Grate Cheese and Veggies

Rotary Grater (The Turning Drum)

Looks like: A little drum with a handle you turn
Great for: Cheese, chocolate, soft carrots, cooked eggs

Step 1: Open the drum
Ask your grown-up to open the drum grater for you.

Step 2: Add the food
Put a small piece of food (like a chunk of cheese) inside the drum.

Step 3: Hold the handle and start turning
One hand holds the grater still. The other hand turns the handle in circles.
Say this together: “Turn, turn, turn!”

Step 4: Sprinkles come out!
The food will fall out the side like magic. You can catch it in a bowl or plate.

Step 5: Peek inside
You can stop and peek inside to see how much is left. Ask a grown-up to help open it safely.

Box Grater (Cheese Grater Tower)

Looks like: A tall metal tower with different sides
Great for: Cheese, carrots, zucchini, potatoes, apples

Step 1: Pick a safe side
Ask your grown-up to choose the side with the right size holes. Bigger holes are easier to start with!

Step 2: Set it on a board or inside a bowl
Put the box grater on a cutting board or inside a big bowl so the sprinkles don’t escape.

Step 3: Hold it steady
This is a grown-up’s job. One hand on top of the grater, keeping it from tipping over.

Step 4: Time to grate!
Hold the food at the top. Move it gently down the holes, then lift it back up, and repeat.
Say this together: “Down, up! Down, up!”

Step 5: Watch the magic
Look underneath or inside the bowl. See the food turning into little sprinkles?

Hand Grater (Flat and Simple)

Looks like: A flat metal panel with tiny holes
Great for: Garlic, lemon zest, cheese

Step 1: Place the grater flat
Put it on top of a plate or bowl so the shreds fall below. You can also hold it at an angle against a cutting board.

Step 2: Hold tight
One hand holds the grater in place. Grown-ups can help with this part.

Step 3: Swipe the food across
Gently slide the food back and forth over the holes.
Say this together: “Slide and glide, slide and glide!”

Step 4: Smell the difference
This grater makes tiny pieces—perfect for things that smell strong like lemon or garlic. Take a little sniff!

Zesting is like grating, but extra tiny and super fragrant!

You use a special grater called a zester or a fine hand grater to gently scrape just the outside skin of fruits like lemons, limes, and oranges. That colorful skin is called the zest, and it has all the bright flavor and fresh smell of the fruit.

How Is Zesting Different from Grating?

Bonus Tool: Let’s Talk About Zesting!

Grating

• Makes soft shreds or sprinkles

• Used for foods like cheese, carrots, apples

• You use most of the food

Zesting

• Makes fine, tiny bits or dust

• Used for the skin of citrus fruits

• You use just the outer layer

How to Zest (with Help!)

1. Pick a fruit: Try a lemon or orange.

2. Wash it first: Always wash the skin before zesting.

3. Hold it gently: Grown-up holds the zester or helps guide.

4. Light scrapes only: Gently slide the fruit back and forth on the zester.

5. Stop and smell: What does it smell like? Bright? Juicy? Like sunshine?