Tool of the Week: The Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester/Grater
—Contest now closed—
IMO, the key to using a tool on a regular basis is that it should make you smile every time you look at it.
I have a potato masher like that. Actually, it’s a pastry cutter named Pastry Pal, but I thought it was a potato masher when I bought it. Slightly bent tines, a bright blue soft plastic handle, perfect to work out your angst by mashing some spuds.
Plus, it made me happy just to open the drawer and see it. This was in my whatever’s-on-sale-at-KMart days, so it stood out. Plus, I felt a bit subversive, and if you’ve been reading BehindTheKnife.com for any amount of time, you know that this vein runs pretty deep.
Anyway, a neighbor saw me use it one day, and next Thanksgiving asked to borrow it. I gave it to her, but she forgot to give it back. The next time I bought potatoes with the express purpose of mashing them, no Pastry Pal! I tore up the kitchen looking for it.
Then I remembered. I knocked on the door.
She wasn’t home. I sorrowfully consumed my unmashed potatoes and in my stupor, forgot about the masher.
Until the next time. The cycle repeated itself a few times, until one day when I was about to move 1000 miles away. This time, the planets aligned: I remembered the Pastry Pal, and she happened to be home. When I asked her for it, she got a sheepish look on her face.
She reluctantly gave it back. It almost felt like she was giving me my own going-away present.
I still have the Pastry Pal, but I learned my lesson. Never again will I make the mistake of having anyone see me actually use it.
And I still smile when I look at it, though these days it has some hot competition since two Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester/Graters with sherbet-color handles arrived here at the BehindTheKnife.com offices. Orange and lime. So I’ve been grinning like a fool lately.
But alas, they are not mine to keep. Instead, YOU could be the lucky winner of one of them as the featured Tool of the Week. Yes, this week there will be two winners. And unless you plead a pretty strong case, I’m choosing which color you get.
Got your own subversive tool/borrow-happy neighbor stories? Leave a comment about it — or anything else — below and you could win a brand-new unborrowed Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester/Grater of your very own.
I’m not sure if you’ll decide to use it for anything but its original intention, but if you win, you could give it a try.
At the very least, I dare you not to smile when you look at them. And you just may decide to do your zesting and grating in private.
Win one!
Two lucky BehindTheKnife.com readers will win a Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester/Grater FREE, a $15 value. Just leave a comment below by Friday November 20th, 11:59 pm. Check our contest rules
BONUS! Get an extra chance to win by leaving a comment and signing up for our newsletter, The Blowtorch.
What are you waiting for? Leave your comment now !
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Comments now closed
Mel W
Nov 13 2009
I have the cutest egg slicer with an egg face on it. It makes me smile everytime I slice eggs!
Kelly Shields
Nov 13 2009
Oh, I’ve been meaning to get one of those! Thanks for the giveaway!
There is NOTHING better than a Microplane. But mine has a boring black handle. I can give that one away to a neighbor if I win one of these, right?
I once loaned my hand-held cherry pitter to a good friend. When I asked for it back a few weeks later, she said: No. I had to go buy a new one. Seems her husband told her that if she gave it back he would be extremely sad. I didn’t mind – very good friends – and not an expensive kitchen item. A good excuse to go to the restaurant supply store.
This would be the best stocking stuffer for my husband. He loves to cook and has been wanting one of these.
ali
Nov 13 2009
Thanks for the chance — I’ll use it to make some lemon poppyseed cookies :)
Theresa Shafer
Nov 13 2009
Either color is fine.
I live in Florida and fresh citrus is available all over the place including deserted groves, where the sweetest and sourest fruit grows.
A zester would be wonderful as I peal and thinly slice the peelings to add to all sorts of meals and cooking, as well as, adding to sachets to give at the holidays. Waste not , want not.
I would be pleased to give which over one you can part with a happy and useful home.
Thank you
Theresa Shafer
Nov 13 2009
Signed up for the Blowtorch, I look forward to reading more of your humorous and mysterious writing.
