Microplane Classic Zester Grater, Black

Curated from 97 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: January 27, 2025

Microplane Classic Zester Grater, Black

Brand: Microplane
Price: $15
Snoop Score:
4.1
Sentiment
5.0
Popularity
8.1
Technical
2.7

Snoop's Take

The Microplane Classic Zester Grater, Black is a precision kitchen tool engineered for zesting citrus and shaving cheese with razor‐sharp, photo-etched blades. It delivers a flawless finish on everything from lemon zest to delicate Parmesan curls. Customer feedback paints a picture of a tool that sparks both admiration and frustration. One user raves, “They are far far more effective than a regular grater for ginger, garlic, zest, and hard cheeses,” while others bemoan the inevitable dulling of its finely honed edges under heavy use. The debates are lively, with no shortage of sardonic quips illustrating its dual nature of brilliance and vulnerability. In the final analysis, despite the inevitable wear on its blades and occasional design niggles, the Microplane earns a nod of recommendation from those who prize precision and versatility in the kitchen.

Not for you? Check out our other rated Graters

It’s been a handy addition to my knife bag especially for a quick zest.

Positive Feedback

Microplane - I note your statement about leaning into it, this is likely the cause of your issue - if you want larger pieces then use a coarser grater, pressure really fucks up the edges.

Negative Feedback
Product
4.1
Microplane Classic Zester Grater, Black
Cheese Grating
3 / 10
Vegetable Preparation
1 / 10
Citrus Zesting
2 / 10
Meal Prep Efficiency
2 / 10
See how this compares to all Graters

What it does well!

Key strengths users can’t stop talking about.
Versatile and superior alternative to traditional graters
It’s been a handy addition to my knife bag especially for a quick zest.
Also, it's grate for table-side cheese grating!
Microplane + Frozen Ginger is like a cheat code.
They are far far more effective than a regular grater for ginger, garlic, zest, and hard cheeses.
Long‐lasting performance and durability
And it's 'grate' (*ba dum*) for fresh ginger.
Considering microplane is the supermajority, sounds like I’ll be going with theirs!
Effective for citrus zesting
Idk how old mine even is lol.
If it still bites a lemon easily then keep on keepin on, friend.
Besides a box grater (mostly for cheese), I use a microplane for lemon/lime zest and nutmeg.
Someone gifted me a garlic crusher thingy which is cute, but I prefer to just mince it with a knife.
Highly recommended Microplane brand for grating
The company called Microplane makes the best microplane graters.
We've tried numerous ones, but the brand name rocks.
Go for Microplane brand on Amazon.
Not what you're asking about, but I recommend you also get a microplane, great for zesting, garlic, nutmeg, etc.

Where it needs some work!

Areas to watch—feedback on possible improvements.
Edges dull with heavy use
Microplane - I note your statement about leaning into it, this is likely the cause of your issue - if you want larger pieces then use a coarser grater, pressure really fucks up the edges.
I love my Microplane, but they do dull with time and use.
When I owned my bakery I went through 2 microplanes a year!!
Mine is going on 10 years still cuts through parm like butter
Grater edges dull with heavy use
Basically nothing happened. Would have taken 10 minutes to get through one small shallot.
A microplane is literally a bunch of knife edges sticking up like a disposable shaving razor.
Yes, microplanes blunt.
You can flatten out the teeth on a microplane if you apply pressure on the 'upstroke', that's what usually messes them up.
Narrow design is not ideal for hard cheese grating
If you're grating cheese, I would go with [the wider type](https://us.microplane.com/kitchen_en_us/gourmet-series-fine-grater.html).
I only have the narrow one and it's a real struggle to not fine grate my skin while grating a some hard parm.
Blades dull and cannot be sharpened
Trying now to shred 3 tablespoons of ginger and my arms are going numb.
Take a screw driver and you can lift up the teeth. They do get dull, but if you run items over the teeth you can bend them down, lifting them gives you new life on it.
Eventually they do and they are a pain to sharpen.
They last a long ass time considering what they are and that they can't be sharpened.
Handle or frame durability issues
I had mine for about 7 years before the plastic frame around the plane snapped, but I can still use it.
Heavy use in restaurants usually snaps the blade right at the handle before it becomes dull.
Not ideal for grating hard cheeses
Nutmeg and hard parmesan cheese seem to do a number on them, which is too bad because they're especially good at grating those things.

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Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

What to check before you click ‘Add to Cart.’
Smart grating and safety technique tips
The amount you grate is deceivingly large though, it will be mostly ice crystals, but you can mold it with your fingers into a measuring spoon (hopefully that makes sense).
Just go slower when you get down to the end.
The secret technique is don't be a hero.

Cautionary Callouts

Know the pitfalls before they catch you off guard.
Cheese graters can be dangerous
In over a decade of cooking, I’ve injured myself with cheese graters more than with every other kitchen tool put together.
I suffered two cuts on separate occasions that probably needed a stitch or two from that damn thing.
The edge tore out a chunk of my arm. I think I needed 4 stitches.
i took the entire tip of my finger off (halfway through the nail and up, at an angle) with a brand new Y peeler that skipped off a bump on a lemon.

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