Microplane Graters

[JohnT]

Ha, I had three of them in the mid 60's - fine, medium and rough. Never touched any food with them as they were for shaping surfboards. And I still have no need for them as my standard box grater does just fine, than you!

[blue_dolphin]

I use my old Mouli for grating most things but love the Microplane for zesting citrus, especially when I want a lot for limoncello or the like. 

I also have and like the Microplane nutmeg grater.

[rotuts]

Soooooooooooo ....

 

 

andiesenji

 

don't have this one, do Ya'

 

 

think  " fluffy "

 

[andiesenji]

Soooooooooooo ....

 

 

andiesenji

 

don't have this one, do Ya'

 

post-68597-0-09284600-1405861253.jpg

 

think  " fluffy "

 

No.  Don't have that one.  I think it appeared well after I bought mine - haven't purchased a new one for at least two years, maybe longer.

I think it is the "two-way" or push-pull grater. 

[rotuts]

yup.

 

keep and eye out.

[emmalish]

I have more than three.  all gotten on sale.  they change models from time to time like cars, so the last model is on sale.

 

this one :

 

Micro.jpg

 

makes incredibly 'fluffy' parmesan grated cheese.

 

I have that exact same one, as well as one larger and one smaller (all three Cuisipro). I use the smaller one most often, for zesting citrus and grating nutmeg. After using a microplane for zesting? I would never go back to anything else. Just look at that zest!

 

The 2 larger ones are usually used for hard cheeses (like you said, FLUFFY!). I do have a box grater that I mostly just use for grating larger quantities of softer cheeses, like cheddar and mozz. I have never, ever used the graters on my food processor. Way too much clean-up!

 

Edited July 25, 2014 by emmalish (log)

[sparrowgrass]

I keep my ginger in the freezer and grate it with the Microplane.  I bought mine in the hardware department, many years ago, and it is still as sharp as ever.

[rotuts]

"""   I keep my ginger in the freezer and grate it with the Microplane  """

 

I also do this.  you just 'plane off a bit of the end to get to the 'fresh' area

 

I also include the skin as the shavings are very fine,

 

Ive also started doing this with garlic, as otherwise a fair amount sprouts or spoils,

[paulraphael]

My main microplane is so dull it was defeated by a lemon today. Time for a new one. 

 

I'm curious which model people prefer. I've noticed just about every professional cook uses the long skinny ones. They seem like they'd be kind of inefficient. Are they popular because they fit easily in a knife roll? 

 

I've always bought the paddle-shaped ones, with a more rectangular plane. They make more sense to me. And can be stuffed into a knife roll if needed.

 

Am I missing something?

[AAQuesada]

This one is my favorite by far. 

 

https://www.microplane.com/professional-series-fine-grater

[FrogPrincesse]

I have both types and prefer the skinny one- it’s easier to navigate around a round surface like a lemon or an orange. The paddle-shaped one is good for cheese. 

[liuzhou]

5 minutes ago, FrogPrincesse said:

I have both types and prefer the skinny one- it’s easier to navigate around a round surface like a lemon or an orange.

 

Me too and what you said is the main reason.

[Laurentius]

Definitely skinny, no handle, just the slip-on guard.  I think some come with two different cuts.

 

Another mention for the West Edge option.

[Chimayo Joe]

I have three Microplane branded graters--the long skinny one, a paddle that's a bit coarser, and a ribbon grater. Which one I use just depends on what I'm grating.

