Just spent 2 years peeling garlic wrong until my aunt laughed at me at Thanksgiving

I was cutting the root end off with a knife and pulling off the skin piece by piece. She showed me you just smash it with the flat of the blade and it slips right off in 2 seconds. How many hours of my life did I waste on this?

2 comments

2 Comments

rivera.susan3d ago

Just wanted to say it works even better if you peel off a bit of the loose papery skin first before you smash it. That way the skin doesn't get crushed into the garlic and stick to your fingers. Also make sure the clove is sitting flat on the board so the smash goes clean through.

sullivan.elliot3d agoTop Commenter

I mean I get what you're saying @rivera.susan but is this really something that needs that much technique? Like you're smashing garlic not performing surgery. I've done it both ways with the skin on and off and honestly I can't tell the difference when it hits the pan. The skin comes off easy enough after you smash it anyway. Plus half the time I'm just chopping it fine instead of smashing it if I want it to dissolve into the oil. Feels like we're overthinking a clove of garlic here. But hey if it works for you then keep at it I guess.