Garlic is delicious, but we never quite mastered getting garlic smell off our fingers!
Martha Stewart Just Shared a Genius Hack for Removing Garlic Smell from Your Hands
Updated on Dec. 09, 2022
We can’t get enough garlic. Who doesn’t love a good garlic-laden recipe, from garlic bread to garlic mashed potatoes? But as delicious as this ingredient is in so many dishes, it tends to stick around. From the scent lingering on our cutting boards to difficulty getting the garlic smell off our fingers, it feels sometimes like we’re getting too much of a good thing! Thankfully, Martha Stewart has a trick for getting that pesky smell off our hands.
What’s Martha’s Hack for Getting Garlic Smell Off Your Fingers?
Many of us will have our favorite hack for getting garlic smell off our fingers, but when Martha Stewart gives advice, we’re going to listen. In a recent TikTok video, the domestic goddess shared an easy hack.
“Run your water warm, and you can use a knife like this, anything stainless steel. Just rub your fingers on it under running water and the smell of garlic disappears,” Stewart explained. Of course, knives carry their own risk, so be careful so you don’t cut yourself.
And, remember, this hack works with anything stainless steel. So if you happen to have a stainless steel sink, you can also run your fingers along that. You could also nab one of these nifty stainless steel odor absorbers like the Rub-a-Way Bar for something specifically dedicated to getting odors off your hands.
@marthastewart My quick tip for keeping clean and fresh while doing Thanksgiving cooking! #marthacooks #tiktokpartner #learnontiktok #thanksgiving #cooking #tiptok ♬ original sound – Martha Stewart
Other Hacks for Getting Garlic Smell Off Your Fingers
If the knife hack seems a little scary, there are other ways to get that garlic smell off your fingers! Here are some of the things you can do:
- Rubbing a citrus fruit, such as lime or lemon, on your hands
- Rubbing coffee grounds into your hands
- Using a salt and baking soda scrub
- Scrubbing with something like vinegar or tomato juice
Of course, you can also eat less garlic… but no one wants to do that!
Recipes for Garlic Lovers
Chicken & Garlic with Fresh HerbsThe key to this savory chicken is the combination of garlic, fresh rosemary and thyme. I like to serve it with mashed potatoes or crusty Italian bread. —Jan Valdez, Lombard, Illinois. Looking for variations? Learn how to make creamy garlic chicken.
Garlic Butter Steak BitesIt takes only a few minutes to enhance a simple sirloin steak. This recipe uses not one but two forms of garlic to really make those flavors shine. —Julie Andrews, Rockford, Michigan
Pasta and Veggies in Garlic SauceBig garlic flavor and a little heat from red pepper flakes help perk up this fresh-tasting pasta dish. It's wonderful with chicken and beef entrees. —Doris Heath, Franklin, North Carolina
Garlic Parmesan WingsTake a bite out of these perfectly seasoned chicken wings. Golden brown and crispy, the skin is flavored with garlic powder, parmesan cheese and herby parsley. Enhance the flavors by dipping it in a garlic parmesan or sriracha mayo sauce, or stick to the classics like bleu cheese and ranch. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Skillet Potatoes with Red Pepper and Whole Garlic ClovesYou'll be surprised that a skillet potato recipe this simple has so much flavor. I love how the whole garlic cloves turn sweet after being caramelized. Yum! —Anita Osborne, Thomasburg, Ontario
Garlic KnotsThese novel garlic knots are handy because they can be made ahead of time and reheated when needed. —Jane Paschke, University Park, Florida
Tomato-Garlic Lentil BowlsAn Ethiopian recipe inspired this feel-good dinner that's tangy, creamy and packed with hearty comfort. —Rachael Cushing, Portland, Oregon
Garlic-Dill Soda BreadIt's amazing how bread can be made in a slow cooker, which is why this recipe is awesome—who knew it could be so simple! Let the inviting aroma of dill and cheese fill your kitchen. —Melissa Hansen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Chicken with Garlic SauceSkip the takeout order and make this 30-minute Chinese chicken with garlic sauce recipe at home. It'll take the same amount of time—without spending extra money or leaving the house!
Onion & Garlic BiscuitsBake a dozen of these oniony, herby biscuits for a little something new in the holiday bread basket. They're also awesome with a bowl of chili, soup or stew. —L. Dorow, Fairmont, Minnesota
Greek Garlic ChickenLively flavors of the Greek Isles come through in this mouthwatering chicken entree. I created this dish so my husband and I could have a nice dinner after a busy day out and about. —Margee Berry, Trout Lake, Washington. If you like this, then you must try Chinese chicken with garlic sauce.
