Microplane Premium Classic Zester and Grater in Lavender Bloom with Stainless Steel Blade Review

The Microplane Premium Classic is a long, narrow hand grater built around a razor-fine blade. It is the tool most home cooks reach for when a recipe calls for lemon, lime or orange zest, and it also handles hard cheese, garlic, ginger and whole spices.

The listing explains the key design choice: the blade has a specific tooth set that takes the flavorful rind directly off the citrus fruit and leaves behind the bitter white pith. That distinction matters for flavor, because the white layer under the rind turns a dish harsh when it gets into the food.

This version comes in a Lavender Bloom colour, a bright handle that makes the tool easy to spot in a drawer. The functional part is the same photo-etched blade the brand is known for.

The listing positions it as a multi-use kitchen tool, from vinaigrettes and stir fries to baked goods, and it even suggests shaving a cork to fit back into a bottle or scraping burnt spots off toast.

The blade is made with photo-etched technology, which the listing says produces ultra sharp grating teeth, and it is described as made in the USA. Photo etching cuts each tooth chemically rather than punching it, which tends to give a cleaner edge than stamped metal.

The material is surgical grade stainless steel. The listing says it stays rust-free and keeps its sharpness over time, which is the usual expectation for a quality grater but is a maker claim.

It is described as true stainless steel, which is magnetic, so the tool can hang on a magnetic knife strip. That is a small convenience, because graters are awkward to store flat in a drawer.

Non-scratch end tabs protect counter tops when the grater is rested on a work surface. The listing does not give blade length, width or handle material, so check the size before buying if you have a specific need.

For citrus, the tooth set takes the rind and spares the pith, which the listing highlights as the main benefit. The zest adds flavor to vinaigrettes, stir fries, salads and baked goods.

It can also turn ginger and garlic into a minced paste, and it grinds whole hard spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg into a fine powder, which gives fresher flavor than pre-ground jars.

The blade is sharp, so care is needed. Keep fingers clear and rest the tool on a board rather than gripping it loosely, particularly when grating small pieces.

Cleaning is simple. The listing says to rinse immediately after use, brush the underside of the blade to clear stubborn particles, and that it can go in the dishwasher.

Because it is a fine grater, it will not make thick shreds, and the grated food falls where you hold the tool, so work over a bowl or a board.