Garlic goes into almost everything in a Mexican kitchen: salsa roja and salsa verde, adobo for meats, the base of rice and beans, mojo de ajo for shrimp. A good cook can mince it with a knife, but when a recipe calls for a whole head, a garlic press turns ten minutes of chopping into a minute of squeezing, and leaves your fingers smelling a lot less of it.
This guide explains presses and rockers, what makers say about pressing unpeeled cloves, and how easy each one is to clean, and names eight garlic tools worth buying from Kuhn Rikon, OXO, Zyliss, Joseph Joseph, Rösle, Dreamfarm and Alpha Grillers.
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Quick verdict: which garlic press to buy
For most kitchens, the best garlic press is the Kuhn Rikon Easy-Clean: beveled holes that cut the clove finely, no need to peel first, and a stainless steel sieve that swings out for rinsing, according to Kuhn Rikon. For less money, the OXO Good Grips press has a built-in cleaner in the handle. And if you would rather not clean a hinge at all, the Joseph Joseph Garlic Rocker is one piece of steel.
Five garlic presses compared
Our five standout garlic tools, one for each kind of cook. All eight are reviewed in full below.
| Garlic tool | Best for | Type and material | Unpeeled cloves | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Kuhn Rikon Easy-Clean Garlic PressBest overall
|
Daily garlic, big batches | Lever press, stainless sieve | Yes, per Kuhn Rikon | View on Amazon |
| Comfortable, easy to clean | Lever press, die-cast zinc | Yes, per OXO | View on Amazon | |
Joseph Joseph Garlic Rocker, Stainless SteelBest rocker
|
No hinges to clean | Rocker, stainless steel | Not stated | View on Amazon |
Rösle Stainless Steel Garlic PressBest all-steel
|
A press for life | Lever press, 18/10 stainless | Yes, per Rösle | View on Amazon |
Dreamfarm Garject Lite Garlic PressBest for unpeeled cloves
|
Never peeling or touching garlic | Lever press, nylon | Yes, ejects the peel | View on Amazon |
Product images from Amazon. Materials and peeling guidance are as the maker or its listing states them.
Our picks for the best garlic press
Most of the list is lever presses, which squeeze cloves through a perforated basket, plus a rocker and a twist press for cooks who find a lever press hard on the hands or hard to clean. Each review gives the maker’s or listing’s specifications, who the tool suits and one honest drawback.
1. Kuhn Rikon Easy-Clean Garlic Press – No Peeling, Swing-Out Sieve
Kuhn Rikon’s Easy-Clean is a light lever press, about 7 inches long, with a red handle and a stainless steel sieve. Kuhn Rikon says you don’t even need to peel the clove, so on a day when a salsa needs a dozen cloves you can skip most of the peeling and lift the skins out afterward.
The holes are beveled, which Kuhn Rikon says cuts the garlic finely rather than bruising it, and the ergonomic handle and lever are designed to need less force. For cleaning, the sieve swings out and the press flips open, so trapped skins and pulp rinse away instead of drying in the holes.
Kuhn Rikon’s product page lists it at 6.75 by 2.25 by 1.5 inches and 0.27 pounds, made in China, and says it is dishwasher safe, though it recommends washing by hand and drying. The page shows a 2-year guarantee. Neither the listing nor the maker’s page names the material of the handle and body; only the sieve is stated as stainless steel.
Why we like it
- No need to peel the clove, per Kuhn Rikon
- Beveled holes cut garlic finely, per Kuhn Rikon
- Stainless sieve swings out for rinsing
- Dishwasher safe, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | 23092 |
|---|---|
| Type | Lever press |
| Material | Stainless steel sieve; body not stated |
| Size | 6.75 x 2.25 x 1.5 in, 0.27 lb (Kuhn Rikon) |
| Cleaning tool | Swing-out sieve |
| Dishwasher-safe | Yes (hand wash recommended) |
| Warranty | 2 years (Kuhn Rikon page) |
Why we recommend it
It suits cooks who press garlic most days, would rather not peel, and want a press that opens up to rinse clean quickly.
