9 Best Lemon Zesters Of 2023
Lemon zest is a small but mighty ingredient that can add a ton of flavor and aroma to your dish. But obtaining it without a zester can be a problem!
You may try using a grater or a knife. But the chances are high that you will peel the white bitter layer too.
What are the best lemon zesters? The blade part of the best zesters should be made of high-quality rust-resistant metal. The handle should have an ergonomic design to provide a secure grip on the tool. Versatility, ease of cleaning, size, and other features that enhance the usability of the tool should also be considered.
This article is a comprehensive guide to lemon zesters. From using instructions to a buyer’s guide, we have covered it all in this article. You will also find the list of the 9 best lemon zesters you can buy!
What Is a Lemon Zester and Why Do You Need One?
If you are an avid cook, you’re sure to come across lemon zest in many recipes. Lemon zest is the very outer layer of the lemon peel, and it’s the most flavorful part too!
Unlike the white part of the peel that is rather bitter, the zest is packed with the citrusy aroma of the fruit. This is because all the essential oils reside in the zest.
Lemon zest is commonly used in baking. It adds a note of freshness into different desserts and enhances the citrus flavors. In fact, the aroma the zest adds to the dessert is stronger than the juice from an entire lemon.
You can add lemon zest into salads, sauces, marinades, and drinks too. It also works as a finishing touch for savory and sweet dishes and adds a pop of color.
A lemon zester is a tool designed for obtaining lemon zest. And the zest of any other citrus fruit too which is why it is often called a citrus zester. There are different types of lemon zesters.
One of the two most common zesters you will find online and in-stores is the traditional zester featuring a head with a curved metal end that has a row of holes.
Once you press the curved end of this tool against the zest and draw it across the fruit, it takes off the very outer layer of the lemon skin. Each hole on the metal end makes a ribbon of flavorful lemon peel.
The second zester variety that has gained a lot of popularity is the grater-style zester. It’s like a handheld cheese grater but with very small holes.
What Is The Difference Between A Zester And Grater?
If you think that your grater can perform the same function as a zester, you are mistaken. While it is possible to zest a lemon using a grater, its performance as a zester doesn’t come close to the original tool.
When using a grater as a zester, you should be gentle and make effort to avoid the white parts underneath the flavorful rind.
How To Use A Lemon Zester
Using a lemon zester is very easy. If you have just bought one, using it once or twice is enough for you to get hang of this tool.
Here are the step-by-step instructions for using a lemon zester:
- Start with choosing organic lemons if you know you will be zesting them. You can use non-organic lemons. But keep in mind that the non-organic ones usually have a wax-coating that you will need to get rid of.
- Wash and dry the lemons. If you are using non-organic lemons, wash them under running warm water to get rid of the wax coating.
- If you will be juicing the lemon, make sure to do that after you zest the lemon as it is rather difficult to zest the squeezed fruit.
- When using a grater-style zester, hold it in one hand and the lemon in the other. Move the lemon back and forth over the small teeth of the zester. If you are using a traditional zester with a curved metal head, you may need to move the tool across the lemon instead. No matter what kind of zester you are using, don’t apply too much pressure on the fruit or the tool to avoid getting the white part of the peel too.
- Continue zesting until you get the needed amount of peel or when the yellow peel is completely removed from the fruit.
Choosing The Best Lemon Zester
There is a myriad of options for lemon zesters and deciding which one to buy can be a tough choice. Here’s what to consider when choosing a lemon zester!
Type Of Zester
As we have mentioned earlier in this article, there are 2 main types of lemon zesters: the traditional zester with a head featuring a row of holes and the cheese grater-style zester.
You can decide on the type of zester you want considering the type of peel you want it to provide. If you need long thin peels that are often used for decoration purposes, go with a traditional zester.
But if you like the small bits of lemon peel a grater-style zester makes, then you can go ahead and buy one of these.
Blade Material
Zesters need to be very sharp for you to be able to remove the lemon peel without damaging it. Unlike knives and other sharp tools, you can’t sharpen a zester when it gets dull.
Thus, you need to make sure the zester you are buying is very sharp right off the bat and is made of high-quality material.
The blades on all zesters are made of metals that don’t react with acids. Otherwise, you would get only a couple of uses out of your newly bought zester.
The most common material used by brands to manufacture the blade of lemon zesters, no matter which type, is stainless steel. Stainless steel is highly durable. It is also easy to clean and rust-resistant.
Heavy-gauge stainless steel, i.e. thicker stainless steel, is best when it comes to the blade material for zesters. These zesters don’t dull quickly and don’t undergo deformation.
The Handle
The handle of a lemon zester is the next thing you should consider after the blade. A good lemon zester is a very sharp tool. And if you don’t have a secure grip on it while zesting the lemon, it can get very dangerous.
