I’ve tried zesting citrus with many different tools, and have always found it to be a laborious job for the amount and quality of “zest” produced.

  Last year, under the Christmas tree, I received a “Microplane Zester/Grater”.  Given my experience, my expectations were in check the first time I put it to the test. I lightly glided a lemon back and forth a few times, hum-de-dum, nothing on the plate below.

Then, I turned the plane over. Safely tucked inside of the curved-edge of the plane was a bulging cloud of the lightest, most delicate and pure lemon zest I had ever seen.

The microplane had perfectly zested just the colored rind (where the flavorful, volatile oils are found) and none of the pith.

The Splendid Kitchen is stocked full of culinary devices — so, to earn a space in a drawer — an object must prove itself…and this one surely has.

Microplane Zester/Graters can be found in Splendid Items, directly from Amazon.com or in better kitchen stores.