How do you grate cheese politely?

[Laura Corin]

I became aware that the way I serve cheese for grating was icky for one of my guests. Poll to follow.

 

Thanks

 

Laura

[kitten18]

Huh? :confused:

 

Can't wait for the poll.:D

 

I voted "grated in advance" because that seems the easiest, least messy to me.

[twoforjoy]

I'd grate first then serve with a spoon.

[Daisy]

I either use a hands-off grater at the table or I grate in advance and serve with mini bamboo tongs.

[Parrothead]

If I'm not purchasing pre-grated cheese, I plop it into my food processor in advance of guests arriving. It shows up at the table in a pretty bowl with a spoon or small tongs when I can find the things.

[UnsinkableKristen]

I voted "cheese grated in advance" but none of these sound particularly offensive to me.

 

I wasn't aware there was an icky way to grate cheese :D

[SquirrellyMama]

I voted "cheese grated in advance" but none of these sound particularly offensive to me.

 

I wasn't aware there was an icky way to grate cheese :D

 

:iagree:

[Mrs Mungo]

I grate ahead of time, but this is mainly because I use a rasp and I don't want anyone to injure themselves. I wouldn't find it icky to grate at the table.

[Truscifi]

I voted "cheese grated in advance" but none of these sound particularly offensive to me.

 

I wasn't aware there was an icky way to grate cheese :D

 

:iagree:

[Jennifer3141]

How do you offensively grate cheese???

[pooh bear]

How do you offensively grate cheese???

 

Stand in front of the kitchen window with just an apron on? :lol:

[SailorMom]

I would think having "many hands" on the cheese could be considered icky - if - say, there was a young kid using it first - or no one was sure if people washed their hands :)

[SquirrellyMama]

How do you offensively grate cheese???

 

Stand in front of the kitchen window with just an apron on? :lol:

 

I think that would be considered "bad naked" as my dh used to tell me when I asked if he would enjoy me cooking that way.

 

Kelly

[Carol in Cal.]

I like those rotary graters, but generally don't want to make guests work that hard. So my inclination would be to serve the cheese, freshly grated, in a small bowl with a spoon.

[ChrissySC]

You need to be hands off with this type of thing. Use a rotary cheese grater at the table. :)

 

Like this ... http://www.surlatable.com/product/PRO-18262/?affsrcid=Aff0001&mr:referralID=3622ee79-b217-11e0-9e9c-001b2166c62d

 

This is the right way to grate cheese at the table.

[Truscifi]

What is a hands off grater?

[jewellsmommy]

If I felt the need to grate at the table, I would use my pampered chef rotary thingie that is hands off.

 

But, I almost always let my food processor grate for me ahead of time. So quick and easy. ;)

[Lynnette in WA]

I usually opt for grating in advance (or buying grated) and serving from a bowl at the table, but sometimes (if I've actually thought ahead) I use the hands-off grater at the table, for individual use (although my husband doesn't like that as well because it's too much work).

[jewellsmommy]

Also, I must confess, that when I read the title, I was thinking...hmm...does she mean how to cut the cheese politely :confused:. With all the bOOks and teA abounding on this forum, one can never tell. :lol:

[AuntieM]

I love my hands-off grater, but it doesn't hold much and would still have to be reloaded at the table. So I voted for the pre-grate and spoon option.

[SquirrellyMama]

Also, I must confess, that when I read the title, I was thinking...hmm...does she mean how to cut the cheese politely :confused:. With all the bOOks and teA abounding on this forum, one can never tell. :lol:

 

:lol: That's good. I wonder if I can get my family to start using grate the cheese...

[RahRah]

I voted grate first and serve with spoon.

 

My 2nd choice would be a hands-off-the-cheese grater.

 

:iagree:

[Ellyndria]

I voted to grate ahead of time because it seems the easiest, but I would think that any of them would be okay, except for the "bare hands" one.

[Perry]

You need to be hands off with this type of thing. Use a rotary cheese grater at the table. :)

 

Like this ... http://www.surlatable.com/product/PRO-18262/?affsrcid=Aff0001&mr:referralID=3622ee79-b217-11e0-9e9c-001b2166c62d

 

This is the right way to grate cheese at the table.

You still have to touch the cheese to put it in the grater.

[The Governess]

It depends on the cheese!

[ChrissySC]

You still have to touch the cheese to put it in the grater.

 

 

You don't touch it at the table though :lol:

 

No one wants to see you eat, use a napkin, blah blah and then handle the cheese. We assume that you will wash your hands before reloading the grater, LOL.

 

I think we need a book on table manners!:D

 

Edit: There are cheese cloths too for the harder cheeses. You set those with a hand-held mini grater on a block of bamboo (moisture thing).

 

I have one like this for parmesan at the table ... http://www.amazon.com/Enrico-1006-Cheese-Grater-Bamboo/dp/B001HBIO1I/ref=pd_sbs_k_6

Edited July 19, 2011 by ChrissySC

[SonshineLearner]

Depends on what type of cheese :) But cheddar is fine when you grate and then have in a bowl with service something... (tongs?) Parmesan seems fine either way, but I can see grating it at the table... I'm not sure "gross" is what I'd think... now... when I see someone tasting the food out of the pot before serving it... that's gross to me.

