Patrick Oconnell
A box grater is a handy kitchen tool that can be used for much more than shredding cheese. Each of its four sides serves a different purpose. Two sides have holes for straightforward grating (one large and one small), one is meant for slicing, and the last side has tiny punched-out holes designed for zesting or finely grating. While the large grating side is indeed excellent for cheese, its uses extend beyond dairy. This side is also ideal for grating semi-hard and hard cheeses, as well as vegetables like potatoes and carrots. The small grating side, on the other hand, is perfect for creating finely grated ingredients, such as hard cheeses, spices, and chocolate. The slicing side can be used to create thin, uniform slices of various foods, including vegetables, soft cheeses, and chocolate. Finally, the zesting side is ideal for finely grating hard foods like citrus zest, garlic, and spices.
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What You'll Learn
- Large holes for thick cheese ribbons, tomatoes, and frozen butter
- Smaller holes for finer cheese shards, zucchini, and carrot
- Sharp blades for slabs of cheese, vegetables, and firm fruits
- Star-shaped spikes for zesting citrus fruits and grating nutmeg
- Fine grater for hard cheeses, like Parmesan, into a fine powder
Large holes for thick cheese ribbons, tomatoes, and frozen butter
The large holes on a box grater are typically used for grating thick ribbons from blocks of cheese. This side is perfect for semi-hard cheeses like cheddar, Monterey Jack, Gruyère, and Fontina. It can also be used for grating other semi-hard and hard cheeses like mozzarella and Swiss cheese.
In addition to cheese, the large holes can be used for grating fresh produce such as zucchini, carrots, apples, and cucumbers. The large holes are also ideal for grating tomatoes, creating a fresh-tasting tomato sauce.
Another unique use for the large holes is grating frozen butter. This technique is perfect for impromptu baking projects, as the grated butter can be easily incorporated into dough or batter. For those who enjoy baking biscuits, grating frozen butter through the large holes of a box grater can result in a delightful, flaky texture.
While the large holes are fantastic for creating thick cheese ribbons, it's important to note that they may not be the best option for soft cheeses. Fresh mozzarella, for example, has a high water content and is more suited to slicing, crumbling, or tearing by hand. To prevent cheese from sticking to the grater, lightly brushing the holes with oil before use can make cleanup easier. Alternatively, briefly freezing the cheese before grating can help achieve a cleaner shred, without compromising the texture or flavour.
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Smaller holes for finer cheese shards, zucchini, and carrot
The small-holed side of a cheese grater is perfect for creating finely grated or powdered ingredients. This side is ideal for grating hard cheeses, like Parmesan or Romano, into a fine, powdery consistency that melts easily into sauces or sprinkles beautifully over pasta dishes.
It is also excellent for grating foods with high water content, such as onions or potatoes, without turning them into mush. This side can also be used to grate vegetables like zucchini and carrots into thin shreds, perfect for a salad or quick saute. For example, if you are making carrot cake or chocolate-zucchini muffins, use this side to get thin veggie shreds.
Bakers often use this side to grate whole spices like nutmeg or cinnamon sticks or to create fine lemon zest for delicate desserts. Additionally, it can be used to grate chocolate into a fine powder for dusting desserts or making hot chocolate.
The small-holed side is also useful for grating garlic or ginger into a fine paste, intensifying their flavours in recipes.
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Sharp blades for slabs of cheese, vegetables, and firm fruits
The side of a box grater with one to three sharp slicing blades is designed for cutting slabs of cheese, vegetables, or firm fruits. This side is a useful alternative to a knife, especially if you're not confident in your knife skills or if you're introducing a child to common kitchen tasks. It's also a good option if you don't want to dirty a knife.
While this side of the grater is not as sharp or adjustable as a mandoline, it can still produce relatively consistent slices. It's perfect for creating thin, uniform slices of various foods, including vegetables like cucumbers, zucchini, potatoes, and carrots. These thin slices are ideal for salads or garnishes.
