Customer Reviews

Zyliss Susi DeLuxe Garlic Press

5 star:		(73)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

Normally I whack the garlic with a cleaver on a board and then give it a few half-hearted chops. But for soups and chilis and garlic spread, I like pressed garlic better. So I broke down and bought one of these presses based on the recommendation in Cook's Magazine.

The novelty here is that you can pop the clove in whole with papery covering, and the press will squish out the mashed garlic. To clear the small holes, you use the companion blue plastic device. It has a cluster of prongs to push out the garlic caught in the holes. But I found I didn't have to use it much, because the teflon coating prevents sticking most of the time. I also found that a bamboo skewer was helpful for clearing the chamber of the husk, as a knife tip would scratch the coated surface.

Did you know that the way you process the garlic affects the taste? Cutting garlic releases an enzyme, allinase which cleaves odorless allicin and releases sulphurous essences. If you want a mild garlic flavor, don't press it, but cook the garlic whole, boil it in milk, or roast it. Roasting carmellizes the natural sugars and makes garlic especially mild. But if you want to uh, kick up a notch or two of garlicky goodness, use the press.

If you're looking at this item, get it. It's that good.

I worked in a kitchen store for a few years and we sold a dozen kinds, but this was the answer to the words "garlic press" any time they were barked in our direction.

It does peel the garlic. It is very easy to clean. It's clove to minced in as long as it takes for you to squeeze the handle. Sometimes I don't even need to use the cleaning piece (stores in the unit, lines up with the extraction holes and pushes excess out of them), just run it under some water.

It won't break under normal use. It won't stop working. It'll last for a good, long while. You can get cheaper garlic presses, and if you maybe just want to use one once that likely won't work as well, a cheapo is fine--but this product does the job perfectly every time.

Since I got my own Zyliss, the jars of minced garlic are lonely in my fridge--I never use them and I put fresh garlic in anything and everything--big time garlic lover, and this thing is the answer.

This is the best garlic press I've used (and there've been more than a few of 'em). I've owned mine for 4 years and had nary a problem. It's one of the few presses which doesn't allow the majority of the clove being pressed to ooze (or even better, squirt) around the press hammer (hmmm...seems like as good a term as any).

The teflon coating makes clean-up a snap even if you don't wash the press immediately...just run hot water over it for a bit. DON'T use a knife or other sharp object which will scratch the finish.

The plastic goring accessory is usually unnecessary and rarely simple to find in the bottomless pit of my tools drawer although it's royal blueness aids the search. I normally just use my finger in a soapy bath of some other soaking pot. Perhaps attaching it to the press in some manner (like the Brookstone which simply swivels directly into place).

Zyliss creates quality products. I also love their parmesan cheese grater which I've owned for over 5 years. Well worth the few extra dollars, or Deutschmarks in my case.

In terms of functionality, this is a great little garlic press. It is small, and thus requires a little more pressure than some others to crush the garlic, but the shape works well, with most of the garlic coming through.

The plastic cleaning piece quickly wears out, so don't count on it. Without the tool, cleaning this press is about the same as others - I usually have to scrape out the peels with my fingernail. Actually, it probably takes less effort than the trouble of getting the plastic piece into place (and then washing it too).

The only real problem is the finish soon chips off. We use our press about 2x per week, and have used it about 9 months, and recently chips and peels started appearing in the finish, and there appears to be a lighter color material underneath. This could be from occasional washing in the dishwasher, which is supposed to be safe.

I called Zyliss and it has a 5-year warranty, and this problem is covered (they said it is caused by oxidation) so I'll be getting a replacement. (EDIT: Replacement did arrive quickly.)

Otherwise, a nice little garlic press.

UPDATE FEBRUARY 2011:

We've been using the replacement they sent for about 5 years (keeping it out of the dishwasher). The finish is only barely worn, the plastic cleaning piece is long gone, and it is working great! I'd raise the 3 stars to 4 if it wasn't still advertised as dishwasher-safe.

I have owned numerous other garlic presses and never felt compelled to spend over $10 for one until a sales clerk finally convinced me to try a Zyliss. WOW! I threw out the last of my remaining cheapies. I never imagined such a difference was possible. I know I will never again trust a different press. YES... it is THAT good. Why?

