Five easy ways to peel garlic without losing your patience

Garlic makes everything better. It sizzles in hot oil, fills the kitchen with promise and quietly carries half the flavour of Indian cooking. But before all that magic begins, there is the small but stubborn problem of peeling it. Sticky fingers, bits of skin everywhere and that faint garlic smell that follows you around for hours.

The good news is that garlic does not have to win this battle. Here are five simple, kitchen-tested ways to peel it faster and with far less frustration.

1. The two-bowl shake
This one feels almost like a kitchen trick. Take two small metal bowls and drop the garlic cloves into one. Press them lightly with the base of the second bowl so they loosen. Then place the bowls mouth to mouth, hold tight and shake for about 10 seconds. Open them up and you will find cloves freed from most of their skins, as if by magic.

2. The hot water soak
If you are in no hurry, this is a gentle option. Separate the cloves and soak them in hot water for about 15 minutes. Drain the water and rub the cloves between your fingers. The skins slide off easily, no wrestling required.

3. A quick microwave fix
Trim the top of the cloves and microwave them for 20 to 30 seconds. Let them cool for a moment. The heat loosens the skins, making them peel off cleanly and quickly. This works well when you need garlic in a rush.

4. The chapati rolling pin trick
Put the cloves into a plastic bag or cover and roll over them gently with a chapati rolling pin. After a few rolls, the skins crack and separate. It is oddly satisfying and surprisingly effective.

5. The classic knife press
When you only need a clove or two, keep it simple. Place a clove on the board, rest the flat side of a knife on top and press down firmly with your palm. The skin splits instantly and peels away in one neat move.

Once you try these, peeling garlic stops being a chore and becomes just another quick step on the way to a good meal. And that, frankly, is how it should be.