Garlic presses have long been dismissed as a one-time-use kitchen gadget notorious for being hard to clean. Criticisms abound that garlic pressed through these devices tastes more severe than those minced by a knife. Even famed culinary personalities like Anthony Bourdain have labeled them as a "blight" in his acclaimed book "Kitchen Confidential".

However, there's another side to the garlic press saga. These devices are, in reality, huge time savers, especially when you're cooking recipes requiring substantial amounts of minced garlic. As per Loryn Nalic, chef and co-owner of Balkan Treat Box in Webster Groves, Missouri, "If individuals are daunted by the cooking process and tools like that ease their struggles, why not? I'm all in for making people feel confident to cook, because everyone can cook.”

We set out to uncover the most effective garlic presses, spending numerous hours testing 13 highly-rated ones available in the market. The criteria primarily focused on their efficiency and ease of cleaning. Our top picks may have you rethinking if a garlic press deserves space in your kitchen.

Our top choice has a cleaning feature and works well with both peeled and unpeeled garlic, as well as ginger. The ergonomically designed, lightweight stainless steel garlic press comes with a built-in cleaning tool that pushes out any leftover crushed garlic. It can comfortably handle up to three cloves at a time and delivers a fine, uniform mince. This versatile garlic press was engineered to be user-friendly, with a cleaning tool attached to the handle so you won't misplace it.

Several other models stood out as well. These included presses specially designed for easy cleaning, featuring dishwasher-safe parts and built-in brushes. Other models scored high on comfort, thanks to their silicone handles, while others boasted high capacity hoppers that can accommodate up to four cloves at one time!

The CleanForce Garlic Press from Joseph Joseph, despite its lower price tag, went toe-to-toe with some expensive alternatives on the market. It featured a trigger-operated wiper to remove crushed garlic and a cleaning tool to pull out any minced garlic trapped in its crevices.

The Kuhn Rikon Epicurean Garlic Press, although not equipped with a cleaning tool, earned praise for its finely minced garlic output and an easy-to-clean design. It's a favorite of chef Richard Sandoval of Richard Sandoval Hospitality, who commends its straightforward, sturdy construction that also makes cleaning a breeze.

Diverting from the traditional, the NexTrend twister-style garlic press can handle everything from ginger and chili peppers to nuts and other herbs. Despite its unusual method, which doesn't work with unpeeled cloves, the resulting minced garlic was easy to remove from its teeth with a simple twist.

By the end, we singled out the Zyliss Susi 3 Garlic Press as the top performer. This classic, budget-friendly option, efficiently works with both peeled and unpeeled garlic, delivering a fine, even mince with minimal effort, thanks to its ergonomic handles. The press's built-in cleaning gizmo makes it easy to rid the device of residual garlic, and since it’s embedded in the handle, it’s less probable to lose it amidst your kitchen supplies.

Garlic presses, in general, vary in design from classic presses to rockers and twisters. While the traditional variant requires adequate wrist strength, a rocker employs downward pressure, and a twister utilizes two parts with inside teeth ground the garlic as you twist them together. Such features need to be taken into account when choosing the garlic press that best fits your kitchen routine.

While garlic presses are not as indispensable as other kitchen tools, many cooks consider them a godsend when it comes to saving time. A garlic press is a huge timesaver when you are preparing dishes that require lots of minced garlic. For those hesitant in the kitchen or still fine-tuning their knife skills, a garlic press can be a source of confidence. Some people might even use the garlic press to crush other ingredients such as ginger or nuts.