[Natalieclare]

I don't mind seeing my host touch the food in some way. I figure she has had her hands in it all afternoon, preparing it. But I'm earthy like that.

 

However, I voted served at the table with a spoon because that's the way I do it. For me, it's just easier with the dishes of so many little ones to prepare.

[Mrs Mungo]

I'm not sure "gross" is what I'd think... now... when I see someone tasting the food out of the pot before serving it... that's gross to me.

 

:confused: Don't all real cooks taste their food before serving it? Why is that gross? I use a fresh spoon just for tasting, and if I adjust and need to taste again I wash it.

[AvasMom]

I don't think grating at the table is icky but everyone holding it with bare hands? Gross.

[Impish]

Stand in front of the kitchen window with just an apron on? :lol:

:lol:

[Janie Grace]

Also, I must confess, that when I read the title, I was thinking...hmm...does she mean how to cut the cheese politely :confused:. With all the bOOks and teA abounding on this forum, one can never tell. :lol:

 

That is totally what I thought!!! I thought, "the one cheek sneak"?

[Jean in Newcastle]

Other. I'm assuming that people wash their hands before cooking or coming to the table. I don't care how you grate it as long as you offer me some!

[LaxMom]

I voted "cheese grated in advance" but none of these sound particularly offensive to me.

 

I wasn't aware there was an icky way to grate cheese :D

 

Ditto. But if guests would prefer to have food with the illusion of being untouched by human hands - what? divine intervention? - then served in a bowl, pre-grated would be the way to go.

[Crissy]

 

I think we need a book on table manners!:D

 

 

 

Or maybe just the understanding that we're each picturing the scenario differently.

My assumption was that the hostess, with clean hands, grated cheese over a dish before the dinner began.

[Perry]

My assumption was that the hostess, with clean hands, grated cheese over a dish before the dinner began.

That's what I was thinking too. If The cheese was passed from one person to the next, I think I'd opt out of the cheese. Especially if certain relatives were at the table. :ack2:

[Firefly]

I voted other. If it's a casual meal with family or close friends, we grate at the table. For a more formal gathering I'd grate ahead and serve in a bowl with a spoon.

[Cheryl in NM]

When I grate in privacy I use my hands on the cheese. When I grate in front of someone I use plastic wrapped around the cheese.

[Ellie]

If I felt the need to grate at the table, I would use my pampered chef rotary thingie that is hands off.

 

But, I almost always let my food processor grate for me ahead of time. So quick and easy. ;)

:iagree:

 

It would not occur to me to grate cheese at the table. Just because restaurants do it does not mean that it should be done, KWIM?

[Lady Florida.]

In my Italian-American family it was always served in a hunk with the grater. That was the case whether only family was being served, or family and friends. I never thought that method was icky or impolite. So, if any of you ever come to my house when I'm serving Italian, I'll be sure to grate the cheese before serving. :001_smile:

 

And Mrs. Mungo, I do the clean spoon tasting thing too. Tasting is the only way to really know if you got the seasonings right. But I do use a clean spoon and wash it before tasting again.

[Soror]

It wouldn't generally bother me, I am not a neat freak/germaphobe- but I generally wouldn't do it either- I would pre-grate.

[Amy loves Bud]

I think options 2,3 or 4 would be fine.

[KatDilan]

Now if I had a fancy shmancy "hand off" grater I'd put that on the table, but for now it's pre-grated & served with a spoon. :)

[Ellie]

In my Italian-American family it was always served in a hunk with the grater. That was the case whether only family was being served, or family and friends. I never thought that method was icky or impolite. So, if any of you ever come to my house when I'm serving Italian, I'll be sure to grate the cheese before serving. :001_smile:

It wouldn't bother me. My family is not Italian, and I've never visited any, so I did not know it was common to grate cheese at the table anywhere except restaurants. :001_smile:

[mommaduck]

grate in advance!

[Laura Corin]

In my Italian-American family it was always served in a hunk with the grater. That was the case whether only family was being served, or family and friends. I never thought that method was icky or impolite.

 

When I was small we spent our summers in France. My parents were impressed by French style - which seemed very exotic to Brits in the '60s. We used French manners at home; for example we ate with our forearms on the table (not elbows, but forearms) which was the norm in France but considered rude in Britain. I think we passed cheese from person to person to grate because that was the continental European habit.

 

Laura

[silliness7]

I picked cheese grated in advance but it depends on the cheese. Some are better in the no-hands touching the cheese grater device.

[pfamilygal]

If it were a soft cheese like cheddar I would pre-grate. If it were a hard cheese like asiago or parmesan I would wrap the cheese in a cloth napkin and allow guests to grate their own.

[katilac]

Some of the clumsier among us would prefer that pre-grated option no matter what. Visions of bloody knuckles or a flying cheese grater hitting the hostess in the head would cause us to mumble "no thank you" even when we really, really want some fresh cheese :D

[Ellie]

I think we passed cheese from person to person to grate because that was the continental European habit.

 

:blink:

 

On what kinds of food did y'all grate the cheese individually? Pastas?

 

I can tell you that in Southeastern Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina, there would never have been a meal that included people grating cheese over their own food.