Written by Sara Ibrahim. Sara researches home and kitchen products for Cupindy.
Published November 2026 · Last reviewed 6 Nov 2026 · Cupindy is not affiliated with any brand on this page.
The short answer
Get the Kuhn Rikon Epicurean if you want a press made of solid stainless steel. Of the four here, it is the only one sold that way. The OXO is zinc and the Zyliss is coated aluminum. The cheap Zulay works, but Zulay's own site does not say what metal it is, so treat it gently. The OXO is the quickest to clean, and the Zyliss is the lightest to hold.
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Our quick picks
Budget pick
Zulay Kitchen Metal Garlic Press
A plain metal press with soft handles. It comes with a small brush for the holes and a silicone tube that peels a clove when you roll it.
See the Zulay press on AmazonThe drawback: its Amazon page says stainless steel, but Zulay's own site does not name the metal.
Best overall
Kuhn Rikon Epicurean Garlic Press
Solid stainless steel, with a sieve that pulls out for rinsing. America's Test Kitchen has picked it as its favorite press for years.
See the Kuhn Rikon on AmazonThe drawback: it costs two to six times as much as the others here.
Easiest to clean
OXO Good Grips Garlic Press
Flip the top handle over and a row of pins pushes the leftover pulp out of the holes. OXO says it can go in the dishwasher.
See the OXO press on AmazonThe drawback: it is die-cast zinc, not stainless, and the heaviest press here.
Lightest
Zyliss Susi 3 Garlic Press
Cast aluminum, so it weighs less than half as much as the OXO. A cleaning tool clips into the handle.
See the Zyliss Susi 3 on AmazonThe drawback: the nonstick coating can scratch, and Zyliss gives two answers on the dishwasher.
What each press is made of and how to wash it comes from the maker's own copy or, where we say so, from another listing, all read 6 Nov 2026. When the sources disagree, we show both.
What your garlic press is actually made of
Metal garlic presses are usually stainless steel, zinc alloy or aluminum. Zinc and aluminum presses often have a plating or a coating on top, and that layer is the part that wears. Stainless steel has no layer to wear off.
The box won't tell you. "Metal" and "rust proof" say nothing about what is underneath. Of the four presses here, only the Kuhn Rikon is sold as solid stainless steel. OXO is zinc, Zyliss is coated aluminum, and Zulay's own site does not name the metal.
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| Press | Made of (maker or listing) | Dishwasher rule | How you clean the holes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zulay (budget) | Amazon page: stainless steel. Zulay's own site: "food-grade, rust-resistant construction," no metal named | Dishwasher safe; rinse right after use | Small brush in the box | See it |
| Kuhn Rikon Epicurean | Stainless steel | Dishwasher safe; hand wash and air dry recommended | Sieve pulls out to rinse | See it |
| OXO Good Grips | Die-cast zinc | Rinse, or put it in the dishwasher | Flip the handle: built-in cleaner | See it |
| Zyliss Susi 3 | Aluminum with a nonstick coating Zyliss calls Ilaflon | Care section: dishwasher safe. FAQ: no, hand wash | Cleaning tool stored in the handle | See it |
Stainless, zinc or aluminum: which to pick
- Stainless steel is the one to get if you want to stop thinking about care. Nothing is plated or coated, so there is no finish to protect. It also costs the most.
- Zinc alloy is what many cheaper presses are cast from. It is heavy and strong, and it is often plated to give it that shine. Be gentle with the plating and dry the press after washing.
- Aluminum is light, which helps if a heavy tool tires your hand. It needs a coating to stop garlic sticking, and a coating can scratch. In America's Test Kitchen's review, the Zyliss coating scratched under a paring knife.
The dishwasher question
All four makers call their press dishwasher safe somewhere, but the care notes add a few catches. Kuhn Rikon says its press is dishwasher safe but recommends hand washing and air drying. Zyliss says dishwasher safe in its care notes, then says no in its own FAQ, to protect the aluminum. Zulay asks you to rinse the press right after use so the pulp does not dry hard in the holes.
The best garlic press for each kind of cook
Pick the one that fits how you cook.