Skip it if you want an all-steel press; the body material is not stated, and the Rösle below is 18/10 stainless throughout.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No peeling needed
- Easy on the hands
- Rinses clean
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Body material not stated
- Shorter warranty than Zyliss or Rösle
- Made in China, per Kuhn Rikon’s US page
2. OXO Good Grips Garlic Press with Built-In Cleaner – Soft Handles, Flip-Over Cleaner
OXO’s press is built from die-cast zinc with soft, non-slip handles that OXO says absorb pressure to reduce strain when squeezing. The large chamber fits several cloves at once, and the hole pattern crushes the garlic through while leaving the skins behind, so the listing describes it as suited to unpeeled cloves.
The clever part is in the handle. Flip the top handle over and a built-in cleaner pushes leftover pulp and skins out of the holes, which is the job everyone hates about a garlic press. OXO lists it as dishwasher safe and backs it with a satisfaction guarantee.
Zinc is heavy and strong but is not stainless steel; OXO also sells a stainless version with a swing-out basket if you prefer an all-steel press.
Why we like it
- Built-in cleaner in the flip-over handle
- Large chamber for several cloves
- Soft, non-slip handles
- Dishwasher safe, per OXO
Key specifications
| Model | 11107400 |
|---|---|
| Type | Lever press |
| Material | Die-cast zinc, soft handles |
| Hopper size | Large, multiple cloves |
| Cleaning tool | Built into the handle |
| Dishwasher-safe | Yes |
| Warranty | Satisfaction guarantee |
Why we recommend it
It suits most home cooks: comfortable, easy to clean and reasonably priced.
Skip it if you want a press made entirely of stainless steel.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Cleaner always at hand
- Comfortable grip
- Handles unpeeled cloves
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Zinc, not steel
- Soft handles can wear over time
- No fixed warranty term
3. Zyliss Susi 3 Garlic Press – Five-Year Warranty and a Cleaning Tool
The Susi is Zyliss’s long-running press, and the Susi 3 is a lightweight aluminum version with a nonstick coating on the press and an integrated cleaning tool. Zyliss says its angled teeth push out the skins and extract all the garlic and juice, and that it takes one or several small, unpeeled cloves.
The nonstick coating helps pressed garlic release instead of clinging to the plate. Zyliss calls the press dishwasher safe but recommends hand washing, which makes sense for a coated part. The listing gives a five-year manufacturer warranty, the longest stated term among the lever presses here except Rösle.
The hopper is sized for small cloves; big cloves from an elephant-garlic head may need cutting in half first.
Why we like it
- Five-year manufacturer warranty
- Integrated cleaning tool
- Nonstick coating helps garlic release
- Takes small unpeeled cloves, per Zyliss
Key specifications
| Model | 12084 |
|---|---|
| Type | Lever press |
| Material | Aluminum, nonstick coating |
| Hopper size | One or several small cloves |
| Cleaning tool | Integrated |
| Dishwasher-safe | Yes (hand wash recommended) |
| Warranty | 5 years |
Why we recommend it
It suits cooks who want a light press with a long warranty and do not mind washing it by hand.
Skip it if you want to load big cloves or a whole head at once.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Long warranty
- Light
- Cleaning tool included
- No peeling for small cloves
Cons
- Smaller hopper
- Coating best washed by hand
- Aluminum is softer than steel
Press, rocker or knife: what each does to garlic
A knife cuts garlic into pieces. A press forces it through small holes, which breaks it down further into a wet paste with plenty of juice. That changes the flavor. Oregon State University’s Linus Pauling Institute explains that crushing or chopping garlic releases an enzyme, alliinase, that forms allicin, and that garlic’s sulfur compounds are thought to be responsible for its flavor and aroma. A press crushes far more of the clove than a knife, which is why cooks find pressed garlic sharper and stronger than the same clove sliced. In a raw salsa or guacamole, a pressed clove can dominate; in an adobo that simmers for an hour, it melts in.
