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Karen Marley, author of SpiceSherpa.com, does not clean hers. She writes, “Nutmeg is also one of those ‘clean’ spices so you aren’t obligated to [do] extra cleaning when you use your grater. Trust me on this one…” [4] Marley, Karen. Nutmeg graters. Accessed October 2019 at http://www.spicesherpa.com/nutmeg-graters When most people think of nutmeg, they likely first picture an inviting glass of eggnog served during the holidays spiked with some rum or brandy and topped by grated spices. Nutmeg is a popular topper or addition to myriad beverages beyond eggnog, of course, used in a range of alcoholic punches and in coffee and cocoa drinks. It is also commonly sprinkled over or baked into pies, pastries, and breads, and is an important ingredient in dishes such as Indonesian Oxtail Soup, Middle Eastern Al Kabsa, and Scottish haggis.
Many people never clean their nutmeg grater, at all. They say they only ever use it for that one thing, and that they aren’t concerned if a microscopic portion of nutmeg from the last use gets included with the nutmeg freshly ground this time. Nutmeg is up there with cinnamon and star anise as one of the most difficult seasonings to process, but it doesn't have to be. Because a nutmeg seed is relatively easy to grasp, you can get away with using the Microplane 46016 if you just need small amounts, or the especially versatile Microplane Classic Zester for larger batches. In fact, we'd recommend that classic Microplane be a part of every kitchen, both at home and at work, because it's a remarkably useful tool in a lot of settings. Small, cylindrical nutmeg graters. The solid silver cylinder was the case. Metropolitan Museum of Art / wikimedia / 2017 / Public Domain By the mid-nineteenth century, the price for nutmeg became moderately priced. The study of mid-Victorian and American Civil war cookbooks shows that one out of five recipes contained nutmeg as a flavoring. Use of the spice was prevalent in everything from pumpkin pie and rice pudding to venison broth and ketchup. Even a concoction to treat baldness with nutmeg is known. From the 1850s to the 1920s an astonishing array of technologically improved nutmeg graters were patented from across America. Each product attested to be superior to the last, all designed to complete a simple chore without abrading the user's fingers. While a handful of mechanical nutmeg graters were success stories, most were short lived failures. Mechanical or electric grinders can be kept on the counter or in a cupboard. However, graters have exposed blades that can be a hazard if simply tossed in a drawer. Some graters come with a sheath or cover, which allows you to store your grater in a drawer without fear of cutting yourself or damaging the blades. If a grater doesn’t come with a sheath, it should be hung up or put in a place where people aren’t likely to accidentally cut themselves on it. Maintenance
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They use an old (but clean) nailbrush or hard-bristled toothbrush, reaching for a pin to unclog holes. Lured by the quest for riches, in 1511, the Portuguese were the first Europeans arriving directly at the Banda Islands over the high seas. For a century, Portugal enjoyed the exclusive trade in nutmeg to Western Europe until expelled by Dutch forces. Using coercion, Dutch traders of the seventeenth century created a monopoly with cloves, nutmeg, and mace from the Moluccan Islands and marketed their precious spices at monstrous profits to an eager public in Europe, the Orient and North America. A cut-throat competition for both the lucrative spice trade, and for possession of the spice plant itself, led to terrifying acts of piracy, murder and maritime smuggling. First the French, and then the English, successfully transplanted sapling nutmeg trees, initiating nutmeg plantations throughout the Indian Ocean and Caribbean. By the beginning of the nineteenth century, the Dutch spice monopoly faltered. Personal silver nutmeg grate circa 1690. Gentleman would carry one with them so they could grate fresh nutmeg into their beverages such as nog or punch. Metropolitan Museum of Art / wikimedia / 2017 / Public Domain
A nutmeg grater is an essential part of a toolkit for bartenders, who use them to grate fresh nutmeg as an aromatic garnish for drinks: As mentioned above, nutmeg is native to a number of Indian Ocean islands known, fittingly enough as, the Spice Islands. It was one of many prized and rare spices that were wildly popular in the west during the Middle Ages and Renaissance -- cinnamon, pepper, and cloves were also highly sought after -- both for its culinary uses and for its perceived medicinal characteristics. (It was thought for many centuries that nutmeg and certain other spices could help to prevent infection with the bubonic plague.)When you consider the extra flavour offered by freshly ground nutmeg and the fact that whole nutmeg lasts for years, a grinder offers an economical alternative to buying ground nutmeg. Key considerations Graters: These are far simpler in design than grinders and resemble small cheese graters. You simply rub the nutmeg (or other spice) over a piece of perforated metal. As far as safety goes, a grater is more dangerous to use because it’s possible to cut your fingers on the grate as you work. If you’re worried about this, look for a grater with an attachment that holds the nutmeg – so you don’t have to hold it directly. Some mandolines include graters that work well with nutmeg. Common grater styles for nutmeg (and other spices) include the following:
Some people prefer using a grinder because it does away with the risk of grating bits of your skin in with the nutmeg. Cleaning a nutmeg grater Grinders: You operate a grinder by twisting either a handle or the two parts of the grinder itself. Some grinders collect the nutmeg in a compartment, while others dispense the nutmeg from the bottom of the grinder, like a pepper grinder. If you want an easy way to sprinkle a little nutmeg on a drink or dessert, look for the latter type. Nutmeg, like most spices, is never a central ingredient in any recipe; in fact, it is rarely even meant to define the flavor profile of a given meal or beverage, but rather to add a bit of complexity to the food or drink. Nutmeg is experienced by most palates as sweet and nutty, with enough camphor-like spice to be harsh in large quantities but easily mellowed by foods such as dairy or rice products and balanced by the bright and crisp flavors of citrus fruits.
Key considerations
It isn’t quite as simple as throwing a nutmeg in the grinder and turning it on. Follow these steps: In the 17th and 18th century, gentlemen would carry their own small, personal silver nutmeg grater with them. This allowed them to freshly grate their own nutmeg into fashionable drinks such as punches, nogs, and hot mulled wine. Graters: With most graters, you have easy access to both sides, and they can be cleaned by hand or in the dishwasher. However, grater blades can get damaged in a dishwasher, so for best results, use hot water, dish soap, and a sponge, drawing the sponge along the surface of the grater in the same direction as the blades. Semicylindrical graters are laid flat on a surface to use and often have a compartment to store whole nutmeg. If you’re looking for a grater specifically for nutmeg, this is a good option.
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