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Do you own a Microplane Grater?
December 5, 2008
Whenever I need to grate or zest ginger, garlic, citrus peel, Himalayan Crystal Rock Salt, cacao, nutmeg, or cinnamon effortlessly and with ease, I reach for my Microplane grater.
I previously wrote about the Microplane (original post here) and have reposted it below.
“Good kitchen tools that help get the job done quick and efficient are high on my must have list. Among my favorite time saving little helpers is the Microplane Grater/Zester.
Anyone I’ve spoken to who owns one sings it’s praises and I sing along with them.
Modeled on a woodworker’s plane, these handy utensils shred everything with ease. Here the discovery of the microplane is retold as printed on the packing of the brand American Microplane.
Two brothers invented the Microplane as a woodworking tool – in 1994 a Canadian homemaker was making an orange cake & out of frustration with her old grater, “borrowed” the new tool her husband had brought home from their hardware store. She slid the orange across the blade & lacy shards of zest fell from its surface like snowflakes.
Personally, I am grateful for the day that old worn out grater failed to deliver. It is a wonderful thing how necessity birthed this brilliant kitchen gem.
Before investing in one, consider what you’ll be grating most. There are many sizes and style available. For example, grating and zesting citrus peel, garlic, onions, and nutmeg is a breeze with the smaller version. The larger tool is great for grating coconut to dust over desserts. Either way,
I doubt you’ll regret owning this cool kitchen tool.”
I couldn’t have rewritten it any better and to sum it up, the Microplane grater is superior in ever way, they have a wide range of kitchen grates, and a blade for all your grating needs. Once you use a Microplane grater/zester you’ll be hooked, and you’ll have fun zesting and grating all sorts of foods and spices. This is one kitchen tool universally admired by culinary enthusiasts of all stripes.
Three helpful tips for using your Microplane
Rinse your grater in warm water after every use.
Replace the protective cover of the blade when not in use.
Answering the question below enters you in the draw for an Extra Coarse Microplane Grater. This grater blade is excellent for grating apples, cabbage, chunks of cacao, and nuts.
Tell us why you’d like to own a Microplane grater, and if you already own one, tell us your experience with it, and how often you use it.
Thank you to the people at Microplane USA for offering this superior tool to one of our lucky readers.
Happy Zesting!
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Comments
28 Comments so far
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I don’t own a microplane grater, but the Hungarian Mother does (naturally) and she sings its praises. Guess I better get with the program and get one now that I actually cook (although the Hungarian Mother would argue that point).
I own a fine microplane grater. They don’t really cost much and when you factor in the beautiful shavings that come from it so quickly and easily you won’t even care about the price (I think I only paid $10). It has given my perfectly minced/pureed garlic, melt on your tongue citrus zest, and perfectly fine nut & chocolate shavings for topping cakes.
I’m really curious about the extra course. I’m sure it’s also wonderful!
Oooo…your posts are like meaningful, yummy Christmas presents of education!
I have few kitchen tools, as I prefer keeping things simple and manual. And I’ve never really been an appliance/gadget person.
However…this raw food experience has me craving a few perfect tools ripe for the job. And I can clearly see why this is one of them!
I can’t wait to learn more about Mandolin’s, too!
Your teaching rocks.
:o)
I don’t have one, but I think I might get one now! I use one that’s just a bit bigger than that, but I think I’d like to get my zest on in a finer way!
Thanks for the tips!
I don’t own a microplane grater, but I love the affect you are getting with the citrus zest. Having the right tool for a job is one of the most satisfying experiences in the world.
i own a cheap one from publix, and i hate it. i’d love to have my mind changed with one that actually works : )
Truly, for those of you who don’t already own a microplane, I hope you win! And if you don’t win, they are worth every penny. I got a fine one last year, and just got a 4 sided microplane grater that can do a fine zest up to a mandoline style slice.
With fine plane, citrus zesting is effortless, and the result is fine enough to use in any food context (dressings, desserts, drinks, decoration). When I do marinated vegetables, I usually make an oil and citrus juice dressing. I zest the citrus into the oil, then cut and squeeze the citrus fruit. What a marvelous flavor! I love lemon with broccoli, lime with cabbage (add some sesame oil and cilantro chiffonade as well), orange in fruit salads.
Or, raw apple crumble or pie – use microplane for nutmeg and cinnamon, then zest a lemon or orange, as you are going to use citrus juice anyway for it’s anti-oxidation effect on the apples (do nutmeg and cinnamon first as they are dry in comparison to citrus zest, save yourself a wash).
PS Just commenting on one of my kitchen faves, keep me out of drawing!
I just recently purchased the Microplane box grater, which has 3 different graters on it. I absolutely adore it. I’ve heard about the greatness of Microplane for years, but didn’t fully appreciate it until I had one.