Orzo with SpinachAdd color and flavor to your plate with creamy orzo with spinach. This dish is a balance of comfort and sophistication, perfect for entertaining or a cozy night in.
You can take your dishes to a whole new level by learning how to roast garlic.
Garlic-Ginger Turkey TenderloinsThis good-for-you entree can be on your dinner plates quicker than Chinese takeout—and for a lot less money! Ginger and brown sugar flavor the sauce that spices up the turkey as it bakes. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Garlic Green Beans with GorgonzolaI updated this green bean holiday side dish by adding a touch of white wine, fresh thyme and green onions. It's delicious, easy to make and my family loves it! —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
Mozzarella Mushrooms with Garlic ToastI came up with this dinner using ingredients I had on hand. It turned out to be so delicious, my wife and I now make it for special occasions. —Marc Bushee, Moorhead, Minnesota
Lemon & Garlic New PotatoesThis is a simplified version of a dish my Costa Rican host sister used to make when I was in the Peace Corps. It has become a favorite side dish at my house. —Katie Bartle, Parkville, Missouri
Gingered Short Ribs with Green RiceI love the flavors of Korean cuisine, so I created short ribs for the slow cooker. The dish is beautiful, too! —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Garlic-Mashed Rutabagas & PotatoesMy family absolutely loves mashed potatoes. I created this recipe to lighten up the calories and sneak in a serving of rutabagas. If you have the time, boil the potatoes in chicken broth to add even more flavor. —Rosemary Tatum, Sterlington, Louisiana
Onion-Garlic Bubble BreadI've relied on this bread recipe often over the years. Frozen dough hurries along the golden pull-apart loaf. It's wonderful with Italian dishes, especially spaghetti and lasagna. —Charlene Bzdok, Little Falls, Minnesota
It may also be a nice side to these tasty San Francisco style Vietnamese American garlic noodles.
Garlic-Apple Pork RoastThis is the meal I have become famous for, and it is so simple. The garlic and apple flavors really complement the pork. It's especially good with steamed fresh asparagus and roasted red potatoes. —Jennifer Loos, Washington Boro, Pennsylvania
Tortellini SoupThis quick, easy rustic Italian tortellini soup recipe is flavorful and comforting. Italian sausage, spinach and tender cheese tortellini simmer in a rich tomato broth, creating a soup that cooks for only 20 minutes.
Au Gratin PotatoesOnce you've tried homemade au gratin potatoes, you'll never reach for the boxed stuff again.
Garlic Crescent RollsThe simple comfort of warm crescent rolls gets dressed up with a brush of herbed garlic butter and a shower of Parmesan cheese.
Garlic-Chive Baked FriesYes, you do want fries with that—especially these crispy, golden fries, full of garlic flavor and just a little bit of heat. —Steve Westphal, Wind Lake, Wisconsin
Butter SteakThis garlic butter steak recipe is the restaurant-quality steak you've been looking for. The pan-seared steak is deliciously rich and garlicky, and the butter makes it oh, so tender—even if you use a budget cut like top sirloin or flat iron steak.
Creamy Lemon PastaSilky strands of fettuccine tangle in a lemon-garlic sauce in this creamy lemon pasta. Pops of fresh tomato, garlic and parsley add flavor, and a finishing sprinkle of lemon zest shines through the richness of the sauce.
Honey-Garlic Glazed MeatballsMy husband and I raise cattle on our farm here in southwestern Ontario, so it's no surprise that we're fond of these saucy meatballs. I know your family will like them, too. —Marion Foster, Kirkton, Ontario. If you enjoyed this recipe, then learn how to make honey garlic chicken.
Garlic Shrimp & Orzo SaladI enjoy cold pasta salads and rice salads, so I decided to make one with orzo, a rice-shaped pasta. Feel free to add other favorite veggies—like asparagus and green beans—and serve with rolls or pita bread. —Valonda Seward, Coarsegold, California
Garlic Lemon ButterThis tangy flavored butter offers a nice change from plain butter and gives a refreshing new taste to an ear of corn. When I serve this on the side during fresh corn season, the same question always gets asked—"What's in the butter that makes it so delicious?" —Margie Wampler, Butler, Pennsylvania
