The Easiest Way To Shred Cheese

 Ok, so it's no secret that I hate to cook.

I mean, there are some aspects of it I do enjoy, like when the whole family is involved in the process, around the holidays, for example.

Or when we're talking about dessert.

But even then, unless it's 5-minute instant Jello chocolate pudding, I'm not enthused.

However, as I've also stated before, we do need to eat...which is exactly why I'm always looking for easy methods to cheat my way to a quick meal.

So far, I've relied mostly on recipes, but lately, I've started thinking about gadgets and how they could help me out.

Once I broke out that steamer, and was able to transform the basement sofa, with very little effort, it got me thinking.

I've alway avoided them in the past, because...well...I live in a cottage and space is at a premium. Plus, I'm no spring chicken, I've been down this road before.

I've had the waffle maker, the bread maker, the coffee maker and the fancy processors and we either never used them, they were too much trouble to drag out and clean up. Or they broke.

Then last year, right around the holidays, my daughter requested sweet potato pancakes, and I said...oh no. Grating those yams was a chore. So we ordered a pizza instead.

Then the very next night my other daughter requested my famous no bake lasagna and again, I said, oh no. Grating cheese was just as bad. So we had leftover pizza.

Now, we live in NY and the pizza is OUTSTANDING.

I could eat it every day for every meal, but on Christmas morning, it became very clear that other people in the house were looking for some variety, because I unwrapped this - the Presto Salad Shooter (<---like this one).

Yay. Cooking tools. Thank you...I can't wait to use it. 

They knew I was lying. But I think they still had high hopes that one day, I'd open that box.

Well, today's the day. Christmas was when?? And today is...what?? Oh well, better late than never.

So what was my motivation you ask? Um...hunger?

No, just kidding. Sort of.

I really was hungry and wanted to make that lasagna...but I also really didn't want to shred that cheese. Then I spied that box.

Unopened.

And then I remembered the steamer and how it made easy work of a nasty chore...

Anyway, I opened the box and tried this sucker out.

Before you ask me why I didn't just buy shredded cheese, I'll tell you. I don't like it.

I try to eat whole foods as much as possible and shredded cheese has a lot of preservatives in it to inhibit mold growth and cellulose, to prevent caking.

What is cellulose?

It's essentially wood, plant or cotton fibers that have been chemically processed and then added to the food. It's in a lot of things, but I try not to buy them, because I'm not into eating any of that. Ick.

Instead, I always buy a big block and shred. Begrudgingly.

However, I was hopeful that my new kitchen toy would change all that.

Here's what happened today.

The Easiest Way To Shred Cheese

Step 1:

I opened the box, read the instructions and then washed it. Then I snapped the proper shredding blade into place.

Step 2:

I cut the block of mozzarella up into smaller chunks so it would fit into the space provided.

Then I put the little cup on top of it.

The food gets trapped between the blade and cup to protect your fingers.

Step 3:

I plugged it in and pressed the "on" button and started shredding.

I also pressed down gently on that little cup to move the cheese closer to the blade when needed. It works exactly the same as a food processor.

Step 4:

I shredded some more.

I just kept going until all the cheese was gone. Presto.

Just like the box said.


I have to say it was very easy.

The set up time was minimal, the shredding was effortless and I was done in seconds without any waste.

This is what was left of my block of cheese.


Normally, I end up with a shredded mess, cheese everywhere and achy arms, but not this time.

This was lovely.

Step 5:

Clean up....which was great, since I just took it apart, rinsed quickly and popped all the cheesy pieces in the dishwasher.

Yup, you heard me, the dishwasher.

You can't put a waffle maker in the dishwasher.


I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised with this little handy helper.

It did exactly what it said it would do and it was a breeze to clean.

I wiped off the salad shooter itself and then placed it on the shelf next to my Hello Kitty toaster...and I was all done.


 Well, done with the shredding. I still had to make the meal, but shredding was the hard part.

And of course, I only shredded cheese. Tomorrow I plan to shred cucumbers and chocolate.

Oh yeah, and I think I owe someone some shredded yams.

I'll keep you posted and let you know how that goes, but in the meantime, I'm pretty excited.

Me. Excited. About cooking.

Wow.

That says a lot.


Do you have a  go to kitchen gadget?

Do tell!

Happy Shredding!!