A grater is a kitchen tool you can use to shred or grate food items. It has a cylindrical or box-shaped body with a handle and a series of sharp blades or holes on one side. You have to place the food item against the grater and then rub or scrape along the surface to get uniform pieces. Graters are mainly used to shred or grate cheese, vegetables, and chocolate. You can also use them to zest citrus fruits or to create thin strips of ginger root or garlic. Some graters have multiple sides with different blade or hole sizes to allow for more versatility.
Graters are easy to use for shredding a variety of food items, but there is always a risk of you harming your fingers or the upper side of your hand while grating. This problem was discussed in an informative podcast with Lori Turk, the inventor of safeguard. "The solution that you will find most common in the market is a plastic glove, but even that arises new problems because it is not a universal solution. The same size glove may not fit best to all, some may find it loose while others in the family may find it tight to wear", Lori said.
She added, "You will also have to take care of the glove, to keep it clean and ensure it is not messy after grating. You can not re-use it right away, you might have to wait for some time to get it dry. There are also chances that the micro-fine particles of plastics may go directly into your food when your glove touches the sharp blades while grating."
In the podcast, Lori presented the SAFEGRATE Grater Finger Guard as the perfect solution to this problem. This product is of stainless steel which makes it durable, and anyone can use it to grate veggies like potatoes, carrots, and even onions. For more information, you can listen to this full podcast on apple podcast.
What are The Three Types of Graters?
There are three main types of graters: box graters, handheld graters, and zesters.
Box graters are the most common type of grater and include various different-sized grating surfaces that can be used for a variety of food items. For example, the large grating surface can be used for shredding cheese, while you can use the smaller ones for grating lemon zest.
Handheld graters are smaller but more convenient to use than box graters. They are ideal for grating small amounts of food, such as ginger or nutmeg. These come with a handle that offers a tight grip and makes the grating process easy and smooth. Another type is zesters which are good for their ultra-fine blades. They allow you to grate grated citrus peels and ginger.
The Microplane Classic Zester Grater is perfect for grating cheese and other ingredients. The stainless steel blade is sharp and durable, while the black plastic handle is comfortable to grip. Reviews show that this type of grater is also dishwasher safe and allows for easy cleaning.
How Do You Protect Your Fingers When Using a Grater?
You should always grip the grater firmly with your dominant hand to protect your fingers when using it. Place your food item on a cutting board and position the grater above it. Use a light, even pressure as you move the grater back and forth across the food. Be careful not to apply too much pressure and cause the grater to slip. Once you complete the grating, wash the grater immediately to remove any food particles that may be clinging to it.
The advanced solution to protect your fingers is SAFEGRATE Grater Finger Guard. This finger guard can accommodate hands of all sizes. Kids as young as 4 years old can also use this grater. It has a finger shield that provides safety when you are chopping, grating, or zesting.
What is a Vegetable Grater Called?
A vegetable grater can also be called a shredder. This is because it offers a great way to quickly and easily shred vegetables into smaller pieces. There are a variety of vegetables that you can use a grater on, such as carrots, potatoes, and cucumbers. This can be helpful if you are making a dish that requires finely chopped vegetables, such as a stir-fry or soup.
You can also use a sharp knife for chopping your veggies. Read our blog to know how an electric knife sharpener is a must-have tool to keep your kitchen knives sharp.
Conclusion
Graters are an essential kitchen item for anyone who loves to cook. They are perfect for grating cheese, vegetables, and more. They are also good for making homemade bread crumbs. The top-quality graters are of metal, plastic, or ceramic. They have holes of different sizes that allow you to grate your food as per your recipe requirement with ease. If looking for some essentials for your cooking needs you can also go through our other blog for all the must-have kitchen tools.
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