Look for a lemon zester that has an ergonomic handle. With a well-designed ergonomic handle not only will you have a good grip on the tool but your hand won’t get tired quickly too when using the zester.
The material of the handle matters too. It is best for the handle to have a non-slip finish. Some zesters come with rubberized handles for a non-slip grip.
In general, however, the handles on lemon zesters can be made of a range of different materials, including wood, plastic, and metal. If you are buying a zester with a plastic handle, make sure the material is BPA-free.
Additionally, make sure the handle is securely attached to the metal head of the zester.
Size
When buying a lemon zester, we recommend you consider the size of the blade and the overall zester too.
The bigger the zesting surface the more zest it will make in just a few goes. As for the overall size of the zester, buy a smaller one if you travel often with your kitchen tools or you don’t have a lot of room in your kitchen tools drawer.
Ease Of Cleaning
Washing a sharp cheese grater by hand can be dangerous. Additionally, you may have a hard time removing the lemon peel particles from the zester blade by hand.
Choose a zester that is dishwasher-safe if you want to ease the cleaning process of your tool and make it quicker too.
If the dishwasher-safe feature of the zester is a must for you, don’t buy one with a wooden handle as you won’t be able to wash the tool in the dishwasher without damaging it.
Versatility
If you don’t use a lemon zester that often and would like to buy a tool that you can use for other ingredients too, then it is best to buy a cheese grater-style zester.
Aside from zesting citrus fruits, these grater-style zesters can be used for cheese, chocolate, nutmeg, and more!
Price
Lemon zesters come at different price points. While all lemon zesters are quite affordable, some cost only a couple of bucks. Cheap lemon zesters may seem to be a good deal but their quality is rather questionable in most cases.
You can invest in a top-quality zester that is on the expensive side if you want your tool to have a long life span and perform flawlessly for years.
Kits that include a zester and a few other added tools, such as a protective glove and cover, a brush, and more may have a slightly higher price.
It is good to always read product reviews by real customers to make sure you are getting your money’s worth.
Other Features
Depending on the type of zester, you may need to consider other features too. For example, if you are buying a grater-style zester, check if it has rubberized feet on the bottom.
This feature ensures the stability of the zester while you are using it as well as protects your working surface from scratches.
Some zesters come with protective covers too. Once you put the cover on, you can put the zester in the drawer filled with miscellaneous kitchen tools without worrying about damaging its sharp blade.
Additionally, having a cover on the zester eliminates the risk of getting cuts when you reach for the zester sitting in a crowded drawer.
Another feature to look for is a hanging hole if you like to hang your tools near your cooking area for easy reach.
The 9 Best Lemon Zesters Available
Here are the 9 best lemon zesters you can buy. Whether you are looking for a regular zester or one that looks like a grater, you will surely find multiple suitable options on this list!
| Rank | Product | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Microplaane Premium Classic Series Zester | Surgical grade stainless steel blade |
| 2. | Deiss PRO Citrus Zester | Wide stainless steel blade |
| 3. | OXO Good Grips Citrus Zester | 2-in-1 zester and channel knife |
| 4. | 1Easylife Stainless Steel Lemon Zester | Sharp etched stainless steel blade |
| 5. | Dulcicasa Premium Classic Zester | Comes with a protective cover and brush |
| 6. | Kitchen IQ Better Zester | Container with measurements |
| 7. | Prepworks by Progressive Pocket Zester | Compact design |
| 8. | KITCHENDAO Citrus Zester Tool | Soft-touch ergonomic handle |
| 9. | YIDADA Lemon Zester Tool | Lemon zester and channel knife |
1. Microplane Premium Classic Series Zester
Microplane is the famous grater that looks like a woodworker’s rasp, and it’s the perfect tool for zesting a lemon.
You may have seen your favorite chefs using a Microplane for a variety of tasks—zesting citrus fruits, grating cheese, garlic, or ginger, as well as nutmeg and cinnamon sticks.
You can also use this fine grater to scrape off the burnt edges of your cookies and toasts.
There are many reasons why Microplane is the best grater-style zester. It has a rust-resistant blade made of surgical-grade stainless steel.
Using advanced photo-etched technology, the brand makes an ultra-sharp blade that will retain its sharpness for many years whether you use it to zest lemons or other ingredients.
The handle is soft-touch and has a nice ergonomic design. You can wash your Microplane zester in the dishwasher or rinse it under running water immediately after use.
2. Deiss PRO Citrus Zester
Another great lemon zester that looks like a cheese grater and works as one too.
This Deiss PRO citrus zester and cheese grater is very versatile.
You can use it not only to zest lemons, limes, and oranges but also grate cheese, ginger, chocolate, vegetables, fruits, and so on.
This zester by Deiss is larger and wider compared to other grater-style zesters you can find. This means that it works quicker for zesting a lemon as it covers a large surface of the fruit at once.
Thanks to its wide blade this Deiss grater is suitable for comfortably grating larger foods, such as a bar of chocolate and a large piece of cheese.
Deiss citrus zester is a best seller for a reason. It has a razor-sharp stainless steel blade and a textured handle for a secure grip on the tool.
Thanks to the rubber detail at the bottom of the zester you can safely lean it on the table or cutting board while zesting lemons or grating other foods.
Deiss PRO citrus zester is also dishwasher-safe.
3. OXO Good Grips Citrus Zester
If you are looking for a zester that makes long ribbons of lemon peel, then this OXO Good Grips zester is one of the best options to look into.
The head of this zester is made of stainless steel. It has 5 holes that make ribbons of citrus zest.
You can make the strands as long as you want depending on how big the lemon is. This tool is also a channel knife. You can use it to make single long strips of lemon peel for cocktails and garnishes.
The handle of the OXO Good Grips zester has a round ergonomic shape. It is also soft to touch and has a hanging hole for easy storage.
4. 1Easylife Stainless Steel Lemon Zester
This 1Easylife lemon zester is an innovative all stainless steel tool.
The blade is made of corrosion-resistant etched stainless steel and has 5 zester holes that will stay sharp for years.
And in case they don’t, the brand will refund you as it provides a lifetime guarantee for this zester.
Aside from being a zester that makes strands of lemon peel with very little pressure, this tool also has a built-in channel knife.
The handle of this zester is made of stainless steel too. It has a comfortable rounded shape and a hanging loop for easy storage.
The 1Easylife lemon zester and channel knife is dishwasher-safe though you can easily wash it under running water in just a few seconds.
5. Dulcicasa Premium Classic Zester
Dulcicase zester is a cheese grater-style zester with a wide stainless steel blade. You can buy the narrow version of this zester too.
But the wide one is certainly more versatile as you can use it to efficiently grate larger foods, including vegetables and fruits.
This lemon zester has a large silicone handle. Having a good grip on the tool helps you keep it stable while zesting the lemons.
The tip is equipped with a plastic detail that ensures the stability of the zester while you are standing it on the cutting board.
Dulcicase zester comes with a protective cover. Keep it on the zester when it is not in use to prevent it from getting damaged when you put it in a drawer full of other kitchen tools.
The zester comes with a brush too. Use it to get rid of the small food particles stuck in the blade holes.
6. Kitchen IQ Better Zester
There are many great grater-style zesters on the market but not all of them have containers that catch the zest.
And if this is what you are looking for, then this Kitchen IQ zester is your best bet.
This zester has a stainless tell blade that is sharp and long-lasting.
The handle has an ergonomic design and a non-slip finish.
The tip of the zester is non-slip too. You can safely lean it on the table and zest your fruits without fearing that the zester will slip and slide around.
The best part about this Kitchen IQ zester is the container it comes with. It catches the citrus peel while you are zesting it.
The container is also marked with measurements which is great for recipes that call for a specific amount of lemon zest.
7. Prepworks by Progressive Pocket Zester
If you are on the hunt for a compact zester that you can travel with, then this pocket zester is a great choice!
This compact zester has a very sharp grating surface that you can use to zest any citrus fruit.
While this zester is quite small, using it is very comfortable and easy.
There are slip-resistant finger grooves on both sides of the zester which provide you with a good grip on the tool.
This pocket zester comes with a blade cover. The cover protects the grating surface when the zester is not in use.
When you start using the zester, attach the cover on the back of the zester so that it acts as a container and catches the zest.
This mini zester is dishwasher-safe.
8. KITCHENDAO Citrus Zester Tool
KITCHENDAO makes another one of the best citrus zesters on the market. This zester features a 5-hole stainless steel head that is sharp enough to make strands of lemon peel.
If you apply the right amount of pressure on the tool, it will scrape off only the very outer layer of the lemon peel that has the most flavor and aroma.
Aside from being a zester, this tool is also a channel knife. You can cut out twists of citrus fruit peel to decorate your dishes, baked goods, and cocktails.
The best part about this lemon zester is the handle. It is thick and rounded for a comfortable grip. The material the handle is made of is soft to the touch and non-slip. It has a hanging hole too.
KITCHENDAO citrus zester is safe to go into the dishwasher.
9. YIDADA Lemon Zester Tool
YIDADA lemon zester is another great zester to look into if you are looking for a 2-in-1 tool.
This zester has a built-in channel knife that allows you to make swaths of zest that you can use to garnish various dishes and decorate drinks.
The 5-hole head of this lemon zester tool is made of stainless steel. The handle provides a comfortable grip and is securely attached to the metal head.
It has a hanging hole which is always great for people who like having their tools hung over their cooking area.
This lemon zester is easy to clean. Simply rinse it under running warm water right after using it. You can also throw it into the dishwasher for quicker cleanup.
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