Kitchen Tools: When to Save, When to Splurge

Graters

There are graters and then there are graters. For most jobs, the cheap version—think $1.99 at the hardware store—will work just fine. That includes grating the Monterey Jack you'd sprinkle over your scrambled eggs, or the harder Pecorino you'd use for a carbonara sauce. More complex jobs—like chocolate ribbons—are better served by this one from Microplane.