1. Other presses I have owned did not work adequately unless the garlic was trimmed and peeled. This one eats up unpeeled cloves and strains them perfectly every time.

2. Other metal presses I have used have broken through in the area of the straining holes after a period of time due to fatigue of their poor materials. This is a svelte lightweight that weighs a small fraction of other presses. I expected it might not hold up at all. It turns out it is made of a very strong aluminum alloy that one might imagine being used in aircraft. It is quite thin, but it feels SO rigid I don't think I will ever have to replace it.

3. The included cleaning tool makes getting strands out of the holes a snap. The tool is stored under the hinge out of the way, but is easy to get to when you need it.

4. In the end, what I get most out of it is the simple pleasure of using it... I look forward to its every use. Instead of crushing and squirting inconsistent pulp, the Zyliss passes garlic crisply and perfectly in one quick motion accompanied by a satisfying 'crunch'. I know it seems a bit weird to obsess over a garlic press, but for one who truly enjoys and is serious about cooking it is like that favorite pan or knife without which cooking would not be the same. This press works so beautifully, it may actually inspire you think of garlic-laden dishes to prepare... just to use it again!

With super-generic kitchen products having flooded the market in the last 10 years, it is refreshing to be able to find a product that actually does its job, and does it well. While I will never be able to pronounce the brand name as long as I live, I won't be ashamed to show this product off to my family and friends.

The fit and finish of this product is absolutely super. No funny scratches, grooves, or inconsistent surfaces. The entire product feels as smooth as the inside layer of a Teflon frying pan, and the weight of the product inspires confidence in its durability. The plastic cleaner tucks away nicely/securely, and with one or two presses under the faucet, cleans up the mess in seconds.

There is *absolutely* no need to peel the garlic, as you will only get pressed garlic -- no peel at all! If you're going to press 3-4 cloves, don't bother digging in there to get the peel after the first one -- just leave it in. Press all of the cloves, then rinse, and you're done.

It's important that the garlic press work quickly and efficiently, since it's less work for you, and you don't end up squeezing out the important garlic juice out of the garlic -- leaving you with just fiber...

Ultimately, this is everything you want from a garlic presser -- it works, it's easy to use, it's a thing of beauty that will last, and perhaps most importantly, is a dream to clean up. Enjoy!

I've owned one for many years and its been bulletproof. I bought one for my mom and told her that it works better if you don't peel the clove but she doesn't listen. Leaving the peeling on makes it easier to clean and doesn't waste any more garlic.

Try it with ginger. Peel and cube a bit of ginger and crush it in the press. Its a little harder to crush than garlic but you get fresh ginger without all the fiberous material.

This is, by far, the best garlic press. I've had it for several years. Before that, I used a roomate's Susi garlic press for several years. I've had other garlic presses that eventually broke - this one is very strong. The Susi has better leverage than other presses & you do not need to peel the garlic first. Worth the money.

A number of people have written to say that their garlic presses lose their shiny finish when put in the dishwasher. I had the same experience with my trusty Zyliss garlic press: after two years of hand-washing, I put it in the dishwasher for the first time this week. Not only had it lost its shiny finish, but the garlic that I pressed with it became gray and unusable.

But, there is a happy ending... I just contacted Zyliss' friendly customer support, where a representative told me that this is a known problem with the older versions, but that it's been fixed with the versions that are out now. They are now dishwasher-safe. She also offered to send me a new garlic press, if I mailed in my old one.

So kudos to Zyliss' exceptional garlic press, and to their great customer support!

Nothing tastes better than freshly pressed garlic, better than the bottled, or (yech) powdered stuff. But it was always a mess to cut up your own, and then your hands smelled like garlic for several days ( I liked the aroma, but my co-workers didn't like that type of perfume). This garlic press changed all that.

It can't be any easier. Simply place the garlic clove (might have to be trimmed, the holding well in not all that large) into the press, and squeeze. The garlic and juice are extracted, and the skin stays in the press. Clean up is easy, just match up the cleaning jig, stored in the handle, with the extraction holes and push out the skin, rinse and wash. It is even dishwasher safe.

The Zyliss Garlic press has kicked up my cooking by the ease and usefullness of this great little gadget, fresh garlic is only a squeeze away, without the messy cleanup.