Garlic press facts for kids

A garlic press is a handy tool for your kitchen. People also call it a garlic crusher. It helps you crush garlic cloves easily. It works by pushing garlic through tiny holes. Most presses have a special part to help clean out these holes.

Garlic being crushed by a garlic press.

Many garlic presses have a tool to help clean the small holes.

Who Invented the Garlic Press?

A man named Karl Zysset (1907–1988) is usually given credit for inventing the garlic press. He was the founder of a Swiss company called Zyliss. This company makes many kitchen tools.

How a Garlic Press Makes Cooking Easier

Using a garlic press is a simple way to prepare garlic. It is much easier than chopping garlic with a knife. You can even put a garlic clove into the press without taking off its skin! The skin stays inside the press. The crushed garlic comes out clean. Some people think pressing garlic with the skin on also makes the press easier to clean.

Does Pressed Garlic Taste Different?

People have different ideas about how pressed garlic tastes. Some believe it has a stronger flavor. This is because pressing releases more of garlic's natural compounds.

• Some chefs and food writers like the taste of pressed garlic. They say it can be more delicate or spread its flavor better in a dish.
• Other chefs do not like pressed garlic. They think it tastes worse than chopped garlic. They might say it changes the garlic in a bad way.

So, whether you like pressed garlic or not is often a matter of personal taste!

Other Uses for a Garlic Press

A garlic press is not just for garlic! You can use it to mash other small foods too. Here are some examples:

• Olives
• Capers
• Anchovies
• Ginger
• Canned chipotle peppers
• You can also press out small amounts of juice from onions or shallots.

Different Kinds of Garlic Crushers

There are other tools that can crush or mince garlic very finely.

• A small container with a grater on top. You slide the garlic cloves over the grater.
• A glass-sized container with a grate. A lid pushes the garlic through the grate. This can slice or chop the garlic into small pieces.
• The Garlic Twister. This is a short cylinder made of two parts. You put garlic inside. The two parts twist to cut the garlic.

See also

In Spanish: Prensa de ajos para niños