A Microplane is one of the best gadgets a home cook can have in their kitchen. (Just like these products our Test Kitchen cooks can’t live without) But if you’re on the fence about purchasing one (it’s readily available on Amazon), or just want to make the most of the mini grater sitting in your cutlery drawer, we’ve spun up this helpful guide.
What Is a Microplane?
In 1994, a savvy Canadian cook borrowed her husband’s steel woodworking rasp to zest an orange because her box grater was dull, and the rest is history. The best-known brand of mini-graters, Microplane, sports a shaft of surgical stainless steel that has been photo-etched to produce fine, razor sharp edges. These edges dig in to perform better and won’t dull quickly or rust. The steel is attached to an ergonomic handle and is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.
How Do You Use It?
It’s quick and easy to shred, grate and zest with a Microplane by sliding the item back and forth along the steel shaft, shaving off tiny bits at a time. It sure comes in handy when making my favorite recipe for homemade lemon curd. But, be cautious. The edges of the holes are sharp, so be sure to protect your fingertips and knuckles from scraping.
What Else Can You Use It For?
The most common use for a Microplane is zesting citrus fruit. But its value goes way beyond a few lemons. Check out these great ways to use a Microplane. Some may even surprise you!
Soften Butter
Forgot to take a stick of butter out of the fridge to soften? Swipe cold butter over a Microplane grater to get small shavings that are much easier to spread than trying to slice a chunk off the stick. Pro tip: When making pie crust from scratch, try incorporating cold shredded butter into the flour. You can mix it together faster without overworking it. The colder the butter, the flakier the crust! Learn our best-kept pie crust secrets.
Mince Garlic
Banish the time-consuming task of mincing garlic by sliding cloves along a Microplane. You'll end up with a nice paste that blends cleanly into soups, flavors roasted vegetables or mixes easily into Garlic Shrimp & Orzo Salad. When you're finished, follow these tips for how to get the garlic smell off your hands.
Grate Chocolate
Anything that makes it easier to consume chocolate is tops in my book. And nothing's better than a Microplane to get a fine dusting of rich chocolate on the top of cakes, trifles or cupcakes. Try grating a little onto this easy Chocolate Hazelnut Pudding Torte for a luscious dessert.
Grate Whole Spices
The taste of fine, freshly grated cinnamon, nutmeg and other whole spices elevates a dish to perfection. A Microplane takes the place of a mortar and pestle—and takes a lot less time and elbow grease, too. Freshly grate cinnamon to put these 50 delicious cinnamon recipes over the top.
Grate Hard Cheese
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is a must on top of recipes like Garlic-Cheese Flat Bread. A Microplane is perfect for finely shredding hard cheeses like Parmesan, Asiago and Romano to top vegetables and your favorite Italian dishes. Here are three reasons why should always grate your own cheese.
Shred Chiles & Peppers
If you like a little heat, but biting into a chunk of jalapeno pepper isn't your thing, shredding it finely with a Microplane gives you zip without zapping your tastebuds. Mix your freshly grated jalapeno into this tasty Black Bean Tart.
Rice Potatoes
Instant hash browns, anybody? When you don't have a bag of frozen hash browns in the freezer, use a Microplane to finely shred potatoes for this Sausage and Hashbrown Breakfast Pizza.
Fix Charred Food
Burned the edges of your muffins? Salvage charred food by lightly shaving off the blackened portion with a Microplane.
Grate Fresh Ginger
This could be my favorite use of a Microplane. I store my washed fresh ginger root wrapped in plastic in the freezer to make it last longer. (Here are 19 more surprising foods you can freeze.) When I want to add the zippy tang of ginger to a dish, I grab it out of the freezer, grate off as much as needed with a Microplane, then wrap it up and pop it back in. It's perfect for recipes like Sparkling Ginger Lemonade.Looking for more essential kitchen tools? Discover five kitchen items you should splurge on—and five you shouldn’t.
The post Here’s Why You Need a Microplane ASAP appeared first on Taste of Home.
Dana Meredith