Knife work
How to smash and peel garlic
Flatten a garlic clove with the side of a knife to loosen the skin and release its flavor.
Step by step
- Lay the clove on the board and set the flat side of a wide knife on top, edge facing away from you.
- Press down firmly with the heel of your hand until the clove cracks.
- Peel off the loosened skin.
- Leave it whole for a gentle flavor, or chop it now; it minces faster after smashing.
How you know it's done
The clove is split and flattened and the papery skin slips off.
Common mistakes
- Hitting the blade with your fist, which can slip.
- Using a narrow knife that wobbles under your hand.
Simmerbee recipes that use it (0)
None of our recipes names it in the steps yet; it's here because it comes up in cooking all the time.
In those recipes the word is underlined in the steps; tap it for the short version. In hands-free cook mode, ask “How do I smash?”