I cook with garlic all. the. time. In pasta, in quiche, in cheeseballs…garlic bread, garlic butter fries, garlic mashed potatoes. If it’s got garlic in it, you can pretty much guarantee I’m having seconds.
The peeling of the garlic cloves is always kind of a pain, though, right? Smashing the clove with the side of a knife will loosen the skin, but then you have a smashed clove, and that’s not always ideal for what you’re using it for. And if you don’t smash it, you have to use your fingernails to peel off that paper-thin layer that may as well be superglued for how easy it comes off. (And then your fingers smell like garlic.)
I was intrigued by this video that went around showing how to peel a head of garlic in 10 seconds:
I’m going to give you my honest assessment of this. My first thought was, that’s awesome! I need to do that forever now! And my second thought was, my bowls aren’t like that. And to wash two huge bowls afterwards, just for some peeled garlic? It kind of defeats the purpose of making this easy. (Yes, I’m the laziest. I already know that.)
But I kept thinking though, because there had to be a way to use this new magical garlic peeling knowledge.
And there was.
I introduce to you, my brand new (fairly unconventional) way to peel garlic…that’s just as easy as the bowl method, and has fewer dishes to clean afterwards.
You will need: a cocktail shaker. (Yes, that thing you only use for one activity in the kitchen? We’re about to make that sucker a multitasker.)
Separate the cloves and put them in the shaker. Put on the lid, and shake that thing like a salt shaker. (I’m serious. Shake it like you mean it.)
After 10 seconds, pop it open, and you’ll be able to easily separate the peeled garlic cloves from their papery skins.
Pop the shaker parts in the dishwasher to rid them of the smell, then recommence cooking.
Easy-peasy, right? And we are further legitimizing our cocktail shakers, which can’t possibly bad.
Ten extra points if you listen to this while you’re cooking. (And shake it like a polaroid picture!)
