How to Peel Garlic Quickly

Co-authored by Vanna Tran

Last Updated: September 22, 2022 References

Garlic skins can be rough on hands, and they are too small for a traditional peeler. Luckily there are several ways to peel garlic quickly. Cooks who need to peel garlic quickly and keep a fast pace in the kitchen can use the shaking method for large batches, or a special silicone peeler for a couple cloves at a time. With a little practice, you can even remove peels with the flat of a chef's knife.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Shaking Garlic

1
Separate an entire bulb of garlic. This trick is very fast once you get the hang of it, but it does not work with a single clove.^{[1]
X
Research source} Set a bulb of garlic on your counter with the tip of the shoots facing up. Strike the heel of your hand against the top of the bulb, and the cloves should separate easily.
- If your hands are sensitive or the clove is particularly dry, hit a hard bowl against the top of the clove instead.
- Set a few aside if you don't plan to use them all.
2
Place your garlic cloves between two metal or ceramic bowls. Cover the bowl with a lid or another, upside-down bowl. Alternatively, you can place your cloves inside an old, sturdy plastic bottle and screw the top tightly.
- Small to medium bowls work best. The cloves need to bang against each other to shake off their skin.
Advertisement
3
Shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Make sure you hear the garlic slamming against the sides of the container.^{[2]
X
Research source}
4
Separate your bowls or open your bottle. Pour out the garlic cloves and the skins. They should be fully peeled. If some of your cloves are only partially peeled, shake them for a few more seconds as hard as you can.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Smashing with a Flat Knife

1
Place the flat side of a chef's knife over the garlic clove. Do this on a flat, stable surface. Make sure to face the sharp edge of the blade away from you.
2
Press with your palm to smash the clove quickly and carefully. Place your outstretched palm over the blade, then push downward with a quick, light blow. The goal here isn’t to completely pulverize the garlic clove, but rather to break apart the peel from the rest of the garlic. You can learn to do this very quickly with practice, but don't get careless with your fingers.
3
Remove the knife and finish the peeling process by hand. The peel should now separate easily from the rest of the garlic.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using a Silicone Peeler

1
Purchase a silicone garlic peeler at a kitchen supply store or box store. This tool usually costs between $2 and $5. Most peelers are a small silicone cylinder, while some are a flat sheet that you roll up yourself.
2
Separate garlic cloves from the bulb. Remove them from the outer edge first. If you plan to use all the cloves, separate the whole bulb with force from the heel of your hand.
3
Insert the cloves into the tube. Place the tube on the cutting board to catch the skins. If you are using a flat sheet peeler, roll the cloves up inside the rubber sheet and hold it so it doesn’t unravel.
4
Roll the heel of your hand against the top of the tube. Repeat until you have rolled each section of the tube that contains garlic. Apply a good amount of pressure.
- The silicone barrier will protect your hands from the rough garlic.
5
Turn the garlic peeler sideways and dump out your peeled garlic cloves. If using a flat garlic peeler, just unroll it. Discard the skins.^{[3]
X
Research source}

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you get garlic smell off your hands?

Vanna Tran
Experienced Cook
Vanna Tran is a home cook who started cooking with her mother at a very young age. She has catered events and hosted pop-up dinners in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 5 years.

Vanna Tran

Experienced Cook

Expert Answer

To get rid of the garlic smell, wash your hands through cool running water and rub your hands on something that's stainless steel (a spoon, a pan, or even your kitchen sink works!).
Question

How do you crush garlic?

Community Answer

Chop the peeled garlic finely, sprinkle on a little salt, and crush with the flat of a chef's knife. The salt crystals help break apart the garlic. You can use a garlic press instead.
Question

Is the peeled garlic directly used for cooking, or it should undergo any other steps?

Community Answer

The peeled garlic can be directly used in cooking; you can freeze any that goes unused.