Who needs a garlic peeler anyway? I do!
8.12.2022
Translation: Christine Duranza
Peeling garlic is not exactly what most people would call a fun time in the kitchen. At least, I wouldn’t. But that was before I came across a strange silicone object that turned out to be a garlic peeler.
«What the heck is that?» I asked my wife when I spotted a green, cylinder-shaped piece of silicone in the kitchen.
My gaze drifted – no, darted – across the counter. I was desperately trying to figure out the purpose of this strange tube. Maybe it would help me open a tightly sealed jam jar? Or perhaps it was for wiping dusty surfaces? But it could also easily be a food puzzle for cats. My imagination was beginning to let loose.
Source: Luca Fontana
«Well, it’s a garlic peeler,» said my wife – as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. I was bewildered. I had certainly not been expecting that to be the answer.
This garlic peeler is a rolling wonder
A garlic peeler, eh? I had no idea such a thing even existed. Or would be of any use. Because if I want to peel garlic, I’ll take a clove, place it on the cutting board, and press down with the flat side of a knife until it softly pops – the sign that the skin has come off the clove. At times it works better than others. A slightly squashed clove is acceptable collateral damage; it’s about to be chopped up anyway.
So what’s the point of a garlic peeler? Yes, it does exactly the same thing as a knife. But it does it faster. And more efficiently. With a dash of sophistication. And using it is infinitely more enjoyable than just crushing the poor clove. How does it work? Put a clove of garlic in the tube and roll it between the palms of your hands. Voilà – the skin comes off as if by magic because the inside of the tube is extremely sticky.
Perfectly peeled garlic cloves, ready for a savoury sugo. Video: Luca Fontana
To clean the peeler, I briefly rinse it off. Just a heads-up: once I put it in the dishwasher and after that, the inside of the silicone tube no longer «stuck» properly; the peeler was ruined. So wash it only by hand. It’ll take less than ten seconds anyway.
Luca Fontana
Senior Editor
Luca.Fontana@digitecgalaxus.chI'm an outdoorsy guy and enjoy sports that push me to the limit – now that’s what I call comfort zone! But I'm also about curling up in an armchair with books about ugly intrigue and sinister kingkillers. Being an avid cinema-goer, I’ve been known to rave about film scores for hours on end. I’ve always wanted to say: «I am Groot.»