The Effortless Way Gordon Ramsey Minces Garlic Without A Press

Gordon Ramsey's razor-sharp knife skills are often overshadowed by his fiery reality TV persona. It was life-changing when I first learned Gordon Ramsey's easy tip for cutting bell peppers mess-free and now, I'm regretting even spending a penny on a garlic press after seeing how clearly he demonstrates that anything a garlic press can do — which is simply press garlic — a knife and a little salt can do better, and with much more versatility. 

In a video shared on Youtube, Ramsay demonstrates the way he peels his cloves by laying them flat on a cutting board. He then presses down with the flat side of a chef's knife in one swift motion, crushing the garlic instantly, and generously sprinkles coarse salt over the cloves. The salt acts as an abrasive to break down the fibers as his knife rocks back and forth, effortlessly mincing and mashing the garlic into a fine paste. 

The result is a smooth, silky mixture that can be easily scooped up with the blade — ready to infuse any dish with twice the flavor than a single squeeze from a garlic press could offer. The salt lends a massive hand to the flavor of the garlic as well by drawing-out the moisture and softening the cloves. which helps form it into a spreadable paste. The salt also mellows the raw garlic's, pungent edge – making it especially useful in dishes where garlic stays uncooked. 

You don't have to be a world-renowned chef like Gordon Ramsey to emulate his garlic mincing method. In fact, coarse salt and a good knife really do all the work for you — two things most kitchens already have. You're likely already using a knife while prepping other aspects of your dish, so why even bother dirtying a garlic press when your knife can give you an even better mince? Plus, considering the time it'll take you to rummage through the kitchen drawer where your garlic press is probably buried, you could have already minced your garlic with the knife in your hand. Even Ina Garten thinks the garlic press is totally overrated.

I don't want to completely demonize the garlic press here, as it can be an approachable way to mince garlic for individuals who have limited hand mobility from arthritis or even for new cooks who don't feel fully comfortable yet using a sharp knife. In this case, a rocking garlic press will give you close to the same paste-like consistency as Ramsey's — just don't forget the salt. If neither is true for you, it's probably more worth your while to stick with using your faithful knife. and Ramsey's technique. when it comes to mincing garlic — and if you need a faithful knife, this is how you choose the best chef's knife.