You can easily peel garlic with this surprising kitchen appliance

Cody Godwin, USA TODAY
·2 min read

Peeling garlic is a necessary evil in many kitchens. Sometimes, making it through all the layers feels like an epic journey, but the reward of flavorful food is worth it. Unless, of course, you’re a vampire.

There are many hacks for quickly peeling garlic without the mess, but some are more effective than others. Here are two methods designed to make it even easier to add a little more of the good stuff next time you’re cooking up a storm in the kitchen.

Watch this video to see how to easily peel garlic using your microwave.

Easy way to peel garlic

Regardless of how much garlic your recipe calls for, no one wants to spend too much time peeling it.

To easily peel garlic:

  1. Microwave the entire bulb for about 20 seconds.

  2. Let it cool enough to touch.

  3. Open the bulb and remove the cloves.

  4. Peel the skin off the cloves with ease.

This method also works for individual cloves. Just cut off the bottom, put them in a microwave-safe dish and microwave the cloves for 10-15 seconds. Allow them to cool, then peel the skin off with ease.

Peeling garlic is messy, so use a plate or paper towel to catch all the pieces and make cleanup a breeze.

If you’re looking for an alternative, microwave-free option to easily peel garlic: shake it off (literally)! Put the individual cloves in a container or jar, put a lid on it, and shake! The skin comes right off.

The vegetable (yes, garlic is a vegetable!) isn’t just good for adding flavor to your favorite dishes, garlic is also good for your body. Ilisa Nussbaum, a registered dietitian nutritionist at Yale Children’s Hospital, previously told USA TODAY that garlic has a “ton of antioxidants that really protect your cells from damage.”

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to peel garlic easily with an unexpected hack