March 24, 2009 4:00 AM PDT

Garlic Zoom prevents dreaded garlicky fingers

by Damian Koh
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Dicing garlic is, obviously, not my forte. Otherwise I would have been a chef extraordinaire instead of dishing out literature on Crave Asia.

Garlic Zoom (Credit: Firebox.com)

Not too long ago, I played a tiny role in preparing homemade steamed mussels with garlic and tomato broth. The shellfish dish was cheap, easy to prepare, and delicious, but there was a tiny problem. The garlic left a pungent smell on the fingers. Sure, the condiment's great for flavoring, but the lingering odor negates any after-dinner plans.

Which is why I think the Garlic Zoom is a brilliant kitchen accessory. Pop a peeled clove in the transparent cylinder and the stainless steel blade within will cut the bulb into tiny bits when you roll it back and forth. After you're done, simply open the lid and tap the garlic bits out.

The Garlic Zoom is available on Firebox for $11.50, which is a small price to pay for some kitchen fun. Otherwise, you could opt for the cheapo option of rubbing your hands on a stainless steel utensil to get rid of the smell.

(Via Crave Asia)

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by Eauboy March 24, 2009 6:15 AM PDT
Or get a knife...

Chef's knife: Thirty seconds to dice, ten seconds to clean.
Gadget: Thirty seconds to dice, two minutes to clean.

Very, very few kitchen gadgets genuinely improve on what you can already do with things you already have on hand. Most end up lost in the back of a drawer.
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by Kobinator March 24, 2009 6:51 AM PDT
Sweet alternative: get rid of garlic odor by rubbing your hands with a stainless steel implement under running water.
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by jrolin1 March 24, 2009 7:05 AM PDT
When cutting onions or garlic I just don a set of disposable latex gloves. A box is very cheap and is works great.
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by Paodi March 24, 2009 11:46 AM PDT
Word of advice: When cutting hot peppers, wear gloves. The lingering oils on the fingertips can be a real buzzkill when you get it on sensitive areas...such as the eyes.
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by John_Johnson March 24, 2009 4:02 PM PDT
You're all wrong. What you really need is the slap chop
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