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Food on Fridays with Ann
My cooking frequently calls for fresh minced garlic. I’ve relied on garlic presses over the years, but they inevitably break. I’ve gone through three or four, maybe more. The hinge snaps or the screws pop off from the repeated stress of pushing that clove through holes.
So the last time my garlic press broke, I gave up. I said I was all done with garlic presses. Instead, I resolved to learn how to use my knife to mince cloves. Forget the garlic press. I’d go old-school.
But my husband didn’t give up so easily. He likes well-designed gadgets, so unbeknownst to me he headed off in search of a quality garlic press. A visit to a kitchen store turned up a high-end, German-designed garlic press (Rösle 12782 Garlic Press
) that he brought home and presented with excitement and hope that I might have something that will allow me to mince with ease once more.
I tried it, and could not believe how with one squeeze of the handles, the entire clove smooshes through with very little waste. I could tell from the first press that the design was different and more effective, avoiding too much stress in a spot that couldn’t handle it.
I wish I knew enough about physics to explain why this works so well, but I’ll show you pictures and maybe they’ll speak for themselves to those who understand these things.
Stick a clove in the hole so that the flat metal surface will press against the hole-y metal piece. This minces the garlic. When you pull the handles together, the pressure is not, like most garlic presses, pulling on the screws and hinge.
It seems to distribute the stress somehow. This is what it looks like closed shut. The minced garlic, had I actually stuck a clove in it, would have squished through the holes. If you look close, you can see some remains on the edge.
To clean, you open it up again and swing the piece with holes out to conveniently scrape off the remaining garlic bits due to this easy access. You can get to both sides without having to reach a finger in and dig out the remains.
This well-designed garlic press is not a cheap contraption, and I sure don’t deserve something so nice. But its ease of use has supported and simplified my culinary creativity. I love it, and if we had a fire and I knew my family, pets, computer, and photo albums were safe, I daresay I might run back in for it.
What’s one of your favorite kitchen gadgets?
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Photos by Ann Kroeker. “Pin” these images in a way that links back to this particular page, giving proper credit.
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That is a beautiful garlic press! My favourite kitchen gadget has to be one from the past. My late Mom used to have a knife with a crinkly blade that made rippled carrot sticks. They were my favourite treat. It was an antique when I was little, and I don’t know what happened to it in the end. I often wish I could find one just like it for old time’s sake! Thank you for hosting.
I’ve seen those, April. Is it like this modern one: http://www.amazon.com/Dezine-Black-Handled-Crinkle-Knife/dp/B000THCXZO
Or this one? http://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Steel-Crinkle-Knife-MSC/dp/B002VQJ8AO
Or…most likely like this vintage one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Wavy-Wave-Edged-Crinkle-Cutter-Knife-Fancy-Cut-Red-Wood-Handle-Hand-Tool-/300887776896?pt=Kitchen_Tools_Gadgets&hash=item460e4f1e80
Bless you, Ann, that is wonderful 🙂 I’m just trying to decide which one to choose! Thank you so much.
I love a good garlic press and it looks like yours is way better than mine. I may have to upgrade. My food processor is probably my favorite “gadget” although it’s more of an appliance than a gadget. I love my microplane grater too, and having lots of different sizes of whisks!
Sara, hang on until yours breaks. If it works, it works, right? A good grater would be a nice gadget to stay on the lookout for, and I agree! I love having three different whisks. I never realized how helpful multiple sizes could be until I obtained multiples sizes. Great ideas!
Where did your husband find that? I’m putting it on my list for my dh who loves to cook and is so hard to shop for.
My favorite too – hmm, that’s tough. Probably my wooden spoon that I found at Reading China and Glass. The spoon part is bigger than regular wooden spoons, though handle is still short. I use it all the time.
Here’s the Amazon link including my affiliate code (should you choose to purchase through them, I would get a tiny commission): Rösle 12782 Garlic Press
But he got it at a fancy-schmancy store at a local mall. The store is called Sur La Table: http://www.surlatable.com/
Hope you find one for him!!
Oh, and your love of a wooden spoon reminded me that when I was going through a baking phase in junior high or high school, I asked my grandma to get those for me one Christmas. I used them ALL the time, and so I asked for a set of wooden spoons for my wedding, as well, and I still use them.
Oh the wonder of German engineering! I love it your new garlic press! I am crazy for garlic and it seems to be in everything I make for dinner. I am heart broken over my Vidalia Chop Wizards recent demise. It broke at the base and its made of plastic.
Oh, my. Shall we call for a moment of silence for the Vidalia Chop Wizard? So sorry for your faithful kitchen companion to no longer assist you. I bought a Pampered Chef thing that chops, and it was amazing. I’ll bet it was similar to yours. I used it for nuts and onions (back when I could eat onions), and anything that needed random chopping. But it’s on its last legs.
Those German made garlic presses will last a life time. I lost my first one but was able to find another one similar to yours. Mine is round but works great! Thank you again for hosting.
For those wanting a good garlic press for under $20 please go to E-Bay and search for garlic press.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR11.TRC1&_nkw=garlic+press&_sacat=0&_from=R40
Great idea, Hazel!!
I love that you used the word “smooshes.” That made my morning!
And a good, small, daily used kitchen appliance? I’d say that’s worth going back for.
I’ve got to get me a garlic press.