The cheese grater is probably one of the most ubiquitous household gadgets. Just about every kitchen has one, even though not everyone puts them to use.
Because many people don’t know how to use cheese graters, they just sit in a junk drawer or cabinet collecting dust. Those really aren’t places where it’s going to do much good. That’s why we wanted to take the opportunity and spend some time talking about these wonderful kitchen gadgets. If you’re game, we’d love for you to come along with us as we explore the ins and outs of this product.
An Easier Way To Use A Box Cheese Grater
We think it’s safe to say that just about everyone has seen box cheese graters. These are tools that are usually set on the counter, held with one hand, and then the cheese is grated on it by rubbing it in an up-and-down fashion. That’s how it’s been used for generations. After testing several methods of grating cheese, however, we think that might not be the most effective way to use it.
A better way to use it is to lay it on its side and then rub the cheese in a side-to-side motion. This way makes it easier on the person’s arms and prevents the grater from moving back and forth. Yes, you’ve read that right. You should grate cheese on the box grater in a side to side motion while laying the grater flat on the counter.
To make cheese grating easier, spray the grater with cooking spray. That will lubricate the surface and keep everything moving well. It will also ensure that you don’t have to spend a huge amount of elbow grease just to grate some cheese.
An Easier Way To Clean A Cheese Grater
It doesn’t matter if you purchase the best cheese grater in the world, it’s still going to be a pain to clean. All of those little holes get clogged with cheese that almost seem impossible to remove. Sometimes even throwing the cheese grater into the dishwasher isn’t enough to get it clean. But we have a solution to that problem. And that solution is to use a toothbrush.
It doesn’t matter if you’re using a box grater or one of those fancy Microplane cheese graters; a toothbrush will clean both of them. With a toothbrush and a little soapy water, your cheese graters will be sparkling clean.
Other Uses For Cheese Graters
We need to take the time to talk about everything that cheese graters can do, even though their name implies that they are merely a one-trick pony. Below are some of the other things that cheese graters can be used for—besides grating cheese.
Grated Chocolate
You may not have thought about using a cheese grater to grate chocolate on sundaes, ice cream, or even iced coffee drinks. Why purchase pre-grated chocolate for your dessert when you could easily make your own using a bar of chocolate and your handy-dandy box grater?
Crushed Tomatoes
A lot of people also go out of their way to buy crushed tomatoes. Unfortunately, canned crushed tomato is also precooked, so it’s not exactly ideal for fresh tomato sauce. And that’s not even mentioning the fact that canned tomatoes tend to be higher in sodium. A better way to crush tomatoes would be to use a cheese grater held over a container. That makes perfect crushed tomatoes every single time.
Zesting Lemons & Limes
There are countless recipes that call for zesting lemons and limes. Using your favorite Microplane or box grater is a great way to remove the zest from citrus fruits.
Shredding Apples
The box grater also effortlessly shreds apples. Shredded apples are great for adding to bread, puddings, or even as garnishes on salads. And once you start shredding apples, we feel that you might want to continue to shred apples from here on out.
Making Breadcrumbs
Of course, you can grate bread, too. Using your box grater is a great way for making breadcrumbs for stuffing. You can also use the grater to make breadcrumbs for a variety of desserts as well.
Shredding Butter
Why would you use a cheese grater to shred butter? It’s because thin slices of butter are perfect for making those flaky pie crusts. Use the coarse side of the grater to make small pieces that can be mixed into the flour for the pie crust.
As you can probably see, cheese graters are not only simple to use and clean, but they’re also very versatile. That’s why we urge you to bring that cheese grater out of the junk drawer and put it to work in your kitchen. With the proper techniques, we’re sure that the cheese grater will become your preferred kitchen utensil.