ref=”https://thinktasty1.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/grater.jpg”>Two months ago, I published a review of the Microplane Gourmet Coarse Grater.  At that point I had mixed emotions about this kitchen tool.  (Not to worry, a second try with it and a little online counseling fixed that.) Yes, it did a fine job of grating, but I found it to be a nuisance when cleaning, as the handle collected water.  Sadly, residual water in the handle was not the biggest problem I would have with this tool.

The other night we were enjoying a dinner of chili and cornbread and using the coarse grater to top our bowls of chili with cheddar cheese.  Being a semi-firm cheese, it does require a little bit of pressure while grating, but this grater should have been designed for grating cheese such as this.  So, imagine my surprise when holding the grater in one hand and the block of cheddar in the other hand, I heard (and felt) a snap.

Yes, just a little bit of grating and the grater broke in half.  This does not seem the sort of quality one should expect out of a Microplane product.  While I will not let one bad purchase, that only got worse, deter me from purchasing another Microplane product, I will be giving my next coarse grater a thorough inspection.

Here’s what I will be looking for:

• One-piece handle assembly- I have no need to remove the handle grip, which also removes the possibility of water being trapped inside the handle.
• Durable materials- The now-broken grater had a hard plastic edge around the metal grating piece.  Apparently the hard plastic was not designed to handle a small amount of pressure.

Here’s to hoping I find a new coarse grater that grates well and is cleaned easily.