Where, How and What Can We Use Graters For?

Many utensils are hidden gems in the cooking process, and a kitchen grater is high on the list. Be ready to be amazed at everything you can use grating tools for. We look at the different types of graters, how to use them, and what to use them for.

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Different Types of Graters

There are two primary types and they both have their benefits: 

• Hand Grater: A hand grater for kitchen use only works on one side. Even so, it’s a handy grater for kitchen tasks, as you can grate with minimum effort. Often, these will be paddle-style tools with rubber-lined bases to prevent them from slipping. They’re ideal for grating small amounts of cheese, like Parmesan, or even for zesting fruits.

• Box Grater: This is a more bulky but multi-use four-sided grating tool. It has three different hole sizes and shapes; one side is for slicing ingredients. It’s more sturdy, and you must set it down on a surface to use it.

While we can categorize most tools within these two types of graters, that doesn’t mean there aren’t others. Some of the standard types available are:

• Rasp: These graters are often long and thin. They’re typically used to grate hard cheese, but you can also use them to grate ginger or zest fruit.

• Mandoline: This tool is closer to a vegetable slicer than a kitchen grater. You use it to slice vegetables and fruit into thin slices, crinkle-cut slices, or matchsticks.

• Rotary: This might not look like a kitchen grater at first glance, but it simplifies your grating efforts. Push the cheese or ingredient into the rounded grater and turn the handle. It’ll automatically move and grate the ingredients.

• Spice: Some cooks use a dedicated spice grating tool. It’s thinner and longer than a rasp grater, specifically for grating ingredients into small pieces.

Using Different Graters

While the basics of a kitchen grater remain the same, there are different ways to use them. Before we look at what ingredients you can grate, we discuss how to use these tools. We start with box graters, arguably the easiest one to use. 

Place the box grater for kitchen use on a flat surface, usually a chopping board or plate. The handle at the top is to hold while you move the ingredients up and down the side of the tool. This tool can grate large, medium, small, or sliced pieces of food. Under a handheld tool, you’ll find the hand, rasp, spice, rotary, and mandoline graters. 

Typically, you hold one side of the kitchen grater, which will have a handle, while you use your other hand to grate the ingredient. Hold it over a bowl or rest the base on a platform while grating. It’s generally easier to use and more travel-friendly than a box tool.

What Can You Grate?

There are many ingredients you can grate, and we look at nine options you’ll commonly find in your kitchen:

1. Butter: Grated butter is ideal for making a delicious flaky pie crust.
2. Bread: You can make homemade breadcrumbs by grating your old bread.
3. Chocolate: If you need small chocolate shavings to decorate a cake, a kitchen grater is the way.
4. Tomatoes: Make an authentic and delicious tomato sauce by shredding tomatoes with a box grater.
5. Apples: Shred apples when you need small pieces for desserts or drinks.
6. Cabbage: Choose how much cabbage you need to make a coleslaw or use it for your delicious tacos.
7. Citrus fruits: Zest citrus fruits like limes, lemons, and oranges for that tangy taste in your cookies or tarts.
8. Vegetables: Slice or grate vegetables for various dishes. You might need shredded carrots for a carrot cake or butternut strips to make savory butternut noodles.
9. Cheese: the age-old use of graters is for grating cheese. Grate your cheese within minutes, whether for pasta, pizza, sandwiches, or salads.

The Hidden Superhero in Your Kitchen

A grater for kitchen use is like the hidden superhero in your utensil drawer. It has many uses, and you can always find something else it can do. Whether you’re cooking, baking, or playing sous chef to whoever’s cooking, a kitchen grater can be a lifesaver.