Our 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.
Last Updated:
Cooking 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.
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.
Top Picks
Best Overall:
Deiss Pro Lemon Zester
Runner Up:
Jofuyu Lemon Zester
Honorable Mention:
Pro Zester Grater Lemon Zester
Also Consider:
Oxo Good Grips Etched Zester
Also Consider:
Belleguppy Lemon Zester
Reviews
Best Overall
Deiss Pro Lemon Zester
Pros
Cons
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
This is not the ideal pick for grating smaller blocks of cheese
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.
