A couple of weeks ago I spent a whopping 9.50€ on this microplane grater at El Corte Inglés. Yes, there were sleeker pricier options but I wasn’t even sure I needed this at the time. I was always under the impression that using the fine side of my trusty box grater was the same thing, but how wrong I was! Apparently box grater holes are stamped, so their edges are blunt and compressive, while microplane holes are etched with razor-sharp edges for delicate, fine shavings.

Anyhow, now I don’t know how I ever lived without a microplane. The first thing I used it for was grating a garlic clove and OMG. Meanwhile I used to dread zesting citrus and parmesan never came out “snowy” like in the food videos. But now… I think this is possibly the best 9.50€ I have ever spent.