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 preserve the shreds from sticking collectively. Contemplate shredding it your self as a substitute. grater makes it straightforward, 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, an ideal grater (hehe) makes prep quick and secure. (Watch these knuckles!) I examined 10 graters of varied kinds (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 giant jobs, nevertheless it’s essentially the most versatile and best-built general.

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

Constructed 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 comfortable and hard meals alike.

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

For zesting citrus or grating garlic, you may’t go mistaken with the sharp enamel of a Microplane. The comfortable deal with retains grip regular as you grate the whole lot from arduous cheese to entire spices.

The Checks

• Massive 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 stress 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 big holes additional. This check revealed how effectively every grater might deal with a more durable 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 broadly from grater to grater, with some in a position to create delicate, aromatic curls whereas others simply mashed the peel. 
• Rotary Grater Onerous 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 Checks: Past uncooked efficiency, I checked out consolation, management, and ease of upkeep. Graters that have been dishwasher-safe took a spin within the machine and acquired an intensive inspection afterward. 

What I Discovered

Graters Have been for Grating and Zesters for Zesting

As a basic rule, a lot of the field graters have 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 arduous 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 assessment 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 hassle with a recipe that referred to as for zest and also you have been left scratching your head, questioning the way it might probably be so arduous, it could 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 have been the Cuisipro and the OXO, each of which have rasp-style superb 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 dimension, form, and design, all have been in a position to grate cheese, chocolate, and carrots with out subject. The primary variations got here right 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 software 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 therefore 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 offer you extra choices, like zesting or grating arduous spices. Whereas I personally choose a mandoline for slicing, a number of the slicer sides on the field graters might be efficient, although you may’t alter the thickness. 

Design Particulars Mattered

It’s straightforward to imagine a field grater is simply 4 sides of steel, however the small design decisions ended up making a giant distinction. The successful OXO Good Grips Etched Field Grater, as an example, stood out for its rubberized nonslip base and huge, comfortable deal with, which stored it secure and comfy by way of lengthy grating periods. In distinction, the Cuisipro, although sharp, tended to slip round on its arduous 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 Steel Was Higher

Sometimes, skinny steel corresponds with decrease sturdiness. In spite of everything, a thinner piece of steel is extra susceptible to dents. Nevertheless, for graters, thinner steel 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 steel determines how superb these chopping lips might be. Etched holes, made by chemically eradicating materials slightly than punching by way of, have thinner, extra exact edges that act like tiny knives slicing by way 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 sooner than the slowest mannequin, the Rösle. Stamped or punched holes, alternatively, are shaped by urgent thicker steel, abandoning a raised rim that’s stronger however blunter. In my assessments, 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 steel, you’ll additionally desire a agency, safe place to grip and non-slip traction on the bottom. Both 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 facet that truly works. Guarantee that the chopping space isn’t too slender and has loads of floor space so that you can work towards. One of the best graters make prep sooner 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 real grater that was in a position to truly produce first rate lemon zest and chocolate shavings, however giving the grater a detachable facet makes it straightforward to push meals by way of and in addition makes it straightforward to scrub.

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 need to battle for stability or reposition each few strokes. The etched holes minimize cleanly and easily, giving me ribbons of cheese as a substitute of mashed piles. Even with the arduous chocolate, the grates didn’t skip or bind, and the soft-grip deal with stayed cozy during. 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 in all probability because of a smaller general floor space for grating.

Key Specs

• Fashion: Field
• Dimensions: 12.25 x 5.25 x 3.5 inches
• Supplies: Chrome steel, silicone
• Sides: Coarse, superb, 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 arduous and comfortable cheeses with out a lot effort. It’s lighter than my prime decide from OXO, which makes it straightforward 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 have been comfortable rubber versus arduous plastic. The ginger-grating floor on the removable base felt like an afterthought with out a lot usability. 

Key Specs

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

What I favored: Perhaps you don’t want quite a lot of grating kinds and simply want a easy choice that can assist you get by way of a couple of 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 expensive, particularly contemplating it solely has one grating fashion. That stated, you should purchase different graters with completely different holes.

Key Specs

• Fashion: 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 sooner than the others I examined. The drum’s enamel have 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 best way, 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 palms may discover the grip a bit cramped.

Key Specs

• Fashion: 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 comfortable, 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 enamel of this software 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 chopping board. Throughout, it is 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 could possibly be trickier to scrub than different choices.

Key Specs

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

The Competitors

• KitchenAid Connoisseur 4-Sided Stainless Metal Field Grater: The general development is sturdy and robust, and the coarse holes shredded cheese and carrots decently effectively. Sadly, I discovered the zesting facet to be utterly unable to supply any usable zest, and the slicer facet is just 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 superb grater, so it gained’t offer you usable zest on 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 slightly than launch it cleanly and the zester facet clogged rapidly.
• RSVP Worldwide Endurance Field Grater: This grater promised “industrial high quality” efficiency however fell quick on each check. The slicer and zester have been barely useful and the grater sides tended to clump. The additional mini-zester on the slicer facet was extra ornamental than useful. 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 quick on zesting. For somebody grinding cheese ceaselessly however much less involved with zest or superb grating, it could possibly be an excellent choice. It now not appears to be accessible.
• 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 appeared useful, however beneath stress with more durable cheeses, it felt flimsy and fewer succesful than different fashions. It could serve for infrequent mild 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 if you happen to 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 wished to love this grater as a result of it comes with two units of drums with completely 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 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 in all probability higher to hand-wash. 

Can you employ a field grater for potatoes?

Completely. The truth is, that’s one in all 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 meant for zesting citrus or finely grating arduous components like nutmeg, garlic, or ginger. They will additionally make very superb 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 achieved. 

Why We’re the Specialists

• Taylor Murray has labored in meals and meals media since 2018, at publications similar 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 Severe Eats since 2021 (take a look at her critiques of knife units and slicers).
• For this assessment, Taylor examined 10 graters of varied kinds, utilizing them to grate cheese, carrots, citrus, and chocolate.