How to Peel Garlic Quickly

Although it may sound a bit strange, all you need to peel garlic quickly is two bowls. You can peel several cloves at once using this method. While peeling each clove individually is another option, it's not necessary unless you have particularly difficult garlic to peel.

Separate the garlic into cloves. Place the garlic bulb on a cutting board. Press down quickly with the part of your wrist just below the hand. This method helps break the garlic bulb into cloves.

• This step causes the garlic cloves to scatter around. If there’s nothing to stop them from falling out, you might want to use a different method: cut the top of the bulb and gently separate the cloves.
• You can use this technique to separate as many bulbs as you want, as long as they fit in the bowl.

Prepare two bowls. These bowls need to fit perfectly when inverted. To achieve this, choose one bowl larger than the other, or two similar bowls with wide openings for easier nesting. Although metal bowls are more durable and easier to shake, any material will work. The garlic cloves will knock against each other and naturally peel during the shaking process.

• You can also use a cup, jar, lightweight pan, cocktail shaker, or any other solid, easy-to-hold, and easy-to-clean container.

Shake the garlic in the bowls. Place the garlic cloves in one bowl. Invert the other bowl and place it on top of the first one. Hold both bowls firmly and shake vigorously. Typically, shaking 10 to 15 times will be sufficient.

Observe the garlic. Larger white garlic bulbs are typically fully peeled. Fresh garlic or purple garlic varieties may need more shaking.

Smash each garlic clove with a knife. Separate the garlic bulb into cloves or cut off the top of the bulb with a knife and remove the cloves. Place the broad side of the knife blade on each garlic clove. Use your wrist to press down firmly on the knife blade. The garlic cloves will be crushed and separated from their skins. Now you can chop the garlic or add it to your mixture.

• If you don’t have a large knife, you can place the heel of your hand over the garlic clove and press firmly.

Use your two fingers to peel the garlic cloves. While this method is not as effective as the previous ones, it works well when you want to peel garlic cloves without crushing them. Simply hold the garlic clove between your thumb and index finger and pinch to peel the skin off quickly.

• This method works best for garlic cloves with thin skins.

Buy a rubber or garlic peeling tool. Rubber or silicone tubes are typically affordable and easy to use. Just place the garlic inside the rubber tube and roll it on a flat surface to instantly peel the skin off.

• You can also buy rubber or silicone sheets and roll them into tubes yourself. This is a space-saving solution for your kitchen since they can also be used as bottle openers or anti-slip mats.

Use a garlic press. This tool crushes the garlic cloves through small holes, pressing out the garlic and leaving the skin behind. Some chefs avoid this tool because it serves only one purpose in the kitchen. However, a garlic press can save a lot of time if you're not as skilled at chopping garlic quickly like a professional chef.

• After using this tool, be sure to clean it thoroughly.