What's the best way to zest a lemon?

[PirateAha]

Is there a trick I'm missing? The whole family loves lemon cakes but it's such a pain in the arse to zest lemons. Half of it ends up trapped in the crater. I have a 'lemon zester' but that makes them way too corse.

I use an old grater that I think was for parmesan - it has tiny holes and makes good zest

I was going to say lemon zester.
in what way is it too coarse? it all bakes down and it is just to get the zest in the recipe for flavour.
what type have you got?

Microplane. Lemon zesters are rubbish, you just end up with all the zest stuck.

Fine microplane grater does it perfectly

Micro plane? Although expensive
www.amazon.co.uk/Microplane-Premium-Classic-Zester-Turquoise/dp/B005GQXFTG/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?adgrpid=103845415406&gclid=CjwKCAjw-8qVBhANEiwAfjXLriWNNdOe4kWIFCoQLx7LclFUXoGMmay0Qd4x5KTayFPvE-J2JtM7YBoCs7wQAvD_BwE&hvadid=592926661095&hvdev=t&hvlocint=9045255&hvlocphy=1007422&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=b&hvrand=13622954934780893631&hvtargid=kwd-366763327357&hydadcr=18515_2257258&keywords=microplane&qid=1655887062&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExT0FSTTJCR1RFV1kmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA5MDUyNDMxMEhQUlY1UEJXSk9CJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA5ODI5NzExNDJHUE1DUTVCRDBTJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

I just use the little holes on a standard cheese grater.

I got a microplane grater for Christmas a few years ago - it's fantastic and I love it! Perfect for zesting, or for garlic or ginger... the possibilities are endless!

Honestly though, it's worth the money to get a proper one. I got a knock off one from Aldi as a spare (for when mine is in the dishwasher ) and it's rubbish.

I use the little grater. The hard cheese one.

This is what I've got that I call a lemon zester. It makes huge great strips of zest which we don't like the texture of. Small holes on a cheese grater is what I'm currently using and find a pain. Will look into microplane graters 👍

How do I know if it's a proper one or not @JofraArchersFastestBall ? Is Microplane the brand?

@PirateAha yes - they say microplane on the handle. I expect other brands do make decent ones, but certainly not Aldi!

Microplane Gourmet Fine Grater amzn.eu/d/g6jQ4dr

I peel the lemon with my potato peeler, then put the pieces in my Moulinex. It produces incredibly finely reduced zest with no chunky bits.