Skip the Fancy Cheese Graters—Our Favorite One Is Simple, Sturdy, and Efficient

Our Takeaway

We selected OXO's Good Grips Etched Box Grater as our top pick because it offers four grating blades for different shred sizes, comes with a measuring cup to catch and measure ingredients, and has a sturdy, functional weight. It doubles as a cheese grater and a citrus zester thanks to its detachable zesting plane. Cuisinart's Boxed Grater is another fantastic option that has four different blades for one unbeatable price.

How to Pick the Right Cheese Grater

Type

Box Graters: Box graters have four sides and often include different blades and shred sizes on each side. They have large surface areas that allow you to shred big batches of cheese and other ingredients. On the downside, box graters tend to be more bulky and difficult to store than their handheld counterparts. But they make up for this by eliminating the need for multiple grating tools.

Handheld Graters: These are ideal for shredding small quantities of cheese or produce over a bowl. They are often the best cheese graters for beginner cooks, as they're budget-friendly and only come with one shredding size. If you're looking to get multiple shred sizes from one grater, handheld graters may not be the best option.

Rotary Graters: This type is best for grating hard cheese like Parmigiano-Reggiano or for grating nuts and chocolate. How do rotary graters work? A rotating blade is enclosed along with whatever you're grating. All you have to do is turn the hand crank, and the grater moves along the surface of the cheese. Shreds enter the barrel that you can easily empty onto your food.

Electric Graters: Electric styles often come in the form of attachments for larger appliances like stand mixers or food processors. They're great for shredding large quantities of cheese or produce, but they're not necessary unless you already have one of those appliances.

Zesters: Zesters are similar to handheld graters but have very small holes for fine grating. It's the ideal grater for zesting citrus fruits and making pastes out of ginger or garlic. Because of their flat, handheld design, they tend to be easier to use than the pinhole side of a box grater.

Etched vs. Stamped

When you shop for cheese graters online, you'll probably see the words "etched" and "stamped" a fair amount of times. These terms refer to how the blades are created. Stamped graters have large, rigid blades that stick out of the grater and work by tearing cheese away from the block rather than cutting it. Etched graters, on the other hand, are made by a chemical process, creating razor blade-like indents on the surface. Etched graters tend to be sharper and better at creating fine shreds than stamped graters.

Shredding Size

Keep in mind whether you want coarse shredding holes, fine shredding holes, or both. While some types of graters only come with one shredding hole size (often handheld and zesters), others allow you to get multiple shreds from one tool (box graters and electric graters). Some box graters even come with wide blades for slicing.

About Our Tests

Allrecipes Product Tester Rachel Johnson rounded up cheese graters from brands like OXO, KitchenAid, Cuisinart, Zyliss, and more. She tested each grater by grating a block of cheese, a zucchini, a carrot, and by zesting a lemon or lime, when applicable.

Each grater was evaluated based on the following metrics:

• Overall Feel: Is the grater made to last?
• Efficiency: How quickly and easily do these graters make shreds of cheese/vegetables?
• Shred Size: What shred sizes does the grate offer?
• Cleanup: Is it easy to clean? Are the plates removable?

The Leftovers: Other Cheese Graters We Tested

While the pricey Microplane Elite Box Cheese Grater earned points for its five unique shred sizes and built-in measuring cup, it didn't feel made to last or worth the higher cost. In tests, the grates were very sharp and precise, but the metal plates felt flimsy when pressed. Similarly, the Zyliss Restaurant Cheese Grater fell short in terms of durability. "The value is found within the sharp blades, but is not invested in the structure of the handles or casing," says Rachel.

Surprisingly, the Microplane Artisan Extra Coarse Handheld Grater also didn't live up to the competition. Although this brand typically boasts a superior product, the flimsy quality of the blades attached to the unit of the grater didn't perform well. And even though we appreciated the Chef'n GraterZoom Grater and Slicer for its eye-catching design, it fell flat when it came down to function. In tests, the grater felt clumsy, gimmicky, and definitely not worth the higher price point.

Common Questions

How do you grate cheese?

The basics of grating cheese is quite simple: simply rub the cheese back and forth along the blades of the grater. Some graters have multiple sides with different sized blades so you can have fine or thick strands of cheese.

When the cheese gets down to the nub and your fingers are close to the blades, be careful. You can hold the cheese with a cloth or get a specialized tools (such as safety food holders or cut-resistant gloves) to protect your hands.

How long does grated cheese last?

Typically, grated and shredded cheese can last up to one month in the fridge. Harder cheeses, such as cheddar or parmesan, last longer in block form (up to 6 months, according to the USDA). So if you want to maximize the lifespan of your cheese, shred only what you need in the short term, and keep the remaining cheese in a block until you need it again.

How do you clean a cheese grater?

Nobody wants that waxy smear to stay on their cheese grater. Most graters can be washed with a sponge, soap, and some warm water—just be sure to wipe the blades in a downward motion, not upwards. Some graters will be dishwasher safe for easy cleaning, but you should still check the manufacturer's directions before popping it in the dishwasher.

Why Take Our Word For It?

Allrecipes provides trusted recipes, tips, and product recommendations to millions of home cooks around the world. Product Tester Rachel Johnson and Writer Melanie Fincher selected the best cheese graters after testing and evaluating a variety of models' efficiency, shred size, construction, and ease of cleaning.