The 5 Greatest Cheese Graters of 2026, Examined & Reviewed

If you happen to’ve ever reached for a bag of pre-shredded cheese and questioned why it doesn’t soften proper, right here’s your reply: It’s coated in anti-caking brokers that hold the shreds from sticking collectively. Take into account shredding it your self as a substitute. A great grater makes it simple, and gained’t pores and skin your knuckles within the course of. 

Whether or not you’re showering Parmesan over pasta, grating zucchini for bread, or sneaking butter into biscuit dough, a fantastic grater (hehe) makes prep quick and protected. (Watch these knuckles!) I examined 10 graters of varied types (field, handheld, and rotary) to search out ones that made the cleanest cuts with the least effort.

The Winners, at a Look

Sharp, sturdy, and thoughtfully designed, this grater made the fluffiest piles of cheese with the least effort. The detachable rasp-style panel truly works for zesting (a rarity amongst field graters) and pops off for simple cleansing. It’s not the quickest for big jobs, nevertheless it’s essentially the most versatile and best-built general.

Light-weight and impressively sharp, the Cuisipro dealt with all the pieces from cheddar to carrots with ease. It lacks extras, however when you simply need one thing that works with out fanfare, it’s a stable decide for the value.

Created from a stable piece of stainless-steel, this handheld grater has a super-slim profile that would slip into the tightest of areas. What it lacks in versatility, it makes up for in sturdiness and ease, with sharp holes that catch onto tender and hard meals alike.

This compact grater made fast work of exhausting cheeses, blitzing by means of Parmesan quicker than every other rotary mannequin I examined. The sharp drum tooth lower effortlessly, and the reversible design works for each left- and right-handed customers.

For zesting citrus or grating garlic, you’ll be able to’t go improper with the sharp tooth of a Microplane. The tender deal with retains grip regular as you grate all the pieces from exhausting cheese to entire spices.

The Assessments

• Massive Gap Check 1 (Cheddar): I grated eight ounces of cheddar on the massive holes of every field grater, timing the method. I famous how a lot strain was required and whether or not the cheese got here out in fluffy, distinct ribbons or mushy clumps. The sharpest fashions produced clear, ethereal piles, whereas the worst compressed the cheese into dense, greasy curls.
• Massive Gap Check 2 (Carrots): I shredded dense, fibrous carrots to check the massive holes additional. This take a look at revealed how properly every grater may deal with a harder ingredient with out clogging or skidding round on the counter. 
• Zesting Citrus Check: Most field graters have a aspect for zesting, so I used one lemon per mannequin and ran it alongside that aspect. The ensuing texture various broadly from grater to grater, with some in a position to create delicate, aromatic curls whereas others simply mashed the peel. 
• Rotary Grater Laborious Cheese Check: To check the rotary graters, I measured out two ounces of Parmesan cheese and timed the method of grating it right into a fluffy mound of shavings. I checked for smoothness of movement, any jerky stops, and the way a lot cheese remained trapped within the hopper.
• Chocolate Check (Winners Solely): To single out the highest fashions, I grated two ounces of darkish chocolate utilizing every successful grater. This take a look at uncovered how properly every grater handled delicate, heat-sensitive components. 
• Usability and Cleanup Assessments: Past uncooked efficiency, I checked out consolation, management, and ease of upkeep. Graters that had been dishwasher-safe took a spin within the machine and acquired an intensive inspection afterward. 

What I Realized

Graters Had been for Grating and Zesters for Zesting

As a normal rule, many of the field graters had been horrible at zesting. These little star-shaped factors that the majority graters have on a small aspect of the field are designed to grate citrus zest or exhausting spices, however I don’t discover them to be helpful in any respect. Throughout testing, field graters that had this fashion of zesting floor carried out terribly, leaving me with little (if any) zest. Check out our evaluation of rasp-style graters to see if any of the winners have a floor that appears even remotely much like these star-shaped factors, and also you’ll get what I imply. If you happen to’ve ever had bother with a recipe that known as for zest and also you had been left scratching your head, questioning the way it may presumably be so exhausting, it could be your grater. If it has these star-shaped factors, don’t even trouble. The one graters that carried out properly throughout my lemon zesting take a look at had been the Cuisipro and the OXO, each of which have rasp-style nice raised tooth designed to catch on citrus peels and take away the zest with out digging into the bitter pith beneath. 

