I’m sure that sometimes, during job or program applications, you’ve been asked the question “Which kitchen utensil is the best one?” Most people answer something along the lines of forks, spoons, or knives. However, I strongly believe that the truly, absolute correct answer to this question is a grater (or shredder).
Yes, the grater is not just a kitchen utensil, it’s the kitchen utensil. Graters are more commonly seen in daily life than people realize. Every time you want freshly shredded cheese — like that parmesan dust that delicately compliments your pasta — or when you want those homemade, air-fried potato chips, graters are there, hiding in your meal.
The versatility that comes with graters is endless. Not all graters are made equal. Besides all the varying types of graters on the market, even the most common grater — the box grater — has four sides that differ depending on the grater model. On a standard box grater, the different sizes on each side grate food items to different sizes, all for your various cooking needs. If you’re feeling a bit zesty and want some more zest to flavor your food, the small holes on the box grater are perfect for that. These small holes, besides shredding the peel of the lemon or orange into small bits, can also be used for shredding cheese and vegetables into bits, which fit well into soups. Now, if you want larger shreds of cheese for not only the taste but also the texture, the larger holes on the box grater can accomplish that. For box graters, size matters. Since not all graters are made equal, your box grater may also come with a side that can thinly slice vegetables. This side of thinly sliced vegetables is particularly useful when it comes to frying vegetables for a dish — whether it be ratatouille style or making those good homemade chips.
Also, the variety of things that can be grated are out of this world. Ranging from vegetables to cheeses, all things can be improved by this humble kitchen tool. Vegetables like carrots and zucchini can easily be shredded or sliced with a grater. Additionally, chocolate can also be grated into shavings for baking or eating, and, of course, cheese.
Lastly, it’s the best kitchen utensil simply because every other kitchen utensil is lacking. The fork, spoon, and knife are basic and single-specialty. Besides the knife, both the fork and the spoon are only involved in the consumption of food. But at least both are better than the spork, which tries to accomplish the role of the specialized fork and spoon but fails at both. The knife can be quite useful, but it’s only a one-sided blade. In comparison, a grater has multiple blades. The more blades, the better.
At the end of the day, graters — the most versatile of all — are great and should be the only kitchen utensil people use.