Leona P
Nov 13 2009
count me in
Theresa
Nov 13 2009
Every time I’m fumbling with garlic or ginger I wish for one of these!
Robbie
Nov 13 2009
Great tool.
Cindy Merrill
Nov 13 2009
O, I could really use this! I love Orange and lemon zest!
randi oaklief
Nov 13 2009
I just got an inexpensive microplane grater & love it! I’d love to win this one for my daughter!
Jamie
Nov 13 2009
I was really hoping for a picture of the pastry pal at the end of this post!
Rosie
Nov 13 2009
Nice win for Thanksgiving!
Elizabeth Idzi
Nov 13 2009
Okay, these things are amazing….the ribbon one is so functional. It is one of the best kitchen tools I have.
Kalani
Nov 14 2009
My mom in law seems to have taken to collecting microplanes-
She gave us a cast off kitchenaid grater that was cracked- of course it didn’t survive very long in our home. Would love to have a ‘real’ microplane!
I freakin’ LOVE the green- THAT green!
inalak at msn dot com
Jess D
Nov 14 2009
I’d actually give this as a stocking stuffer for my sister.
Cheryl W
Nov 14 2009
I would give my left pinky toe to have one of these! Seriously, I haven’t been able to find one in my neck of the woods, and I am so tired of scraped knuckles from using the side of my grater (I know, right). Thanks for the chance to win one.
Tari Lawson
Nov 14 2009
I have been wanting one of these. Thanks for the chance to win it.
cathiem
Nov 14 2009
This would be great for Zesting lemons!
Jean F
Nov 14 2009
I so need one of these
Ken M
Nov 14 2009
I could use one of this. My current grater is pretty old.
marge mckoen
Nov 14 2009
I would love one of these
Pat B
Nov 14 2009
I love kitchen gadgets!!
Deborah Wellenstein
Nov 14 2009
I would feel like a real cook with one of these. My new favorite item is my pastry cutter, which is radically different looking than traditional pastry cutters. This one has a long handle, and it works great!
Carol G
Nov 14 2009
Kitchen gadgets are always of interest—even if they sometimes are things I don’t use very often!
Denise B.
Nov 14 2009
Have a great weekend.
Patricia
Nov 14 2009
Now, I want a Pastry Pal. I would love to win this grater looks great and easy to use.
janeh
Nov 14 2009
I would really love to have this!!!!
Mike C
Nov 14 2009
This would be so awesome to win!
Douglas R. Cobb
Nov 14 2009
This would make a great stocking stuffer present for my wife! I hope I win one for her—either color—hey, it’s cool enough that you’re giving them away to two lucky winners!
Deedles
Nov 14 2009
This would be great for grating garlic.
Stacy
Nov 14 2009
I love kitchen gadgets. This would be great to win!
Peter D
Nov 14 2009
Thanks! Good luck to all.
Christine
Nov 14 2009
don’t have this, would love it
Jennifer Phillips
Nov 14 2009
Signed up for the Blowtorch and would love one of these! Thanks for the chance to win one. GLTA
Carol Lawrence
Nov 15 2009
I don’t have a Microplane Grater so I hope I win this one. jelly15301@gmail.com
Cynthia C
Nov 15 2009
This is something my son has been asking for. He loves cooking.
Toby
Nov 15 2009
I have a boring black microplane grater. I’d love to win this. Then I can give my black one to my daughter who doesn’t have one. They are wonderful.
Suzanne K
Nov 15 2009
I’ve been coveting one of these! With an over eager lime AND lemon tree, I’ve got plenty of citrus to use it on and would love to have zest at the ready!
Elizabeth J
Nov 16 2009
I love kitchen gadgets!
Deborah R
Nov 16 2009
I once loaned my pizza stone to my son, who “kept forgetting” to return it. Then, he moved to Japan. I made him send me a new one. :D
Christine
Nov 16 2009
These are so cool and I’d love to win one! Thank you!