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If you want one press for the long haul
Best all-stainless pick
Kuhn Rikon Epicurean Garlic Press
Good for: anyone who presses garlic most days and wants no plating or coating to wear off.
Why we picked it: The Epicurean is solid stainless steel, and the sieve pulls out so you can rinse the skins and pulp straight off. Kuhn Rikon says the holes are beveled to cut the garlic finely, the hopper is extra large, and the long lever cuts hand strain by up to 60%. America's Test Kitchen (ATK) has named it its top garlic press for years.
What to know: You can press cloves with or without the skin. It weighs about 11 oz (313 g) and comes with a 2-year warranty.
The drawback: it costs two to six times as much as the others here. In ATK's review, garlic sometimes squished up around the plunger when several cloves went in, and the reviewers pinched their fingers between the handles a couple of times.
See the Kuhn Rikon on AmazonIf you hate picking garlic out of the holes
Easiest to clean
OXO Good Grips Garlic Press
Good for: people who press garlic every night and want cleanup over in seconds.
Why we picked it: Flip the top handle over and a set of pins lines up with the holes and pushes out whatever is left. OXO says you can rinse it or put it in the dishwasher, and the soft handles take some of the strain out of the squeeze.
What to know: OXO builds it from die-cast zinc, not stainless steel. It weighs about 12.8 oz (363 g).
The drawback: it is not stainless steel, and it is the heaviest press here. ATK's reviewers also found the hinged arms on OXO's presses felt loose and swung around while they loaded cloves.
See the OXO press on AmazonIf you want a cheap garlic crusher that works
Budget pick
Zulay Kitchen Metal Garlic Press
Good for: a first press, or a kitchen that uses garlic now and then.
Why we picked it: Zulay says the small studs inside push more garlic through each hole, and that the skins stay behind in the chamber. You get a little brush for the holes and a silicone tube that peels a clove when you roll it.
What to know: Zulay says it can go in the dishwasher and gives it a lifetime warranty. It weighs about 8.4 oz (238 g).
The drawback: we could not confirm the metal. The Amazon page lists stainless steel, but on Zulay's own site the same press (same barcode) is described only as food-grade and rust resistant, while two other Zulay presses there are labeled stainless steel. We would not count on it being stainless. There is also no built-in cleaner, so you clear the holes with the brush.
See the Zulay press on AmazonIf a heavy press tires your hands
Lightest pick
Zyliss Susi 3 Garlic Press
Good for: anyone who finds a heavy press tiring to hold.
Why we picked it: Cast aluminum makes this the lightest press here, about 5 oz (145 g). Zyliss says it takes one or several small cloves with no need to peel them, and the cleaning tool pops out of the handle. It comes with a 5-year guarantee.
What to know: Light is not the same as easy to squeeze. If grip strength is the problem, look at the Kuhn Rikon instead, whose maker says the long lever cuts hand strain by up to 60%. Use the Zyliss tool, not a knife tip, to clear the holes.
The drawback: the coating can scratch, and ATK found the cleaning tool easy to knock out mid-squeeze. Hand wash it.
See the Zyliss Susi 3 on AmazonLeft out: presses we could not match to a clear statement from the maker about the metal, and models that cost well over the four here. If a press lists only "metal" or "rust proof," ask the seller what it is cast from before you buy.
Garlic press, rocker, mincer or knife?
A press is the fastest way to turn a clove into paste without touching it. Do you need one? That depends on what you cook.
| Tool | What you get | Good for | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garlic press | Wet, fine paste | Sauces, dressings, marinades, garlic butter | Holes to clean; strong raw bite |
| Garlic rocker | Fine paste, pressed through a curved plate | Pressing on the board instead of over the pan | Needs a firm downward push |
| Chopper or mincer | Small, dry pieces | Several heads of garlic, or garlic with onion | More parts to wash |
| Chef's knife | Slices or a rough mince | Stir-fries and slow cooking, where you want pieces | Takes practice and sticky fingers |
A garlic rocker: a curved steel plate with holes that you press down and rock over a clove on the board.
