The Best Cheese Grater
Our Top Pick for 2019: KitchenAid Gourmet Box Grater
Amazon
For cheese lovers around the world, a cheese grater could be one of the most important tools that you can have in your kitchen. Not only do most models grate cheese, but they can do much more. They can zest, slice, and include other features depending on the model. Today’s options come in different styles, such as a box grater or a flat cheese grater. Having quality utensils can make the difference between preparing a meal you enjoy in an easy way or struggling through the process. For this reason, we have reviewed three of the best graters on the market, and we’ve separated them into a gold, silver, and bronze category. At the end of our review, will talk about a budget model that may serve your needs in a pinch.
Let’s Have a Quick Look of Our Top 4 Picks:
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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KitchenAid KN300OSPMA Gourmet Stainless Steel Box Grater, Pomegranate | 246 Reviews | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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ZYLISS Classic Rotary Cheese Grater | 1,117 Reviews | from $10.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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OXO Good Grips Multi Grater | 650 Reviews | from $11.77 | Buy on Amazon |
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OXO 20581 Grater | 217 Reviews | $9.87 | Buy on Amazon |
#1. KitchenAid Gourmet Box Grater
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*Price typically updated every 24 hours. Current price may be different.
We selected the KitchenAid Gourmet Box Grater as our top pick because it addressed a lot of the problems you have when you are trying to grate cheese or vegetables. It is very sturdy, it’s attractive, it’s durable, and it’s functional. The first thing you will notice is that this product is made by KitchenAid. Very few companies in the world have a reputation like KitchenAid when it comes to designing culinary utensils. They have been doing this for years, they know what works, they take pride in what they produce, and customers have come to trust and rely on them.
Let’s take this common cheese lover’s problem: it is a messy affair. It seems that only a portion of the cheese that you are grating actually ends up in the container. The rest of it is on the floor or counter, and it just makes a frustrating mess. This box grater by KitchenAid removes that problem entirely because it has a container that fits inside the box grater, allowing it to catch any food that you grate or slice. The container is 3 cups, and so it’s easy for you to measure what you are grating.
A second problem that most people have when they are grating cheese or vegetables is that it just hurts your hands. A lot of graters have a handle that is either made from metal or from a hardened plastic. It’s slippery, it’s awkward, and it just leaves your hands feeling tired. The KitchenAid box grater removes this problem because it has a soft handle. The soft handle is not only easier on your hands, but it also allows you to have superior grip.
A third problem with lesser quality box graters is that they’re just not sharp. Nothing can be more frustrating than running cheese or vegetables over the greater only to have them break into little pieces because they’re not being sliced as you run them up and down the face of the grater. This KitchenAid model has a high quality stainless steel surface. The blades are very sharp, and they are rust resistant. This is an important feature because as you know, after you use the grater, you need to clean it. And sometimes it can be a challenge to get the grater completely dry just because of the nooks and crannies it has. Cheaper models end up developing rust, especially on the inside of the box grater. Not a problem with this model.
As mentioned, the grater comes with a container that fits inside the box area, allowing you to collect the food that falls into it. When you look on the outside of this plastic container, you will see precise lines that show you the measurements. So if you are making a carrot cake, for example, and the recipe calls for 3 cups of grated carrots, you will know exactly when you have enough of the ingredient to complete your recipe.
Sometimes after preparing a long a meal, you just do not have the energy to wash dishes. Some box graters are so flimsy that they cannot be put inside the dishwasher. As a result, you have to do all of the washing by hand. However, this KitchenAid model is designed to safely sit in the dishwasher. This makes cleanup very easy.
The KitchenAid box grater is lightweight, coming in at around 1.2 pounds. This is the ideal size to slice whatever ingredients you need, while at the same time small enough that you can fit it into your kitchen drawers or cabinets.
When we looked at Amazon.com, we saw that this product is reviewed by more than 115 individuals at the time of writing. As a whole, they gave this product 4.5 out of 5.0 stars. The interesting thing is that more than 70 percent of the people who reviewed the product gave it a perfect 5.0 out of 5.0 stars.
Some of the reasons they included for their positive review was the collecting container that fits inside the box grater. One reviewer said that this is a huge improvement over regular box graters that leave you collecting stuff from all over the counter and the cutting board. They referred to it as a good quality product and said they had no regrets buying it.
Another reviewer said, “This product not only does what it says it will do, a rarity in today’s advertisement, but it is also very well constructed with a sturdy handle and nonslip base.”