Monique Rizzo
Nov 16 2009
My bro loves cooking, I would put this in his stocking! Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
velma
Nov 16 2009
I have one zestter but I real don’t really like it. This one would be nice.
Jacob LaFountaine
Nov 16 2009
These are great tools to have in the kitchen
Courtney
Nov 17 2009
Believe it or not, a zester is actually on my Christmas wishlist. I love kitchen gadgets and this is one I don’t have.
Sharon A
Nov 17 2009
My favorite kitchen tool is the microplane nutmeg grater I got from my husband as a stocking stuffer a few years ago. He bought enough whole nutmegs to last several hundred years.
sharon A
Nov 17 2009
I am an email subscriber
Emily R.
Nov 17 2009
This would make a nice gift for my husband. He loves to cook!
Karen Gonyea
Nov 17 2009
the grater is the one thing that is a must have sick of using my big one for smaller jobs
evelyn
Nov 17 2009
very nice
Tracy Pryor
Nov 18 2009
I would love to win this. It would really help when I make my lemon bars and key lime pies!
Tracy Pryor
Nov 18 2009
Signed up for the newsletter.
Nicole D.
Nov 18 2009
Unfortunately, I think I’m the tool-borrowing neighbor! I don’t have a lot of cooking accessories, so i find I’m always borrowing them from someone…but at least I always give them back!
Jason Nickolay
Nov 18 2009
Cool new looking grater
jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com
James Kerr, IV
Nov 18 2009
Looks like it works great and easy to clean!
Aaron
Nov 19 2009
This would be great for grating fresh nutmeg for all my holiday recipes!
Erica C.
Nov 19 2009
I like this! Thanks :)
Jodi
Nov 19 2009
I love it. Thank so much for the chance, I love trying new gadgets out.
Erma
Nov 19 2009
I could really use this.
Regina
Nov 19 2009
This would be a great addition to our kitchen. Happy Holidays.
Talitha Lee
Nov 19 2009
Would love to win this!
karen
Nov 19 2009
I lost my microplane in a cross-country move. Oh, how I miss it!
Andria
Nov 19 2009
What a great tool
Andria
Nov 19 2009
email subscriber
Alexandrea Morton
Nov 19 2009
I’ve been using the same old zester I got for culinary school almost 20 years ago, I have always wanted to try an upgrade! Since there’s green in my living room and orange in my kitchen, I have no argument to make if those are the two choices!
Lindsay
Nov 20 2009
This is one gadget that I’d love to have!
Paula H
Nov 20 2009
I’ve never owned a zester. I use sand paper :) just joking
chastidy
Nov 20 2009
Awesome, Id love to add this to my favorite kitchen gadgets :)
Kimberly
Nov 20 2009
I would love this. I don’t have a zester and get by with using the “fancy” side of the cheese shredder. Not really fancy at all. :)
Adanma
Nov 20 2009
My santoku knife does that for me. It makes chopping so much easier.
Joanne Schultz
Nov 20 2009
oooh I love this zester/grater . My friend has one and they are so-o-o-o-o nice!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I could use a nice grater. Thanks for the chance to win one
Cindy Ellis
Nov 20 2009
I would like to win this grater
Bridget Combs
Nov 20 2009
Would love to win this! I’ve just started really getting into cooking and this would be great!
barbara wright
Nov 20 2009
Ooh – does this look nice! I’d love to have one! None of my kitchen gadgets ever feel neglected – I use ALL of them.
christopher h
Nov 20 2009
would love this
Patti Sherman
Nov 20 2009
I would use it on lemons & oranges…Zest for me!
carol lewis
Nov 20 2009
This is a great looking kitchen tool that I bet works great!
bonnie in harlem
Nov 20 2009
A Microplane would help me on the way to a well-equipped kitchen.
Pamela
Nov 20 2009
Would love to add this to my kitchen tool collection. While the orange or lime handles make it attractive, it’s still not as cute as my halibut shaped ceramic ginger grater. Nice try!
This giveaway is over, and comments are now closed.
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