How do you grate your cheese? It's an intensely personal thing. Are you a sturdy box-grater type? Or do you prefer the ephemeralness of a wispily simple flat grater? Or even, perhaps, the gadgety rotary grater? Could you be the total geek who goes for the electric rotary grater?
I myself approach it on a logical level. Box graters are gross; after grating, you peer into the dark maw and see the remnants of gratings gone by clinging to the sides like grim survivors of a cheese death camp. Then you realise a lot of them just escaped into your pile of fresh 5-year-old cheddar.
Plus, you have to grate onto some flat surface, then get the cheese into a container. Why not grate the cheese directly into the container? Trying to stand a box grater up inside a bowl is not only potentially knuckle-shredding, it's gymnastically impossible. Whoever invented the box grater should be whipped with lemongrass.
I don't want to be grating onto some flat surface. I want to grate my cheese into a bowl or container. Of course, if I don't use all the cheese, I'll be having to put it into yet another container, one with a lid. So wouldn't it be nice if someone had a grater that had a base into which you could grate, then just snap a lid on it? Haven't found one yet—that's too logical.
Then there are the flat graters, the photo-etched ones (I'm not kidding.) These are the Lamborghinis of the grater world; Microplane is the one always mentioned. But still, you have the problem of where to put the cheese. I don't usually hover over my plate and grate a few hairs of Romano onto my Bolognese—I grate a shitload of Emmenthal to put in the macaroni with four cheeses.
The rotary graters are an insult to humanity. If I ever see a waiter approaching my table with one, I'll ninja-kick it out of his hand and chain him in a room with a one-channel TV eternally showing Live With Emeril.
So where does that leave me? I just ordered a Cuisipro Accutec Extension Grater. Looks to me like this beast does damn near most of what I want it to, short of provide the container with the cap.
Hopefully after I receive it there will be no grater sorrow.
I have two Microplane graters -- one designed specifically for creating thin ribbons of hard cheese (Parmesan, Romano, etc.) and the other designed more for zesting. The ribbonly one is brillian, and I've occasionally used the zester one for cheese, but the results are a bit odd. Basically, faint whispers of cheese dust.
ReplyDeleteI also have a box grater but I use that mostly for carrots (I grate a lot of carrots for salads). If I need to grate in quantity (mozz for pizz, for example) I'll use the box grater. The important thing is to wash it right away, before those lost bits get a chance to dry on.
I'm totally with you on the rotary graters. At first glance they're cool little gadgets, but they're just so wrong when it comes to cheese grating. In my case it's primarily because I grate hard cheeses one serving at a time, and it's just too stupid to assemble a gadget like that just to grate a couple of spoonfuls of cheese. And then there's the disassembly and cleanup. No thank you.
Yes, I looked long and hard at the Microplanes (and have done for some time) but this Cuisipro thingy looks like it took a page from Microplane, and you can set it down over a bowl as well.
ReplyDeleteIt's weird how many gadgets (like rotary graters) promise to save you time and effort (also like Zyliss choppers) but end up costing you the same time and effort in cleanup.
If I were rich I would have my personal grating valet, André, following me around at all times with a selection of hard cheeses (and maybe a bottle of good wine, while I'm at it.)
That cuisipro looks mighty fine. And multipurpose, which is nice. The Microplane ribbon grater I have is this one, which isn't quite as versatile, but suits me fine, since I don't tend to grate in big quantities.
ReplyDelete"So wouldn't it be nice if someone had a grater that had a base into which you could grate, then just snap a lid on it? Haven't found one yet—that's too logical." Ah ha! I got one at IKEA a few years ago (I should be ashamed, I know); it has two oval metal graters - the carrots/cheddar one (big holes, that is) and the parmigiano/zest one (small holes) - that fit on a plastic 2 cups (or a little more) container. Just a few bucks and I cherish it. Don't know if they still sell it...
ReplyDeleteAnne-Hélène, I've seen those at IKEA, and I thought they were brilliant!
ReplyDeletePlease inform me further of this grater miracle. What is its name? Where do I find it, if not Ikea?
ReplyDeleteI've finally found it on the IKEA website! (I had unsuccessfully checked yesterday before posting my comment)
ReplyDeleteIt's named "grater CHARM" and costs a ridiculous 7$. Here is the link:
http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15570&catalogId=10103&storeId=3&productId=51506&langId=-15&parentCats=15570*15673*15969
Hmmm. That link didn't work for me. Try this one.
ReplyDeleteIt worked for me . . . great little graters, Anne Helene (where are the accents on a Windows keyboard?)
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I was just at Ikea two weeks ago! I'll have to bum another ride. Can't beat $7!
Anne-Hélène,
ReplyDeleteThanks to you and Blork, I picked up the grater at Ikea today. I haven't tried it but it looks industrially efficient. And all for $4.99 US! That is a ridiculously cheap price, considering what I paid for my "Cuisipro." Now I'm going to have to do a goddamn efficiency comparison. But I already kind of know what the result will be . . .
I tried the grater this evening. It's very efficent, and the option of putting a top on the finished product is invaluable.
ReplyDeleteAnother plus for Ikea! (and Anne-Hélène!)
Good for you, Nick! Happy you like it.
ReplyDelete