Graters have earned their place in the kitchen, tackling everything from cheese and spices to garlic and potatoes. Most are variations on two familiar shapes: the box and the flat grater. What matters most is the cutting surface—how sharply the teeth cut, how smoothly the food moves across them, and how well the tool holds up to use.
Now imagine grating something a little woodier. Something like… wood. That is where the Microplane story began: a woodworking tool found a second career in the kitchen. And it works grate. Great. You get the idea. The same sharp teeth that shaved wood turned out to be remarkably good at producing delicate shavings of food.
The secret is in the teeth. Microplane uses photo-etching to create sharp cutting edges in stainless steel, so the teeth slice rather than simply tear. The openings let the shavings fall through, and the simple construction is easy to rinse clean. Different tooth patterns produce different textures: a fine zester for citrus and nutmeg, a coarser blade for cheese or vegetables. Pick the pattern for the job. The teeth are sharp enough to cut skin, so keep your fingers clear and use a compatible food holder when appropriate. The plastic cover is for storage unless your model specifically identifies it as a usable catcher or attachment.
The most familiar application is zesting citrus. Light strokes remove the fragrant colored peel while leaving the bitter white pith behind. Rotate the fruit as you go; once the white shows, move to a fresh patch.
I own several Microplane models, but the one pictured with the lime is still the one I use. It’s about seventeen or eighteen years old—old enough to vote, or very nearly—and it’s still as sharp and cuts just as beautifully as it did seventeen years ago.
I also use it for garlic, especially when I want it finely dispersed in tzatziki or a marinade. Grating damages the garlic’s cells and brings together the compounds that create its pungency. It gives a stronger, more immediate garlic presence than leaving the cloves whole.
A Microplane is one gadget I would hate to cook without. It turns up throughout my cooking and even on the banner of this website. Simple, versatile, and wonderfully effective—that is a good kitchen tool in my book. Rinse it promptly, follow the care instructions for your model, and store it with the cutting surface protected.