Cuisipro Accutec 3-Sided Box Grater
by Cuisipro
(Click here)
Product Summary
Manufacturer: CuisiproBrand: Cuisipro
Model: 74684001
Product features:
- Three grating surfaces: ultra coarse, coarse and fine
- Razor sharp photo-etched blades
- Snap bottom catches grated food for storage and easy cleaning
- Made of superior 18/10 stainless steel.
- Easy to clean
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Cuisipro Accutec 3-Sided Box Grater
Customer Review: Very SHARP, but awkward design
Summary: 2 Stars
I've owned more than my fair share of graters over the years, and I'm always on the hunt for better culinary products and gadgets. When I saw the glowing reviews of this particular model in places like Cooks Illustrated, King Arthur Flour, etc., I decided to give it a whirl.
THE GOOD:
* Solid 18/10 stainless blade-plates, and handle.
* Wonderfully sharp, and (because they're steel) durable blades.
THE BAD:
* PLASTIC FRAME: It's hard to tell from most of the product photos (deliberately, I'm sure), but the frame and base-cap are clear hardened plastic. Yes, that's correct - only the handle and blade faces are stainless steel ... the rest is plastic. The plastic frame has a tendency to form stress cracks over time and with use.
* CURVED FACE: The main grating side is curved, rather than flat. That's not ideal, because a curved grating surface causes what you're grating to become curved as well, which makes it hard to turn or rotate what you're grating in order to prevent `channeling' ... and also, if you're grating something requiring firm pressure (like cheddar cheese, or potato, etc), and you turn it (after it picks up the curvature of the face), it tends to skitter and jump - which makes it very EASY to take divots out of your thumb.
* AWKWARD 3-SIDED DESIGN: Ok, bear with me, and I'll explain why this doesn't work well. In order to be able to use a `full stroke' along the full length of a box grater's main side, it's normal to tilt the top of the grater towards you (so that you don't rap your knuckles on the counter when you've gone only 1/2 - 2/3 of the way down). Normally, on a well designed grater, all sides of the base are flat, so that it's stable when tilted, and you can put a modest amount of pressure on it. Unfortunately, on this grater, not only is the main face curved, but even worse, the side opposite the main blade is triangular (duh), and therefore it's very wobbly, not level, and unsafe, regardless of which direction you tilt it ... and because the blades are so wonderfully sharp, it's VERY easy to take divots out of your tender flesh. A more classic 2 or 4-sided design, with flatter faces, would have been much more stable.
* LACK OF STAR POINT FACE: This unit has three faces, all of them of the newer filament style - in other words, it shreds coarse, medium, or fine ... but it can't produce a true `grit' because it lacks a star point face. A `star point' is better for grating hard cheeses (like parm and romano) into sauces, stews and soups, and over pasta, because the `grit' tends to disperse more evenly into those mediums, whereas filament shavings tend to cling and melt together into a skin or mass. Don't get me wrong - I love filament type blades and use them all the time, and star points tend to clog and require diligent rinsing with very hot water to clean - I'm just pointing out that there are times that a grit-grind works better than filament ... and this unit can't do it.
Bottom line: Not recommended. I'd go with a 2 or 4 sided design instead.
Description of Cuisipro Accutec 3-Sided Box Grater
A versatile space saver, this grater offers three grating levels: ultra coarse, for soft cheeses; coarse, for a variety of hard cheeses; and fine, for zest, nutmeg and more. Crafted from 18/10 stainless steel with an easy-grip tube handle to prevent sliding and a snap bottom that catches grated food and detaches easily for cleaning.Cook's Tools & Gadgets
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