Graters
Shred fresh parmigiano reggiano on your spaghetti, zest citrus fruits with ease, or make nutmeg or cocoa powder for cappucinos and desserts.
| Types of Graters |
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"Classic" Graters  - Can have a few grating textures or just one.
- Either way, has a flat surface.
- Some have a "stand" at the bottom to rest the grater against your counter or cutting board.
- Small size isn't great for large jobs (like macaroni and cheese for eight).
- Look for a comfortable handle.
- Make sure you have at least two different graters available -- one grater will not be enough for all jobs.
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Box Graters - Box or pyramid cheese graters are the classic models.
- With up to six different sides you can grate, shred, dust and zest anything you want.
- Some have plastic attachments that slide up and down the box to aid in your shredding; others come with built-in trays to assist in collecting your food bits.
- Look for a really sturdy handle -- you don't want something covered with sharp edges to fly off in the wrong direction.
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Rotary Graters - Rotary graters come in plastic and stainless steel.
- Durable plastic is less expensive than the stainless steel and often works just as well, if not better.
- A cordless, electric cheese grater is a more expensive option.
- Will work on hard cheeses (great for parmigiano!), chocolate, spices, and nuts.
- Most disassemble for quick and easy cleaning.
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One Grater to Rule Them All? - Microplane is a brand of grater made by a different technique from most graters.
- Microplane graters have been featured in cooking magazines and on tv shows as a revolution in grating.
- Many of them are file-shaped; this is partially because Microplane started as a wood file manufacturer.
- Generally very well reviewed; the Microplane grater/zester (the finest shred) had a five star average with 195 reviews on Amazon.
- They are very, very, very sharp. At least, they are when you first get them - a few reviewers complained about them getting dull in a few months. In general, however, Microplane graters are very popular and well-liked.
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External Links
To Buy Cheese...
(US)