Of course, Martha’s is best—but these other tips work well too.
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Home cooks and culinary pros alike love garlic, whether it’s garlic bread, chicken cooked with 20 cloves, or a tomato tart with roasted garlic and fontina cheese. However, most people could do without that lingering garlic scent that permeates hands and fingertips. Thankfully, with these five strategies in your back pocket, you’ll be able to rid your palms and digits of the pungent odor in no time.
Why Does Garlic Smell So Strongly?
Your signature stuffed eggplant or steamed artichokes with lemon-garlic aioli wouldn’t be the same without this member of the allium family, but there’s a scientific reason garlic wreaks so strongly, leaving its stamp on your breath and hands alike. “The pungent smell of garlic is produced when its cell walls are ruptured and crushed, releasing an enzyme that breaks itself down, producing sulfur compounds—which is what we recognize as that distinct smell as well as spicy taste,” says Albert Nguyen, chef-instructor of culinary arts at the Institute of Culinary Education.
Nguyen recommends always using a sharp knife to slice or chop garlic, so the garlic cells are cleanly sliced instead of being crushed by a dull knife. The way you cut your garlic can make a difference in how intense the resulting eau de garlique is. Nguyen says the finer the garlic is chopped/minced/grated, the more the cells are being ruptured and exposed to its enzymes. Accordingly, if you want to avoid that strong smell, he suggests slicing the garlic instead of mincing it. And if you really can’t stand the smell of garlic on your hands, he suggests using a garlic press, even though this will result in a milder taste of garlic in the dish.
I’ve always found it fascinating how something as simple as how you cut garlic can change not just the flavor but also how much it lingers on your hands. When I’m prepping for a big dinner, I’ll often opt for a garlic press if I’m short on time—it’s a lifesaver for keeping that smell at bay, even if the dish loses a bit of that bold garlic punch. Scientifically, the sulfur compounds like allicin are the culprits, and they’re released in higher amounts when garlic is crushed or minced. A study from the Journal of Food Science notes that allicin can linger on skin for hours if not properly addressed, which is why these removal methods are so handy. If you’re like me and love garlic but hate the aftermath, try slicing instead of mincing next time—it’s a small tweak that makes a big difference.
Martha’s Method
Martha has a quick and easy technique for getting the garlic smell off your fingers—and it’s our favorite: Under warm running water, carefully rub your fingers over a stainless steel item like the spine of a knife (the flat back edge of the knife opposite the blade) or a stainless steel bowl.
This method is pure genius in its simplicity, and I’ve used it countless times after chopping garlic for my favorite pasta sauce. The science behind it is pretty cool: stainless steel molecules bind with sulfur compounds, effectively neutralizing them. I’ve found that using the back of a knife works best when I’m already at the sink cleaning up—it’s one less thing to grab. For best results, make sure the water is warm, not hot, as overly hot water can dry out your skin. If you don’t have a stainless steel bowl handy, even a spoon can work in a pinch, though it might take a bit more rubbing. This trick is not only effective but also costs nothing since you likely already have a stainless steel item in your kitchen.
The Sink Method
This strategy is similar to Martha’s method and is ideal for anyone who has a stainless steel kitchen sink (the most popular material for kitchen sinks due to its rust-resistant and easy-to-clean properties). Wash your hands with soap and water. “This gets rid of most of the volatile compounds that make your hands smell,” says Nguyen. Rub your fingertips somewhere around your sink while you are washing or rinsing them. This will remove the remaining sulfur compounds on your hand, says Nguyen, noting that the sulfur compounds on your finger will bind to the stainless steel on your faucet or sink.
I love this method because it’s so practical—who doesn’t have a sink nearby when cooking? I’ve noticed that rubbing my hands on the faucet while rinsing works especially well if I’ve been handling a lot of garlic. According to a culinary tip shared in a Cook’s Illustrated article, the stainless steel’s ability to neutralize odors comes from its chromium content, which reacts with sulfur to reduce the smell. If your sink isn’t stainless steel, you might not get the same results, so consider investing in a small stainless steel item for this purpose. It’s a low-cost, low-effort hack that makes cleanup feel like less of a chore.
The Steel Soap Bar Method
Another riff on Martha’s method for removing the smell of garlic from your hand, this variation calls for buying a stainless steel odor remover bar, which looks like a bar of soap but is made of stainless steel. Like the methods above, it is used under running water.
I was skeptical about steel soap bars at first, but after trying one, I’m hooked. They’re super convenient and designed specifically for odor removal, so you don’t have to rummage through your kitchen for a knife or bowl. A quick search online shows these bars typically cost between $5 and $15, making them an affordable addition to your kitchen tools. The trick is to rub it like you would a regular bar of soap—under running water for about 30 seconds. I’ve found it works best if you focus on the fingertips, where the garlic smell tends to cling the most. Plus, they last forever since they don’t wear down like regular soap, so it’s a one-time purchase that pays off.
The Baking Soda Method
Using baking soda will counteract the smell of garlic on your hands thanks to its alkaline properties, says Vandana Sheth, RDN, CDCES, FAND, and author of My Indian Table: Quick & Tasty Vegetarian Recipes. Create a paste with a few pinches of baking soda and water. Rub the paste into your hands before washing them with soap.
Baking soda is my go-to when I want a deep clean that leaves my hands feeling fresh. I keep a small container of it in my kitchen because it’s so versatile—not just for cooking but for tackling odors like this. The alkaline nature of baking soda neutralizes the acidic sulfur compounds, which is why it’s so effective. A quick tip: don’t overdo the paste; a little goes a long way, and too much can leave your hands feeling gritty. I’ve also found that combining this method with a scented hand soap afterward makes my hands smell amazing. Baking soda is dirt cheap—usually under $1 for a box—so it’s a budget-friendly option for anyone looking to banish garlic odor.
The Lemon Juice Method
This is similar to the baking soda method. The acidity of lemon juice also neutralizes the garlic smell on your hands. Sheth suggests rubbing lemon juice over your hands. Then, rinsing the juice off and washing your hands with soap. Alternatively, Michelle Doll Olson, senior culinary development manager at meal kit company HelloFresh has found that washing a whole lemon in tepid water or rubbing a slice of lemon peel on your hands will take care of the smell and leave your hands pleasantly lemony.
There’s something so refreshing about using lemon to get rid of garlic smell—it’s like a little burst of sunshine after a garlicky cooking session. I’ve tried both the juice and the peel method, and I love how the peel leaves a subtle citrus scent without the stickiness of juice. Lemons are acidic enough to break down sulfur compounds, and a study from the American Chemical Society highlights how citrus acids can neutralize odors effectively. If you’re out of fresh lemons, bottled lemon juice works too, though fresh is always best for that zesty aroma. Just be careful if you have any small cuts on your hands, as the acid can sting a bit. A single lemon costs about 50 cents, so this method is both effective and wallet-friendly.
