Why We Love the Controversial Garlic Press

In his memoir “Kitchen Confidential,” the late, great chef Anthony Bourdain praised the versatility of garlic but famously expressed strong opinions about how the ingredient should be prepared: “Garlic is divine. Few food items can taste so many distinct ways, handled correctly. Misuse of garlic is a crime.” 

Bourdain’s biggest gripe was with the garlic press. “Garlic that has been tragically smashed through one of those abominations, the garlic press, are all disgusting,” he wrote. “Please, treat your garlic with respect.”

“Smash it, with the flat of your knife blade if you like, but don't put it through a press. I don't know what that junk is that squeezes out the end of those things, but it ain't garlic,” Bourdain wrote. Anthony Bourdain’s quotes are famous for a reason, and while I hate to question a legend, I have to wholeheartedly disagree. I couldn’t live without my garlic press, and I recommend every busy chef keep one on hand. 

Joseph Joseph CleanForce Garlic Press

When we tested garlic presses, Food & Wine editors dubbed the Joseph Joseph CleanForce Garlic Press the best value model. At $16, it’s the most affordable press we recommend, but despite its low price, it outperformed its competitors thanks to its easy-to-use design and self-cleaning capabilities.

Cleanup is a breeze, since the press is equipped with what one reviewer called a “little windshield wiper” that makes it easy (and fun) to use and clean. The trigger-operated blade wipes crushed garlic from the surface, and it comes with a scraper to easily remove any remnants stuck inside.

The opening of the Joseph Joseph garlic press is large enough to fit up to three cloves at a time, so you can say goodbye to monotonously mincing one at a time. Unlike most garlic presses I’ve used, this one can mince unpeeled cloves; as one shopper wrote, “it pushes the garlic through and leaves the peel behind.”

Since it’s made from plastic rather than stainless steel, it’s lightweight and easy to handle with only one hand — a win for those with limited mobility. Several shoppers with arthritis of the hand noted that it’s easy to grip and “effortless to use.” Plus, it’s ideal for petite cooks like me. One customer said it’s “so easy for little hands to use,” and I couldn’t agree more. (This also comes in handy for those with kiddos who love to help in the kitchen.)

Despite his disdain for the humble garlic press, Anthony Bourdain wrote in “Kitchen Confidential”: “The mishandling of food and equipment with panache was always admired; to some extent, this remains true to this day.” So, perhaps he’d forgive me for saying that every cook needs this $16 garlic press. Grab my top pick at Amazon for just $16.

More Amazon Garlic Tools to Shop

OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Garlic Press

Zulay Stainless Steel Garlic Press Rocker Set

Zyliss Silicone Garlic Peeler Tube Roller

Nextrend Garlic Twister 4th Generation

Joseph Joseph CleanForce Garlic Press

At the time of publishing, the price was $16.