4 Ways to Peel Garlic (And the One Method That Works Best) (3 of 3)

Smashing Whole Cloves

What you need: A chef’s knife, a cutting board, some powerful fists.

How to do it: Remove a garlic clove from the bulb and put it on a cutting board. With the side of a chef’s knife, smash down on the garlic clove using your palm for force. Peel off the skins, and chop or mince the garlic.

Our impressions: This method is without a doubt the big winner. If you’ve ever watched cooking shows or observed a professional chef prepping, this is how they always peel the garlic. We took several garlic cloves, placed them on our wood cutting board, and gave them a good smashing a couple at a time. We then chopped them with the knife. We love that it’s so simple and effective. No need for microwaves, jars, or garlic presses. Cleanup is a breeze as well!