Kuhn Rikon Epicurean vs Zyliss Susi 3 Garlic Presses: Compare Cleanup

The useful difference between these garlic presses appears after the garlic reaches the bowl. Kuhn Rikon's stainless steel Epicurean 2315 gives access through a sieve that swings outward. Zyliss's cast-aluminum Susi 3 keeps a cleaning tool in its handle. Both are substitutes for the same task: producing fine garlic with a hand-squeezed press.

Choose one by the cleaning step you are willing to repeat. Neither eliminates retained skin, washing or the need to squeeze. A knife remains the more flexible choice when recipes call for slices or coarse pieces rather than pressed garlic.

Compare access with a tool kept close by

The Epicurean's first buying reason is its opening sieve. That mechanism exposes the perforated surface and pressing area so you can reach trapped material more directly. It is a specific design advantage for someone whose existing fixed basket is awkward to clear.

The Susi 3 approaches the same problem with a cleaner stored in the handle. Its first buying reason is keeping the dedicated accessory with the press instead of loose in a drawer. Remove the cleaner when needed, clear residue and return it to its storage position.

These are different methods, not proof that either tool cleans faster in every kitchen. The open sieve still needs inspection. A stored cleaner still has to be used and put back. Pick the arrangement that fits the way you actually wash utensils after cooking, rather than assuming either press will be self-cleaning.

Check what construction changes in daily use

The Epicurean is the stainless steel model 2315. That is its second buying reason for someone specifically seeking a steel press alongside the hinged cleaning arrangement. Confirm the model before purchase: the brand also sells other garlic presses with different bodies and mechanisms.

The Susi 3 uses cast aluminum with polypropylene and an Ilaflon coating, according to Zyliss's specifications. Its large chamber is the second buying reason for someone who wants room for garlic preparation while keeping the cleaner on the tool. It is not an all-stainless equivalent simply because its exterior looks metallic.

Construction does not establish comfort by itself. Both use leverage through handles that the cook must squeeze, and chamber loading affects the job. Consider whether that motion is comfortable for you. This comparison has no controlled grip-force or durability test, so it cannot rank either press as universally easier or longer-lasting.

Unpeeled garlic changes prep, not the whole workflow

Both makers describe pressing unpeeled cloves. Skipping individual peeling can help when fine garlic needs to disperse into a dressing, sauce or other mixture. The remaining skin and residue then become a cleanup task inside the press.

Leave space for the mechanism to work and clear retained material between loads when necessary. A larger chamber should not be read as unlimited capacity or a guarantee that several firm cloves require the same force as one. Follow the chosen product's loading directions rather than treating every ingredient that fits as suitable.

If you usually want sliced garlic, neither product answers that need well. If garlic is occasional and chopping already fits your cutting-board routine, buying either may add a utensil to wash without removing much work. The value comes from a repeated preparation preference, not from owning a specialized tool.

Read the care advice before paying for convenience

Kuhn Rikon calls the Epicurean dishwasher safe while recommending hand washing and air drying. That gives a clear distinction between an allowed cleaning method and the maker's preferred routine. Open the sieve, remove food and inspect the holes before storage.

Zyliss's current Susi 3 page is less consistent. Its description and care section say dishwasher safe, while its FAQ recommends hand washing for the aluminum construction. The conservative purchase expectation is prompt rinsing and hand washing. Ask the maker for clarification if dishwasher-only care is essential to your household.

Choose the Epicurean when stainless steel and direct sieve access address a recurring annoyance. Choose the Susi 3 when the chamber and stored cleaner suit your routine and you accept hand care. Compare current delivered prices through each product's link; no stale price establishes today's value. Keep the knife or an existing press when neither cleaning design solves a problem you regularly have.