Myth #49: Razor Vs Press

By Author: John Tang
Total Articles: 507
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MYTH: The best way to prepare garlic for cooking is to slice it razor thin, as Paul Sorvino did in the famous jail dinner scene in Goodfellas.

REALITY: Well, it depends.

If you want a rustic, pungent garlic flavor, which is appropriate for certain things, use a garlic press. The moment you squeeze the garlic through the press, the mashed pulp should go directly in the dish and serve it immediately. Don't let it sit out and start oxidizing or it will turn bitter.

If you're doing something delicate like turbot or flounder or string beans you want a mellower flavor. That's when you want to use a very sharp knife and slice the garlic as thin as possible.

By using the razor blade in Goodfellas, Sorvino's character was demonstrating a refined palette. Slicing razor thin protects the cellular structure and allows essential oils and aromatics to come out in the cooking while minimizing the amount of oxidation.
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