Interested in a kitchen tool that is takes up little space, is easy to store, and does a variety of jobs? I’m referring to a ceramic grater plate.

I first learned of this tool when my friend and former monthly Cook’n newsletter author, Jeanne Wolfley, told me about it several years ago. She showed me a YouTube video demonstration and I was sold on the spot. I ordered two right then and there (they were priced right, so ordering two made sense). This is a “can’t-live-without” kitchen gadget for sure and I gave the extra one to my gourmet-cook daughter for her birthday!

What really struck me as I watched the video is how easily everything grated—cheeses, onions, even hard-as-a-rock fresh nutmeg. I thought of all the times I’ve avoided zesting citrus or grating some ginger because it was just too much of a hassle with my metal box grater or I was in too much of a hurry to fiddle with it. Over the years, I’ve found this plate grater to be the answer to the hassle and the time issue.

This tool grates garlic quickly and easily with a few strokes of the hand. And it’s versatile. Besides being able to grate the aforementioned cheeses, onion, nutmeg, ginger, and garlic, and zesting the aforementioned citrus, a ceramic grater plate also handles shallots, nuts, coconut, chocolate, cinnamon sticks and fruits and vegetables really well.

They range in price from around $10 to $30—depending on where you look and what other gizmos or extras are included with it. And the extras usually include a little stiff-bristled brush (for moving what’s been grated into your recipe), and a rubber garlic-skin peeler. This tube and brush are useful and worth the little space they take.

I also love how easy it is to clean up after the grating process. The plate rinses clean with no effort at all. And I can’t say that about my metal box grater or the garlic press I no longer own.

But the final selling point for me was the lack of bloody knuckles. I don’t mean to get gross or gory on you, but let’s be real. Who hasn’t scraped a knuckle or two when trying to get something grated quickly?

I’ll conclude with an important note: This is a totally unsolicited, no-strings-attached product review and recommendation. You know how you feel when you find out about something awesome and you just have to tell someone about it? That’s the deal here. So, if you’re looking for the perfect gift for that avid cook in your life, consider the handy-dandy easy-to-use plate grater!