A rocker sits between the two. You press a curved, perforated steel blade down over the clove and rock it, and the garlic comes up through the holes into the curve. Joseph Joseph describes it as crushing the cloves with a rocking motion; the result is closer to a press than a knife.
And for the deepest flavor of all, there is the mortar. Many cooks crush garlic with salt in a molcajete before adding chiles and tomatoes for salsa, which gives a smooth paste a press cannot match. A press is the faster everyday tool; the molcajete is for when the garlic is the point.
4. Joseph Joseph Garlic Rocker, Stainless Steel – One Piece, Nothing to Unclog
The Garlic Rocker is a single curved piece of stainless steel with a grid of holes. Place it over a clove on the board, press down and rock back and forth, and the crushed garlic comes up through the holes; then scoop it out of the curve and into the pan, as Joseph Joseph describes it.
With no hinge, no basket and no handles, there is nothing for garlic skins to wedge into, and Joseph Joseph lists it as dishwasher safe. The maker also says the stainless steel helps remove garlic odor from hands, the same idea as the steel soap bars sold for the purpose.
Joseph Joseph does not say on the listing whether to peel cloves first, and the rocker needs a cutting board and a little more effort than a lever press. It works one or two cloves at a time.
Why we like it
- One piece of stainless steel
- No hinge or basket to clean
- Dishwasher safe, per Joseph Joseph
- Stores flat in a drawer
Key specifications
| Model | 20138 |
|---|---|
| Type | Rocker |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Hopper size | None (works on the board) |
| Cleaning tool | None needed |
| Dishwasher-safe | Yes |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits cooks who have given up on presses because of cleaning, and anyone short on drawer space.
Skip it if you press a dozen cloves at a time; a lever press with a big hopper is faster.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Easiest to clean
- Compact
- All steel
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Slower for big batches
- Needs a board
- Peeling guidance not stated
5. Rösle Stainless Steel Garlic Press – 18/10 Steel with a Lifetime Promise
Rösle’s premium garlic press is a slim, German-designed press in 18/10 stainless steel. The listing says it minces even unpeeled cloves and that the mincing head flicks open for easy rinsing.
Rösle lists it as dishwasher safe, and the listing says Rösle offers a lifetime guarantee.
The listing does not give a hopper size, and there is no separate cleaning tool; the flick-open head is how you clear it. Rösle also sells a larger garlic and ginger press with a scraper, the 12895, if you press ginger as often as garlic.
Why we like it
- 18/10 stainless steel throughout
- Presses unpeeled cloves, per Rösle
- Mincing head flicks open for rinsing
- Lifetime guarantee, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | 12896 |
|---|---|
| Type | Lever press |
| Material | 18/10 stainless steel |
| Hopper size | Not stated |
| Cleaning tool | None; head flicks open |
| Dishwasher-safe | Yes |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
Why we recommend it
It suits cooks who want an all-steel press that will outlast the kitchen it is in.
Skip it if price matters most; the OXO does the job for much less.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Premium steel
- Lifetime guarantee
- No peeling needed
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Expensive
- Hopper size not stated
- No soft grip
6. Dreamfarm Garject Lite Garlic Press – Presses Unpeeled Cloves and Ejects the Skin
Dreamfarm, an Australian design company, built the Garject around not peeling garlic. Load several unpeeled cloves, press, then push the peel-eject button and the skin shoots out into the bin. When you open the press, a spring-loaded scraper wipes the garlic off the front of the grill and into your pan.
The Lite is the nylon version of the original zinc Garject, which was showing low stock when we checked. Dreamfarm lists it as dishwasher safe and BPA free, and says you can rinse it or put it in the dishwasher.
