There’s no substitute for fresh garlic in a recipe, so for anyone who loves to cook, a good garlic press is a handy tool in the kitchen. Before I owned a garlic press, it was easy to justify using a substitute such as garlic powder in recipes. That was a big mistake, because the flavor of dried garlic is in no way comparable to that of fresh – it might as well be considered a different seasoning altogether. So I began buying fresh garlic, but disliked the task of chopping it. A garlic press was a solution, but as I discovered, not all presses are created equal.
My first garlic press was the Farberware stainless steel model, and I used it for about a year before it got left behind after a camping trip. To replace it, I chose a KitchenAid model that matched the set of pots and pans I had recently purchased. I found that the two garlic presses were quite different from one another.
The KitchenAid garlic press had a different design that seemed to promise easy cleaning. The “basket” into which the cloves are placed is removable, so that the cook can more easily clean out the leftover garlic after pressing. This feature was one I took into consideration when making my purchase. Upon using the press, I found that while the removable basket was a good idea in theory, it created a problem that made the press annoying to use. With the basket in place, the cook squeezes the handles and the “foot” of the press slides into the basket and pushes the garlic out the holes. But the basket and presser foot would not line up properly every time, and when it did, it was often difficult to squeeze the foot down far enough to crush the garlic.
My frustration with the KitchenAid garlic press motivated me to try to find another Farberware garlic press. It was easy to find at a local department store and was actually lower in price than the KitchenAid had been. Once I had the Farberware press back in my kitchen, preparing garlic for recipes was again easy and simple. The Farberware press is one piece, except for a small plastic cleaning device that rests into a slot in the handle for storage. The basket that holds the garlic cloves is built in, and the foot that presses the cloves slides in smoothly and makes the press easy to squeeze.
The only slight dissatisfaction I have with the Farberware model is that the cleaning device doesn’t really stay in its place within the handle, in fact ours is long gone and will probably never be found. But the basket is easy enough to clean with a scrub brush; the bristles can poke into the holes and easily release any leftover garlic. The press makes up for that by providing another feature I love. The stainless steel of the press can be used to remove any residual garlic odor from your hands – just rub your hands over the metal under cold running water, and the garlic odor disappears.
My Farberware stainless steel garlic press is an enjoyable tool to use in my kitchen, and I expect it to be the last one I ever need.
