How to Use a Cheese Grater

A cheese grater? It's a kitchen essential! It can turn a big chunk of cheese into fine shavings, thicker shreds, or even tiny bits. Whether you're adding a sprinkle of cheese to pasta, topping a salad, or making a pizza, the right cheese grater can make all the difference. It affects how your meal tastes and how it looks!

What Kind of Grater Should You Get?

There are lots of different cheese graters out there. Each one is designed for a specific purpose and works best with different cheeses. Here are some common types:

• Box Grater: This is your classic, all-purpose grater. It has four sides with different grating surfaces: fine, coarse, shredding, and slicing. It's like the Swiss army knife of graters!
• Microplane Grater: This grater has super-sharp blades. It makes really fine shavings, perfect for zesting lemons or limes and grating hard cheeses like Parmesan. You can even use it to make cheese dust!
• Rotary Grater: Imagine a spinning drum with sharp blades. That's a rotary grater! It makes quick work of grating big chunks of cheese. It's great for making cheese toppings or salads.
• Drum Grater: It's similar to the rotary grater, but it has a drum with sharp blades that spin against a stationary base. This is handy for grating large blocks of cheese.
• Handheld Grater: These small, portable graters are perfect for grating small amounts of cheese right over your food.

Choosing the Right Grater for You

When you're looking for a cheese grater, think about these things:

• What kind of cheese do you use? For hard cheeses like Parmesan or cheddar, a box grater with coarse or shredding surfaces is best. If you use softer cheeses like mozzarella or feta, you'll want a fine grater or a microplane grater.
• How much cheese do you grate at once? If you're always grating large amounts of cheese, a rotary or drum grater will be much quicker.
• Is it easy to use? Box graters are usually simple to use, but a microplane grater takes a bit more practice and care.
• How strong and sturdy is it? Stainless steel graters are durable and won't rust. Some graters are made of plastic, but they might not last as long.

Safety First!

A cheese grater can be a bit dangerous if you're not careful. Here are some safety tips:

• Always use a cutting board! Place the cheese grater on a cutting board to keep it from slipping and sliding.
• Hold it firmly! Use one hand to hold the grater steady and the other hand to guide the cheese.
• Grate away from your body! Don't grate towards yourself because you might accidentally cut yourself.
• Watch out for sharp edges! Be careful when handling the grater, especially when you're cleaning it.
• Use a cheese guard if you have one! Some cheese graters come with a cheese guard to protect your fingers. Use it when you can.

Grating Like a Pro

Here's how to get the best results when grating cheese:

• Prepare the cheese: If it has a rind, take it off before grating. Cut the cheese into smaller pieces so it's easier to grate.
• Use a firm pressure: Press down on the cheese while you grate, but don't press too hard or the cheese might stick to the grater or break.
• Move the cheese smoothly: Slide the cheese across the grater in a smooth, steady motion. Avoid jerky or sudden movements.
• Go in circles: If you're using a box grater, grate in a circle to make even shreds.
• Don't overcrowd! Don't try to grate too much cheese at once. It can clog the grater and make it hard to use.

Using Different Graters

Every type of cheese grater has its own special tricks and techniques:

Box Grater

• Fine side: This side is perfect for making delicate shavings of Parmesan cheese. It's also great for sprinkling a little cheese on pasta or salads.
• Coarse side: The coarse side is ideal for making thicker shreds, perfect for toppings on pizzas or burgers.
• Shredding side: This side makes long, thin strands of cheese, perfect for mac and cheese or cheese salads.
• Slicing side: This side cuts cheese into thin slices, which are great for cheese sandwiches or appetizers.

Microplane Grater

• Light touch: Be gentle when using a microplane grater, or you might clog the blades.
• Grating hard cheeses: Use a microplane to make a fine, almost powdery texture from hard cheeses like Parmesan or cheddar.
• Zesting citrus: Use a microplane to zest lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits. It adds a great citrus flavor to desserts, cocktails, and sauces.

Rotary Grater

• Easy peasy: Just put the cheese into the top and turn the handle! Rotary graters are great for grating large amounts of cheese quickly.
• Convenient: They often come with a container to catch the grated cheese.

Drum Grater

• Spinning action: Like a rotary grater, drum graters have a spinning drum with blades.
• More capacity: Drum graters usually hold more cheese than rotary graters, so you can grate more at once.
• Great for blocks: These graters are great for grating large blocks of cheese.

Handheld Grater

• Hold tight: Keep the grater firm and grate the cheese in a smooth, steady motion.
• Portable and handy: Handheld graters are small and easy to carry. You can use them to grate a little cheese directly over your food.

Keeping Your Grater Clean

To make sure your cheese grater stays sharp and doesn't get any bacteria on it, here's how to clean and store it:

• Hand wash only: Most cheese graters should be washed by hand. Putting them in the dishwasher can damage them.
• Warm soapy water: Rinse the grater with warm, soapy water and gently scrub off any cheese residue.
• Clean the blades thoroughly: Make sure the blades are clean and don't have any cheese stuck to them.
• Dry it completely: Dry the grater thoroughly before you put it away to prevent rust.
• Store in a dry place: Keep your cheese grater in a dry place, like a drawer or on a shelf. Avoid storing it near moisture or heat.

More Than Just Cheese

Cheese graters are amazing for more than just cheese! Here are some other ways to use them:

• Zesting citrus fruits: Use a microplane grater to zest lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits. It adds a fresh citrus flavor to desserts, cocktails, and sauces.
• Grating vegetables: Grate carrots, zucchini, and other vegetables for salads, soups, and stir-fries.
• Making breadcrumbs: Crumble stale bread into small pieces and grate them with a coarse grater to make homemade breadcrumbs. Use them for coating chicken, fish, or vegetables.
• Chocolate shavings: Grate chocolate bars with a fine grater to add a decorative touch to desserts or drinks.

Ready to Get Grating?

A cheese grater is such a useful kitchen tool. It's great for lots of things! By choosing the right type of grater, learning the right techniques, and being careful, you can master the art of grating cheese and make delicious and beautiful dishes.