Nonetheless, all of the fashions I examined grated properly. Regardless of variations in gap measurement, form, and design, all had been in a position to grate cheese, chocolate, and carrots with out difficulty. The primary variations got here all the way down to delicate variations in texture and energy. Backside line: Purchase a grater for its grating functionality and get a Microplane if that’s a device you want. Don’t anticipate most graters to have the ability to do each duties properly.

Cheese Grater’s Sides are Versatile

The 4 sides of a field grater can be utilized for thus many issues. I take advantage of the coarse aspect for shredding greens, grating butter for pastry dough, and turning stale bread into breadcrumbs with out having to haul out my meals processor. The finer sides provide you with extra choices, like zesting or grating exhausting spices. Whereas I personally favor a mandoline for slicing, a number of the slicer sides on the field graters might be efficient, although you’ll be able to’t modify the thickness. 

Design Particulars Mattered

It’s simple to imagine a field grater is simply 4 sides of metallic, however the small design selections ended up making an enormous distinction. The successful OXO Good Grips Etched Field Grater, for example, stood out for its rubberized nonslip base and extensive, tender deal with, which stored it steady and comfy by means of lengthy grating periods. In distinction, the Cuisipro, although sharp, tended to slip round on its exhausting plastic base, and I had to make use of extra effort to maintain it in place. 

Design mattered simply as a lot throughout cleanup. Graters just like the OXO, with open corners and detachable sides, rinsed clear in seconds, whereas fashions such because the Cuisinart trapped cussed bits of meals alongside tight seams that required a brush or toothpick to take away.

Thinner Steel Was Higher

Sometimes, skinny metallic corresponds with decrease sturdiness. In spite of everything, a thinner piece of metallic is extra vulnerable to dents. Nonetheless, for graters, thinner metallic surfaces truly equate to sharper holes. The holes of a grater are like blunt knives. The thinner the sting of a blade, the sharper it feels. Whereas grater holes aren’t sharpened to a beveled edge, the thickness of the metallic determines how nice these chopping lips might be. Etched holes, made by chemically eradicating materials fairly than punching by means of, have thinner, extra exact edges that act like tiny knives slicing by means of meals. They shear cleanly as a substitute of tearing, which suggests much less resistance and a fluffier pile of cheese. I noticed this when grating with the OXO Good Grips Etched Field Grater, which grated my block of cheese 35 seconds quicker than the slowest mannequin, the Rösle. Stamped or punched holes, however, are shaped by urgent thicker metallic, abandoning a raised rim that’s stronger however blunter. In my checks, field graters with stamped holes tended to be slower to make use of general, and my arm was extra fatigued by the top. 

The Standards: What to Search for in a Cheese Grater

Cheese graters must be good at one factor: grating. Meaning sharp holes. With all that sharp metallic, you’ll additionally desire a agency, safe place to grip and non-slip traction on the bottom. All sides of the grater must be helpful; in any other case, you’re higher off simply going with a compact handheld cheese grater, just like the Rösle. Bonus factors go to graters with helpful extras, like measurement markings, a removable catch container, or a slicer aspect that truly works. Make it possible for the chopping space isn’t too slender and has loads of floor space so that you can work in opposition to. One of the best graters make prep quicker and simpler, no more precarious.

My Favourite Cheese Graters

What I favored: What caught out to me about this field grater wasn’t the sharp tooth. It was the detachable zester that truly works and doesn’t clog up with unusable zest. Not solely was this the only grater that was in a position to truly produce respectable lemon zest and chocolate shavings, however giving the grater a detachable aspect makes it simple to push meals by means of and in addition makes it simple to scrub.

I appreciated how regular it felt beneath heavy use, as properly. After I grated cheddar or carrots, the bottom stayed planted, and I didn’t should battle for stability or reposition each few strokes. The etched holes lower cleanly and easily, giving me ribbons of cheese as a substitute of mashed piles. Even with the exhausting chocolate, the grates didn’t skip or bind, and the soft-grip deal with stayed cozy all over. The lidded storage field that comes with the grater is a helpful accent.

What I didn’t like: After I was grating cheddar, it wasn’t the quickest. That is most likely as a result of a smaller general floor space for grating.

