Setting Up the OXO Good Grips Garlic Press: What to Expect

Getting started with the OXO Good Grips Garlic Press is straightforward — but there are a few things worth knowing before you open the box. Here's what to expect.

What We Think, Straight Up

The OXO garlic press presses unpeeled cloves cleanly and the self-cleaning feature actually works. We use ours multiple times a week.

If you've been on the fence, here's how we'd frame it: the OXO Good Grips Garlic Press is designed for anyone who cooks with garlic more than once a week and wants to skip the chopping. If that's you, it's very likely the right choice. If it's not, there's probably a better fit at a lower price point.

The Performance

We ran the OXO Good Grips Garlic Press through daily use across several weeks. The things that impressed us most are the ones listed below — not the marketing claims, the actual experience of using it regularly.

There's a difference between products that sound good in spec sheets and ones that feel right in practice. The OXO Good Grips Garlic Press is in the second group.

What We Love

• Presses unpeeled garlic — no peeling required
• Self-cleaning mechanism removes pulp from screen
• Ergonomic handles are genuinely comfortable
• Fine, consistent mince every time
• Dishwasher safe

Room for Improvement

• Takes up more drawer space than a knife
• Needs a good scrub even with the self-cleaning feature
• Very large cloves might need trimming first

Who Should Buy It

This is for anyone who cooks with garlic more than once a week and wants to skip the chopping. If that's you — buy it. The OXO Good Grips Garlic Press is one of those products where you'll look back and wonder why you waited.

If you're on the fence because of price, consider how often you'll use it. Most quality purchases amortise down to almost nothing over their lifespan.

The Value Question

At $14.99, the OXO Good Grips Garlic Press sits at the higher end of the category. Our take: it's priced correctly for what it is. There are cheaper options. They are cheaper for a reason.

We've tested the alternatives. The OXO Good Grips Garlic Press is the one we kept.

Our Verdict

The short answer: yes. The OXO Good Grips Garlic Press is our recommended pick for anyone who cooks with garlic more than once a week and wants to skip the chopping. It's well-built, performs as advertised, and we haven't found anything at this price point that beats it.

Buy it. Use it. You'll stop second-guessing the purchase within a week.