Grating chocolate

[Don]

Hi Folks,

Well, I feel incredibly stupid. Last night I made the BBQ chicken potpie for the first time (we loved it), so I had to grate chocolate. The only unsweetened chocolate that I could find was in the baking section and it came in squares. I got out my little hand grater and went at it. Before I knew it, I was covered with half melted chocolate shreds from head to toe (not to mention my kitchen floor and countertop). I don't know if chocolate is always so messy to grate, or if I need to buy some type of equipment to do the job without wearing the product. Any thoughts? Thanks, Don.

[kwormann]

A zyless parmasian cheese grater is good for chocolate, too. I have a "block" soft cheese grater, and if I remember (its been several years), it worked ok...the chocolate fell inside the block until I removed the the bottom. (Am I painting a picture that you understand?)

Kim

[hlao23]

I use a ginger grater. It's still a pain but it doesn't make a mess. Grating the chocolate is my least favorite part of making this recipe.

Kim, do you mean a hand-held grater that you just put the chocolate (or cheese) inside and twist a handle to grate it? Sort of like a pepper mill?

[Leonard]

Hey Don!!

I find the easiest way and cleanest way to grate chocolate is to lightly "pulse" it in the food processor. I think you pretty much end up with the same thing as grating and it's definitely neater.???

[BarbaraL]

I used my Zyliss cheese grater, as kwormann already mentioned. Works great, but is a pain to do. Next time, I might try my mini-food processor as Leonard suggests. I love the BBQ chicken potpie, but it is alot of work! This time, I cooked the chicken breasts on night #1; shredded them on night #2; put everything together, cooked and ate on night #3!

[Jessica]

I have one of those hand graters that they use at Italian restaurants. It was a gift but I think it was from pampered chef. The grating cylinder with the small holes works perfectly for chocolate.
Also, in this recipe the chocolate melts into the sauce, so you could chop it into small pieces if that is easier.

[Don]

Thanks everyone for the input! You answered all of my questions. I had thought about a hand grater or using a mini-chopper. I also gave some thought to just throwing the chocolate into the dish and letting it melt, or bashing it in a ziploc bag with a meat tenderizer. I just wasn't sure what would work. At least now when I make the dish again, I won't be covered with chocolate specks. I don't think I have used so much stain stick on my clothes before!

[Susann]

When I make the bbq chicken potpie, I don't grate the chocolate-just plop in the whole square and move around so it melts. It works fine for me-no one has complained about finding a lump of chocolate yet (then again, I don't know if a lump of chocolate is necessarily a bad thing!!)

Let me make a corrrection-*I* don't move around. I move the chocolate around. Teeheeehee. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Susann (edited 01-31-2001).]

[lorilei]

You can always beat the square of chocolate into submission (or at least smaller pieces) by placing it in a plastic bag and beating on it with the side of a rolling pin...

(shrug and wince)... that's what I do. I abhor grating things with my bare hands. Always seem to get a raw knuckle out of the experience. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif