Curry Recipes Online
Beginners Guide => Trainee Chefs / Beginners Questions => Topic started by: natterjak on June 27, 2011, 04:02 PM
-
Something I struggle with is chopping garlic - those little cloves are slippery beggars and the potential for chopping your fingers seems large. I'm also a bit of a sucker for kitchen gadgets so my eyes lit up when I saw this one:
Garlic Chopper on Amazon (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chefn-Garlic-Chopper-Extra-Large/dp/B002PEX600/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1309186704&sr=8-2)
But... are they any good? I'd be interested to hear if you've tried the above or if you have any other tips, tricks or recommended gadgets for chopping garlic.
-
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Garlic-Twist/dp/B001IXL5TS/ref=pd_cp_kh_3 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Garlic-Twist/dp/B001IXL5TS/ref=pd_cp_kh_3)
This one looks better, good reviews, and easy to clean.
-
They both look like something out of Robot Wars!!
Why buy something so specific to chopping Garlic when you can buy something like a Kenwood CH180A Small blender, (I have had this for about 3 years, so the model must be superseded by now), which will not only chop garlic really fine, but also Ginger, Chilies, Onion, Peppers and just about anything else you would want to add to a curry?..... :)
-
how about a bog standard garlic press?
-
how about a bog standard garlic press?
Doesn't really achieve the same result. I'm looking for chopped garlic not squashed garlic
-
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Garlic-Twist/dp/B001IXL5TS/ref=pd_cp_kh_3 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Garlic-Twist/dp/B001IXL5TS/ref=pd_cp_kh_3)
This one looks better, good reviews, and easy to clean.
Thanks but it Seems like more of a garlic squasher than chopper
-
They both look like something out of Robot Wars!!
Why buy something so specific to chopping Garlic when you can buy something like a Kenwood CH180A Small blender, (I have had this for about 3 years, so the model must be superseded by now), which will not only chop garlic really fine, but also Ginger, Chilies, Onion, Peppers and just about anything else you would want to add to a curry?..... :)
Not sure how to use a blender to chop 2 or 3 cloves of garlic without an awful lot of waste, plus cleaning possibly not as easy as the garlic zoom?
-
How about the flat of a knife, then a fine chopping.
-
Hi,
I always grate my garlic and ginger with a parmesan cheese type grater. The results are a cross between chopped and pressed that I find ideal when requiring relativity small amounts of the stuff.
Bon grater.
-
Likewise Coogan, I got one of these and it is excellent - worth the price in my opinion:
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/12332/Fine-Microplane-Gourmet-Grater (http://www.lakeland.co.uk/12332/Fine-Microplane-Gourmet-Grater)
-
Blimey vinotinto, the one I use was a considerable less amount then that but it does get clogged up with the ginger especially - could be one for the birthday list I think.
bon jovi
-
The Garlic Zoom looks really cool. I agree that sometimes you need bigger chunks than grating can give you, especially if you are making a garlic tarka to add to your curry!
If you get one let me know if its any good, I might get one.
You don't work for Amazon do you? ;)
-
Likewise Coogan, I got one of these and it is excellent - worth the price in my opinion:
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/12332/Fine-Microplane-Gourmet-Grater (http://www.lakeland.co.uk/12332/Fine-Microplane-Gourmet-Grater)
I have a microplane grater but have found the grated result so fine it just sticks to the pan when fried. I also have a habit of grating my finger tips and finger nails so can't generally be trusted with such implements.
Ps. my past experience of Lakeland has been of poor quality products sold at premium prices. Perhaps to cover the cost of all those catalogues they relentlessly send out...!
-
The Garlic Zoom looks really cool. I agree that sometimes you need bigger chunks than grating can give you, especially if you are making a garlic tarka to add to your curry!
If you get one let me know if its any good, I might get one.
You don't work for Amazon do you? ;)
Having failed to find anything better I've ordered one today (the XL version). I'll bring it to the BBQ and you can try it out if you like?
Ps. no connection to Amazon - have I posted more than 1 link to their site lately? Probably, can't remember offhand!
-
how about a bog standard garlic press?
Doesn't really achieve the same result. I'm looking for chopped garlic not squashed garlic
I guess a knife is what most chefs would use then!! ;)......
-
I'm sure they would, but as I said in my OP I struggle with chopping garlic. Too slippery.
-
Well the garlic zoom xl arrived today, very neat design indeed. I'll try it out later to see how it works. I'm sure a lot of you think I'm mad for overcomplicating a job which can be done with a knife, but I love a good gadget ;)
-
I'm sure a lot of you think I'm mad for overcomplicating a job which can be done with a knife, but I love a good gadget ;)
Nods. ;) ;D
-
Come to the CR0 BBQ and I'll demo it there and change your mind! (maybe?)
-
Well how did it go?
Did it work ok, giving you the results wanted?
-
Well it certainly works! The XL version I have will take about 5 medium/small cloves of garlic at once (perhaps only 3 large ones) so I certainly wouldn't recommended buying the standard size unit which must be tiny by comparison. It has proper rubber tyres on the wheels so will grip a worksurface ok.
the design is pretty clever actually with a small top access flap for dropping in the garlic and separately the whole body is hinged to open up for removal of chopped garlic and cleaning. Because the blades are geared from the wheels one revolution of the wheels translates into lots of turns of the chopping blades, so a quick whizz backwards and forwards 3 or 4 times yields quite finely chopped garlic. The whole process is pretty laugh-inducing actually! ;D
Cleaning is a quick rinse under the tap. It's all dishwasher safe but garlic is a natural antiseptic so no need to be too fussy. Also any residual garlic smell is not going to contaminate anything else as I can't think of anything apart from garlic to be chopping in there (too small for onions).
All in all I recommend it but suspect a more sensible way to spend the money is to put it towards a good kitchen knife.... but since when was life about being sensible anyway?? 8)
-
Sounds fun. 8)
Must admit I'm really surprised at how little it actually manages to chop at one time though. :o
-
I'll bring this little device to today's BBQ in Frimley so anyone who is intrigued can have a live demo.