Whether It's Hard Parmesan or Soft Mozzarella, These Are the Best Cheese Graters

Final Verdict

The multi-surface Oxo Good Grips Multi-Grater is our top pick since it's budget-friendly, easy to use, and performs beautifully with soft and hard cheeses. 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.

How We Tested

We sent eight cheese graters to our cheese expert and home tester, who used each one to grate both hard and soft cheeses, including parmesan and mozzarella, to determine which cheese graters are truly the best. Each cheese grater was rated on design, comfort, ease of use, performance, ease of cleaning, and overall value. Our tester then offered additional insights on each cheese grater's strengths and weaknesses.

Other Options We Tested

• Zyliss Classic Rotary Cheese Grater: While this budget-friendly rotary grater is lauded for being accessible to both right- and left-handed users, we found it generally exhausting to use. Grating parmesan took quite a bit of pressure, though once grated, it came out fairly quickly. For large batches, however, it's not comfortable. This grater isn't sufficient for use with soft cheese, either, as mozzarella was laborious to grate and clumped as it came out. While it is dishwasher-safe, cleaning this is not easy. Though it's possible to disassemble it, we did notice that little bits of cheese got stuck in inaccessible places.

What to Look for in a Cheese Grater

Sharpness

Your grater should be sharp enough to cut through cheese or veggies without much resistance. Sharpness also matters when it comes to things like zesting—if the grater is dull, it’s likely to dig into the bitter citrus pith instead of scrape the delicate, aromatic outside.

Stability

Stability matters because it makes grating easier and helps you lose less cheese. Some types of graters, though, like a rasp grater, are designed for quickness of use rather than stability. If you have the storage space, it may be worth having a more stable grater option for larger jobs, as well as a quick, easy-to-clean grater for a quick dusting of parmesan over pasta and other small tasks. 

Versatility

Box graters get points here because the different sides usually have different sizes of holes. Rasp graters also get points for their ease of use and ability to take on miscellaneous but incredibly useful jobs, like zesting a bit of ginger. Electric or rotary models can often prep ingredients like veggies, nuts, and more.

Ease of Cleaning and Storage

Especially if you’re not using it all that often, your grater shouldn’t be taking up most of your cabinet space. While flatter options won’t always be the easiest to use, they often will be the easiest to clean and store. It may also be beneficial to invest in an option that comes with a guard, so no accidental injuries happen.

Types of Cheese Graters

Box

Box graters are the quintessential all-purpose grater. They often have several sizes and shapes of holes for grating, making them versatile, and most have a sturdy base. They also tend to be reasonably priced. However, box graters are not always sharp, and for best results, you’ll want to make sure your cheese is cold. Otherwise, you’re likely to lose some, especially if it’s a soft cheese, which can get gummed up in the device. Some box graters come with a removable storage container for catching and quickly measuring the cheese you just grated. 

Rotary

Rotary graters are especially useful for hard Italian cheeses like Parmesan or Pecorino. They can also be used for chopping nuts or grating chocolate. Some devoted fans even store them in their fridge with cheese inside. They can be easier to maneuver than some of the other styles, and you run less risk of minor injury with them. Plus, you often have the option of several grate sizes. On the other hand, they also take up a lot of room to store. Many come with two parts, and if you lose one of the parts, the device becomes unusable. Still, rotary graters that feature a suction base for easy use have an edge over box graters. 

Flat

Flat graters tend to be the least expensive option but can be rather limited. Most come with a limited number of hole sizes and can be unwieldy to use. They do, however, tend to be easy to clean.

Rasp

We don’t hear the term "rasp grater" often. You may know this style of grater as a Microplane (a registered trademark of Grace Manufacturing Inc), but the generic name for the style is a rasp grater, named after the woodworking tool. These tend to be sharp and are especially useful for small cheese grating jobs, zesting, and even things like grating a bit of nutmeg or cinnamon over a freshly made pastry. If you’re looking for your final result to be airy and light, a rasp grater is a perfect tool. However, if you’re looking to grate softer cheese or a larger quantity of cheese (or other food), these can quickly become unwieldy and even dangerous.

Lots of folks use a microplane for parmesan. If that works for you, that’s fine. However, most cheese professionals will advise you that not all parmesan is the same. Is it aged, crystalline Parmigiano-Reggiano, which is best finely grated? Or is it a less-aged domestic version, which can get gummy in a microplane? Is it a rock-hard block of you-can’t-remember-exactly-what that you keep in your fridge for pasta?

FAQS

How do you use a cheese grater?

Different cheese graters work differently, so always read the instructions. The average cheese grater is meant to be held still while a block of cheese is run over it with medium pressure. This process will be easier if the cheese is harder or still cold from the fridge.

How do you clean a cheese grater?

Check the manufacturer’s instructions. Some graters are dishwasher-safe, while some are only safe in the top rack of the dishwasher, and some should be hand-washed. When in doubt, it doesn’t hurt to hand wash. A small brush can be helpful for graters with crevices that cheese can get stuck in.

What else can you use a cheese grater for?

Cheese graters can be used for much more than cheese. You can shred veggies, such as carrots or potatoes, get a head start on a sauce by pulverizing tomatoes, make bread crumbs with toasted bread, zest citrus, or even grate spices like cinnamon or nutmeg.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Writer and professional cheese eater Christine Clark teaches cheese and pairing classes throughout the United States and is dedicated to helping people expertly get their cheese fix. Her cheese adoration is so strong that she has a whole podcast dedicated to it. She is a Certified Cheese Professional through the American Cheese Society and tested eight cheese graters for this roundup.

This article was updated by Katya Weiss-Andersson, a writer and editor who has nearly a decade of experience as a professional chef. Katya is vegan but loves some bougie, high-quality vegan cheese as a treat, and still finds plenty of uses for the cheese grater in her kitchen.