Which Garlic Press is the Best?

We pressed lots of garlic in preparation for this post. Our full take on the best way to get your fresh garlic is below.

There are lots of ways to get garlic flavor into a dish. Some automatically reach for the garlic powder whenever they see the word “garlic.” Others are sticklers for peeling a fresh bulb. Still others just pop some frozen cubes. 

All of us at BCP sort of like to get the best of all worlds. We want freshness and flavor. But we want convenience too. So, we typically buy containers or bags of fresh, peeled garlic cloves (and make garlic confit in bulk in a super snap). Or, if we need our garlic cloves crushed, we crush them using a garlic press. 

(Or, when we’re really organized and need to be ready for a cooking marathon, such as before Yom Tov, we might use this bulk garlic hack). 

When crushing whole cloves with a garlic press, you get the freshness without all the peeling mess. You can use lots of garlic without spending so much time. There’s no need to ration those cloves!

Then, you won’t hesitate to make dishes like this gourmet tasting Hoisin and Crispy Garlic Sea Bass or this amazing Garlic Crown Challah (gotta try that again!). 

Using all that fresh garlic means that our garlic press becomes one of the most used tools in our kitchen gadget drawer. That’s absolutely true. But it doesn’t mean that all garlic presses are the same. We’ve used lots of different versions over the years, and we definitely have our favorites. 

The OLD OXO Good Grips Garlic Press

Why We Like It: This is the #1 choice for most members of the BCP Team. Once we started using the OXO, there was no looking back. First, it fits a few garlic cloves at once. Second, it’s comfortable to use (lots of garlic presses really hurt your hands). The second grip is really soft! Third, it’s easy to press the garlic because the press itself is strong (others really make you get a workout).

And fourth, it’s easy to clean! You can either use that red rubber (very useful) to poke out the garlic skin and rinse, or just throw it right into the dishwasher (open it up and put it on the top rack). Unlike most garlic presses we’ve ever used, this one cleans really well in the dishwasher. 

Unfortunately, OXO discontinued this press (we are not sure why, it was so universally loved. Read about the new version below), and the “OLD” version is in limited supply at a higher price.

Trudeau Garlic Press

Why We Like It: While we don’t personally own a Trudeau, this one is a copy of the “OLD” OXO Press that we love. If the price of the old OXO gets too high as supply dries up, go for the Trudeau version. 

The New OXO Garlic Press

Why We Like It: Ok, so there’s pros and cons with the new OXO press. On first feel, it feels more cheaply made and lighter than the “OLD” press that we love. It doesn’t have that heavy, solid feel. The “soft grip” that’s unique to the OXO is still soft, but not as soft on the new version as it was on the old. Still, it’s better than the hard handles of other presses that are out there. It doesn’t have that simple, sleek construction that makes it easy to clean and we’re missing the rubber piece that “pokes” the garlic. Still, it’s easier to rinse and clean than others out there as well and does well in the dishwasher too. 

There is, however, one area where the new version really shines and actually outdoes the “OLD” press by a lot! And that’s yield. Yup, it’s easy to fit a few cloves into the press and get a ton of garlic out. The actually “pressing” is pretty easy. Even if it feels lighter than the “OLD” OXO, it’s still pretty strong. There’s less waste here than on any garlic press we’ve seen. And, because of that, it still deserves a place on the “tops” list. 

The Zyliss Garlic Press

Why We Like It. The Zyliss is also a great press, and while most of us have moved onto OXO, one BCP team member still calls the Zyliss #1. We’ve always been fans of its construction. It’s pretty and sleek and does a good pressing job. Why have others surpassed it? The capacity is smaller, so you will have to load it up more often, and it’s a little harder to clean than the above options. Plus, the skinny metal handles are not as comfortable to press. The Zyliss is also not dishwasher safe and sometimes the garlic gets discolored. 

Kuhn Rikon Epicurean Garlic Presses

Why We Like It. Pretty much from the outset, we disqualified this press because of its price. If we’re thrilled with the options above, why spend almost triple? It does however, check all the boxes and performs as good as it looks. So why do we mention it here? There’s a few things to look out for. The CoolKits copy of the Epicurean is spot on and highly regarded, though we have not tried it. But, if you thought you were going to rely on the Kuhn Rikon brand name and go with the cheaper model from the brand, we’re warning you–don’t. The Kuhn Rikon Easy Clean Garlic Press is a waste of time and money. It’s not easy to clean, not easy to press, and an overall pain in the brain. For a similar price, go with one of the picks below and you’ll be so much happier. 

For detailed information on all the garlic presses listed below, see above.