Box Graters
Box graters can be used to zest citrus and has different grates on each of its four sides. From a zesting, to grate to slicing etc. Over time my grate has dimpled in the middle from lots of use and needs to be replaced.
- Tips/Tricks: If you are zesting small pieces, use the palm of your hand, not your fingertips. The grate will slice through your knuckles and thumbs but if you use your palm you are less likely to get hurt.
Foods: I use the large grate for chocolate, cheese, coconut, and garlic with this tool. Generally I use the smaller grater just for hard cheese like Parmesan.
Knife Zesting + Veggie Peeler
I use a knife (or veggie peeler) to slice off just the skin portion of fruit and none of the pith. Any pith that comes with the peel will need to be removed.
- Tips: Peel with the veggie peeler and then use a sharp knife to remove pith when you need strips. Like when making extracts or candied citrus peels.
Microplane Zester
I zest using a microplane because it is easy to use, is consistent in its results, and can be used on everything I “zest”. These are consistently very sharp, stainless steel tools. They fit easily in the hand and I have had less accidents with this tool over a grater.
- Tips/Tricks: The microplane produces a fine thin slice of zest. For citrus do not go into the white pith, keep to the outside colored parts for the oils.
- For fresh Hawaiian ginger I do not bother to peel, often just zest it all.
- Horseradish has a more bark-like exterior so I always peel it first.
- To get all the zest off the zester just give it a sharp whack of the tool against your cutting board and most of it will come off.
- To clean I put it under running hot water and use a brush going up the back sides.
Foods: Citrus fruit (lemons, limes, oranges, etc.) and nutmeg. I will also zest ginger and peeled horseradish root. Chocolate, coconut, and garlic are also doable with this tool.
Zester
This tool makes little ribbons of the citrus skin. Which of course you can chop into smaller pieces. Great if you want the item in long strings. Does not work on anything else but soft skins. I personally do not own one of these, so do not use them.
Zest: Citrus fruit