The 5 Greatest Cheese Graters of 2026, Examined & Reviewed

In the event you’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 maintain the shreds from sticking collectively. Think about shredding it your self as an alternative. A very good grater makes it simple, and received’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, an incredible grater (hehe) makes prep quick and secure. (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 really works for zesting (a rarity amongst field graters) and pops off for simple cleansing. It’s not the quickest for big jobs, however it’s probably 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 in case you simply need one thing that works with out fanfare, it’s a stable choose for the worth.

Created from a stable piece of stainless-steel, this handheld grater has a super-slim profile that might 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 delicate and hard meals alike.

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

For zesting citrus or grating garlic, you may’t go improper with the sharp enamel of a Microplane. The delicate deal with retains grip regular as you grate all the pieces from exhausting cheese to complete spices.

The Assessments

• Giant Gap Check 1 (Cheddar): I grated eight ounces of cheddar on the big 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.
• Giant Gap Check 2 (Carrots): I shredded dense, fibrous carrots to check the big holes additional. This check revealed how effectively every grater might deal with a harder ingredient with out clogging or skidding round on the counter. 
• Zesting Citrus Check: Most field graters have a facet for zesting, so I used one lemon per mannequin and ran it alongside that facet. The ensuing texture different extensively from grater to grater, with some capable of create delicate, aromatic curls whereas others simply mashed the peel. 
• Rotary Grater Exhausting 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 check uncovered how effectively 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 Discovered

Graters Had been for Grating and Zesters for Zesting

As a basic rule, many of the field graters had been horrible at zesting. These little star-shaped factors that the majority graters have on a small facet 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 evaluate of rasp-style graters to see if any of the winners have a floor that appears even remotely just like these star-shaped factors, and also you’ll get what I imply. In the event you’ve ever had hassle with a recipe that referred to as for zest and also you had been left scratching your head, questioning the way it might probably be so exhausting, it is likely to be your grater. If it has these star-shaped factors, don’t even trouble. The one graters that carried out effectively throughout my lemon zesting check had been the Cuisipro and the OXO, each of which have rasp-style high-quality raised enamel designed to catch on citrus peels and take away the zest with out digging into the bitter pith under. 

Nevertheless, all of the fashions I examined grated effectively. Regardless of variations in gap measurement, form, and design, all had been capable of grate cheese, chocolate, and carrots with out concern. The primary variations got here all the way down to refined 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 count on most graters to have the ability to do each duties effectively.

Cheese Grater’s Sides are Versatile

The 4 sides of a field grater can be utilized for thus many issues. I exploit the coarse facet 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 could be efficient, although you may’t regulate 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 broad, delicate deal with, which saved it steady and comfy by way 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 further 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 Metallic Was Higher

Sometimes, skinny metallic corresponds with decrease sturdiness. In any case, a thinner piece of metallic is extra liable to dents. Nevertheless, for graters, thinner metallic surfaces really 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 high-quality these reducing lips could be. Etched holes, made by chemically eradicating materials quite than punching by way of, have thinner, extra exact edges that act like tiny knives slicing by way of meals. They shear cleanly as an alternative 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, then again, are fashioned by urgent thicker metallic, abandoning a raised rim that’s stronger however blunter. In my exams, field graters with stamped holes tended to be slower to make use of general, and my arm was extra fatigued by the tip. 

The Standards: What to Search for in a Cheese Grater

Cheese graters ought to be good at one factor: grating. Which means sharp holes. With all that sharp metallic, you’ll additionally need a agency, safe place to grip and non-slip traction on the bottom. All sides of the grater ought to 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 facet that truly works. Be sure that the reducing space isn’t too slender and has loads of floor space so that you can work in opposition to. The very 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 enamel. 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 capable of really produce respectable lemon zest and chocolate shavings, however giving the grater a detachable facet makes it simple to push meals by way of and likewise makes it simple to wash.

I appreciated how regular it felt beneath heavy use, as effectively. Once 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 reduce cleanly and easily, giving me ribbons of cheese as an alternative of mashed piles. Even with the exhausting chocolate, the grates didn’t skip or bind, and the soft-grip deal with stayed cozy right through. The lidded storage field that comes with the grater is a useful accent.

