A cheese grater is a functional tool used in daily kitchen use. It allows you to grate, shred, and slice not only a block of cheese but also other fruits and vegetables. However, just like your knives, this tool can also get dull after long periods of usage. That’s why learning how to sharpen a cheese grater allows you to enjoy this device for a longer time.
Although cheese graters are generally affordable, knowing how to sharpen a cheese grater can still prove to be beneficial. Proper maintenance of all your devices, not just your graters, can help you save more money in the long run.
How Graters Turn Dull
Graters work using their holes, or teeth, which are slightly poked outward. The teeth bite into the food to shred them. Over time, and depending on the frequency of use, they can flatten out. So most graters don’t get dull but flatten instead. That’s why most brands provide a cover to protect the teeth whenever thrown into the cupboard or drawers.
Sharpening Your Graters
How to sharpen a cheese grater is not as hard as you think. There are various ways to do so. In this article, we will teach you three ways on how to give life back to your dull graters.
Sandpaper
The first way on how to sharpen a cheese grater is to use sandpaper. You’ll need P120 and P180 sandpapers, respectively. First, use the P120 grit and sand the grates in the same way when shredding. Next, follow through with the P180 grit. Clean your grater, and you’re good to go.
Ceramic Mug
Surprising as it may sound, some people use the bottom part of a ceramic mug to sharpen dull cheese grates. To do so, rub the bottom of the ceramic on your grater in an up and down motion. However, some users said that this method might not be very effective since it tends to push back the holes instead of popping them out.
Round File and Knife
Using a round file and a knife is the most effective way on how to sharpen a cheese grater. You can either use a round or diamond file to sharpen each of the holes one by one. Then, take your knife and poke them back to their original shape. Although this method is tedious, it’s the most effective and efficient way among the three methods provided.
How to Keep your Grater Sharp
Sharpening graters can be challenging, given the tiny holes you need to sharpen and reshape one by one. Thus, having a good maintenance and usage routine can get you away from all the troubles. If you’re asking how to do so, here are some things to consider to lengthen the life of your graters:
- Always use the cover when storing your grater. It is made specifically to protect the grating surface from friction and bumps.
- Avoid pressing down the holes when in use. Also, when cleaning the surface, try to do so in a gentle manner. Graters are quite easy to clean. So you won’t have to exert force or too much pressure when using it.
- Washing the grater by hand is safer and more effective than throwing it along with other utensils in the dishwasher. The teeth can be sensitive and easily bent, so washing by hand is the way to go.
How to Use your Grater Properly
Your grater, just like all of your other devices, needs to be used properly to function well and work for a long time. Here are some ways on how to use your graters effectively and safely.
- Graters can be sharp. Protect your knuckles by going slow and with caution. You can also opt to use cut-resistant gloves for full protection.
- Using longer strokes allow faster and more efficient grating.
- Frozen cheese is easier to control and grate compared to a melted one. So prep your cheese by keeping it in the fridge for a few minutes before grating.
- Use a non-stick spray for easy cleaning after use.
- Large holes are more effective in preventing clumping of cheese or your vegetables.
- Only downward stokes shred your food. Avoid grating in up and down motion. I will only make the job harder but not as effective.
- Graters also have a limited lifespan. Know when to throw them away and get a replacement one. A dull grater does not help much and can even cause you stress when preparing food.
Conclusion
Graters are a helpful tool in food preparation. It gives you much lesser time spent shredding and mincing various ingredients like cheese and vegetables. Cutting your vegetables in long and thin strips can be very troublesome and would require some knife skills. Thus, a grater helps even home cooks make better dishes.
However, over time, graters can also turn dull. Many have resorted to various techniques on how to sharpen a cheese grater. Although some of them are effective, you also have to consider your grater’s lifespan since a dull one is not just ineffective but can also be quite dangerous for you to continue using it. Find out more about graters.