Rhik Samadder tests the Garlic Zoom. Photograph: Teri Pengilley/GuardianNeed some chopped garlic? Roll this gizmo back and forth furiously, then fish out the gunk with your finger. Or just use a knife.
What?
The Garlic Zoom (£9.99, firebox.com), a rollable chamber, housing revolving blades. Manual propulsion minces garlic cloves or root ginger; chopped product can be collected in the chamber’s upper hemisphere. It aims to replace the garlic press or, er, a knife.
Why?
For when you want chopped garlic, but can’t be bothered to chop garlic. Or are scared of garlic. Fair enough if you have problems holding a knife, but not if you’re worried about garlic fingers, or are incredibly lazy. How are you going to cook the rest of the meal? This is the easiest bit.
Well?
![Roll it like a Tonka truck …](https://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2015/5/20/1432126153727/88bb60ab-6b9a-43ae-b8a2-9db410a167f0-280x420.jpeg)
According to the packaging, Garlic Zoom was created by “David A Holcombe, Famous Inventor”. The words are self-undermining, but I like the attitude. It is what an eight-year-old would write on his pencil case. In fact, with big green wheels and mini blades that resemble ninja throwing stars, the Garlic Zoom does feel a bit child-designed.
It is not very efficient – two peeled cloves crammed inside feels crowded, and to get anything like a uniform chop you have to zoom the carriage back and forth hard, like an only child furiously rolling a Tonka truck, or someone trying to erase a mistake. Which doesn’t feel like cooking. It cuts fine – as in OK – but the pouring hatch is redundant: you have to fish around with a finger to get the sticky stuff out. Ginger may fare better, but there will still be fiddly blade-washing afterwards, so either way your fingers are going to see some blue plasters.
However, the real problem isn’t that it doesn’t work; it is that you don’t need it. In use, the cogs mesh smoothly and the wheels have a pleasing traction, thanks to their thick rubber trim. But this is garlic-chopping, not the Indy 500. Why are we talking about wheel trim? I am telling you now: Gordon Ramsay did not earn his chops mincing garlic in a Perspex gizmo that looks like a leprechaun’s stagecoach. If you must spend some money, go and buy a good knife.
Redeeming features
![Trying to get the garlic out …](https://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2015/5/20/1432126381509/840d43a7-0a64-47c5-9d1c-98c4f1a6d31d-280x420.jpeg)
It claws a point for the quirky, compact design, and the easy separation of parts for washing. However, it still creates too much washing up for chopped garlic, and at a tenner, is not particularly cheap.
Counter, drawer, back of the cupboard?
Back of the cupboard. Or an elf’s garage.
1/5