A press turns garlic into a wet paste, and that’s fine for a marinade. Slices behave differently. They sit in warm oil and turn gold at the edges, which is what you want for a garlic soup, a mojo de ajo or a plate of shrimp. Cutting them by knife is slow when a recipe wants six cloves, and small cloves put your fingers close to the edge.
A garlic slicer is a tiny mandoline built for that one job. This guide covers seven from identifiable makers, sorted by how each one cuts and how it keeps fingers off the blade. We have not used them. The facts come from each maker’s listing, and we say where a listing is silent.
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Quick verdict: which garlic slicer to buy
Start with the OXO Good Grips Garlic Slicer: it does one job, keeps the clove in a food chamber as you swipe, and goes in the dishwasher. If you also want minced garlic, the Microplane Garlic Mincer and Slicer Set swaps blades and catches the cut garlic in a container. If a head of garlic at a time is normal in your kitchen, look at the Milk Street Garlic Pro.
Five garlic slicers side by side
Five of the seven, one for each kind of cook. All seven are covered in full below.
| Pick | Best for | How it cuts | Finger protection | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
OXO Good Grips Garlic SlicerBest overall
|
Slices and nothing else | Swipe over an angled blade | Food chamber | View on Amazon |
Microplane Garlic Mincer and Slicer SetBest for slicing and mincing
|
Sliced or minced garlic | Slide hopper over a blade | Lidded hopper | View on Amazon |
Milk Street Garlic ProBest for big batches
|
Big batches, three cuts | Snap-in slice, press, grate | Protective hopper | View on Amazon |
Cuisinart Garlic Slicer and GraterBest slicer and grater
|
Slicing and grating | Slice or grate side | Holder and pusher | View on Amazon |
HIC Kitchen Mini Garlic Grater SlicerBest small tool
|
A small drawer tool | Slide by hand | None stated | View on Amazon |
Our picks for the best garlic slicer, by how it cuts
1. OXO Good Grips Garlic Slicer – Thin Slices in a Food Chamber
This is the plainest answer to the question. You put a peeled clove in the food chamber and swipe it back and forth over an angled stainless steel blade, and OXO says it makes thin, even slices with every swipe. A textured ramp is there to stop the slices from sticking.
The chamber is the reason it’s first. OXO says it keeps the garlic contained and protects your hands, which matters most as the clove gets small, the moment a knife or an open slicer gets risky. For storage, the food holder snaps over the blade, so the edge isn’t loose in a drawer.
One note on the listing. Its title also uses the words garlic press and grater, but the features OXO lists describe slicing only. Treat this as a slicer and keep your press.
Why we like it
- A food chamber holds the clove
- The holder snaps over the blade for storage
- Soft, non-slip handle
- Dishwasher safe, per OXO
Key specifications
| Model | 11178600 |
|---|---|
| Cuts | Slices |
| Action | Swipe by hand |
| Blade | Angled stainless steel |
| Finger protection | Food chamber |
| Size | Not stated |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone who cooks with sliced garlic often and wants a single tool that’s quick to clean. It’s sold by Amazon and comes from a maker that’s easy to reach.
Skip it if you want a mince or a paste from the same tool. The Microplane set below covers both.
Pros and cons
Pros
- One clear job
- Chamber keeps fingers away from the blade
- Stores with the blade covered
Cons
- Slices only
- Small batches at a time
- No thickness setting mentioned
2. Microplane Garlic Mincer and Slicer Set – Two Blades, One Container
Microplane is best known for its graters, and this set applies those blades to garlic. You drop peeled cloves in the hopper, put the lid on, and move the top and bottom back and forth across a blade sitting over a clear container. The cut garlic falls into the container below.
There are two blades that pop in and out. The single slicing blade gives thin slices, and the mincing blade with grater teeth gives fine strands. A small scraper fits the container and clears out what’s left, so you don’t handle the garlic much.
Microplane says the surgical-grade stainless steel blades are made in the USA. The set is top-rack dishwasher safe, but the small scraper could get lost in there, so Microplane suggests a closed utensil basket or hand washing.
Why we like it
- Sliced or minced from one set
- Blades made in the USA, per Microplane
- Container catches the garlic
- Scraper keeps the smell off your hands
Key specifications
| Model | 48048 |
|---|---|
| Cuts | Slices and fine strands |
| Action | Slide hopper across the blade |
| Blade | Stainless steel, interchangeable |
| Finger protection | Lidded hopper |
| Size | Not stated |
| Dishwasher safe | Top rack |
| Made in | Blades in the USA |
Why we recommend it
It suits a cook who needs both cuts in a week and doesn’t want a slicer and a press in the same drawer. It’s also the pick here with the clearest statement of where the blades come from.
