How to Use Different Types of Graters

Graters are a common kitchen tool used to shred or grate food items like cheese, vegetables, fruits, and more. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, each designed for a specific task. In this article, we will explore the different types of graters and how to use them.

Box Grater

The box grater is the most common type of grater, and it features four sides with different-sized holes. The larger holes are for shredding cheese or vegetables, while the smaller holes are for grating hard ingredients like ginger or nutmeg. To use a box grater, hold it at an angle and move the food item up and down against the side with the desired hole size.

Microplane Grater

The Microplane grater is a versatile tool that is used to grate hard ingredients like cheese, ginger, garlic, or chocolate. The Microplane grater has razor-sharp teeth that produce fine shavings, making it perfect for grating hard ingredients. To use a Microplane grater, hold it at an angle and move the food item over the teeth in a back-and-forth motion.

Rotary Grater

The rotary grater is a type of grater that features a cylinder with sharp blades inside that rotate when a crank is turned. The rotary grater is more efficient than other types of graters, resulting in finer shavings of cheese or vegetables. To use a rotary grater, place the food item in the cylinder and turn the crank to grate the food item into small shavings.

Electric Grater

An electric grater is a tool that features a motor that powers the blades, making it effortless to grate large quantities of ingredients quickly. Electric graters are available in various sizes and shapes, allowing for greater versatility in the kitchen. To use an electric grater, place the food item in the feeder tube, and the motor will grate the food item into small shavings.

Mandoline

The mandoline is a versatile tool used to slice vegetables and fruits thinly and evenly. The mandoline features a sharp blade that can be adjusted to produce slices of varying thickness. To use a mandoline, place the food item on the sliding platform and run it back and forth over the blade to create thin slices.

Cheese Plane

A cheese plane is a type of grater that is used to slice hard cheeses into thin, even slices. The cheese plane features a flat, sharp blade that is used to shave off thin slices of cheese. To use a cheese plane, place the blade at the edge of the cheese block and use a back-and-forth motion to shave off thin slices.

Zester

A zester is a type of grater that is used to remove the zest from citrus fruits like lemons, limes, or oranges. The zester features small, sharp holes that are used to create thin strips of zest without removing the bitter white pith. To use a zester, move the fruit across the holes in a back-and-forth motion to create thin strips of zest.

Flat Grater

A flat grater is a type of grater that features a flat surface with small, sharp holes. It is typically used to grate hard cheeses, vegetables, or fruits. To use a flat grater, hold the grater at an angle and move the food item over the holes in a back-and-forth motion.

Box Zester

A box zester is a type of grater that is used to remove the zest from citrus fruits like lemons, limes, or oranges. It features a box-like design with small, sharp holes on one side. To use a box zester, place the fruit inside the box and move it back and forth over the holes to create thin strips of zest.