I used a microplaner at the local community supported kitchen and fell in love with it. I need one because my grater just doesn’t do it justice!
Microplaner!!! I can’t wait. I am ready to zest!
while i do enjoy my grater, i find that because im a pretty big airhead i always grate my thumb, though it is a small price to pay :( … plus girls think my scars are hot
Hi and welcome Will! Ha! You’re funny.
I’ve used a microplane grater at my friend’s kitchen, and it’s so useful and easy. I’d love to own one myself, right now I usually cut the rind off of citrus and chop it into small pieces when a recipe asks for zest. this process is quite tedious and i can never cut the zest fine enough, i usually end up removing it before serving.
Hmm… picturing how much simpler my life would be if I had one for ginger root.
Welcome Erin! I use it to zest ginger root and it works like a charm, it’s so easy.
I have used a citrus zester for a long time – although the strips of zest are very pretty, it’s actually not the most efficient way to de-zest the fruit, plus on any fruit’s skin that is a bit yielding it’s almost impossible to use. I now have a tiny little cheapo copy of a microplane zester, but quite frankly I think my fingers are in peril of losing several layers of skin every time I use it, and I have been wanting to upgrade ever since I bought that little disaster. I can’t deny my interest in the Microplane grater, and the extra-coarse model would be brilliant for my delicious Thai green papaya salad
Hi Maddy and welcome! Thai Green Papaya Salad ~ sounds yummy!
hey..
wonderful info on the microplane… i owned a cheap cheap one for only a few days and then the thing broke… no fun… so it has been on my little wish list for some time now..
as someone who starts almost every meal with onions and garlic i would love the microplane option… and for some reason i am sort of anti garlic press…. maybe i like that garlic on my fingers?? ha
anyho.. wonderful site and please keep doing what you do!
jonathan
dailydesignspot.com
Hi and welcome Jonathan! I stopped by your site, very nice. I like the images.
I don’t own one but I’ve been coveting one since I first heard about them. Zesting a citrus fruit and ginger is a chore to do on a conventional grater so a microplane would help out given that I bake so often. Thanks for the tips!
Welcome to Raw Epicurean Helen!
I don’t have an extra coarse microplane, but I do have the regular one which I cannot live without. Zesting citrus and grating cheese into fine cloudy fluffs are all [grate], but I especially love to use it for fresh nutmeg! I buy 1 pound of whole nutmegs @ Atlantic Spice Co. for around $8 and they last forever in the freezer. The microplane makes the perfect nutmeg grater!
Hi Lauren and welcome! I’m a Microlplane nutmeg zesting fan also.
I love the microplane grater. After I finish zesting citrus fruit, I turn it over and squeeze the fruit. It catches all the seeds and pulp. Plus I love using it for cheese. I am putting one in my mom’s Christmas stocking.
Welcome Abby! How sweet are you to stuff your Mom’s Christmas stocking with a Microplane! What a great tip, I’ll try it.
I’d like to own a microplane grater because I’m striving to create more home-made foods from whole natural ingredients. Being able to quickly and effectively grate fresh ingredients would surely help with dinner prep!
I love my microplane fine zester. I use it several times a week. I think my favorite use is with parmesean. It’s definitely much better than any zester I’ve ever used.
I love mine so much. I have the really fine-grating one, oh, how I love it. I use it for so many things. I really love it for parmesan and other really hard cheeses…turns them into fluffy, cloudy goodness.
I have an old grater and I have difficulties with lemon peels and also the cocoa butter sticks in its teeth. But it’s great with vegetables. A new one would come handy :)
I own one of these graters. It is one of my favorite tools. Zesting citrus peel is great, as well as grating a little chocolate dust over a dessert. I’ve even done Ginger root with it.
I love, love, love mine and wonder what I did beforehand. Do not put me in raffle, I have a great one! But definitely recommend it!
Hi Laurel – I don’t remember what I did before owning one either. Thanks for stopping by.
I used to own a microplane grater, but I gave it to my burgeoning chef roommate a few years ago. I owned the fine grater and used that to zest my citrus fruits. I also used it to make fine shreds of apple and zucchini as well.
I WORK AT A VERY BUSY RESORT AND WHEN I STARTED I DID NOT HAVE A MICROPLANE. I RECENTLY GOT ONE AND HAVE CUT MY WORK BACK BY AT LEAST AN HOUR!!! i LOVE YOU MICROPLANE!!!!!
Hi Patrick – they do have great tools to ease prep work and help create eye-appealing dishes. Thanks for your comment.
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Why does my microplaner go blunt
Barabara – I directed your question to my contact at Microplane. Here’s the answer: