Bobby Flay’s Favorite Zester Is the $15 Microplane

We’re constantly on the lookout for kitchen tools and gadgets that make it easier to infuse meals with flavor, and there’s nowhere better to turn for creative recommendations than professionals who’ve been cooking for years. That’s certainly the case with celebrity chef Bobby Flay, who recommends a tool originally developed for woodworkers to add citrus, ginger, spices, and other zesty touches to his recipes.

The Microplane is the zester of choice for Food & Wine editors and A-list chefs alike, and it’s just $15 at Amazon.

Microplane Classic Zester

According to the Food Network star, the Microplane zester was developed in 1990 to shape and smooth wooden pieces, but “It caught on in the food world a few years later because it’s an amazing zester.” The zester’s photo-etched teeth are what set it apart from other graters. The small but mighty blades are specially designed to shave off just zesty citrus rind while leaving the bitter pith behind. 

Thanks to its ultra-sharp teeth, the Microplane efficiently grates with little muscle power required. “Just rub the rinds of citrus fruits or ginger against the tool’s tiny blades, and it immediately creates a fine zest,” Flay noted. The zester comes with a BPA-free plastic handle that’s comfortable, easy to grip, and designed to protect your knuckles and fingers.

And it’s not just useful for citrus. The mini multitool is perfect for ginger, garlic, whole spices, and even chocolate. “You can use it to grate hard cheeses, too,” Flay added. Thanks to the cheese grater’s small, angled holes, it creates fine, pillowy shreds of parmesan for pasta, pizza, salads, and more.

It’s not just Bobby Flay who swears by the Microplane. The tool has racked up over 8,500 five-star ratings at Amazon, and it’s easy to see why. The zester is made of surgical-grade stainless steel that stays sharp and won’t rust over time, meaning it can last a lifetime. “I’ve been using my Microplane Classic Zester for over a year, and it’s still as sharp as the day I bought it,” one happy shopper wrote.

As a bonus, the Microplane is ideal for compact spaces. It’s thin and can easily be stored in your cutlery drawer — no need to bring out your bulky box grater — and since it’s magnetic, it can even hang on your knife strip. Best of all, it’s easy to clean. Shoppers say it easily rinses clean under running water and is even dishwasher safe. “It’s the kind of usability that turns grating into a joy rather than a chore,” noted a second shopper.

This Bobby Flay-approved tool makes it easier than ever to infuse flavor into any dish. Snag yours today for just $15 at Amazon.

More Zesters to Shop:

Joseph Joseph Handi-Zest

OXO Good Grips Etched Zester and Grater

Deiss Pro Lemon Zester

OXO Good Grips Citrus Zester with Channel Knife

Prepworks by Progressive Pocket Zester

At the time of publishing, the price was $15.