Difference Between Shredded and Grated

Cooking is an art, and one has to learn subtle differences between different forms and shapes of food items to be ready with the appropriate one when making a recipe. There are recipes that call for shredded product while there are others that require grated food item. What is surprising is that, you can shred and grate a food item like coconut or carrot with the same kitchen appliance and yet may not be aware of the difference.

Shredded

If you have ever tried to make smaller pieces of a food item like ginger, coconut, carrot, or cheese, you know that it is done with the help of stainless steel gadget. You make sideways or downward movements pressing slightly against the blade that creates small pieces with the help of tiny holes made on the sides of the device. Shredded food item is thin and long, and you can think of it in terms of thin noodles that come out of holes of the grater that is the device used. Most of the smaller pieces that come out of the appliance are very similar with almost same consistency. Shredded items are of smooth consistency. Have you ever wondered about the process that makes French Fries? It is shredding of potatoes after peeling them that produces thin pieces of potato of similar consistency that are fried in oil, to make delicious French Fries.

Grated

When you are grating coconut, you are actually making very small, almost powdery pieces of coconut. These grated pieces of coconut are then spread on the top of a cream roll or a pastry to make it more delicious. Grated product is just short of being powder so that you can seethe granules and identify the material. You make use of a grater with an abrasive side with very small hole and then move the food item (coconut, cheese, or carrot to make almost a powder of the material.