Microplane 48310 Ginger Tool 3in1 Grate Peel Slice Stainless steel / White / Grey

Product Information

Reaching into a drawer can sometimes lead to unexpected cuts when there's a zester or grater in there. Some of these tools have covers that go over them to protect your hands—and potentially your little ones' hands. Decide if this is an important feature for you when selecting one.

These little tools are up for most any job in the kitchen that involves, grating, zesting, shaving, and shredding, from making perfectly shaved nibs of chocolate for toppings to grating the finest pieces of citrus zest to go into those baked goods you're making.First made in 1991, the Microplane grater has a sharp edge carved into each of its teeth using a chemical process called photo-etching, which makes for a series of tiny blades that can slice off very even bits of just about anything. (No, really, anything: The Microplane was first sold as a woodworking tool that produces easy-to-collect shreds instead of sawdust. It didn’t catch on among cooks until a few years later.) This is a really durable item and will last a long time if you keep it clean and dry—I’m still using the same one I bought when I was setting up my first apartment well over 10 years ago. We’re using “Microplane” to refer to the brand’s best-known, original product—the classic grater—but the Microplane brand now also makes a variety of kitchen tools, ironically including box graters.) Use a box grater to grate peeled ginger. Use the large holes of the grater and apply pressure as you grate.

A Microplane grater is an essential tool in the chef’s knife roll, and any chef will tell you they go through a lot of these over the years—a lot.As a chef, Renu Dhar has used her fair share of these tools for baking and cooking. In fact, some of the ones she's used in the past and liked are on this list. A microplane grater is small and sleek grater. It works just like a traditional grater, except its holes are smaller—micro, you could say. (Get it?) Normally, on one end is a long, thin piece of metal covered in tiny holes with sharp, slightly raised edges. The other end has a handle made of plastic or rubber. Is a microplane grater better than a grater?The weakness of box graters in general is that they’re awkward to use in tight spaces. It’s tough to hold one over a hot stove while you grate, and the large opening at the bottom makes it hard to grate accurately over an individual plate, soup bowl, or drinking glass. This particular model is also one of the more expensive box graters out there—but on the other hand, it’ll last for years and years and is still not a huge investment compared to most other kitchen implements. It takes about three times longer to grate 1-inch of ginger on a ceramic grater than a rasp grater. I would cry if I had to use it to grate large amounts.