Dreamfarm’s warranty is two years on products bought from its own site; for purchases elsewhere, it directs claims to the retailer, and it excludes surface damage from dishwashers. Nylon will not have the heft of a steel press.
Why we like it
- Made for unpeeled cloves, per Dreamfarm
- Peel-eject button
- Spring-loaded scraper clears the grill
- Dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | DFGA5622 |
|---|---|
| Type | Lever press with peel ejector |
| Material | Nylon |
| Hopper size | Multiple cloves |
| Cleaning tool | Peel ejector and built-in scraper |
| Dishwasher-safe | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 years (dreamfarm.com purchases) |
Why we recommend it
It suits cooks who never want to peel or touch garlic, and anyone pressing a lot of cloves.
Skip it if you want a metal press; this version is nylon.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No peeling, no picking out skins
- Scrapes itself clean
- Several cloves at once
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Nylon, not metal
- More moving parts
- Warranty tied to buying direct
Do you need to peel garlic before pressing it?
Often not. Kuhn Rikon, OXO, Rösle, Zyliss, Dreamfarm and Alpha Grillers all say their presses take unpeeled cloves: the garlic squeezes through the holes and the papery skin stays behind in the basket. Zyliss limits that to small cloves, and Dreamfarm’s whole design is built around it.
There are two reasons you might still peel. Skins left in the basket are what make a press hard to clean, so a peeled clove leaves less to pick out. And a press gets more garlic out of a peeled clove, since none is left clinging to the inside of the skin. For a recipe that needs a lot of garlic, peel the whole head at once: break it into cloves, crush each lightly with the flat of a knife and the skins slip off.
7. Alpha Grillers Garlic Press – Budget Stainless Press with a Silicone Peeler
Alpha Grillers’ press is a stainless steel lever press with ergonomic handles and a large chamber that flips out for cleaning, so you can rinse it under the tap or put it in the dishwasher, according to the listing. The maker says it handles peeled and unpeeled cloves and works as a ginger press too.
It comes with a silicone garlic peeler, the tube you roll a clove in to loosen its skin. That is useful for recipes where you want peeled garlic, such as whole cloves for mojo de ajo.
The listing does not state a warranty term or the press’s weight. It is the least expensive steel press here, and a sensible first press for a kitchen that has never had one.
Why we like it
- Stainless steel construction, per the listing
- Chamber flips out for cleaning
- Silicone peeler included
- Dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | Stainless Steel Mincer and Crusher |
|---|---|
| Type | Lever press |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Hopper size | Large chamber |
| Cleaning tool | Flip-out chamber; silicone peeler included |
| Dishwasher-safe | Yes |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits a first kitchen, or anyone who wants a steel press and a peeler for little money.
Skip it if you want a stated warranty.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Low cost
- Peeler included
- Easy to rinse
- Presses ginger too
Cons
- No warranty term stated
- Less-known maker
- No built-in cleaner
8. Joseph Joseph Helix Twist-Action Garlic Press – Twist Instead of Squeeze
The Helix replaces the squeeze of a lever press with a twist. Load the cloves, turn the two halves against each other and the garlic is pushed through the grid. Joseph Joseph says the twisting action makes crushing garlic easier, which can matter for cooks with sore hands or a weaker grip.
It holds several cloves at once and is made of stainless steel and nylon. The two pieces come apart for cleaning and are dishwasher safe, and the listing describes the materials as BPA free and food safe. Joseph Joseph gives a one-year warranty against manufacturing defects.
It is bulkier than a lever press, and the nylon body will not feel as solid as steel.
Why we like it
- Twisting action instead of squeezing
- Several cloves at once
- Two-piece design comes apart for cleaning
- Dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | 20102 |
|---|---|
| Type | Twist press |
| Material | Stainless steel and nylon |
| Hopper size | Multiple cloves |
| Cleaning tool | None; separates in two |
| Dishwasher-safe | Yes |
| Warranty | 1 year (manufacturing defects) |
Why we recommend it
It suits cooks who find squeezing a press handle uncomfortable.
