OXO Garlic Press: Why I Gave Mine Away, But Perhaps You Shouldn't
Written: Aug 05 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Sturdy, well-designed, works as advertised, attractive, easy to clean and use.
Cons: Slightly expensive. Personally, not a gadget we use as we like to smash-n-bash garlic manually.
The Bottom Line: This press is well-designed, sturdy, easy to use and clean. It is useful for many people, but is not a kitchen necessity for us personally.
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| mrs-j's Full Review: Oxo 6.5" Garlic Press (black) |
Lately I've been going on a cleaning spree in my household. Anyone who has lived with me knows my rule, "If I'm in the mood to clean, do not stop me because you never know when it might strike again." On this latest cleaning spree I took to organizing all of our kitchen drawers. The goal was to box up all the gadgets we didn't need or had duplicates of to put on our doorstep for our AmVets biannual donation pickup. I happened upon our Oxo 6.5" Garlic Press w-a-a-a-a-a-y in the back of one of our drawers.
About Oxo Products and the Oxo Garlic Press
Oxo products are definitely neat, no two ways about it. Sam Farber started the company in 1990, seeking a way to help his wife find kitchen tools more comfortable to use in spite of her arthritis.
This garlic press has the characteristic Oxo "look and feel". This company is as much an eclectic design company as they are a kitchen tool manufacturing company. The handles are black rubber, and the head is a shiny metal. This press has some heft and it's hinged firmly together. One half of the head is just a flat plate with small holes, the other half consists of red plastic with nubs that push through the corresponding small holes on the flat plate. You use this side when you've already pressed the garlic, to clear out the holes, readying yourself for another round of garlic mashing.
Using the Garlic Press
Garlic presses are quite easy to use, this one being no exception. In fact, it's easier than most. To use it, take a clove or two of garlic (It doesn't have to be peeled but it helps) and insert it into the reservoir head of the press. Then flip the lever over, pushing the metal end of the red-sided-head into the reservoir. Garlic comes out through the holes. To clear it out, flip the red-sided head over and up into the holes and the little nubbins push the remnants out of the holes in the reservoir.
You'll probably still need a fork or knife to get all the garlicky goodness out of the reservoir. Wasting garlic is a sin... Probably not of a high order, but high enough for me.
Care and Maintenance
This garlic press is dishwasher safe, but I find it is also easy to rinse in the sink. It's very sturdy and requires little additional maintenance. Oxo products seem to be built for a lifetime of use.
Satisfaction Guarantee
I really like the Oxo company, as they provide an unconditional satisfaction guarantee. If you're not satisfied with your product, return it for a replacement or a refund. Since Oxo products are not cheap (this garlic press costs upwards of $10 after all) this is a nice confidence-builder.
Where to Buy & Cost
As mentioned, this product usually retails for more than $10 though not much more. You can buy this garlic press anywhere, Bed Bath and Beyond, Linens -n- Things, online, at department stores, I mean everywhere.
Why I No Longer Have Mine, But Perhaps You Still Need One
As I mentioned, I was going on a cleaning spree. I evaluated each kitchen utensil that I came upon based on how much we use it. Based on that, I decided to donate this garlic press to the AmVets on their collection day. Crazy as this may sound, don't read into that anything about my recommendation of this press.
In my house we don't tend to press garlic. We smash the heck out of it on our huge wooden cutting board using just about anything we have around, usually our favorite Santoku knife. Not only is it cheaper and easier than buying and dragging out a garlic press, it can be emotionally therapeutic if you do it right. (And violently smash enough cloves of garlic.)
But the smash and bash method isn't for everyone. Some people don't know how to smash-n-bash. Some people don't want to get garlic all over their hands. Some people don't have cool knives, large cutting boards, and violent streaks after a hard days' work. The Oxo garlic press is perfect for someone who would rather press their garlic cleanly, neatly and easily than just beat on it mercilessly until it gives up its flavor.
I was particularly happy to donate this product to the AmVets because I know that it's a very populart product and it will give its new owner many solid years of use. I don't know how AmVets processes donated goods but if they resell this item, they'll get several bucks for it. And if they give it to someone in need, chances are that someone might be elderly, ailing or have arthritis and will find the Oxo garlic press easy on their hands.
This garlic press is perfect for a particular type of person, I just don't happen to be that person. If you want to process several cloves of garlic without making a mess or a spectacle, or if you need a tool that makes the job easier on your hands, the Oxo garlic press is definitely the press for you.
OXO International
http://www.oxo.com
Phone:(800) 545-4411
Mail: OXO Consumer Care Center
c/o World Kitchen, Inc.
1200 South Antrim Way
Greencastle, PA 17225
Recommended:
Yes
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mrs-j
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