The wonderful art of grating cheese

How To Easily Grate Cheese Without Scratching Your Knuckles!

There’s a clever trick to grating cheese without those pesky knuckle scrapes! Here’s how:

Instead of holding the grater upright, lay it on its side with the desired grating surface facing up. This allows you to hold the cheese by its top, keeping your fingers safely away from the sharp blades. Another bonus? The grated cheese falls directly into the grater’s body, ready to be dumped into your dish.

This method offers several advantages: it keeps your fingers safe, allows you to exert more pressure for easier grating, and eliminates the need for a separate bowl to catch the cheese.

How to Grate Cheese with a Grater

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Prepare your workspace: Place a cutting board on a stable surface.

2. Choose the right grater: For most cheese, a box grater or rotary grater works well.

3. Cut the cheese: Cut the cheese into a manageable size, about 1-2 inches thick.

4. Secure the grater: Hold the grater firmly with one hand.

5. Grate the cheese: With your other hand, run the cheese back and forth across the grating surface, applying gentle pressure.

6. Collect the cheese: Use a spoon or your fingers to collect the grated cheese and place it in a bowl.

Tips:

• For softer cheeses: A rotary grater might be easier.

• For harder cheeses: A box grater can be more effective.

• To prevent slipping: Use a silicone potholder to grip the cheese.

• For finer shreds: Use the smaller holes on the grater.

• For coarser shreds: Use the larger holes.
  
  

  Comparing Box Graters and Rotary Graters

  Box graters and rotary graters are two popular types of cheese graters, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

  Box Graters

  • Pros:

    • Versatile: Offer multiple grating surfaces for different shred sizes.

    • Sturdy: Often made of metal, providing durability.

    • Easy to clean: The flat surface makes cleaning simple.

  • Cons:

    • Can be bulky: May take up more storage space.

    • Requires more effort: Can be less efficient for large amounts of cheese.

  Rotary Graters

  • Pros:

    • Efficient: Ideal for grating large quantities of cheese quickly.

    • Compact: Often smaller and more portable than box graters.

    • Easy to use: The rotary motion is intuitive and requires less effort.

  • Cons:

    • Limited grating options: Typically only have one or two grating surfaces.

    • Can be less stable: May require more careful handling to prevent slipping.
      
      

  Which one is better? The best grater for you depends on your personal needs and preferences. If you need a versatile tool for grating various types of cheese, a box grater might be the better choice. However, if you frequently grate large amounts of cheese and prioritize efficiency and convenience, a rotary grater could be a better fit.