Skip it if you only ever slice. It has more parts to wash than the OXO.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Two cuts
- Garlic stays contained
- Plain maker information on care
Cons
- Several small parts
- Small scraper is easy to lose
- Size isn’t on the listing
3. Milk Street Garlic Pro – Slice, Press or Grate a Whole Head
This comes from Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street, the cooking media company, and it’s the biggest tool on the page. Three snap-in attachments give sliced, pressed or grated garlic, and a protective hopper keeps your fingers away as you work.
The base is what sets it apart. Milk Street says the polycarbonate base holds more than a whole head of garlic and calls it odor-proof storage, so you can carry the garlic to the skillet without touching it. For a big pot of salsa or a batch of mojo, that’s useful.
The materials are steel, silicone and polycarbonate. The listing doesn’t give dishwasher guidance, so plan on washing it by hand until you’ve read the box.
Why we like it
- Three cutting attachments
- Base holds more than a head of garlic, per the maker
- Hopper guards your fingers
- Base stores the leftovers
Key specifications
| Model | MSGARMIN |
|---|---|
| Cuts | Slices, pressed, grated |
| Action | Snap-in attachments, hopper |
| Blade | Steel attachments |
| Finger protection | Protective hopper |
| Size | 6 x 2 x 4 in |
| Dishwasher safe | Not stated |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits someone who goes through garlic by the head, or who wants all three cuts and a place to keep them. It’s a kit more than a gadget.
Skip it if your drawers are small or you use a clove or two at a time.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Most cuts on the page
- Good capacity
- Odor-proof storage, per the maker
Cons
- Bulkiest pick here
- Care isn’t stated on the listing
- More to clean for one clove
4. Cuisinart Garlic Slicer and Grater – Two Cuts With a Non-Slip Base
Cuisinart’s small tool has two cutting options, slice or grate, with stainless steel blades. It’s made for garlic, and the listing also names ginger, radish and nutmeg, so it can do some other small jobs on the same counter.
A food holder and pusher keep your fingers off the blades. The blade cover protects the edge in storage, and the non-slip base holds the tool still while you work, which helps because small cloves don’t give you much to grip.
The listing is short. It doesn’t give dimensions or say whether the tool is dishwasher safe, so we’re leaving those as not stated.
Why we like it
- Slice or grate
- Holder and pusher included
- Non-slip base
- Blade cover for storage
Key specifications
| Model | CTG-00-GS |
|---|---|
| Cuts | Slices, grated |
| Action | Slide using the pusher |
| Blade | Stainless steel |
| Finger protection | Holder and pusher |
| Size | Not stated |
| Dishwasher safe | Not stated |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits a home cook who wants a little more than a slicer, and who likes a tool that sits on the board rather than being held in the air.
Skip it if you want full care details before you buy. The listing doesn’t include them.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Two cuts from one tool
- Stable base
- Sold by Amazon
Cons
- Sparse listing
- No minced option
- Size not stated
5. Leifheit Gourmet Garlic Slicer – Twist to Slice, Lid to Store
Leifheit, a German housewares brand, takes a different approach. You twist rather than swipe. The listing describes a twist-to-slice design with polished steel blades, and a sealable lid that keeps what you’ve cut fresh.
That lid is handy if you slice a bit more than you need. The listing also names ginger, cheese and chocolate as foods this slicer can take. It’s listed at about 5.3 inches tall and 2.75 inches wide, so it’s compact.
The body is ABS plastic, and the title lists it as dishwasher safe. It’s sold through a third-party seller rather than Amazon or Leifheit, which is worth a look before you buy.
Why we like it
- Twist action, no swiping
- Sealable lid
- Also names ginger, cheese and chocolate
- Dishwasher safe, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | 3046 |
|---|---|
| Cuts | Slices |
| Action | Twist |
| Blade | Polished steel |
| Finger protection | Not stated |
| Size | 5.31 x 2.75 in |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits a cook who finds a back-and-forth swipe awkward, or who wants to slice ahead and keep a bit of garlic in the fridge.
Skip it if you want to buy directly from Amazon or from the maker. This listing is a third-party offer.
Pros and cons
Pros
- A different action some hands may prefer
- Sealable lid for what you cut
- Compact
Cons
- Third-party seller
- Thickness isn’t stated
- Plastic body
6. Fante’s Garlic Slicer Grater – Paper-Thin Slices or a Paste
The Fante’s name comes from an Italian Market shop, and the listing dates it to 1906. This stainless steel tool has a hopper and a handle. You place peeled garlic in the hopper and slide it along either the blade or the grater, and the listing promises paper-thin slivers or a fine paste.
A removable sliding pusher plate does the pushing, so your hand stays clear and doesn’t pick up the smell. At 8.75 by 2.25 inches, it’s longer than most tools here, and the handle sets it at an angle for the slide.
The listing calls it dishwasher safe and suggests a gentle brush for stubborn bits, which is a fair warning for any grater.