KitchenAid has built a reputation on building superior products that are uniquely designed to work in the kitchen. With the KitchenAid Gourmet Box Grater, they have kept this tradition alive by producing a product that is both attractive and functional.
#2. Zyliss Classic Rotary Cheese Grater
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*Price typically updated every 24 hours. Current price may be different.
The Zyliss Classic Cheese Grater is a high quality cheese grater that has a unique design. Now what you need to understand about this cheese grater is that it’s not like a box grater that is designed to shred large amounts of cheese. It is a cheese grater that is designed to grate small amounts of cheese. It’s similar to what you would see if you went to an Italian restaurant and they were grating cheese on top of your salad. It’s designed to work with small amounts of cheese, but grate it in a small amount of time. This product can also be used to grate chocolate as a topping for a dessert.
More: The Best Measuring Spoons
The Zyliss grater is extremely comfortable to use. The drum is very fine, and this allows it to grate harder cheese. It is easy to assemble and intuitive to use.
Although the product is relatively small, it is powerful. This is thanks in part to the stainless steel drum that makes it so that this product can even grate hard cheeses or nuts.
The housing of this product is designed from a sturdy plastic, and the grip is created in an ergonomic way that protects you from injury after constant use. Because of its small size, you can easily store the Zyliss grater in a drawer or in a cabinet.
After having a nice meal, the last thing you’re going to want to do is spend 10 minutes trying to clean all of the residual cheese or chocolate out of a grater. For this reason, it is designed with removable parts that are dishwasher safe. Cleanup with this product is a breeze.
A constant theme throughout all of our reviews is the importance of a good warranty. The Zyliss Classic Cheese Grater has a five year limited warranty. For us, this is proof that its manufacturer believes in their product.
Reviewers on Amazon.com absolutely loved this product. With more than 800 reviews, 60 percent of the reviewers rated the product 5.0 stars out of 5.0.
One reviewer commented on how much she enjoyed how easy the product is to take apart and how easy it is to clean.
The biggest complaint this product received is that it does not come with different grating sizes. It is designed to shred into fine pieces and not larger coarser pieces. However, the vast majority of reviewers felt that this product was everything they hoped for. They were happy they purchased this product.
#3. OXO Good Grips Two-Fold Grater
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*Price typically updated every 24 hours. Current price may be different.
This OXO grater is a great option for anyone who is looking for a tool that offers versatility and durability. It has two sides, one which is good at grating coarse food, and the other side that is perfect for tackling medium and semi-soft food items. It has a two-sided folding design that offers two different ways to grate food. The two grating surfaces can be separated and then each one used individually to grate over a bowl.
The medium-size grating surface is best for hard cheeses and vegetables like carrots and zucchini. It can also be used to grate chocolate and other items. The other side is a more coarse grading surface. This side will grate apples, potatoes, onions, cabbage, butter, semi soft cheeses, and other similar items.
The item weighs 10.6 ounces when it has been removed from its packaging. When it is shipped to you, it weighs 12 ounces. It is the perfect size for grating larger vegetables, but it is small enough to be stored in a drawer with other utensils. Also, since the twofold grater is able to lay flat, it makes storing it very convenient.
Another nice feature of the OXO grater is that it has nonslip handles. This means that you can do repetitive grating for a long time without feeling pain in your hands. It is comfortable to hold and soft to the touch. It also has nonslip feet, which will keep it in place when it is on the counter, a cutting board, a plate, or in a bowl. This will prevent injuries and make your time in the kitchen go by quickly and comfortably. With other cheese graters, it is possible to injure your fingers when they do not have a nonslip handle or nonslip feet to keep them in place.
The blades are stainless steel. They are sharp and can quickly and easily grate a wide variety of food items. Another benefit that comes from the fact that the two pieces that form a V can come up is that they are easy to clean. If you have ever used a cheese grater that is in a rectangular shape, you know how hard it is to clean the inside of the grater. This is simply not the case with the OXO grater.
This cheese grater has been reviewed by more than 300 customers on Amazon. They have given it a 4.6 out of five star rating. One customer really loved this grater because of how easy it is to use. She is 67 years old and has arthritis in her hands. In addition to the fact that it is a very sharp and makes cutting hard cheeses and other harder foods easy, she likes the fact that she is able to grate food in a downward hand motion instead of horizontally, which makes her hands much more comfortable.
Another Amazon reviewer talked about how this is one of the best graters on the market for hash browns. They have used a wide variety of other tools for grading hash browns, including mandolins, food processors, and potato shredders, but this was the best tool they tried.
