Grating Can Be Fun...Really?
Do you have that one or two things that just aren’t your favorite things to do in the kitchen? Mine used to be chopping vegetables and fruit until I learned the proper way to do it in school. Now I would have to say that grating is my least favorite task. There are many different grating devices available now and if you have the proper ones for what you are grating it will make the job much easier.
The box grater is what I grew up using for everything that needed grated. It usually has at least four different grating surfaces. A fine blade for grating hard cheeses like parmesan and also chocolate. The course blade for grating most vegetables and softer cheeses. A slicer designed for a variety of vegetables and the last side a ginger grater. I have to admit was never exposed to fresh ginger as a kid so never new how to use the fourth side. The box grater is great for grating smaller amounts of food.
The microplane grater has become widely used in kitchens today. Microplane graters vary in size but the surface is usually the same. There are a series of small raised blades with super sharp edges. As the name would imply this grater is perfect for achieving finely grated product. A microplane is perfect for zesting citrus, grating fresh nutmeg, hard cheeses and garlic.
Tip for zesting citrus with a microplane: Hold the fruit in the palm of your secondary hand, palm up. With your other hand draw the microplane over the top of the fruit using a motion as if you were filing the fingernails of the hand holding the fruit. This will result in the microplane holding the zest and allow you to estimate when you have zested the amount needed.
Most modern food processors and some stand mixers come with attachments for grating foods. These attachments are great for doing large jobs but the process of getting them ready to grate can often take longer than grating on a simple box grater.
Which ever device you decide on grating should no longer grate on you!
As I mentioned yesterday I will add a recipe tomorrow that will use several of the tools I have discussed this week. The one I am thinking will used at least 3 and maybe 4. Can you guess what it is?
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