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To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 107,591 times. Nutmeg is the seed of an evergreen plant that grows in Asia, Australasia and the Caribbean.
A whole nutmeg in its shell can last up to 9 years, while grated nutmeg may have a shelf life of a year or less. Grating fresh nutmeg off the seed will impart a stronger, fresher smell and flavor to your recipes. These stainless steel kitchen utensils have sharper edges than regular zesters or graters and they are ideal for grating hard spices like nutmeg and mace. If you don’t have access to this type of zester, use a nutmeg grater or a small zester.
You need a very sturdy grater with small, hard holes to adequately grind the hard seed. Buy a jar of whole nutmeg seeds. Make sure they are sold in the shell. Once the shell is broken on the seed, the expiration date moves from nine years to three years. Crack the shell of a nutmeg seed open.
Smash it between the cutting board and a strong knife or plate. Don’t worry about breaking the seed itself. Peel away the shell, cracking more shell as needed. Hold your Microplane or nutmeg grater at a 45-degree angle to your cutting board. Grasp it on the plastic handle and rest the other end on the cutting board.