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WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT THE MICROPLANER?

2009/04/04 / 25 Comments
“A successful tool is one that was used to do something undreamt of by its author.”
Stephen C. Johnson

2009 04 04+microplaner+mulberries

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.Starred+Photos3I 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.microplaner
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.
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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.

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Posted by Deeba @ PAB

About me: I am a freelance food writer, recipe developer and photographer. Food is my passion - baking, cooking, developing recipes, making recipes healthier, using fresh seasonal produce and local products, keeping a check on my carbon footprint and being a responsible foodie! I enjoy food styling, food photography, recipe development and product reviews. I express this through my food photographs which I style and the recipes I blog. My strength lies in 'Doing Food From Scratch'; it must taste as good as it looks, and be healthy too. Baking in India, often my biggest challenge is the non-availability of baking ingredients, and this has now become a platform to get creative on. I enjoy cooking immensely as well.

25 Comments

  • Pavani

    2009/04/04 at 4:18 pm Reply

    I love my microplane zester. as you said the price is a little steep, but it’s worth every penny of it. I use it to grate garlic and ginger for stir-fries also.

  • Bellini Valli

    2009/04/04 at 5:33 pm Reply

    L’il Burnt Toast put away the dishes and I couldn’t find my microplane for a week.

  • Reeni♥

    2009/04/05 at 12:22 am Reply

    I am ashamed to confess I have been using my box shredder! I must invest in one of these immediately!!

  • coffeegrounded

    2009/04/05 at 12:46 am Reply

    I invested in my first microplane about a year ago, before then I was using a grater whose purpose was intended for cheese. You can imagine my surprise when I discovered there was no bitter ‘reward’ after zesting. I’m a convert and will never return to another grater for zests or grating nutmeg. I never thought to use it for garlic. Thanks for the tip!

  • manila

    2009/04/05 at 2:31 am Reply

    I still use the box grater and a separate cheese grater. Do you get this microplane in India? May be in lifestyle or something?

  • Eliana

    2009/04/05 at 3:08 am Reply

    I absolutely love my microplane – so much so that I have two. The work miracles when zesting citrus but are also great for garlic, since I am not too good a\t mincing.

  • Diana Strinati Baur

    2009/04/05 at 9:10 am Reply

    I have two! In case I misplace one!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Two of my guests brought them as gifts for me from the states (I have the BEST B&B guests in the world). I adore this product, could be a walking advertisement for it.

  • A_and_N

    2009/04/05 at 4:50 pm Reply

    I don’t have one yet. I’d love to 😛 But, I use the regular grater and it works fine for now. Mebbe sometime soon!

  • Hanaâ

    2009/04/05 at 4:54 pm Reply

    I love my Microplane Zester. Once I got mine, I wondered how I did without it using a regular grater. A must-have tool in the kitchen, I agree.

  • Tangled Noodle

    2009/04/05 at 8:41 pm Reply

    I have the microplaner but also bought a larger-sized grater from the same company for things like shredding cheese. Love them!

  • ice tea: sugar high

    2009/04/06 at 6:02 am Reply

    I would have to disagree with you on this one Deeba.. Eventho I find the microplane quite useful, but I’ve cut my fingers on that thing too many times!! Perhaps I shouldn’t blame it on the microplane,yet the clumbsy me is to blame.

  • noobcook

    2009/04/06 at 6:42 am Reply

    I’ve always wondered what they are called when I watch cook shows on TV… and now I know ;p

  • Superchef

    2009/04/06 at 8:02 pm Reply

    i dont have one yet and have been thinking of buying one…now im defenitely gonna buy one!!!

  • the wicked noodle

    2009/05/28 at 2:30 pm Reply

    I agree completely about my microplane! Zest would not be the same without it, nor would parmesan! I like to grate “upside down” if I only need a teaspoon or so, that way I can see it in a small pile instead of scattered in the bowl. The smell as I’m grating zest is one of the best in the world!

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