--- title: "Smash: what it means in cooking — Tiny Plates" description: "To smash is to flatten or break food with a sharp blow or firm press, as with garlic under a knife, cucumbers for salad, boiled potatoes or burger patties." url: "https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/smash" --- # Smash To smash is to flatten or break food with a sharp blow or firm press, as with garlic under a knife, cucumbers for salad, boiled potatoes or burger patties. Also called Smashed, Smashing. To smash means to flatten or break food apart with force, using the flat of a knife, a rolling pin, a pan or your palm. The result is rough and uneven on purpose. The rough surface soaks up dressing, crisps in a hot pan or lets out juice and flavor. ## How to do it **Garlic:** lay a [clove](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/clove) on the board, place the flat of a wide knife or [cleaver](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/cleaver) on top with the edge facing away from you, and press or tap it with the heel of your hand. The skin splits and the clove flattens. **Cucumbers:** 1. Lay a cucumber on the board and cover it with the flat of a cleaver or a rolling pin. 2. Press or tap firmly along its length until it cracks open. 3. Break it into bite-sized pieces with your hands or a knife. 4. Salt it lightly, let it drain for 10 to 15 minutes, then dress it. **Potatoes:** 1. Boil small potatoes until tender. 2. Drain them and let them steam dry for a few minutes. 3. Press each one flat on an oiled tray with the bottom of a glass, to about 1.5 cm (1/2 inch) thick. 4. Roast at 220°C (425°F) until [golden brown](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/golden-brown) and crisp, about 30 to 40 minutes. **Burgers:** press a ball of [ground meat](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/ground-meat) hard onto a very hot skillet with a sturdy spatula in the first minute of cooking, to make a thin patty with a dark, crisp crust. ## Why it works Smashing breaks food along its natural weak lines instead of cutting it clean. The torn, uneven surface has more nooks for dressing and more edges to brown. ## Common mistakes * Hitting a knife with your fist with the edge facing you. Keep the edge pointing away and use your palm. * Smashing potatoes before they are soft. They crack into chunks instead of flattening. * Pressing a burger again after it has started to brown. It squeezes out the juices. Smash once, early, then leave it alone. ## In recipes "Smashed garlic" means a clove flattened but still whole, which flavors oil or a sauce and is often lifted out. Garlic broken down more finely is [crushed](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/crush). ## Recipes that use this technique 22 recipes from the sites we collect. * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2022/04/smash-burgers.jpg)Smash Burgerswww.onceuponachef.com · 20 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/smash-burgers.html) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Wonton-Soup-7.jpg)Easy Wonton Soupwww.skinnytaste.com · 30 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wonton-soup/) * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2019/09/fusilli-alla-caprese.jpg)Fusilli alla Capresewww.onceuponachef.com · 30 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/fusilli-alla-caprese.html) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Garlicky-Escarole-and-Chickpea-Soup-with-Garlic-Toast-5.jpg)Escarole and Chickpea Soup with Garlic Toastwww.skinnytaste.com · 25 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/escarole-and-chickpea-soup-with-garlic-toast/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Cilantro-Lime-Chili-Roasted-Cauliflower.jpg)Cilantro-Lime Roasted Cauliflowerwww.skinnytaste.com](https://www.skinnytaste.com/cilantro-lime-roasted-cauliflower/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Mediterranean-Sea-Bass-10.jpg)Mediterranean Sea Basswww.skinnytaste.com · 35 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/mediterranean-sea-bass/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Baked-Tostones-2.jpg)Baked Tostones (Green Plantains)www.skinnytaste.com · 30 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/baked-tostones-green-plantains/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Roasted-Cauliflower-Turmeric-Soup-1-3.jpg)Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower Soupwww.skinnytaste.com · 60 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/turmeric-roasted-cauliflower-soup/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/OrecchiettewithChickenSausageandBroccoli.jpg)Orecchiette Pasta with Chicken Sausage and Broccoliwww.skinnytaste.com · 20 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/orecchiette-pasta-with-chicken-sausage/) * [![](https://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/Chili-Garlic-Pappardelle-Square.png?fit=225%2C225)Chili Garlic Pappardelle with Smashed Broccoli and Soft Eggspinchofyum.com · 40 min](https://pinchofyum.com/chili-garlic-pappardelle-with-smashed-broccoli-and-soft-eggs) * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2024/04/baked-cod-with-tomatoes-and-chickpeas.jpg)Baked Cod with Tomatoes & Chickpeaswww.onceuponachef.com · 45 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/baked-cod-with-tomatoes-chickpeas.html) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/swiss-chard.jpg)Rainbow Swiss Chardwww.skinnytaste.com](https://www.skinnytaste.com/rainbow-swiss-chard/) ## Related terms * [CrushTo crush is to break food apart with pressure instead of a clean cut, as with garlic under a knife blade or spices in a mortar, to release more flavor.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/crush) * [CloveA clove is one segment of a garlic bulb. Here is how big a clove is, how much minced garlic it gives, and what to do when sizes vary.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/clove) * [CleaverA cleaver is a broad, rectangular knife. Heavy ones chop through bone, while thin Chinese cleavers slice vegetables. Here is how they differ.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/cleaver) * [Ground meatGround meat is meat put through a grinder, used in burgers, meatballs and sauces. In the UK it is mince, in Sweden köttfärs. Cook it to 71°C (160°F).](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/ground-meat) * [Golden brownGolden brown is the deep, even gold color food turns as it browns in the oven or pan. It signals flavor from browning and that baked goods are cooked.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/golden-brown) [More in knife skills and preparation](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/category/knife-skills)[Every term from A to Z](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary)