7 Golden Tricks for Easily Peeling Garlic!

Friday, November 14, 2025

SAEDNEWS: Peeling Garlic Is Hard for Some, But These Clever Tricks Make It Easy

7 Golden Tricks for Easily Peeling Garlic!

According to the housekeeping service of Saed News, garlic is a flavorful and highly beneficial ingredient commonly used in many dishes. If you add a few cloves to your meal, you’ll immediately notice its taste. To start cooking with garlic, it’s important to know how to prepare it, and one of the key steps is peeling it.

How to Peel Garlic

Method 1: Using Your Hands
Place one garlic bulb under your palm and press down. Then separate the cloves from the root. You may use both hands if necessary, but be careful not to press too hard.

Put the peeled cloves aside and place the rest in a large bowl with a tight-fitting lid. Make sure there are no gaps. The bowl should be large enough for the garlic to move freely inside.

If your bowl has no lid, cover it with a plate and shake it vigorously for 20–30 seconds.

Check the garlic—you’ll see the skins have loosened. If not, shake a bit more. With additional shaking, the skins will easily separate, leaving the cloves fully peeled.

Method 2: Using a Knife
Place the garlic cloves flat-side down on a cutting board and cut off the top.

Be careful not to press too hard to avoid crushing the cloves, which could damage the garlic. If you want finely minced garlic, slight crushing doesn’t matter. Then, simply remove the peel.

Method 3: Gentle Crushing
Remove the thin outer layer of the garlic and separate the cloves. Place them on a cutting board and cover with a dry cloth to prevent them from flying. Gently tap the cloves with a hammer just enough to crack the skin without crushing the garlic. This makes peeling much easier.

Method 4: Knife Techniques
First, remove the papery outer skin and separate each clove from the bulb. Trim the hard brown base to make peeling easier.

  • Half-clove method: Slice the cloves in half lengthwise for easier peeling.

  • Smash method: Place the garlic on a cutting board with the larger, curved side facing you. Press the flat side of a knife firmly onto the clove with a quick tap until you hear a slight crunch. Then remove the peel. This method may take some practice to apply the right pressure.

Method 5: Soaking in Water
Cut the desired amount of garlic into cloves and soak them in cold water for 5 minutes. Water softens the skin, making it easier to peel. You can stir them with a whisk or shake them in a covered container. Remove from water, and the skins come off easily.

For even easier peeling, dip the cloves in boiling water for 2 minutes, then transfer to cold water before peeling.

Method 6: Garlic Peeling Tools
Various tools for peeling garlic are available on the market. Some are practical, while others aren’t cost-effective. Try different methods to see which is fastest and cleanest.

Some devices work like Method 1 by shaking the garlic to loosen the skins. Choose a tool that doesn’t crush or damage the cloves.

Method 7: Microwave Method
Place a garlic bulb in the microwave for 20 seconds. Let it cool, and then the skins will peel off easily.