“A successful tool is one that was used to do something undreamt of by its author.” Stephen C. Johnson
This is not a recipe post. It’s about a thought that comes to my mind often …What would I do if my microplaner broke? It’s enough to haunt the foodie in me, & cause me serious concern, because it’s not available in India. I was introduced to this ‘magical tool’ about 5 years ago by my younger sis in Houston who swore by it. Until I used it, I often wondered what the big deal about this piece of metal was. Once I laid my hands on my very own microplaner, which my sis got for me from the US, I was ecstatic.I think my friend Manggy @ No Special Effects got one recently, & Andrew @ The New Cook talked about it here –Kitchen Tip: Don’t Use a Box Grater to Zest Your Lemon.
Do you own one? If you don’t, then it’s time you gave it a thought, it’s worth each cent! It costs about US$15-20 , & is the handiest tool I own. An absolute dream zester for all citrus fruits & parmesan, you can use it for nutmeg too. On my sis’s recommendation I tried my hand on it once for some urgent minced garlic that I needed one day. WHOA … magic! Now I do my fine mincing for garlic & ginger for salad dressings & marinades etc on the microplane zester, other than zesting limes & oranges for cakes, cupcakes,muffins, cookies etc. Mind the very sharp blades & all will be well. The good thing about it is that it’s made of steel, so is durable, & importantly, doesn’t hang on to any garlicky aromas after a good wash.
I have a special guest writer on my blog, Suzanne T, an expert at cookware.com, who has written an article for me on Zesters and Graters, with a special focus on the MICROPLANE.
All about Zesters and Graters
Most homes are stocked with a multitude of silverware,
dinnerware, and cookware sets, but certain projects require specific tools. When it comes to baking, no kitchen should be without a citrus zester. Citrus zests can add a unique flavor that is unmistakably delicious. Citrus zests are the fine shreds of fruit skin you are left with after you have used either a citrus zester or Microplane grater. Zesters allow you to harness the flavor from the oily skin of fruit without any of the bitterness that comes from the pith underneath. While you can buy citrus zests at your local grocery store, there is nothing that can compare to zest that comes fresh off the fruit.
Citrus zest can be used to add a tasty fruit flavor to muffins and cakes among many other sauces and dressings. The key is to use a zester or grater designed for extracting the thin layer of skin. Larger graters can leave you with a soggy or coarsely ground zest that is unattractive, but a precise and well designed zester will leave you with either finely hard grated zest or stylish and colorful shreds.
The Microplane Grater is the perfect combination of zester and grater. This tool allows you to extract everything from the finest of lemon zest to soft and curly cheese shreds. The surgical steel grater is tough enough to shred even the hardest of parmesan cheeses, while still offering a delicate touch reserved for fruit. Zesting can be a pain with knives or the wrong grater so if you plan on adding some citrus flavor to your baked goods, a zester/ grater like this would be a worthwhile investment. The Microplane Grater is a great multipurpose kitchen tool that can help add flavorful accent to a number of dishes and is a tool that no baker should be without.
