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Learn & WatchOur content is meticulously curated through independent research, testing, reviews, and AI-driven recommendations, all designed to present you with the finest product choices. When you make a purchase through our links, it could result in us earning a commission.The Finest Lemon Zester Tool To Upgrade Your Kitchenware
Last updated: 29 Apr 2024Cooking is more an art than a science. Any chef would agree with how the slightest of tasteful additions to a dish can make a world of difference to its quality. Be it chocolate bars or various citrus fruits, their zest is commonly used as a sprinkled topping over baked items to add an exciting flavor to the dish. However, the only challenge is to find the right zester tool to strip the perfect quantity that balances the taste of your baked item.
Lemon is considered a sour citrus fruit that is added to many food and drink items. However, even an intermediate chef would know how the slightest misjudgment regarding the quantity of its zest or juice can spoil the entire effort put into the dish. Thus, almost all professionals rely on great lemon zester tools to maintain this balance.
These tools help peel off the outer layer of a lemon without any bitter pith attached to it. They make it easier to cut the smallest of pieces without hurting yourself or wasting any fruit. In case you’ve decided to buy one such product, we’ve reviewed some of our top picks that stand out in this category.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Deiss Pro Lemon Zester Shop Now ➔
- Runner Up: Jofuyu Lemon Zester Shop Now ➔
- Honorable Mention: Pro Zester Grater Lemon Zester Shop Now ➔
- Also Consider: OXO Good Grips Etched Zester Shop Now ➔
- Also Consider: BelleGuppy Lemon Zester Shop Now ➔
View all ContentsOur Favorite Lemon Zester Tools - A Review
Best Overall
Are you too attracted to multi-purpose products? Well, they help you during various tasks in the kitchen, making your life convenient! The Desis Pro Lemon Zester is no different. It’s mainly a lemon zest tool but can also be used as a grater to satiate all those cheese lovers out there!
The product consists of a non-slip handle that’s not only comfortable to hold on to but also provides a solid grip to make sure you don’t get the pith with your lemon zest. The stainless steel blade up front consists of several grating slots that come in contact with the peel and cut solid pieces for your well-prepared baked item!
Pros
- It’s not bulky like other steel blades and is easy to store
- You can wash the tool by hand or in a dishwasher
- A lifetime warranty is provided alongside a free E-book on healthy cooking tips
Cons
- This is not the ideal pick for grating smaller blocks of cheese
Runner Up
This lemon zest tool from Jofuyu comes with a blade made using 18/8 stainless steel. The durable material ensures a better performance while avoiding any stains or bluntness over time. We were quite impressed by the design of this blade. Its 10.4-inch length blade alongside a square shape allows for the perfect force and balance upon the lemon peel placed under!
Apart from this high-grade performance, the tool is also very easy to handle. A silicone non-slip handle on the bottom means you can grip without exerting extra force. Forget the hassle of handling such items with oily fingers as the silicone material won’t slip for a second.
Pros
- Square blade helps avoid any clogging in the grating holes
- Photochemical etching on the blade ensures long-term sharpness
- This store is known to have a very supportive customer care unit
Cons
- It’s not as convenient to use freely as it is when laid upon a surface
Honorable Mention
As the name suggests, our next pick is a cheese grater and lemon zester. Its extra-sharp blade has been uniquely designed using food-grade stainless steel. The feature not only adds authenticity to the quality of cuts but also ensures your food comes in contact with hygienic surfaces only.
Additionally, the silicone handle on this product consists of a hanging hole. This means you can avoid the hassle of strongly gripping onto conventional bulky tools and easily store this kitchenware right in your sight. A rubber stopper on the end helps avoid any skids on slick kitchen counters.
Pros
- You can use it for obtaining lemon zest, grating cheese, and for coconuts
- Razor-sharp blade resists any bluntness over time
- A cleaning brush is included in the package to help wipe the little pieces off after usage
Cons
- It produces slightly larger zests and is not ideal for use on desserts
Also Consider
OXO has been known to provide its users with a variety of options and thus their product deserves to be on this list. The small and thin blade accompanied by a non-slip foot and handle makes for the perfect tool when zesting a lemon or grating ginger.
You can comfortably grip the handle as the blade stands on its steady foot and avoid any cuts or complications. This blade might be thinner than others but its razor-sharp blade is great for cutting without any pith. You can also look into their medium or two-fold graters if you’re looking to work on cheese blocks.
Pros
- The tool comes with a convenient cover to protect the blade and your hand from any cuts
- Requires a light pull to obtain long and thin ribbons of lemon zest
- Peels the item very quickly saving time and effort
Cons
- The etched zester cannot be used to grate coconut or cheese
Also Consider
For our final pick, we’ve selected a high-end value-added product. This lemon zester tool is 13 inches long and around 1.5 inches wide, making it easy to place on a board when working upon various citrus fruits. The hard steel framing prevents any bends on the blade and helps it maintain its shape over time.
