Trudeau Garlic Press, Black
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List Price: Our Price: $11.99 You Save: $5.00 (29%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $10.55 (click here) Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Trudeau Garlic Press, Black
Customer Review: Fine until it lasted...only 6 months (just like other reviewers said, same problems)
Summary: 1 Stars
I'm not one to normally give products 1 star ratings. However, I just want other online shoppers to be aware of this product. We bought this Aug. 2009 and used it for "normal, everyday use", just to press garlic cloves.
Now, my hubby's strong, but he's not Superman...just this morning, he's using it and the thing breaks in half (the metal piece clip).
I could understand if this was a Dollar Tree product, or if we banged/dropped, etc. this garlic press, but we didn't. No kids/other people ever used this; just my hubby, who takes very good care of things.
Unfortunately, due to Amazon's policy, I'm out of luck (had I bought this at Costco or Kohl's, with no time limit on return policies, I would've been able to return it 100% with no problem).
This product is under a 5 yr. warranty (if you have problems too), so I went on their website to find out how to get a replacement (though I'm not hopeful that it'll last). If they'll replace it for free, we'll give it another try, but if I have to pay anything for a replacement then we won't.
I did email Amazon's customer service and let them know that this is probably a defect, as I'm not the only reviewer this same exact problem occurred. I urged them to pull this product.
Again, I'm not bashing Treadeau company and I'm sure there are many owners who are happy w/ this...I just felt that if I were shopping online, this would be helpful info. for me to have.
I think from now on, for non-book/non-beauty products, if it's available at Costco or Kohl's, that's where I'll buy those types of products (no I don't work there) b/c they are the only 2 stores I know of (except Nordstrom's) that will take anything back past 30 days w/ no argument to the consumer.
Hope this helps you.
Update same day I posted this review: Amazon made it right (even though technically it's the garlic press that was the problem)- they are making sure I get a new garlic press & $11.99 back. I LOVE AMAZON!!!!!!
Customer Review: Don't waste your money.
Summary: 1 Stars
After our OXO garlic press broke after several years of use, I purchased this one as a replacement based on its mostly glowing reviews. I'm almost wondering if I got a dud or something because my experience has been so different from other reviewers. It has three major problems and no redeeming qualities.
First, it's next to impossible to actually squeeze. I mean, you really need macho man strength to add garlic to your food with this press. Maybe it's designed so you can burn calories before consuming your food.
Second, it says it's dishwasher safe. That is a bald-faced lie. One wash in the dishwasher, and water gets trapped inside the rubber handles and gradually dribbles out all over the place. We had this same problem with the OXO we had, but I was hoping it wouldn't happen with this one. I know some people hand wash to avoid this issue, but I am opposed to the extra work of handwashing - I want to be able to put it in the dishwasher and go. After the water got in the handles of ours, we decided to yank off the rubber handles to dry out the insides. This works for drying them, but you can't conveniently leave the handles off - the insides are spiked with evil thorny steel things.
Third, same as with our OXO, you're supposed to be able to "self clean" it by turning one side around and poking the garlic out with those little pokey things. Except the one we got doesn't actually go all the way around. You can't actually make those pointy things even get near removing the garlic without breaking the hinge, so you have to pick out the skins with your fingers. I guess in some regard it is still self cleaning - I clean it myself.
The OXO we had was mediocre - it's main issue was that water got trapped in the handles. However, the Trudeau garlic press, or at least the one we received, is completely useless.
Customer Review: Solid garlic press
Summary: 4 Stars
I cook a great deal from America's Test Kitchen, which recommends use of a garlic press vs mincing by hand.
ATK recommended two presses, the Rikon Kuhn at some $35 (which I own), and this one, as their best buy (which I purchased for my girl). Though the Rikon is nicer overall, it gets just a bit more garlic out of each press vs the Trudeau. The Rikon is sleeker and a bit more ergonomic, which does provide you a warmer and a fuzzier feeling, but does not significantly contribute to your garlic production. The Trudeau is heavy, solid, and presses garlic just fine.
The Rikon opens up in an unusual way that allows you to easily clean out the stringier garlic that is leftover in the press. In contrast, the Trudeau offers an integrated plastic piece with male prongs which poke out the garlic left in the wholes when the handles are rotated 180 degrees. Although the plastic piece shown no signs of falling off, the male prongs don't fit into the female wholes perfectly, requiring a bit of force to clean the press, and then pry them apart. I'm concerned that, over time, the plastic might loosen with repeated attempts to separate the tight fitting male prongs. Even if it does, you will still be able to clean out any remaining garlic by reaching in with your fingers etc...
I purchased the Rikon based on the ATK recommendation, before I realized that they also backed this press as their best buy. In retrospect, though I am completely happy with the Rikon, I would not have spent $35 on the Rikon had I known of this as a suitable replacement.
Customer Review: A kitchen neccesity
Summary: 4 Stars
Every home cook needs a garlic press. The stuff that comes in a jar has a distinct metallic flavor, and while the people with television shows can do a great job cutting up garlic with a knife, they're professionals. Yes, you can get pretty much the same flavor by chopping, but you'll still get little lumps that will mess with the texture. You can live without it, but you can also follow the recipes on soup cans -- that's eating, not cooking.
That said, a garlic press is still a B list item. It should be easy to use, easy to clean, and provide a reasonably even distribution of well crushed garlic, but the price should still be affordable. The Trudeau, rated a best buy by Cook's Illustrated, meets these standards. It's well made, apparently highly durable, and cleans easily under running water (although a spray helps -- this is true of just about every press). The price is good for what you get.
I bought this to replace an old, bargain price garlic press that required two hands for a single clove, and was a pain to clean -- and that's my only personal comparison. The Trudea needn't replace a satisfactory press, but for a first purchase it's a good choice at a fair price, and compared to some of the garlic presses on the market it's a real step up.
Customer Review: Disappointed...it was defective.
Summary: 1 Stars
I purchased the Trudeau garlic press from amazon after seeing that Cook's Illustrated magazine rated it a Best Buy. It arrived tonight from amazon and, to my suprise, it was defective. The plastic piece that cleans the press was moving from side to side and pulling away from the metal to which it was attached. I packed it up, requested a refund from amazon, and promptly ordered the Kuhn Rikon, which was the most highly rated garlic press by Cook's Illustrated. I had chosen the Trudeau because it was less expensive, but it isn't worth the savings if it breaks on the first use. I love to cook with garlic but find cleaning a garlic press (I lost the separate blue cleaner piece on my Zyliss) a hassle -- so perhaps the Kuhn's $30+ price tag is worth it -- at least I hope so! I re-read the reviews on the Trudeau and found that another person noted the same problem. Buyer beware!
2/2/08 Update: I received my Kuhn Rikon Garlic Press in two days of ordering from the lowest-priced provider on amazon (even though I didn't pay for expedited shipping) and have used it several times since. I am VERY pleased with it. I expect this will last me a lifetime -- it's sturdy, is easy to use, and has a clever design that makes it a cinch to clean (with no parts to break or lose).