Getting at the best zest

Cooking is not only about the joy of preparing good food stuff, it's also about doing it with good tools. There are a few that we really wouldn't want to do without, and it's only fair that they get to spend some time in the limelight as well.

Here's one we didn't know we needed until we got one (as a gift), and which we take for granted on a regular basis: a lemon zester. There are many like it, but this one is ours (and made of shiny stainless steel).


Our shiny, heavily used, stainless steel zester.

So, what makes a lemon zester such an invaluable utensil? Why not just use a grater instead?

• The zester is small and handy
• It's easy to wash
• It produces long, graceful, golden arcs of lemon (and other colors of other citrus fruits)
• It keeps the white, bitter stuff under the zest away
  

For me it's especially the first point that makes the zester a no-brainer over a grater. It's just there and begs to be used.


Graceful golden arcs of lemon zest.