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

Key Specs

• Type: Field
• Dimensions: 12.25 x 5.25 x 3.5 inches
• Supplies: Stainless-steel, silicone
• Sides: Coarse, high-quality, 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 delicate cheeses with out a lot effort. It’s lighter than my prime choose from OXO, which makes it simple to maneuver and maintain regular over a bowl or plate. It’s additionally dishwasher-safe and simple to wash—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 delicate 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: Stainless-steel, plastic
• Sides: Extremely-coarse, coarse, high-quality, 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 possibility that can assist you get by way of just a few components. In that case, go for the Rösle wire deal with grater. It has a slim, looped deal with and rubber ft that stick firmly to most surfaces. Between these two options, you may grate a block of cheese very quickly. The ft even have a hooked design so you may loop them over the sting of a bowl and relaxation the grater on prime, permitting your meals to drop down under.

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

Key Specs

• Type: Handheld
• Dimensions: 15.7 x 3.5 x 0.75 inches
• Supplies: Stainless-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 enamel 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 at all times includes cheese). I appreciated the design: The deal with and drum come out simply for cleansing and could be flipped for left- or right-handed use. (Lefties simply want to recollect to show the deal with towards themselves as an alternative 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 facet_, so bigger arms may discover the grip a bit cramped.

Key Specs

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

What I favored: The delicate, grippy deal with that is available in quite a lot of enjoyable colours is likely to be sufficient to catch your eye, however it’s the design of the grating finish that offered us on the Microplane grater. The small, sharp enamel 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 ft add stability to the grater when used at an angle on a reducing board. Throughout, this can be a helpful gadget that might discover a residence in any kitchen, and will even be used to complement a field grater with a poor zesting facet.

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

Key Specs

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

The Competitors

• KitchenAid Gourmand 4-Sided Stainless Metal Field Grater: The general building is sturdy and robust, and the coarse holes shredded cheese and carrots decently effectively. Sadly, I discovered the zesting facet to be fully unable to supply any usable zest, and the slicer facet is simply too boring to be helpful.
• Spring Chef Skilled Cheese Grater: It felt flimsy and cheaply made, with a ineffective zesting facet 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. Nevertheless, the zesting facet is only a high-quality grater, so it received’t provide you with usable zest in 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 facet was weak and inconsistent. The most important grating holes tended to lure meals quite than launch it cleanly and the zester facet clogged rapidly.
• RSVP Worldwide Endurance Field Grater: This grater promised “business high quality” efficiency however fell brief on each check. The slicer and zester had been barely purposeful and the grater sides tended to clump. The additional mini-zester on the slicer facet was extra ornamental than purposeful. It appears to be discontinued.
• Utopia Cheese Grater and Shredder 6-sided Field Grater: Whereas this grater did effectively at shredded cheese it fell fairly brief on zesting. For somebody grinding cheese often however much less involved with zest or high-quality grating, it might be possibility. It not appears to be obtainable.
• Cuisinart Boxed Grater: This one couldn’t prime the winners because of a lackluster zesting facet and finicky cleansing.
• OXO Good Grips Multi Grater: This foldable multi-grater regarded useful, however beneath strain with more durable cheeses, it felt flimsy and fewer succesful than different fashions. It might serve for infrequent gentle use or garnish duties, however for normal heavy grating, an ordinary field grater or rasp will carry out higher.
• OXO Rotary Grater: This rotary grater comes with a silicone seal in case 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 way 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, however it’s wildly costly and simply didn’t shred cheese as quick as my winner.
• Williams Sonoma Prep Instruments Rotary Grater: At this value, you’d count on 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. Nevertheless, dishwashers can boring the enamel 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 considered one of its greatest makes use of. Grate potatoes for latkes, hash browns, or rösti. The big holes are good for creating these lengthy, even shreds that crisp up superbly. 

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

The star-shaped, spiky holes on the facet of many field graters are supposed for zesting citrus or finely grating exhausting components like nutmeg, garlic, or ginger. They will additionally make very high-quality 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 finished. 

Why We’re the Consultants

• Taylor Murray has labored in meals and meals media since 2018, at publications resembling 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 (take a look at her evaluations of knife units and slicers).
• For this evaluate, Taylor examined 10 graters of varied types, utilizing them to grate cheese, carrots, citrus, and chocolate.