FOOD NEWS
Mistakes Everyone Makes With Their Box Graters
by LAUREN CORONA
Grating Motion
Most people place the wide, open end on a cutting board or bowl and grate food up and down or top to bottom; however, this can cause messy, inconvenient problems.
Place it on its slide and move the food you're grating side to side instead of up and down. This is easier on your arm, and the grate better supports the weight you're shredding.
The Sides
Often, people only use the side with big holes, but the smaller holes are perfect for grating Parmesan or finer shreds of veggies like carrots for cake.
The side with one to three wide but thin rectangular openings is used for slicing. The last side, with tiny, star-shaped protrusions, is for zesting citrus.
Garlic
Mincing garlic with a knife can lead to uneven pieces, sticky fingers, and other unpleasantries. Using the small-holed side of the box grater eliminates those worries.
The small holes allow you to grate your garlic cloves without any struggles. This method saves time and results in more consistent garlic distribution in your recipes.
Washing
Despite what most packing labels say, box graters shouldn't go in the dishwasher. Handwashing may be inconvenient, but it won't dull the blades like the dishwasher.
To properly wash them and maintain sharpness, handwash the grater using a sponge and soapy water. Gently scrub away the food remnants until it's spotless.
Herbs
Instead of tediously plucking stubborn stems from your fresh herbs, take the herbs and locate the side of the box grater with large holes.
Poke the stems of your herbs through those holes and pull them through. The leaves will easily separate from the stems, resulting in a time-saving and simple hack.