As the grater turns

(Credit: Williams-Sonoma)

When it comes to grating Parmesan cheese, I like my Microplane grater. It produces a much smaller shred than others do, but I have had a few run-ins between the Microplane and my knuckles. The 2-in-1 Rotary Grater, also from Microplane, offers a way to get that same fine shred without endangering your digits. Simply place the cheese against the outside of the grater and hold it in place with the grip. As you turn the ergonomically-designed crank arm, the grater turns against the cheese. You can quickly build up a pile of shredded cheese without the work necessary to shred that same brick with a flat grater. Whether you're right-handed or left, you can position the crank arm so that you can turn it comfortably.

The 2-in-1 Rotary Grater goes beyond a flat Microplane, allowing you to choose whether you want finely shredded cheese or coarser shreds. You can easily grate cheese directly onto your food, and you can grate other ingredients as well, like chocolate for hot drinks. The 2-in-1 Rotary Grater is also dishwasher-safe, allowing you to avoid shredding sponges in the attempt to get the dishes done. The grater is available for $19.95.