Garlic press that does not leave sticky cloves in the hopper

A garlic press should give you a paste, not a clogged hopper. If cloves stick, the problem is usually wet skins, too much clove at once, or a hopper you never rinse.

Peel first, then press

Leave the papery skin on and it packs into the holes. Smash the clove with the side of a knife, peel, then load one or two cloves. A rocker-style press is easier to scrape than a long plunger if your hands get tired.

Rinse before it dries

Garlic gums up as it dries. Run water through the hopper right after you press, then use a brush or the back of a spoon. Do not soak a press with glued-on handles overnight.

What to keep in the drawer

On Linen & Ladle we stock a rocker garlic press next to herb scissors and a box grater. Use the press for sauces and dressings. Use scissors for herbs you want in strips, not paste.

If the holes still clog after a rinse, the grate is packed. Clear it from the back, not by forcing more cloves through.