Why we like it
- Stainless steel with a handle
- Slices or grates
- Removable pusher plate
- Dishwasher safe, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | 45845 |
|---|---|
| Cuts | Slices and paste |
| Action | Slide along the blade |
| Blade | Stainless steel |
| Finger protection | Sliding pusher plate |
| Size | 8.75 x 2.25 in |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits someone who prefers a metal tool, and who’s fine with a long handled slicer over a compact one.
Skip it if your utensil drawer is shallow or crowded. It’s among the longest here.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Metal build
- Two cuts
- Pusher keeps hands clean
Cons
- Long for its job
- Third-party seller
- Bits can stick in the grater
7. HIC Kitchen Mini Garlic Grater Slicer – A Tiny Tool for a Clove or Two
This is the entry point in the group. It’s a stainless steel plate with a plastic handle, about 3 by 1.4 by 1.1 inches, and you slide the food up and down against the blade textures to slice, grate coarse or fine, or shred it to a fine paste.
It’s small enough to live in any drawer, and it’s named for garlic, ginger and nutmeg. What you give up against the other picks is the guard. The listing mentions no pusher or chamber, so a small clove brings your fingers close to the teeth. Stop before the clove gets too small, and use the end for something else.
HIC says to hand wash it in warm, soapy water and to clear stubborn bits with a gentle brush.
Why we like it
- Very compact
- Several textures on one plate
- Named for garlic, ginger and nutmeg
- Simple to understand
Key specifications
| Model | 93194 |
|---|---|
| Cuts | Slices, coarse and fine grate, paste |
| Action | Slide by hand |
| Blade | Stainless steel |
| Finger protection | None stated |
| Size | 3 x 1.375 x 1.125 in |
| Dishwasher safe | No, hand wash |
| Made in | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits a cook who rarely needs sliced garlic and wants the smallest possible tool for it.
Skip it if you slice garlic often or worry about your knuckles. A chamber or pusher is worth having.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Takes almost no room
- Several cuts
- Simple build
Cons
- No finger guard stated
- Hand wash only
- Hard to use on a small clove
How to choose a garlic slicer for your kitchen
Finger protection comes first
A clove is small, and it gets smaller with every pass. A chamber or a pusher keeps fingers off the blade to the end. A bare plate doesn’t, so with one of those you stop early.
Decide which cuts you’ll use
If you only want slices, buy a slicer. If you need a mince a few days a week, a tool with two blades can replace your press. Our garlic press guide covers the crushed side of this in more detail.
Count the cloves you cut at once
One or two cloves is an OXO job. A head of garlic at a time asks for a bigger hopper, such as the Milk Street, so you aren’t loading it again and again.
Check the care details
Garlic sticks to small teeth. Choose something you’ll clean right away, and look for dishwasher guidance. Some listings state it and some don’t, and we’ve marked which is which.
Think about storage
A sharp little blade loose in a drawer is a hazard. A cover, sheath or snap-on holder solves that. Several of these have one, though the HIC listing doesn’t mention it.
How we picked these seven garlic slicers
We started from Amazon listings and kept tools from identifiable makers that say they slice garlic and were in stock with a new offer. We read each maker’s features, including what’s missing. We looked for an independent comparison of garlic slicers and did not find one we could stand on, so these picks rest on the listings and maker details, not on a named review. We have not tested them ourselves.
We left out dual-chamber press and slicer tools from thin, online-only brands, and we left out a strip-cutting press because strips aren’t slices. A plain garlic mincer is a different tool, so it isn’t here either.
Garlic slicing questions, answered
What’s the difference between a garlic slicer and a press?
A slicer shaves a clove into flat pieces with a blade. A press pushes it through small holes into a wet mash. For cooking in oil, slices are easier to watch and to keep from burning, because the pieces are even.
Do I need to peel the garlic first?
For the tools here, assume yes. The Microplane and Fante’s listings both say to use peeled cloves.
Can a garlic slicer handle ginger?
Several listings here say so, including Cuisinart, Leifheit and HIC. Ginger is fibrous, so peel it and go slowly.
How do I get the smell off the slicer?
Rinse it right after using it, since dried garlic is harder to remove. Follow the maker’s care guidance, and use a small brush for the teeth.
How thin are the slices?
Most of these listings say thin or paper-thin without a number. If thickness matters to you, check the box.
Our final pick for sliced garlic
Buy the OXO Good Grips Garlic Slicer if you just want good slices and safe fingers. Choose the Microplane set if you also mince, and the Milk Street if you cook garlic by the head. For the crushed side of things, see our garlic press picks, and for bigger vegetables, our mandoline slicer guide. Curious how garlic fits into our cooking? Read about Mexican cooking methods, or call to order from Julia’s menu and leave the slicing to us.