Tefal Multi-Purpose Grater

WHAT DOES IT DO?

As you will probably guess from reading the review I love this product, but that's not to say it doesn't have it's failings. To coin a phrase - it does exactly what it says'. It's a grater that can grate a huge variety of hard products - Cheese (including Parmesan), chocolate, ginger, nuts, nutmeg and vegetables etc.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

It is made of high quality plastic, apart from the grating blade which is stainless steel. Compromising of 6 easy-to-assemble/disassemble parts, the main body, the top/handle, internal receptacle (where you put the cheese etc.), the grater blade, the base cover and a ring to hold the blade onto the base. The blade has a screw thread stem on it, which means when you turn the handle, pressure is applied to the contents against the blade - eh voila! Grated stuff!!!

WHAT CAN I USE IT FOR?

Well, obviously for cheese, but there's a whole load of other stuff that it can be used to grate. Personally, I've used it to grate chocolate for cake toppings, ice cream toppings and to make chocolate easier to melt for sauces etc. I've grated garlic (once peeled), nuts, nutmeg, potato, carrot, frozen bread (for breadcrumbs) - just use your imagination. BUT, and this is the drawback of the product in my view - as the internal receptacle isn't very big and slightly odd shaped, it can be awkward to cut stuff to fit inside, or it needs refilling regularly, but don't let that put you off, it really is a bonus to have in the kitchen.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN ODD-SHAPED INTERNALLY??

Yeah OK - I can't really gloss over the drawback. Because of the way that the screw thread comes up the middle from the blade, there is a section that is blanked out, and either side of the blanked out section is the receptacle for the goods to be grated. Imagine a circle with two lines across the middle, in the middle of the circle is a small hole and the two lines are either side of the hole. So basically you have 2 semi-circles in which to place your goods to be grated. I've found it easiest to cube the cheese or other products that I want to grate.

WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW?

Well not a lot really, as I've said it's easy to take apart and put back together, all 6 pieces are dishwasher safe and relatively easy to clean. It can be stored in the fridge to help keep the contents fresh.

HOW MUCH IS IT?

Well RRP is £8.49, but I've seen it on offer at various places for around the £6 mark. Expect to pay full price though unless you want to hunt for a bargain!!!

Amazon - £8.46 http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0000AL384/202-7240961-2838236?v=glance&n=11052681

Lakeland Plastics - £8.95

http://www.lakelandlimited.co.uk/product.aspx/cookbake/cuttingedge!6303

Probably some available on ebay too!!!

WHO ARE THESE TEFAL PEOPLE ANYWAY??

TEFAL - practically as synonymous with kitchen equipment as Hoover are to vacuum cleaners. Tefal are a French company owned by Groupe SEB who own Krups, Moulinex and Rowenta.

Founded by the French man who originally made non-stick for fishing reels!! Since then they've been innovating in the kitchen for our benefit. Incidentally Tefal = TEFlon + ALuminium, which was what the first non-stick saucepan was made from. Think of the first thermostatically-controlled iron, the first electric kettle in the UK, and the first coolwall deep-fat fryer - yup all made by Tefal. And who can forget the Egg-head boffins from the ads??!!!??

All in all it's a really good product that can be a real handy gadget to have, even if you only fill it with cheese and put it on your dining table to use on Spag Bol!