 

Here's another option.  I have the fine version of this Good Cook grater. It has bi-directional teeth, and I like it as well as my Microplanes. They also make a coarser version. I got mine at my local Kroger affiliate for several dollars cheaper than what it's selling for on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Good-Cook-Fine-Zester-Grater/dp/B014RXUEV0/ref=sr_1_6?crid=FPTVKDWC0MBI&keywords=Good+cook+grater&qid=1704354431&sprefix=good+cook+grat%2Caps%2C544&sr=8-6

 

https://www.amazon.com/Good-Cook-Medium-Grater-Zester/dp/B06XDCY785/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=Good+cook+grater&qid=1704356622&sr=8-4

Edited January 4, 2024 by Chimayo Joe
Added another link. (log)

[chromedome]

I have three of the paddle type (one genuine, two knockoffs) and one of the long, skinny zesters, all of them gifts from friends and family. The skinny one in its slipcover lives in the utensil drawer in our main kitchen and gets used several times/week for zesting and/or parm; occasionally for taking a bit of cinnamon from the end of a cinnamon stick.

 

The paddle ones are in a box somewhere in the barn since we moved, about 18 months ago. I haven't seen or looked for them in that time.

[Maison Rustique]

I have the skinny type and it is increasingly difficult for me to hold onto with my arthritic hands. I'd trade it for a paddle type any day.

[gfweb]

Skinny for me.

You are usually planing a small curved object and only a small area is in contact, so a thin grater makes sense as most of the area of a large grater is wasted.

[Tropicalsenior]

On 1/4/2024 at 7:50 AM, Maison Rustique said:

I'd trade it for a paddle type any day.

I used to have a paddle type and I didn't find it any easier to hold onto than the skinny ones. I wound up giving it away. These are the ones that I have presently.

The one that I use most is the one on the right. I probably had it 20 years and I purloined it from my husband's woodworking kit. It's just an ordinary woodworking rasp.

My other favorite one might work better for you as you can hold it in your hand to grate things. It's perfect for parmesan cheese, small amounts of carrot or other vegetables.

 

It's just a tiny box grater with a microplane face. The face measures four and a half inches by 2 in. It doesn't have any brand name on it and it is just something that I picked up at the grocery store.

Edited January 5, 2024 by Tropicalsenior (log)

[liuzhou]

14 minutes ago, Tropicalsenior said:

It's just an ordinary woodworking rasp.

 

Microplanes were originally just woodworking tools until some well-known chefs started using them on food.

Edited January 4, 2024 by liuzhou (log)

[Tropicalsenior]

14 minutes ago, liuzhou said:

until some well-known chefs started using them on food.

And then the price went up 10 times over.

[dcarch]

Don't use woodworking rasp. They are made with hardened tool steel and can rust.

Try Pedicure Rasps, same thing as kitchen microplanes. May be cheaper.

 

dcarch

Edited January 4, 2024 by dcarch (log)

[rotuts]

this style seems to me to be most useful 

 

for the home cook , it was mentioned early on in this thread :

 

and 

 

this version has a more comfortable hand , and might be more slip resistant w wet hands .

 

then there is this style :

 

 

its fine , but has less functional surface , as your grating hand will hit the surface you are usinf

 

before you are able to use the entire grating surface / per grate.

 

indeed these are slightly curved.  but if you grate cheese , or other smaller items

 

thye item grated is conform to the grate's cure after a swipe or two.

 

my current  vote would be the second style pictured above 

 

better less slippery handle , grating area above the surface its used on.

 

Im surprised how cheap genuine microphone branded graters have become.

 

too bad I don't need any .

 

 

 

 

[rotuts]

P.S.:

 

don't over look this style , called ' ribbon '

 

 

its a back and forth style , cutting both up and down

 

it produces a very fluffy grate on hard cheeses.  

 

not essential , but interesting.

[Tropicalsenior]

36 minutes ago, rotuts said:

don't over look this style , called ' ribbon

I have one of those and about the only thing that I use it for is parmesan. That is, when I can find a good chunk of Parmesan.

[Tropicalsenior]

4 hours ago, dcarch said:

Don't use woodworking rasp. They are made with hardened tool steel and can rust.

An ordinary woodworking rasp perhaps, but this is a microplane rasp. Clearly marked microplane and it is stainless steel. I've used it for over 20 years and not a trace of rust. I checked online and unfortunately microplane no longer makes woodworking microplanes. They say because of production problems but they are probably making way more profit on the ones that they make for the kitchen.