is just good practice to minimize waste and maximize yield.
- After you’ve crushed a clove, peel the skin remnants out of the bowl. A benefit of leaving the skin on is it provides a surface for any leftover garlic flesh to cling to. This helps prevent the holes from getting clogged during use.
- After you’ve finished pressing your garlic, get your press in water immediately. Even if you don’t plan to wash it right away, soaking the press quickly will prevent the garlic from hardening in the holes. If you do this, the cleaning process will be much easier when you do finally get around to it.
Bonus tip: Make sure to store your garlic bulbs in a quality garlic keeper to prevent sprouting. Sprouted garlic is much thicker and harder to press.
Our Favorite Garlic-Filled Recipes
With a new garlic press in hand and all the tips you need to use it, it’s time to get cooking. Here are a few of our favorite garlic-centric recipes to inspire you.
- Vegan Garlic Bread – This amazing homemade garlic bread uses freshly minced garlic for a bold flavor you and your family will love.
- Creamy Vegan Spinach & Artichoke Dip – This extra-creamy dip is made better by replacing garlic powder with fresh garlic.
- Asparagus, Green Garlic & Pea Tendrils – Nothing says spring like this lightly cooked green salad featuring plenty of garlic for an extra bite.
- Vegan Green Bean Casserole – This is another garlicky-great dish that is easily elevated by adding fresh garlic in place of garlic powder.
- Smoky Baba Ganoush – Flavor packed with smoky notes and zesty garlic, this Middle Eastern dip is sure to please the crowd.