We chose this as our bronze pick because of its excellent design, the fact that it is dishwasher safe, and because of its high quality.
#4. OXO Good Grips Grater
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*Price typically updated every 24 hours. Current price may be different.
In addition to being one of the least expensive cheese graters on the market, this tool is super simple to use, is easy to clean, and can be conveniently stored almost anywhere. It fits right into your hand and can easily transform hard, solid foods into finely grated foods. It is perfect for grating cheese, chocolate, citrus zest, and a variety of fruits and vegetables.
More: The Best Cheese Slicer
It has a rubber handle that is soft to the touch and absorbs pressure. This means that you will be quite comfortable and avoids strains and injuries. It has a nonslip handle, which means that you will not get injured or you will not drop it even if it is wet. This is a perfect option for individuals who do not want to spend a lot of money on a cheese grater and only use the grater occasionally.
The sharp stainless steel blades ensure that the job will be done efficiently and only exerting the least amount of energy. It only weighs 8 ounces and is under 10 inches long. It can easily be stored in a drawer or cupboard, or since it has an oversize hole in the handle, it can be hung up alongside other kitchen utensils.
Since it only has one grating side, it is super simple to clean. Unlike box shaped cheese graters that easily get food stuck inside, this one is very easy to wash. It is also dishwasher safe if you want to pop it in the dishwasher along with all the other kitchen utensils that need to be cleaned.
The vast majority of Amazon reviewers love this product. They gave it 4.4 out of five stars on Amazon, with 62 percent giving it a perfect rating. Most individuals said that it was a good product that worked perfectly for the job they were doing. They loved it’s great price and how easy it was to clean. They love how it can be easily positioned over a bowl, cutting board, plate, or pan. They like the fact that the handle was easy to hold, even by individuals who had arthritis or other infirmities.
One individual felt like it was more of a zester than a cheese grater. However, they thought that it worked great and gave it four stars. Another individual said that it was built well, but since it has a curved surface, it was only nice to use a for grating just a small amount of cheese or other food. They felt like it was better to use a larger grater if they were going to be grating for a longer period of time or a lot of food items. This individual gave it three stars.
Another customer said that it was a nice little grater and very easy on the hands, which is a huge compliment since they have carpal tunnel syndrome. They particularly liked it for making lemon zest and grating garlic.
Our budget product is a great option for individuals who would like to purchase a quality tool without spending tons of cash. The OXO Good Grips Grater is a durable product that makes grating cheese and other foods quick and easy.
Pre-purchase considerations
Durability
The first question you want to ask when looking at a cheese grater, regardless of the style, is can it stand up to the test of time? When you use a cheese grater, you’re putting a lot of stress on the product. If it gives out, it will not only ruin in the food that you are trying to prepare, but it could also leave you with some pretty banged up knuckles.
Ask yourself, will the product stand up if it is thrown in the dishwasher? As you know, cleaning a cheese grater can be a pain. So having one that does not stand up to a dishwasher is just not a good idea. Ask yourself, can it be thrown into a drawer, can be dropped, can it be slammed? At times, cooking and storing cooking utensils can be a contact sport. If it has pieces that need to be removed, what is the likelihood that they are going to get lost? Really, the last thing you want to do is to buy a cheap product that you need to replace frequently. It is best to spend a few extra dollars and buy a product that will last for years.
Experience
When selecting a cheese grater, ask yourself how frequently you are going to use the product and how you intend to use. Are you just a casual cooker, who from time to time throws something together to appease friends and family, or are you a culinary enthusiast who spends hours of your day in the kitchen? The answer to this question will influence the type of cheese grater you purchase. You may also want to ask yourself if your children can use it. You want a cheese grater that’s easy to use, you’re not looking to get a workout while you’re in the kitchen.
Execution
Most people looking for a cheese grater are just looking for something that they can use to prepare cheese that they can throw on their nachos. And that’s great. But it is also nice to ask yourself, can this grater also handle beets, carrots, or potatoes? How well does it do with softer cheeses, like mozzarella?
Blades
The sharper the blade, the easier it’s going to be for you to grate or slice your cheese and vegetables. So you want blades that are made from stainless steel. You want blades that resist rusting. You want blades that do not need to be sharpened, but that can continually provide you with a good quality production time after time.
Conclusion (Wrapping it up)
You want a cheese grater that is going to make the work you do on the kitchen easier. You want something that is going to produce a uniform and quality product. You want something that’s easy to wash, sturdy, easy to store, and will not need to be replaced in the near future. We hope that our review of these top four products has helped to make your buying choice a little easier.