For the most part, everyone owns a cheese grater or has one in their kitchen arsenal. However, a cheese grater can become a very overlooked kitchen tool because it simply does one thing. Well, you would be wrong in that case. You may be asking yourself, why would you need the best cheese grater on the market when they are so limited. Also, you can always buy shredded cheese at the same price as a cheese block. So why the need for the best cheese grater?
Well, a cheese grater can do much more than just grate cheese. You can also use it to grate and shred many other types of foods. You can use it to shred potatoes for making hash browns or potato cakes. You can also use it to grate other vegetables like carrots for salads and carrot cakes. It really depends on the type of cheese grater you purchase, which determines what you are able to do with it.
There are also some meat grinders that have attachments to grate and shred cheese as well. But these are usually used in commercial kitchens where they need to shred large amounts of cheese, so this wouldn’t really help you in the kitchen at home.
How to choose the best cheese grater
There are a few things to consider when purchasing a new cheese grater. For instance, what are you planning to use the cheese grater for and how will it be utilized. This will determine the style of cheese grater that will work best for you. You will also want to think about the quality of the grater. How long the cheese grater will last you and how comfortable you are with it will determine the final purchase as well.
Construction and Design
You will want to buy the best cheese grater that will last you for a long time so you won’t have to keep replacing it when it breaks or becomes unusable. The construction and overall build of the tool will determine how long it will last and if it will get the job done. A few things to consider would be how sharp the cheese grater is, how efficient the tool can be and how easy it is to use for the user.
Depending on what you plan on using the cheese grater for will determine the order of these qualities that matter to you. Maybe you want to get the cheese to a very fine shred to stuff into homemade raviolis you made with your pasta maker. Most importantly, you want the cheese grater to be durable and not flimsy. This can be dangerous if the device will not stay in one place when you are using it or if it will break or fall apart if you press too hard against it when grating. Make sure you are comfortable using the cheese grater, otherwise you will just end up going through plenty of models until you find the best one that works for you.
There are a few different styles and designs of cheese graters and each is used for something a little more specific. While some of these models are interchangeable and can do many different tasks all in one, that doesn’t necessarily mean they will be the best choice for you as well. The most common types are the box cheese grater, the micro plane or zester as some people refer to it and the rotary cheese grater. Some of these models will only do one task and not multiple tasks like the other will. For instance, a rotary cheese grater will only grate cheese.
It will not zest lemons or shred vegetables like carrots or potatoes. To see how a rotary cheese grater works, check this video. A micro plane will grate cheese and zest lemons, but it will only do this in one size and not multiples. A box grater is a multiple functioning tool because it usually has four different sides with different functions of grating, cheese slicer and shredding. However, some of these box graters tend to be poorly made and are very flimsy or fall apart easily when in use. Learn more about the types of cheese graters.
Warranty
A warranty will help to protect your cheese grater when it breaks. Most quality manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty with their products because they are confident it will last forever. If the product does not come with some sort of guarantee or warranty then it is pretty clear that is a red flag and should not be considered as a reliable product that will outlast the test of time.
Best Cheese Graters
Microplane Professional Series Grater
The Best Cheese Grater
Here is the best cheese grater for the money. It is a beautiful hand grater that can grate or shred just about anything you want from cheese to chocolate to vegetables.
The cheese grater features a large surface area to grate your hard cheeses and vegetables on. With its razor-sharp teeth and non-clogging pores, there is nothing that will stand in its way of getting the job done. The grater is made of strong stainless steel and also has a rubber non-slip handle to ensure the safety of the user when in use. The model is also dishwasher safe and comes at a very reasonable price.
While it is backed by a warranty, it does only grate at one size rather than multiple settings like other models.
- Has a large grating surface grating area
- Features razor sharp edges and non-clogging pores for easy usage
- Made of strong stainless steel that is dishwasher safe and has a rubber handle for safety reasons
- Is only able to grate at one size rather than multiple levels
ZYLISS Classic Cheese Grater
The Runner Up Cheese grater
The next cheese grater is a rotary style cheese grater which is very reasonably priced. This is the type of cheese grater your waiter would use table side.
The cheese grater features hard plastic body which is durable and dishwasher safe. There are also interchangeable rollers for different sizes of shredding ability. There is also an agronomical styled handle for comfortability and stainless-steel drums.
While this cheese grater can grate faster than most cheese graters, it does mean the pieces need to be cut to size to be able to fit inside the grater for use.
- Features stainless steel drums and a hard-plastic body that are all dishwasher safe
- Has interchangeable drums for different sizes of grating
- Easy to use table side with the agronomical handle and fast usage
- The pieces that are to be grated need to be cut to size to fit inside the grater
Spring Chef Stainless Steel Box Grater
The Best Box Cheese Grater
The next cheese grater up for grabs is one of the best box cheese graters we have ever seen and it comes in at a more than reasonable price.
The box grater, like most other box graters, features 4 different sizes of shredding and grating ability: a large shred, medium shred, fine grate or zester and a slicer. The body of the grater is also stainless steel and comes equipped with a rubber base to keep it from slipping or moving while it is being used.
While this is a great deal and has the ability to grate just about anything, it will take a little bit more elbow grease from the user to shred.
- Features a stainless-steel body with a rubber base to keep it from slipping while in use
- Has the ability to grate and shred at 3 different sizes as well as slice
- Is dishwasher safe and very easy to use
- While it is easy to use, it will take more time and energy to grate and shred things manually
Good Grips Etched Coarse Grater
The Safest Cheese Grater
This is a great cheese grater that keeps safety in mind for the user. The cheese grater is priced fairly but does not come with a warranty to protect it. The cheese grater is constructed of string stainless steel that has sharp etched rivets to grate or zest foods fast and efficiently. It also has a long handle that has soft and comfortable grips that are slip resistant.
The grating board also has a rubber ring around it to guard the hand and fingers from the grating surface while in use. The handle also has a hole on the end for hanging on the wall. The base of the grater also is slip resistant for total control while in use. It is easy to use and easy to clean as it can be placed in the dishwasher safely.
- The cheese grater is constructed of stainless steel with sharp etched teeth for grating and zesting fast and efficiently.
- The handle has a soft and comfortable grip that is slip resistant and a hole at the end so it can be hung on the wall.
- The base is slip resistant for control when in use and there is a rubber guard on the grater to protect your hands.
- While it is very affordable, it does not come with a warranty to protect it.
Deiss PRO Citrus Zester & Cheese Grater
The Old-Fashioned Micro Plane
This cheese grater is like something straight out of the 20’s but is still a viable tool today. The cheese grater is more than affordable but does not come with a warranty to protect it. The cheese grater is constructed of stainless steel with razor sharp teeth perfect for zesting and grating a variety of foods.
The handle is very long and has a soft and comfortable grip that is slip resistant. The handle also has a curved shape making it easier to apply much more force when grating and there is a hole at the end of the handle for hanging it on the wall for storing. The teeth of the grater do not clog up easily so it can be cleaned just by running it under water. But it is also completely dishwasher safe making cleaning very easy.
- The cheese grater is constructed of stainless steel and has razor sharp teeth perfect for grating and zesting all foods.
- The handle has a soft and comfortable grip that is slip resistant and is also curved and very rigid which allows you to apply a lot of force when grating.
- The teeth will not clog up and can be cleaned by running under the water faucet or it can be placed in the dishwasher.
- While the cheese grater is very affordable, it does not come with a warranty to protect it.
Cuisipro Surface Glide Technology 4-Sided Boxed Grater
The Fancy Box Cheese Grater
This cheese grater is very similar to the other box grater we showed you but there is a reason why this one came in second to it and that is because it costs twice as much. It does have another feature which is grooved sides for easier shredding but that doesn’t mean it should cost twice as much.
The grater is also stainless steel and has a rubber handle and rubber base for ease of use. This makes it more comfortable to use and also safer to use. There are also 4 different levels of grating which are generally the same as any other box grater. It is also dishwasher safe.
- The body is constructed of stainless steel which is all dishwasher safe
- The handle has a rubber grip on it and the base is also rubber making it easier and safer while in use
- There are 4 different sizes of grating and all are equipped with grooved sides to make shredding much faster and easier
- The model is the exact same as some of the other box graters but does cost twice as much
OXO 1057961 EMW6165179 1 EA
The Catch-All Cheese Grater
Again, here is another box grater that is identical to the previous one except it does not have grooved sides. It is a little bit cheaper but is still more costly than most of the models we have shown you.