The silicone non-slip handle combined with a non-slip rubber footing makes your tool stable and safe for use in a healthy kitchen.
Pros
- A snap safety cover is provided with this package to avoid any cuts when handling the blade
- You can easily wash this item by hand and in a dishwasher
- Great customer service, just contact them with any problems
Cons
- The narrow design means it does not work great on larger blocks
A Guide To Find The Prime Lemon Zester Tool For Your Kitchen
As we mentioned earlier, a lemon zester tool is an important part of your kitchenware. You don’t want to waste money on a bulky old tool that is either too blunt and requires excessive effort, or cuts too thick and sours the entire feel of your deliciously baked item! You’ll come across various options on the market! This begs an important question; how do you know which tool works best for you?
Well, first off you need to know the difference in various kinds of products that are advertised. Not all food items are similar! Some fruits are small yet bulky, while spices are very unsteady and hard to handle. On the other hand, chocolates and cheese blocks are thicker and require a different texture of grating. That’s why individual products are sometimes designed to cater best to grating a particular food item.
There are many multi-purpose tools as well as you’ve seen on our list. However, even these zesters work best on certain items and display a moderate performance when grating dissimilar pieces. So be careful with what you’re picking for your kitchen. If you’re only looking to cut some lemon zest without their piths, it’s best to opt for a tool that has sharp and defined grating holes!
Once you know these various types and are sure about which one you’re looking out for, some basic features must be evaluated to ensure a quality purchase. Let’s discuss those in some detail here!
Sharpness Of Blade
Well, as much as we speak for convenience and design, the sharp blade of a zester tool is the part performing the main function. Thus, its value is unmatched. A quality blade can be made using any durable and hard material, however, we prefer stainless steel for a variety of reasons.
Firstly, this material is up to the required standards of food-grade safety which means you don’t have to worry about any toxic items coming in contact with what you’re eating. Secondly, it provides a sturdy yet lightweight base that helps balance the pressure upon softer items like ginger and lemon.
No matter what kind of blade you’re using, it should be sharp. Moreover, this sharpness should not fade over time. You might even opt for double-fold graters in case you regularly work upon harder items such as coconuts.
Grip Of Handle
If a blade is the mind of a zester tool, its handle is the heart! You cannot utilize the properties of a well-designed sharp blade unless there’s something to form a firm grip upon. Modern tools come with various kinds of handles and we have no specific preferences in the exact material being used.
You’ll come across various silicone grips and others made using BPA-free rubber. The purpose of a handle is to make sure you maintain a steady grip and do not get too tired or irritated during the process. Thus, it should be a non-slip material. We don’t expect you to be washing those oily hands time and time again, thus it’s best to go for such options that account for these circumstances.
Well, comfort is also something you don’t want to sacrifice on. We recommend picking tools that have softer handles and don’t stress out your hand muscles.
Ease Of Cleaning
You don’t want to fill up your kitchen with dirty hardware which attracts various insects, do you? Graters and zester tools that have slightly edgy holes can cause this inconvenience. The tiny pieces of cheese, dessert, or the thin slices of lemon peel can be stuck within these holes and cause major inconvenience while scraping off.
The best tools are those that come with balanced holes with defined edges. These can be easily cleaned by merely placing them under a tap of water or rinsing them with other items in the dishwasher.
Other Features
Well, apart from these basic features, you should also look out for which product provides the greatest additional value offerings. For instance, a steel frame ensures your blade is not overly pressurized when grating heavier items. This helps it maintain its shape and structure over time.
Similarly, protected rubber footing provides the tool with a sturdy base to stand on. This comes in handy when zesting a fruit with the tool standing on a surface; it keeps the product from skidding.
An additional snap cover and beautiful packaging also fall in this regard. The former offering ensures you’re safe when pulling the zester out of a drawer, while the latter makes it a good gift for friends and family!
Value For Money
We’re ending our list of features with this subjective point. Everyone has a different idea of value and as long as you’re satisfied with the amount you’re paying for a quality product, it’s all good! We do, however, suggest opting for reliable brands that provide warranties and professional customer support to avoid any losses or regrets in time.
People Also Asked
How do you use a lemon zester tool?
It’s a very simple and safe process. Some chefs prefer holding the lemon on a board or an even surface and then lightly rubbing the blade against it as the colored peel comes off. While others hold the tool at an angle that makes it easier to push the lemon across the blade multiple times. You can work with whichever way seems more convenient and gets you better results!
Is a zester better than a grater?
Well, this depends upon your exact usage. A zester is ideal for obtaining thin and long pieces of zest from citrus fruits. A grater works better with harder and bigger items like cheese and coconuts.
Is the peel of lemon the same as its zest?
No, zest is the outer colored part of a peel, which also includes an inner pith.
Article Contributors
Read More About Cuisine Review Team HereThe Cuisine Review Team’s in-depth guides and product reviews are designed to help you pick the best products for a beautiful and professional-grade kitchen and dining room.
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