Verdict: a focused tool for fine zest and finishing
The black Microplane Premium Classic Zester is worth considering if citrus zest, finely grated Parmesan, or ginger appears regularly in your cooking. Its narrow rasp offers a direct way to grate over a dish. The buying question is texture: choose it for fine results, not as your only tool for every shredding job.
This research-based review covers model 46020 and Amazon ASIN B00151WA06. We have not tested grating speed, comfort, sharpness retention, or dishwasher durability. Our recommendation follows the documented blade style and intended uses rather than a score or an assumed hands-on experience.
Reasons to consider it
- Fine zesting and grating blade
- Protective storage cover included
- Narrow form for grating over a dish
Trade-offs
- Exposed sharp teeth require care
- Not a coarse-shred replacement
- Comfort and long-term durability untested
Sources: Microplane: Premium Classic Series Lemon Zester, Microplane International: Black Zester 46020, Amazon: black Premium Classic, model 46020, B00151WA06.
Facts: the black Premium Classic 46020
Amazon identifies this black Premium Classic as model 46020, matching Microplane’s international black-product page. The US product page groups many handle colors together, so its initially displayed color is not proof of the selected Amazon variant. Check the black handle and model together.
The US specifications give an eight-by-one-inch grating surface. Regional overall measurements differ: the international page lists 32.5 centimeters in length, while the US page lists 12 inches. We have retained the US specification in the facts and do not claim to have measured either version.
| Reviewed version | Premium Classic Series, black handle, 46020 |
|---|---|
| Amazon ASIN | B00151WA06 |
| Blade | Photo-etched stainless steel; blade made in USA |
| Grating surface | 8 × 1 inches, per US manufacturer page |
| US overall dimensions | 12 × 1 5/16 × 1 inches |
| Included accessory | Reusable protective blade cover |
| Care | Grater dishwasher safe; cover not dishwasher safe |
Sources: Microplane: Premium Classic Series Lemon Zester, Microplane International: Black Zester 46020, Amazon: black Premium Classic, model 46020, B00151WA06.
Features: a narrow blade with a separate storage cover
The soft-touch handle and end feet are practical design details when positioning the rasp over a bowl or resting its end. They do not remove the need to hold the tool securely. A narrow working surface can be convenient for a lemon, but provides less room than a broad grater when dealing with a larger ingredient.
The cover matters in a crowded utensil drawer. Put it back only after cleaning and drying the tool, rather than leaving the teeth exposed among spatulas and measuring spoons. A missing cover is a reason to check replacement-cover compatibility instead of assuming any Microplane accessory will fit.
Sources: Microplane: Premium Classic Series Lemon Zester, Microplane International: Black Zester 46020, Microplane: official use-and-care resources.
Research: match the grating texture to the recipe
Our evidence consists of the manufacturer’s US and international listings, its care-resource index, and Amazon’s identifying fields. We found no product-specific 46020 instruction PDF in the official care index. Third-party documents labeled as manuals were not treated as manufacturer instructions.
The main trade-off is specialization. A cook who wants a little cheese over pasta and citrus in dressings may get frequent use from one slim tool. Someone preparing bowls of coarse vegetables should keep a larger-hole grater in the comparison. That is a design-based buying distinction, not the result of a speed trial.
Consider what you already own before adding another utensil. If your existing grater reliably produces the texture you want, this purchase mainly offers a different shape and handling experience. There is no evidence here that changing brands will improve every recipe.
Sources: Microplane: Premium Classic Series Lemon Zester, Microplane International: Black Zester 46020, Microplane: official use-and-care resources.
Safety and care: protect fingers and the exposed teeth
Treat the blade as a sharp cutting surface during use, washing, and storage. Keep fingertips out of its path and stop before a small remaining piece becomes difficult to control. Avoid trying to recover every last fragment at the expense of a secure hold.
Microplane permits dishwasher cleaning of the grater, but explicitly excludes the protective cover on its international page. That page also recommends rinsing under running water and allowing the tool to dry. Follow the packaging supplied with your exact item; do not assume accessories share the blade’s care rules.
Sources: Microplane International: Black Zester 46020, Microplane: Premium Classic Series Lemon Zester.
Buying advice: confirm the color, model, and included cover
Check for black Premium Classic model 46020, not simply the Microplane name. The brand sells other rasp and paddle shapes, and a photograph of a different handle color is not a promise that the black version is selected.
Before paying, verify the seller, included cover, final total, delivery, and returns. Compare the purchase with your actual cooking needs rather than a discount headline. The affiliate link below opens the current listing; prices and availability can change.
Sources: Amazon: black Premium Classic, model 46020, B00151WA06, Microplane: Premium Classic Series Lemon Zester.
Related buying research
Compare fine rasp, box and rotary grating formats, including sharp-edge handling and cleanup.
Questions: texture, origin, and cleaning
Is this a coarse cheese grater?
No. This rasp is for very fine grating and zesting. Choose a larger-hole grater when your recipe needs substantial shreds rather than a fine topping.
Does it come with a cover?
Microplane lists a reusable protective cover. Verify that the selected offer includes it, and keep the cover out of the dishwasher.
Is the entire tool made in the USA?
The US product page says the blade is made in the USA and the tool is assembled in Mexico. Do not expand the blade-origin claim to the complete product.
Can it go in the dishwasher?
The grater can, according to Microplane. The international page excludes the protective cover. Rinsing the blade after use helps prevent residue from drying around the teeth.
Is it suitable for someone who struggles with grip?
We cannot establish that from an ergonomic handle description. The user must control an exposed sharp surface and the food; consider the actual motion and return options before buying.
Sources: Microplane: Premium Classic Series Lemon Zester, Microplane International: Black Zester 46020, Microplane: official use-and-care resources.
Sources and limitations
Research checked October 11, 2026. We checked the exact product identity against the primary sources below. Published specifications and seller imagery are not independent performance tests.
Sources: Microplane: Premium Classic Series Lemon Zester, Microplane International: Black Zester 46020, Amazon: black Premium Classic, model 46020, B00151WA06, Microplane: official use-and-care resources.
Four genuine Microplane photographs show the black Premium Classic and food styling. Blade-origin wording applies to the blade, not the entire assembled tool. Public-use image licensing remains unverified. Image-use disclosure.
Is this a hands-on review?
No. We have not measured performance, handling or durability. Product-specific evidence limits appear in the Research section.
Are these affiliate links?
Purchases through our retailer links may earn a commission. Disclosure and reader-rating privacy.
Image sources and context
- Black Premium Classic 46020. Manufacturer product photo; no hands-on testing implied. Image provenance: microplane.com
- Manufacturer styling with the black 46020 and citrus zest. Image provenance: microplaneintl.com
- A close look at the narrow photo-etched blade. The origin marking applies to the blade. Image provenance: microplaneintl.com
- Manufacturer photograph showing the black handle and long, narrow grating surface. Image provenance: microplaneintl.com