Skip to content

Microplane Master Series Wood Handle Stainless Steel

By Microplane · Kitchen Utensils · Kitchen & Cooking · More from Microplane

  • 12" x 1 1/2" x 5/8"
  • 6 1/2" x 1 5/16" grating surface
  • 18/8 stainless steel
  • US Certified walnut handle
  • 8 oz weight

Price not listed

Stores are listed in a fixed order, never by price or commission. Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.

Summary

Microplane’s Master Series Zester is a walnut-handled, US-made-blade rasp zester sold at a premium over the brand’s own plastic-handled zester. Check the care rules before you buy: the walnut handle needs hand washing and must never be soaked.

Strengths

  • Uses the same photo-etched stainless blade Microplane puts across its line.
  • The walnut handle and heavier 8 oz body feel more substantial than plastic-handled zesters.
  • A long grating surface lets you zest in one long draw instead of back-and-forth.
  • Won a Red Dot design award in 2017.
  • Ships with a reusable cover that protects the blade in a drawer.

Weaknesses

  • No independent outlet that tests zesters names this exact model.
  • The walnut handle must be hand washed and never soaked.
  • The photo-etched blade cannot be sharpened.
  • The 8 oz body is heavier than plastic-handled zesters, which some owners find tiring.
  • The warranty page states 3 years but also mentions a lifetime warranty, so the term is unclear.

Verified specifications

Model43220 (listed as 43220-1PK on Microplane.com).
Typerasp-style handheld zester and grater.
Material18/8 (300 series) stainless steel surface with a US-certified walnut handle.
Bladephoto-etched stainless steel, made in the USA at Russellville, Arkansas.
Overall size12 × 1.60 × 0.62 in.
Weight8 oz.
Includeda reusable protective cover; a replacement cover sells for $1.
Caredishwasher-safe, but hand washing is recommended and the walnut handle must never be soaked.
Prop 65 warning for nickel exposure (California).
Warranty3 years against manufacturing defects.
Full research notes and sources

Blade and build

Microplane’s case for the Master Series is the handle and the weight rather than the cutting surface. The company describes the same ultra-sharp photo-etched blade across the series, so the upgrade is a walnut-and-stainless body that won a Red Dot design award in 2017.

Wood handle care

The walnut handle is the part that needs attention. Microplane says the Master Series handle must be hand washed only and never soaked, and it recommends rinsing immediately after use and not letting food dry on the blade. The photo-etched blade cannot be sharpened, so a worn blade means a new tool. Store it with the cover.

Microplane lists the Zester at $29.99 on its own site, Crate & Barrel lists it at $29.95, and Microplane’s outlet store shows $25.49. A Nella listing in Canada shows CAD $43.99, and UK shops list it at £30.00. The sibling Master Series paddles sell for $32.99 each on Microplane.com. That is a premium over the roughly $18 Premium Classic zester both Wirecutter and America’s Test Kitchen recommend, so the extra money buys handle, weight and finish rather than a different blade.

Warranty and repairs

Microplane’s refund policy states products carry a warranty against manufacturing defects valid for 3 years from purchase, with free replacement for qualifying defects and claims requiring purchase from an authorized dealer. The same page also references a lifetime warranty and limits replacement beyond 3 years to a discount, so treat the long-term term as unclear. A replacement protective cover costs $1.

Which model this is

This page covers the Master Series Zester, model 43220, with the walnut handle. Microplane’s catalog assigns a different number to each Master Series blade: Coarse 43200, Ribbon 43202, Fine 43204, Extra Coarse 43208 and Zester 43220. The listing is ASIN B06VWVHS8S, which could not be confirmed against a non-retailer source, so match on model 43220 and the walnut handle.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

Buying guides for this category

Compare with

Related products