Oddbean new post about | logout
 Please treat your garlic with respect. Sliver it for pastas, Smash it with a flat of a knife blade, but please don't put it through a press. And for all that is holy, do not burn it. 
 Most of this, i learned the hard way. 
 I've been using a garlic press for a decade. Why is that bad? 
 what the hell is a garlic press 
 Press for garlic duh @5c508c34 😂 
 i'm trying to visualise it

im(press) me 
 i don't like presses because i am lazy with the clean-up 
 It's mostly a personal preference thing, but...

nostr:nevent1qqsxxndsk206djswlvdl0e9ljafp2ca5f8uz0gflykfcruktrq499fqpz3mhxw309akx7cmpd35x7um58g6rsd3e9upzq3xurskmnslm67lwjft7e66jhc7033qt4aak8arw266c5ycuwnctqvzqqqqqqyaa2f2n 
 Why no press?  If you don’t want to encounter large pieces of garlic in a smoother sauce, this seems like the best way. Unless you want to mince by hand, but that just seems like a longer way to get the same result. 
 Few reasons. First I might have read too much Anthony Bourdain when I first got into cooking. But after using one and not I have a few reasons.

Texture. If your making a smooth sauce thats gonna be Put the food processor or simmered into oblivion. It really doesn't matter what you do with the garlic. But for pasta And other dishes I prefer to have some sort of defined texture.

Flavor. It's probably the most intense garlic flavor you'll get from other methods of preparing garlic, which I guess is fine if you want hyper-intense garlic, but if you want something more mellow than using a garlic press isn't the way to go. Imo Microplains smashing it with a blade or hand chopping it,  helps you control the intensity of the garlic a little bit better.

I'm also a lazy bastard who hates cleaning the things and I also try not to keep too many one-use devices in my kitchen. Really, it does just come down to personal preferences. But I hate the fucking things. 😂 
 I fry them half-smashed with the skin on to avoid burns. Then take the skin off and dice them. 
 A mortar and pestle has its place. I wouldn't make pesto any other way. 
 same with curry paste.