Skip it if drawer space is tight; it is chunkier than a lever press.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Less grip strength needed
- Comes apart
- Dishwasher safe
- Holds several cloves
Cons
- Bulky
- Peeling guidance not stated
- Short warranty
How to choose a garlic press
Cleaning comes first. A press that is hard to clean ends up in the back of the drawer. Look for a basket that swings or pulls out, a built-in cleaner like OXO’s, or a one-piece rocker.
Hopper size. If you make salsa, adobo or a big pot of beans, you want a hopper that takes several cloves at once. OXO, Dreamfarm and Alpha Grillers describe large chambers; Zyliss’s Susi 3 is sized for small cloves.
Material. Stainless steel lasts and goes in the dishwasher. Die-cast zinc and aluminum are strong but often coated. Nylon is light and gentle on the hands but less solid.
Hand strength. A longer lever or a twist mechanism makes pressing easier. Kuhn Rikon’s ergonomic lever and Joseph Joseph’s Helix are designed with this in mind.
Warranty. Terms vary widely, from Rösle’s lifetime guarantee and Zyliss’s five years to none stated at all.
How we chose these eight garlic tools
We looked at lever presses, rockers and twist presses from Kuhn Rikon, OXO, Zyliss, Joseph Joseph, Rösle, Dreamfarm, KitchenAid, Alpha Grillers, Chef’n and others, and kept only those showing as in stock on Amazon when we checked. We chose a mix of designs, materials and budgets. Specifications come from the Amazon listings and, where we could read them, the makers’ own pages (Kuhn Rikon, Joseph Joseph and Dreamfarm).
We have not used these presses for this guide. We did not read or rely on America’s Test Kitchen, Cook’s Illustrated, Consumer Reports, Serious Eats, Wirecutter or the New York Times, so we do not repeat their rankings.
Garlic press questions, answered
What is the best garlic press brand?
Kuhn Rikon for an all-round press you don’t have to peel for, OXO for value and easy cleaning, Rösle for a premium all-steel press, and Dreamfarm if you never want to peel. Look for a maker that states the material, the cleaning method and a warranty.
What is the most durable garlic press?
Look for solid stainless steel. Rösle’s 18/10 steel press carries a lifetime guarantee, per the listing. Kuhn Rikon does not state the body material of its Easy-Clean, only its stainless sieve.
Which garlic press do America’s Test Kitchen, Wirecutter and Serious Eats recommend?
We did not read or rely on their reviews for this guide, so we cannot speak for their picks. Our choices rest on maker specifications and listings.
Is a garlic rocker better than a garlic press?
A rocker is easier to clean and store; a lever press is faster for many cloves at once. Choose the rocker if cleaning puts you off, and a press if you cook with a lot of garlic.
Does pressed garlic taste different from chopped?
Usually, yes. Crushing releases the enzyme that forms allicin, according to Oregon State University’s Linus Pauling Institute, and a press crushes more of the clove than a knife does, so pressed garlic tends to taste sharper. Use less of it in raw salsas and guacamole.
Is a garlic press dishwasher safe?
Most here are, according to their makers, but rinse it straight after use; dried garlic is much harder to shift than fresh.
Our final pick for pressing garlic
Buy the Kuhn Rikon Easy-Clean if you want one press that skips the peeling and opens up to rinse, the OXO if you want a comfortable press with a cleaner built in, or the Joseph Joseph Rocker if cleaning has always been the problem. Use pressed garlic in the sauces covered in our guides to salsa roja and salsa verde and enchilada sauces.
Related guide: Best nut cracker for walnuts.
Related guide: Best garlic slicer.
Related guide: Garlic press alternative.
For the rest of the prep kit, see our guide to Mexican cooking tools. And if you would rather leave the garlic to our kitchen tonight, see the menu or call to order.