Kitchen Essentials: Microplane Grater

Okay, we realize that this isn't quite as crucial to the basics of a kitchen as either a sharp knife or a cast iron pan, but in our minds, it still ranks as a kitchen essential. Why? Because not only do we use our Microplane grater quite frequently, but it does what it is designed to do absolutely flawlessly.

The Microplane was originally a woodworking tool, but made the crossover into the kitchen. According to the company's website:

The big moment came in 1994, when Lorraine Lee, a homemaker in Ottawa, Canada, was making an Armenian orange cake. Out of frustration with her old grater, she picked up a new tool her husband, Leonard, had brought home from their hardware store, Lee Valley Tools. She slid the orange across its blades and was amazed. Lacy shards of zest fell from its surface like snowflakes. The Lees marveled at the tool, ate the cake, then promptly changed the product description in their catalogue.

Like Mrs. Lee, we use the Microplane for zesting, for fresh ginger, and sometimes for grating chocolate to garnish a dessert, but most often, we use it for grating parmesan or pecorino over pasta. The cheese grates effortlessly into light, fluffy bits with the traditional Microplane, or into larger shreds with their ribbon grater. This is one kitchen tool that definitely earns its space in the gadget drawer. The Microplane sells for $12.95 and is available at most kitchen stores.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Laren Spirer in Food on January 24, 2008 3:42 PM

Comments [rss]

Migstradamus

Those are nearly as essential as a Mexican lime press. That's the kitchen item that the greatest number of my guests have coveted. Just about everyone I know has one now. A good big one can handle small to medium lemons, too. Fast and clean, and cheap.

If you have a hand crank cheese grater you can usually take out the bladed cylinder and use it for zesting fruit. Microplanes are a lot easier to clean though.

Migstradamus

Those are nearly as essential as a Mexican lime press. That's the kitchen item that the greatest number of my guests have coveted. Just about everyone I know has one now. A good big one can handle small to medium lemons, too. Fast and clean, and cheap.

If you have a hand crank cheese grater you can usually take out the bladed cylinder and use it for zesting fruit. Microplanes are a lot easier to clean though.

Rocknrope

Toby, cheddar isn't really a "soft" cheese as I know soft cheeses, like brie. But it works effectively on cheddar. Obviously, you get a much finer grate than with a box grater. Microplane also has different graters for different foods (cheese, citrus, etc.)

Toby von Meistersinger

It sounds brilliant, but how is it for grating softer cheeses like cheddar?

bklynd

I also really like my microplane grater. And my olive pitter. But that's about the extent of my kitchen happiness.

Jenelle

I can safely say that the Microplane has changed my life. Absolutely everything gets some kinda of zest on it! Great idea Rocknrope about keeping two.

Jenelle

I can safely say that the Microplane has changed my life. Absolutely everything gets some kinda of zest on it! Great idea Rocknrope about keeping two. :)

Jenelle

I can safely say that the Microplane has changed my life. Absolutely *everythings* gets some kinda of zest on it! Great idea Rocknrope about keeping two. :)

Rocknrope

I love my Microplanes, but I have to add that I have two of them - one specifically for zesting fruits and the other for harder items like cheese and nutmeg. I started with just one, but after I used it for nutmeg, I realized that it definitely wasn't as sharp as before, and that zesting limes on it was not as easy. If you only want to get one, I'd keep use specifically for fruits and soft items, and use the small grates on a box grater for cheese and nuts.

Laren Spirer

A knife? But of course.

Believe it or not there are many New Yorkers who actually use their kitchens for something other than reheating leftover takeout.