Photo: morberg, Flickr.
One way to peel each clove of garlic is to press on it firmly with the flat side of a chef's knife. The force will begin to crush the clove and the papery skin will be loosened. From there, you can easily remove the skin.
Another option is to microwave the clove for approximately 15 to 20 seconds. The skin will separate away from the clove during that time, thus making it easier to peel.
If you have time to spare, garlic cloves can also be dropped into very cold water. Once they've been soaked for a few minutes, the outer skin will slip off.
Finally, if you're really not up for the "hassle" of peeling, you could buy the pre-peeled variety (Mark Bittman approved) or a garlic peeler. But what's the fun in that?
Have other tips on peeling garlic? Leave them in the comments.
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