The slicing side of a box grater can also be used for slicing softer cheeses, such as mozzarella, into thin, even pieces for sandwiches or cheese boards. It's a great way to get thin cheese slices for your sandwich without having to buy pre-sliced cheese.
In addition to cheese and vegetables, the slicing side of a box grater can be used for other foods. For example, you can use it to create chocolate shavings to decorate desserts. You can also use this side to thinly slice garlic or ginger, which is useful for stir-fries or other dishes where you want these ingredients to cook quickly and evenly.
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Star-shaped spikes for zesting citrus fruits and grating nutmeg
The side of a box grater with star-shaped spikes is designed for zesting citrus fruits and grating nutmeg, cinnamon, and other hard spices. This side is also effective for finely grating hard foods, such as Parmesan, pecorino romano, and other hard cheeses, into fine pebbles or a powder that can be used to garnish dishes or melt easily into sauces. It can also be used to grate garlic, ginger, and even hardened brown sugar into a fine paste, intensifying their flavours in recipes. When zesting citrus fruits, be careful to only grate the brightly coloured skin and not the bitter white pith beneath.
The star-shaped spikes are designed for zesting and grating hard items, so it is important to note that this side is not suitable for grating soft foods. Soft foods, such as fresh mozzarella or goat cheese, will fall apart and make a mess. Instead, these types of soft cheese should be sliced, crumbled, or torn by hand.
To use the star-shaped spikes effectively, it is recommended to rub the spices and hard cheeses gently against the metal pricks, rather than trying to push them through the holes. This technique will help create the desired fine texture.
While the star-shaped spikes side of a box grater is ideal for zesting and grating hard items, it is important to exercise caution when using this side. The small, sharp edges can be dangerous for fingers, so it is crucial to press lightly and use caution when grating or zesting.
In addition to the star-shaped spikes side, a box grater typically has three other sides, each serving a different purpose. These sides include a slicing side, a large shredding side, and a small shredding side. The slicing side is useful for creating thin, uniform slices of various foods, such as vegetables or soft cheeses. The large and small shredding sides offer different-sized holes for grating cheese, vegetables, or other ingredients, allowing for larger or smaller shreds depending on the desired texture or use.
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Fine grater for hard cheeses, like Parmesan, into a fine powder
The fine grater side of a cheese grater, also known as the thin grater, features small, sharp holes that are perfect for grating hard cheeses like Parmesan into a fine powder. This side is ideal for creating a cheese "dust" that will easily melt into sauces or sprinkle over pasta dishes.
To use this side of the grater effectively, gently rub the hard cheese against the metal spikes, rather than trying to push it through the holes. This technique will create fine shavings of cheese that can be used as a garnish or topping.
In addition to grating hard cheeses, the fine grater side can also be used for grating foods with high water content, such as onions or potatoes, without turning them into mush. It is also useful for grating whole spices, such as nutmeg or cinnamon sticks, into a fine powder for baking or seasoning.
The fine grater side is a versatile tool that can be used to create delicate textures and flavours in a variety of dishes, from savoury sauces to sweet desserts. It is an excellent way to incorporate hard cheeses into your cooking, adding a subtle cheesy flavour without the texture of larger shreds of cheese.
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Frequently asked questions
This side is used to grate thick ribbons from blocks of cheese, tomatoes for sauce, and frozen butter for biscuits. It is also used for semi-hard and hard cheeses like cheddar, mozzarella, or Swiss.
The small-hole side is used for grating hard cheeses like Parmesan or Romano into a fine, powdery consistency that melts easily into sauces or sprinkles beautifully over pasta dishes. It is also used for grating foods with high water content, such as onions or potatoes.
The spiky side, also known as the zester or rasp, is used for finely grating hard foods like zesting citrus fruits, grating nutmeg or cinnamon, and grating hard cheeses like Parmesan.
The slicing side is used for creating thin, uniform slices of various foods. This includes vegetables like cucumbers, zucchini, and carrots, as well as softer cheeses for sandwiches or cheese boards.
