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This $17 Microplane zester / grater is a fun and useful present: 'Hands down the best I've ever used'
Take it from a pro baker — a Microplane gets the job of zesting done quicker than ever.
As someone who used to bake professionally and still spends a lot of time in the kitchen, I love receiving practical gifts that make meal prep work easier. But they can't be single-use gimmicks that take up more space than they're worth — and I'm happy to report that the Microplane zester and grater is no such thing. It's saved me time (and my fingers) in both the bakery and at home, takes up way less space than a bulky box grater and allows for much more precision. At just $17, if you're still looking for a useful last-minute stocking stuffer to give your favorite home cook this Christmas, look no further.
You can't go wrong with a gift that's actually useful — and once they try this tool, they'll be saying: 'Box grater who?'
When I was baking professionally, I'd sometimes have to zest dozens of lemons a day, and using a Microplane was a game-changer when it came to getting the job done quickly, effectively and safely. I can't tell you how many times I've nicked myself trying to zest citrus using a box grater, but since the Microplane zester and grater is handheld (with a good-grip handle), I have so much more control. My fingers are pleased, as are my tastebuds, since the tiny teeth only remove the flavorful layer of zest rather than bringing the bitter white pith along with it.
While I might not be zesting quite as much these days, I'm still grate-ful every time I'm faced with the task. Plus, the Microplane is also ideal for grating cheese, ginger and garlic, or even spices like nutmeg. The brand also recommends using it to shave corks down to fit back into wine bottles or scraping away burnt spots on toast. Plus, I appreciate that it hardly takes up any space in my drawers and comes with a protective sheath. Since the blade is stainless steel, you could also stick it to a magnetic knife holder if you like.
At the bakery, we usually got a few months of use out of our Microplanes, but we were also putting them through the ringer with the amount of prep work we were doing. That said, I've used the one I have at home for about two years and it shows no signs of slowing down. Even though it's dishwasher-safe, I do recommend washing by hand to help prevent the teeth from getting bent. Luckily, it's easy to clean — all zest and cheese remnants glide right off the blade with a quick wipe (just make sure you're going in the same direction as the teeth!).
With an impressive 4.8-star average rating and over 36,000 perfect ratings on Amazon, I'm clearly not the only one in love with my Microplane.
"Hands down the best zester I've ever used," gushed one happy home cook. "My mother has had one for years and loves it, and I'm thrilled with mine. We had a few from other brands that were just awful to use, they basically snagged on citrus and led to great risk of shredding your fingers. But not this one! It's very sharp and glides over what you're zesting, so there's much less risk of injuring yourself when using it properly. It washes up easily by hand, and the plastic sleeve it comes in protects it and prevents accidental cuts while in the drawer."
"I use this for grating cheese and lemon zest and find it very easy to hold; especially important to me since I have arthritis," shared another satisfied shopper. "We have three other graters, but this is the one I always reach for!"
"This is a great zester with a great grip," raved a final fan. "It doesn't feel like it could slip out of your hands. My only complaint — there is a space around where the metal meets the handle where water can get trapped. I just have to be a little more careful when washing it."
The Microplane isn't just useful, it's also aesthetically pleasing with its 27 color and print options (including this pretty floral style!). If you're buying it as a gift, just double-check the delivery ETAs as they differ from color to color.
Another great kitchen gift? The No. 1 bestselling ThermoPro Digital Meat Thermometer:
When it comes to knowing the doneness of food, taking its temperature is the most accurate way of preventing it from being raw or overcooked. The ThermoPro gives a reading in mere seconds, and even has a magnet for sticking onto the fridge.
"Professional chef here," wrote a content cook. "Everything like a cake or bread could be tested, and you can cook with confidence and precision. Great design and no fuss. Seems like it will last as well ... Exactly what I was looking for."
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
