We shredded — not to mention sliced, zested and ribboned — all manner of soft and hard cheeses, to find the greatest graters available! Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money off these affiliate links.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Cheese Grater
Although a cheese grater isn’t going to be among the biggest investments you’ll make, it is a kitchen tool you’ll probably reach for often, so choosing a good one that suits your needs can save you a lot of day to day hassle.
It helps to think about how you’ll be using the grater most often: Do you eat more hard cheeses or soft ones? Do you plan to use a grater for other items, like shredding vegetables or grating chocolate for baking? For the most part, the box graters we tested performed better at hard cheese (and will handle things like carrots and zucchini well) while some other styles worked better for mozzarella. So if pizza-making is a regular thing in your home, that’s an important consideration to factor into your decision.
The size of the shreds can affect the texture of a dish as well. Most of the devices we tested had multiple options but not the same options: some had extremely fine grating surfaces (nice for a dusting of Parmesan) while others had slicers. Think about what functions you’re most likely to use. You’ll want to consider capacity as well. If you regularly cook for a large family (or are simply a cheese fanatic) you’re going to get frustrated with a rotary grater that only holds an ounce or two at a time.
Kitchens can be tough on graters, so finding one that’s durable and comfortable to use is also key. High-grade stainless steel blades will resist rust and stay sharp over time. Most of the graters tested were ergonomic in some fashion, but a comfortable grip can mean different things for different people, so if you can, try before you buy. Grating does require some elbow grease, so if you’re not up to that, have a condition such as arthritis, or just want to shred large amounts quickly, an option with some mechanical assist, like the KitchenAid shredder attachment, may be your best bet.
You can also consider the size of the grater and its aesthetic appeal if you’re short on storage space or plan to have it sitting out on a counter often.
How to Clean a Cheese Grater
How to clean a cheese grater is one of the eternal kitchen quandaries, as these tools famously shred any sponge that comes near them. Many claim to be dishwasher safe, but we found the easiest way to clean a grater of any kind is with a stiff-bristled kitchen brush, some dish detergent, and water. Start by tapping the grater to knock any loose shreds off it. Take it to the sink and add soap: We like Dawn spray dish detergent because it evenly coats the cutting surfaces. Then brush in quick, short strokes with the bristled brush under cool running water (use hot and you risk melting the remaining shreds and making them more difficult to remove). This technique works just as well even if your grater was used for something other than cheese.
Top 5: Best Rotary Cheese Grater in 2024
Which rotary cheese grater should I buy?
If you’d prefer a handle to help you crank through pecorino, parmesan, and more, the Bnunwish Round Mandoline Drum Slicer Rotary Cheese Grater is an impressive option that suctions to the counter for stability.
Which cheese grater is best?
In addition to her cookbook “Big Delicious Life,” she’s written more than 10 novels. Was this page helpful? To find the best cheese graters, we tested more than 20 top-rated box graters, rasp-style graters, and rotary models. Our top picks include cheese graters from KitchenAid, Microplane, Spring Chef, and Zyliss.
What is a brown rotary cheese grater?
The Brown rotary cheese grater is entirely made of stainless steel. It is thus very strong and can be used with hard and soft foods, as well as with dried fruits. This products assembly is simple and does not require any specific installation. Just hold the components in the right place and use it to grate any type of cheese or dried fruit.
How much does a rotary grater cost?
So we tested six models, priced from about $11 to about $55, using them to grate different amounts of Parmesan (1, 2, 4, and 6 ounces)—the food we’d be most likely to grate in a rotary grater. As it turned out, we liked the rotary graters a lot.