Cheese is the main garnish in a dish. Grate cheese may seem simple, but there are so many ways to slice this savory ingredient. Here are some ways to grate cheese.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Using a Microplane
Step 1. Grate the cheese using a Microplane cheese grater
The Microplane cheese grater consists of a handle attached to a long, flat grater, with small, sharp teeth. While it's usually used to grate lemon or garlic zest, a Microplane grater is also very useful for grating cheese.
Since the Microplane tends to produce small pieces of grated cheese, it is best used for hard cheeses such as Parmesan or Pecorino. Grate soft cheese like mozzarella using a Microplane will only give a mushy grater, not a clean grated cheese
Step 2. Open the cheese stick
If the bar is too large to hold comfortably with one hand, slice the cheese into pieces that are easy to manage with a knife. Choose the larger side over the smaller one - you're less likely to get hurt for a large cheese.
Step 3. Holding the Microplane on a plate or board, rub the cheese gently against the grater using an up-and-down motion
Continue until the amount of cheese is as desired.
Step 4. Lightly press the metal edge of the grater against the edge of the plate to remove excess grater
Use a pastry brush, if necessary, to remove any excess cheese from the Microplane.
Step 5. Change the size of the Microplane, depending on what the cheese is used for
Microplane grinders come in various sizes, from fine to coarse. Finely grated cheese can be used as a topping on freshly made pizza. Medium grated cheese is thicker and makes a great topping on baked potatoes or salads. Coarse grated cheese is the thickest and can be used to garnish pasta.
Method 2 of 4: Using a Box Grate
Step 1. Use a box grater to tear the cheese
The grater has four sides, and each side has teeth of a different size.
- Because box graters tend to have larger teeth, they work well for soft cheeses like mozzarella or havarti.
- Choose a grated plate that suits the serving. Medium-sized holes are perfect for garnishing tacos, but not perfect for making crumbly Parmesan for Spaghetti garnish.
Step 2. Keep the cheese medium to large
This will prevent you from grating your fingers before you reach the desired amount of grated cheese.
Step 3. Coat the outside of the grated plate using a small amount of cooking spray
The cheese will slide more easily.
Step 4. Adjust how you use your grater
For a box grater without handles, hold the cheese and grate over a large bowl. For a grater with a handle, place the end of the grater on a cutting board.
Step 5. Rub the cheese on a grater in an up-and-down motion
Once you reach the end of the cheese, rub with your palms to avoid rubbing against your knuckles.
Method 3 of 4: Using a Rotary Grate
Step 1. Slice the cheese using a rotary grater
The rotary grater consists of a handle connected to a circular grate compartment. Then turn the crank on the side to grate the cheese. Lift the handle on the grater, place a small piece of cheese into the compartment, then lower the handle.
Step 2. Apply slight pressure to the handle using your thumb
Grasp the handle as usual with the other fingers.
Step 3. Turn the handle with the other hand while trying to aim at the grater compartment in a nearby plate or bowl
Stop when you think you've had enough grated cheese.
Step 4. The rotary grater is safer to use, as your hands don't have to press against the plate
It is also very efficient and is best used for making large amounts of grated cheese. For example, to make nacho sauce or breakfast casserole.
Method 4 of 4: Improvised Grate Cheese
Step 1. Grate the cheese with a vegetable peeler
While not as efficient or as pretty as a cheese grater, a vegetable peeler is still great for grating.
- Hold a medium-sized cheese stick on a normal-sized plate. Rub the peeler against the cheese in a continuous forward motion.
- For a higher quality slice, refrigerate the cheese first, or choose a firmer type of cheese (such as Parmesan).
Step 2. Use a sharp kitchen knife for a thin slice of cheese
Although this is more time consuming, a knife is a good substitute for a vegetable peeler.
- Hold a small piece of cheese against the surface of the plate. Thinly slice cheese onto plate.
- Opt for a plain knife edge instead of a serrated one. Ordinary knife edges are better at shaving and skinning.
- Avoid handling large cheese sticks. Since using a knife is more dangerous than other cheese graters, you'll need a firm, firm grip on the cheese.
Step 3. Chop the cheese with a food processor (food processor)
For quick and easy grated cheese, a food grinder is the optimal choice.
- Place the cheese in the refrigerator until firm but not too firm. Cut the cheese into smaller pieces and put it in a food processor. Beware of overloading your food processor. Some food grinding blades can get stuck or become unbalanced when grating cheese.
- Turn on the food grinder and monitor the shape of the cheese slices. Once the cheese is grated to your liking, turn off the food grinder and transfer to a plate.
- If your food grinder has a tearing blade, choose this blade as it will provide a better slice quality.
- Don't grind soft cheeses like Mozzarella. This will splatter the cheese instead of tearing it.
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