Key Specs

• Type: Field
• Dimensions: 12.25 x 5.25 x 3.5 inches
• Supplies: Chrome steel, silicone
• Sides: Coarse, nice, microplane, slicer
• Equipment: Detachable microplane, measured container with lid
• Dishwasher-safe?: Sure
• Weight: 17.5 ounces

What I favored: For a no-frills grater, the Cuisipro delivers. The holes are surprisingly sharp, biting into each exhausting and tender cheeses with out a lot effort. It’s lighter than my prime decide from OXO, which makes it simple to maneuver and maintain regular over a bowl or plate. It’s additionally dishwasher-safe and easy to scrub—no cramped corners or awkward attachments to wrestle with.

What I didn’t like: It doesn’t have a non-slip base to anchor it, and the deal with can be extra snug if it had been tender rubber versus exhausting plastic. The ginger-grating floor on the removable base felt like an afterthought with out a lot usability. 

Key Specs

• Type: Field
• Dimensions: 10.5 x 4.5 x 3.75 inches
• Supplies: Chrome steel, plastic
• Sides: Extremely-coarse, coarse, nice, slicer
• Equipment: Removable base with tough “ginger-grating” floor
• Dishwasher-safe?: Sure
• Weight: 10.75 ounces

What I favored: Possibly you don’t want quite a lot of grating types and simply want a easy choice that will help you get by means of a number of components. In that case, go for the Rösle wire deal with grater. It has a slim, looped deal with and rubber toes that stick firmly to most surfaces. Between these two options, you’ll be able to grate a block of cheese very quickly. The toes even have a hooked design so you’ll be able to loop them over the sting of a bowl and relaxation the grater on prime, permitting your meals to drop down beneath.

What I didn’t like: It’s dear, particularly contemplating it solely has one grating fashion. That stated, you should buy different graters with totally different holes.

Key Specs

• Type: Handheld
• Dimensions: 15.7 x 3.5 x 0.75 inches
• Supplies: Chrome steel, rubber
• Sides: Coarse
• Equipment: None
• Dishwasher-safe: Sure
• Weight: 10 ounces

What I favored: This rotary grater processed two ounces of Parmesan quicker than the others I examined. The drum’s tooth had been razor-sharp, biting cleanly into the cheese with minimal effort on my half. Ribbony shreds billowed out with every crank like a scene from an Italian romance film (my sort of romance all the time entails cheese). I appreciated the design: The deal with and drum come out simply for cleansing and might be flipped for left- or right-handed use. (Lefties simply want to recollect to show the deal with towards themselves as a substitute of away.) Whereas all of the rotary graters left a small chunk of cheese that couldn’t be grated down all the way in which, the one left within the Zyliss was by far the smallest, lower than one millimeter thick. 

What I didn’t like: The deal with is on the smaller aspect_, so bigger fingers would possibly discover the grip a bit cramped.

Key Specs

• Type: Rotary
• Dimensions: 6 x 6 x 3 inches
• Supplies: Chrome steel, plastic
• Equipment: None
• Dishwasher-safe?: Sure
• Weight: 7.7 ounces

What I favored: The tender, grippy deal with that is available in quite a lot of enjoyable colours could be sufficient to catch your eye, nevertheless it’s the design of the grating finish that bought us on the Microplane grater. The small, sharp tooth of this device wrap across the edges to permit for extra versatility, it doesn’t matter what you want grating, be it a hunk of Parmesan or a lemon. A few small rubber toes add stability to the grater when used at an angle on a chopping board. Throughout, it is a helpful gadget that would discover a house in any kitchen, and will even be used to complement a field grater with a poor zesting aspect.

What I didn’t like: Some slender spots on the underside could possibly be trickier to scrub than different choices.

