Family Table Testing 123: Microplanes

Zesty! Keeping It Fresh

Microplanes: You use one either at least once a week or never. If you’re in the never camp, I suggest you rethink your position. Microplanes can do a lot more than zest lemons, and they’re not just for fancy people. Use it for chocolate, coconut, vegetables, cheese, etc. I tested out the highest-rated Microplanes out there, and the results were surprising! Read on! (The suspense is killing you, I know.)

Here’s how it went down.

Testing, Testing

1. I zested a lemon, checking for ease of use, the smoothness of the grate, the freshness of the zest, and the comfort of the Microplane.

2. I grated a cinnamon stick, checking for the same and observing the effect on a different texture.

3. I cleaned the Microplanes, checking for how easy and safe it was.

4. I put the Microplane in my drawer and cabinet, evaluating its footprint.

Microplane Premium Classic Series Citrus Zester

Price: $16.99

Notes: The hype is real. The original Microplane is leagues ahead of the others. It has a super smooth and easy grate, it’s easy to clean, and it’s comfortable to hold. Don’t think twice.

Stars: 4.75

Oxo Good Grips Etched Zester and Grater

Price: $10.99

Notes: It’s OXO; I expected better. It can’t grate cinnamon, and it’s not that comfortable.

Stars: 4

Ourokhome Kitchen Lemon Zester

Price: $7.99

Notes: Mediocre across the board. Just meh. Not the worst, but nowhere near the best.

Stars: 3.5

Deiss Pro Lemon Zester & Heavy Duty Cheese Grater & Vegetable Grater

Price: $10.98

Notes: Scored its points for footprint, comfort and clean up, but utterly failed at the actual task. Half the zest ended up on top.

Stars: 3.5

Stainless Steel Cheese Grater & Lemon Zester

Price: $3.71

Notes: It’s comfortable to hold, so it got points for that. But the grate is an uncomfortable jagged halting experience, and that was on the lemon. I couldn’t even grate the cinnamon.

Stars: 2.5

Norpro Nutmeg Grater

Price: $7.32

Notes: It’s a cute idea, but it fails in practice. The holes are small, and the zest or grate pools on top. Incredibly difficult to clean.

Stars: 2

Tip: Microplanes are great for crafts. You can texture paint, shave candles or crayons, de pill a sweater, or sand wood edges with it.

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Esther Kurtz

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