Best Cheese Grater

Cooking is easier with the best cheese grater

A cheese grater is an essential kitchen tool for anyone who loves to bake cheesy casseroles and lasagnas, sprinkle finely shredded cheese over tacos, or top a pasta with the thinnest ribbons of parmesan reggiano cheese. Cheese graters help home cooks transform thick blocks of cheese into delicate morsels that will melt more easily and provide the perfect texture for a host of dishes, soups, and salads.

Wisconsin loves cheese graters

Here in the State of Cheese, we know the real value of choosing the best cheese grater for any job. Our 1,200 cheesemakers produce over 600 varieties, styles, and flavors of cheese – more than anywhere else in the world. We rely on our cheese graters to help us fully enjoy this bounty by grating and shredding cheese to the exact size for melting, garnishing, and topping our favorite cheesy dishes.

Choosing the best cheese grater

Choosing the best cheese grater for each job is important, as different tools produce different results. The best cheese grater will make quick work of the task of shredding cheese while preventing injury and strain. You’ll find that with the right tool in your hands, the work of grating and shredding becomes a pleasurable experience that immerses you in the magic and power of cooking with cheese, one of the culinary world’s most charming and delectable ingredients.

While evidence suggests that cheese graters have been around since the ninth century BCE, the modern tool dates back to the 1540s when a Frenchman named Françoise Boullier invented a tool to make hardened cheese easier to cook with. Around the same time, an Englishman named Isaac Hunt invented a similar tool. Over the last five centuries, the cheese grater has evolved in design and functionality. Along with other cheese technology like cheese slicers and cheese knives, home cooks now have a veritable toolbox for expertly preparing soft, hard, and crumbly cheeses.

Types of cheese graters

When considering the best cheese grater to buy for your kitchen, you’ll find that most products fall into one of several categories.

• Box grater: One of the most common and versatile types, the box grater typically has four sides with various hole sizes. It can shred cheese into coarse or fine pieces, slice cheese, or even zest ingredients.
• Microplane grater: This grater has fine, sharp blades and is ideal for grating hard cheeses into fluffy, delicate pieces. It’s also great for zesting citrus or grating spices like nutmeg.
• Rotary grater: The rotary grater features a handle that rotates a drum lined with sharp blades. Cheese is placed inside a small compartment that’s exposed to the blades, and as the handle is turned, the cheese is finely grated.
• Flat or paddle grater: These are smaller, more portable graters with a flat surface that is best suited for grating smaller amounts of cheese. They are convenient and can be stored easily, though they don’t offer the same versatility as a box grater.
• Electric grater: Electric cheese graters automate the grating process and can handle large quantities of cheese quickly. These are ideal for busy kitchens that need to grate significant amounts of cheese. They can also be used for grating vegetables and nuts.

How to choose the best cheese grater for you

The best cheese grater for your kitchen depends on your cooking habits and preferences.

• Frequency of use: If you grate cheese often and in large quantities, an electric grater or a sturdy box grater may be the best option.
• Versatility: If you want a multi-functional tool that can handle grating, slicing, and zesting, box graters are the best choice. These products offer a variety of functions in one tool.
• Ease of Cleaning: Some graters are easier to clean than others. For example, flat or paddle graters are simple to wash, while rotary graters and box graters may require a bit more effort to clean all the nooks and crannies.
• Storage Space: If you have limited space, a flat grater or microplane is easier to store. Box graters and electric graters take up more room.

The best cheese grater for different cheeses

Each type of grater excels at grating different types of cheeses.

Soft cheeses
Soft cheeses like cheddar, mozzarella, and monterey jack are known for their smooth, elastic textures, making them great for melting. A box grater is ideal for soft cheeses because it allows for multiple shredding sizes, giving you control over the thickness of the cheese for different dishes. The wide holes prevent the cheese from clogging or mushing, providing evenly grated pieces that melt beautifully in dishes like mac and cheese, pizzas, or casseroles.

Hard cheeses
Hard cheeses like parmesan and pecorino romano have a firm texture that requires a sharp grater for smooth, fine shavings. A microplane grater is the best choice for these cheeses, as its fine, razor-sharp blades create delicate, fluffy shreds that are perfect for sprinkling over pasta, soups, and salads. A rotary grater is also a good option, especially when serving hard cheeses tableside, as it grates them efficiently with minimal effort.

Semi-soft cheeses
Semi-soft varieties like gouda, sharp cheddar, and colby jack cheese have a creamier texture than hard cheeses but are firmer than soft cheeses. These cheeses benefit from a flat or paddle grater, which creates larger, uniform shreds that melt evenly without becoming mushy. The larger holes of a flat grater are perfect for semi-soft cheeses, making them ideal for grilled cheese sandwiches, baked dishes, or melting into a creamy sauce.

Crumbly Cheeses
Crumbly cheeses like feta and roquefort cheese have a texture that doesn’t lend itself well to traditional grating methods because they tend to fall apart. Instead of using a grater, it's best to crumble these cheeses by hand or with a fork, breaking them into small pieces that can be sprinkled over dishes like salads, tacos, or roasted vegetables. This method preserves their texture while distributing them evenly across your dish.