All the features are the same as the last except this one is a little bit slimmer than most box graters which makes it easy to fit in drawers for easy storage and save space in the dishwasher when being cleaned. It also has a catcher attachment at the base of the shredder to catch all the food being shredded which is pretty cool but defeats the purpose of having a rubber base for safety.
- The body is constructed of stainless steel which is all dishwasher safe
- The handle has a rubber grip on it and the base is also rubber making it easier and safer while in use
- Has a slim body which makes it easy for storing and saving more space in the dishwasher
- While it does have a food catcher at the bottom of the shredder, it defeats the purpose of having a rubber base for safety and non-slipping while in use
Westmark Heavy Duty Rotary Grater
The Cheese Grater that is Stuck in the Past
We are not even sure why this cheese grater is even available or why someone would want to buy it. It is not designed very well and is like nothing we have ever seen. The company boasts about how they are the best cheese grater or your money back guaranteed and also comes with a 5-year warranty.
The grater features interchangeable grating blades and can-do heavy-duty shredding. It is operated using an aerial crank and compartment press just like a tableside grater would work. However, this would get in the way if you were to be grating large blocks of cheese which make it an impractical device.
The body is sturdy and well-constructed of strong material and a rubber base but is not dishwasher safe and needs to be cleaned by hand.
- Is well constructed of quality materials and has a rubber base to prevent slipping
- Comes with a 5-year warranty to protect it from any and all defects or damages that may occur while in use
- Comes with a money back guarantee if you for any reason do not like the machine
- The machine is very outdated and a very impractical way of grating cheese
- The rotary handle will get in the way of the cheese press if you are grating large amounts of cheese at once
- The cheese grater is not dishwasher safe but the interchangeable grates are
Utopia Kitchen Cheese Grater
The Show Off Cheese Grater
Here is a box cheese grater that is simply too good to be true. It comes in at the lowest priced cheese grater on the entire list as well, so we guess that is somewhat of a plus side.
The box cheese grater is a little different than most other models in the sense that it doesn’t have 4 sides like the traditional ones have, it has six sides. Yes, this means it can do more but when you construct a box out of six sides instead of four, this means that the structural integrity of the grater has become compromised. Yes, it can do six different sizes but also the surface area of those graters is much smaller than a traditional one as well.
With all this being said, the device is very cheaply made and in a sense is flimsy and may fall apart while you are using it.
- Constructed of stainless steel and is dishwasher safe
- Has a rubber handle and rubber base for added safety measures when it breaks in your hand while it is in use
- Has six different sizes of grating, slicing and shredding
- The structural integrity of the cheese grater is compromised making it a very poorly constructed and flimsy cheese grater that could easily break or fall apart while being used
- The surface area of the graters is much smaller than any other grater available today
Cuisinart CTG-00-BG Boxed Grater
The Most Basic Cheese Grater
And lastly, we have the most basic model of cheese graters. It is very cheap to buy and doesn’t have any warranties, but you get what you paid for.
The cheese grater is a traditional box style grater with 4 sides of different sizes for slicing, grating and shredding. It is constructed of stainless steel which can also be used in the dishwasher to clean it. There is a black plastic handle and a plastic base but could become hazardous because it will move around or slip when you are trying to grate or shred something heavy or dense.
This model is very basic and would be an ok buy if you just need something to get by. But don’t expect anything fancy and don’t get mad when it breaks or you hurt yourself using it because you will know what you were getting yourself into in the first place.
- Constructed of stainless steel which is dishwasher safe
- Has four different sides for different sizes of grating and shredding
- A very cheaply priced cheese grater
- Has a plastic handle and plastic base which could slip or move when using it causing a very big safety hazard
- Very poorly constructed of cheap materials which are sure to break or fall apart within due time
Conclusion
Whatever cheese grater you decide to go with at least make sure it is reliable. Make sure you are comfortable using the product as well. There is no point in buying something you don’t know how to use or are unable to use. So, stop buying that shredded cheese and go buy the best cheese grater today!