Key Specs

• Type: Rasp
• Dimensions: 7.8 x 1 inches
• Supplies: Chrome steel, plastic
• Equipment: Cowl
• Dishwasher-safe?: Sure
• Weight: 3.2 ounces

The Competitors

• KitchenAid Gourmand 4-Sided Stainless Metal Field Grater: The general development is sturdy and robust, and the coarse holes shredded cheese and carrots decently properly. Sadly, I discovered the zesting aspect to be fully unable to provide any usable zest, and the slicer aspect is simply too boring to be helpful.
• Spring Chef Skilled Cheese Grater: It felt flimsy and cheaply made, with a ineffective zesting aspect that mashed my lemon with out producing any zest.
• Cuisinart CTG-00-BGS Field Grater: The included storage container is nifty and the deal with is grippy and comfy to make use of. Nonetheless, the zesting aspect is only a nice grater, so it gained’t provide you with usable zest to your subsequent batch of lemon curd.
• Microplane 4-sided Stainless Metal Skilled Field Grater: This grater impressed me with sharp, fine-cutting surfaces that flip cheese and greens into flat, delicate shreds however general it was cumbersome and awkward to make use of.
• Norpro Stainless Metal Grater: This low-cost grater was flimsy and simply dented throughout cleansing. Not one of the sides stood out as distinctive.
• OXO Field Grater: This stamped-metal grater dealt with the broad duties of shredding cheese and carrots adequately, however the slicer aspect was weak and inconsistent. The most important grating holes tended to entice meals fairly than launch it cleanly and the zester aspect clogged shortly.
• RSVP Worldwide Endurance Field Grater: This grater promised “industrial high quality” efficiency however fell brief on each take a look at. The slicer and zester had been barely purposeful and the grater sides tended to clump. The additional mini-zester on the slicer aspect was extra ornamental than purposeful. It appears to be discontinued.
• Utopia Cheese Grater and Shredder 6-sided Field Grater: Whereas this grater did properly at shredded cheese it fell fairly brief on zesting. For somebody grinding cheese incessantly however much less involved with zest or nice grating, it could possibly be a superb choice. It not appears to be accessible.
• Cuisinart Boxed Grater: This one couldn’t prime the winners as a result of a lackluster zesting aspect and finicky cleansing.
• OXO Good Grips Multi Grater: This foldable multi-grater regarded helpful, however beneath strain with more durable cheeses, it felt flimsy and fewer succesful than different fashions. It could serve for infrequent gentle use or garnish duties, however for normal heavy grating, a normal field grater or rasp will carry out higher.
• OXO Rotary Grater: This rotary grater comes with a silicone seal when you intend to retailer your chunk of cheese in there always, which is a pleasant plus. Throughout testing, it took twice as lengthy for me to get by means of the chunk of Parmesan with this grater in comparison with the Zyliss. 
• Microplane Twin Blade Rotary Grater: I needed to love this grater as a result of it comes with two units of drums with totally different blade sizes. It carried out decently, nevertheless it’s wildly costly and simply didn’t shred cheese as quick as my winner.
• Williams Sonoma Prep Instruments Rotary Grater: At this worth, you’d anticipate top-notch efficiency, which I simply didn’t see. A two-millimeter-thick piece of cheese remained within the hopper, caught in a spot that left it unable to be processed. At instances, the movement felt jerky. 

FAQs

Are field graters dishwasher-safe?

Sure, many field graters can go within the dishwasher. Nonetheless, dishwashers can boring the tooth extra quickly, so it’s most likely higher to hand-wash. 

Can you employ a field grater for potatoes?

Completely. In actual fact, that’s one in all its finest makes use of. Grate potatoes for latkes, hash browns, or rösti. The massive holes are good for creating these lengthy, even shreds that crisp up superbly. 

What’s the spiky aspect of a field grater for?

The star-shaped, spiky holes on the aspect of many field graters are meant for zesting citrus or finely grating exhausting components like nutmeg, garlic, or ginger. They’ll additionally make very nice breadcrumbs.

Can cheese graters boring over time?

Any leading edge can boring with time, and, sadly, cheese graters can’t be sharpened. If you discover that it’s getting more durable and more durable to make use of, it’s executed. 

Why We’re the Consultants

• Taylor Murray has labored in meals and meals media since 2018, at publications comparable to Good Housekeeping, Food52, and Meals Community. Earlier than that, she labored in a number of the nation’s prime eating places, together with Eleven Madison Park and Frasca Meals and Wine. She’s been testing merchandise for Critical Eats since 2021 (try her evaluations of knife units and slicers).
• For this evaluation, Taylor examined 10 graters of varied types, utilizing them to grate cheese, carrots, citrus, and chocolate.