Hate Peeling Garlic? These Easy Hacks Will Save You So Much Time
If you love garlicky recipes like shrimp scampi and garlic mashed potatoes, you're not alone. But what you probably don't love is peeling all those cloves. It's time-consuming and tedious, especially when you have a lot of garlic to peel (and if, like me, you often throw in some extra). Luckily, there are four easy hacks for peeling garlic that make the whole process a lot faster. Your garlic-laden dinner is not far away...
The Microwave Method
Take the entire garlic bulb and place it in the microwave for 20 to 30 seconds. Once it's cool enough to handle, the cloves should pop right out of their skins. While this method makes peeling much quicker, it slightly alters the texture of the garlic, making the cloves softer and more pliable. This might make them harder to grate finely for recipes like vinaigrettes or dips, but it's an effective hack if you're planning to chop the garlic or use the cloves whole.
The Slice 'N Smash
First, cut the stem end off an entire head of garlic and lay it flat side down. Lay the blade of a large chef's knife on top and, using the palm of your hand, carefully smack down on the blade. This will loosen the skin on every garlic bulb in the head and make them easier to peel.
"This one actually surprised me," says Delish contributing recipe developer Alessandra Ciuffo. "It was super quick to do. It was easy to peel the garlic and maintain the right texture."
The downside? You'll lose a bit of garlic from cutting off the stem.
Hot-Water Method
Another popular garlic-peeling method is to toss the cloves in a bowl of hot water. The soak helps loosen the garlic skins and tame a bit of the garlic’s bite. Soak your cloves while you prep the rest of your ingredients; dry them well; and, once cool enough to handle, the skins should come off more easily.
The Shake Hack
And last but not least is the shake hack, which turned out to be our favorite. Take a jar and add unpeeled cloves, making sure to screw the lid on top. Then, all you have to do is shake it for about 20 seconds. This hack does not alter the texture of the garlic and you won't lose any garlic in the process. This means more for your garlic bread and lemon garlic shrimp. We found that it works best for larger cloves or if you need to peel a large quantity of garlic.
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