If you mince garlic and onion together most nights, a vegetable chopper may earn its spot more than a press. For a smooth paste with no holes to clean, a fine rasp does the job; see our cheese grater picks. And if you prefer slices, a sharp chef's knife works fine.
How to clean a garlic press in under a minute
- Rinse it right away. Open the press and run it under the tap while the garlic is still wet. Don't skip this one.
- Clear the holes. Use the press's own cleaner. Flip the OXO handle, pull out the Kuhn Rikon sieve, or use the Zulay brush or the Zyliss tool.
- Dry it fully. Shake it, wipe it and leave it open to air dry, especially if it is zinc or aluminum.
Whatever stays in the chamber and the holes is what you rinse out right after.
For other tools that do better out of the dishwasher, see our list of things to keep out of the dishwasher.
How we chose
On 6 Nov 2026 we checked each press's Amazon US listing for stock and model, read what each maker says about the metal, the coating and washing, and looked at the long-running garlic press review from America's Test Kitchen. Material and care rules come from the makers or the listings we name, and no brand saw this page before it went up. We did not use these presses ourselves.
Questions people ask
Do you need to peel garlic before pressing it?
Not with these four. Kuhn Rikon, OXO, Zulay and Zyliss all say you can press a clove with the skin on, and the skin stays in the chamber. Peeled cloves can push through more fully, though. America's Test Kitchen found one press left a lot of garlic behind with unpeeled cloves.
How do you use a garlic press?
Open the handles, drop one or two cloves into the chamber, and squeeze the handles together over your pan or bowl. Scrape the paste off the face of the press with a small spoon, then open it and tip out the skin. Rinse it before the garlic dries.
Is a garlic press worth it?
If you cook with garlic a few times a week, yes. It turns a clove into paste in seconds and keeps the smell off your fingers. Some cooks skip it because they find pressed garlic tastes sharper than sliced, and because the holes need cleaning. It is great for dressings and sauces.
What can I use instead of a garlic press?
A chef's knife, a fine rasp grater or a garlic rocker. For a quick paste with a knife, mince the clove, sprinkle on a pinch of salt, and drag the flat of the blade over it a few times until it turns to paste.
Can you put ginger in a garlic press?
Yes. Zyliss and Zulay both sell theirs as garlic and ginger presses. Peel it and cut it into pieces about the size of a clove. You get mostly juice and pulp, and the stringy fibers stay in the chamber, so clean it out right after.
What is the 10-minute garlic rule?
It means crushing garlic and letting it sit for about 10 minutes before it hits the heat. It comes from a 2001 study in the Journal of Nutrition. In a study on rats, crushed garlic that stood for 10 minutes before 60 seconds in the microwave kept some of its anti-cancer effect, and garlic microwaved right away lost it. It has not been proven in people, but waiting costs nothing. Press the garlic first, then prep everything else.
Are garlic presses dishwasher safe?
Most makers say yes, with a catch or two. Kuhn Rikon still recommends hand washing, and Zyliss says no in its own FAQ. See the dishwasher notes in the table above.
Why does my garlic press get stuck or clogged?
Usually because garlic dried in the holes. Soak it in warm soapy water for a few minutes, then push the holes clear with the press's cleaner or a small brush. Next time, rinse it before the garlic dries.
The verdict
Buy the Kuhn Rikon Epicurean if you want one press for years. The OXO is the quickest to clean. On a budget, the Zulay is fine if you rinse it after each use.
See the Kuhn Rikon on AmazonSee the OXO press on Amazon
More drawer tools we have looked at: can openers, paring knives and cheese graters.
Sources (opened 6 Nov 2026). Weights and warranties come from each brand's Amazon product page.
- Zyliss: Susi 3 Garlic Press (materials, care, FAQ)
- America's Test Kitchen: garlic press review
- Zulay Kitchen: Zuki Garlic Press Set (same barcode as the Amazon listing)
- Kuhn Rikon: Epicurean garlic press stainless steel, 2315 (use and care)
- OXO: Garlic Press, 11107400
- Song and Milner, Journal of Nutrition, 2001: heating and crushed garlic
