283687 Tue Mar 07 13:49:35 -0800 2006 13 31 Home Cooking 0 1514865 What's the best way/tool for zesting a lemon? Forgive my ignorance, but I've never done this before! =) Tue Mar 07 13:49:35 -0800 2006 0 PJ 1 1514867 There are a couple of ways. There is a zesting tool that produces semi-long thin strips of zest. Or, you can use a grater and produce zest. Finally use you vegetable peeler, peel off strips (just the peel, not the pith) and then slice those into thin strips and, if you like, mince that. Tue Mar 07 13:55:08 -0800 2006 1514865 0 Monty 1 1514869 If you need grated zest (rather than strips), I highly recommend a microplane grater. Tue Mar 07 13:58:27 -0800 2006 1514865 0 NYgal 1 1514874 If you've never zested a lemon I'm going to assume you're not a very experienced cook and don't have a lot of specialized equipment, like a microplane grater. Although it's not the most effective way to zest a lemon, you can do it simply by scraping it with a serrated knife. Tue Mar 07 14:17:13 -0800 2006 1514865 0 Ruth Lafler 2 1514876 Or, if you happen to be an experience Asian cook who's never cooked something needing lemon zest (or inherited some of Mom's stuff), a ginger grater can be used to create lemon zest in a pinch. It's a little hard to use because it's so small, and will give you almost a pulp rather than bigger pieces of zest. Should be fine; I usually like my lemon zest fine anyway. Tue Mar 07 14:19:45 -0800 2006 1514874 0 nooodles 1 1514878 I like to use a micro planer.. but sometimes you want bigger pieces of zest. I use one of these for that http://www.tabletools.com/tabletools/showdetl.cfm/3021/oxo_good_grips_lemon_zester.html it also has a little off-set channel knife for when you want really big piece of zest for making candied peel or whatever. you might want to go to a kitchen supply or sur la table and see what kind of handle feels best in your hand. I love the OXO good grips, but some people hate the stubby, fat handle. it is all what works for you. in a pinch you can also use the finest gauge holes on your cheese grater. just turn the fruit often so you get mostly peel and not the pith. good luck! megan Tue Mar 07 14:26:01 -0800 2006 1514865 0 withalonge 1 1514885 Microplane is definitely the best if you want thoroughly grated. The OXO zester is my favorite for strips. The rough side of a box grater will do in a pinch, but it'll usually involve lots of mess, bitter pith mixed in with the zest, and possibly even bloody fingers. Remember you're just trying to get the outer layer of yellow skin off, try to avoid getting any white pith. -Nick Tue Mar 07 14:46:18 -0800 2006 1514865 0 nja 2 1514892 I'd rather use anything than the rough side of a box grater -- most of the zest ends up stuck in and around the holes on the grater, making the amount of zest obtained for the amount of effort involved prohibitively small. Tue Mar 07 14:58:42 -0800 2006 1514885 0 Ruth Lafler 1 1514932 How many of you out there blanch and shock in cold water first to remove the cosmetic coating and any pesticide residue before zesting? Tue Mar 07 17:23:25 -0800 2006 1514865 0 Bruce 2 1514935 I buy organic or pick them off my tree, but even if I bought conventional lemons, a good washing (with some Ecowash if you're picky) should take care of it. If you're fussy enough to blanch and shock, you probably should be buying organic lemons. Tue Mar 07 17:36:02 -0800 2006 1514932 0 Ruth Lafler 1 1514975 I love this little gadget...Pampered Chef. Lemon Zester. https://www.pamperedchef.com/ordering/prod_search.tpc Tue Mar 07 21:01:41 -0800 2006 1514865 0 mochi-mochi 1 1514976 SORRY! Link was a no go. www.pamperedchef.com Search for lemon zester $8.50 You can probably find the same thing at a cooking shop. I really like this one though. Tue Mar 07 21:04:47 -0800 2006 1514865 0 mochi-mochi 1 1514999 A potato peeler will work too. As mentioned, you *only* want the yellow-colored stuff, none of the white. So if you're careful, you'll be fine. A Microplane is really the way to go, though, if your recipe is calling for "1 Tbsp lemon zest" or something. Available at both hardware and cooking shops. Make sure it's a real Microplane, not something that looks like one. Other things don't work. Link: http://www.microplane.com/html/technology.html Wed Mar 08 03:35:17 -0800 2006 1514865 0 Jef 1 1515009 I'm not big on one-purpose tools, so even though everyone raves about the microplane zester and I'm convinced it's a worthwhile tool, I keep passing it by at kitchen stores. I have a small handled grater that I use for both zesting and nutmeg. If I need strips, I use a vegetable peeler, and then scrape off (white) pith underneath w/ a knife -- it comes right off. Wed Mar 08 08:21:44 -0800 2006 1514865 0 willow