If you’re still shredding cheddar with a dull box grater from your college apartment, it’s time for an upgrade. The best cheese graters don’t just make prep easier—they make it faster, safer, and, dare I say, genuinely satisfying. Whether you're showering parm over pasta, zesting a lemon into vinaigrette, or grating chocolate onto a fancy dessert, a great grater quietly does it all.
Our top picks
- Best fine grater: Microplane Classic Zester
- Best coarse grater: Kuhn Rikon Essential Grater, Medium
- Best box grater: Cuisinart Boxed Grater
- Best for everything: Sur La Table 5-in-1 Grate and Slice Set
We tested different types of graters—from classic Microplanes to compact handhelds to multitasking tools—and found the very best cheese graters your money can buy. They're razor-sharp, comfortable enough for long prep sessions, and easy to clean (even after tackling a full block of mozzarella). Apologies in advance to your old box grater, because once you try one of these, you’re not going back.
Best grater for fine tasks: Microplane Classic Zester
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Razor-sharp teeth for effortless grating
- Ideal for hard cheeses, citrus zest, ginger, and garlic
- Lightweight
- Easy to store (lies flat)
- Affordable
- Dishwasher safe
Cons:
- Not suitable for soft cheeses
- Blades are sharp! Watch your knuckles
Specs
- Dimensions: 12"L x 1.83"W x 0.39"H
- Materials: Plastic
What we love: This kitchen gadget might look unassuming, but it’s beloved by home cooks and professional chefs alike. The Microplane’s ultra-fine, razor-sharp teeth effortlessly turned rock-hard Parmesan cheese into fluffy snow, and created citrus zest so light and fragrant, it felt like something I’d be served in a Michelin-star restaurant, not my messy dining room.
It was the only tool that handled fibrous ingredients like ginger and garlic with ease, while still being precise enough for harder foods like chocolate.
Ergonomically, grating cheese was a breeze with this kitchen tool. I loved how easy it was to use over a bowl, cutting board, or directly onto a finished dish for a final spritz. Unlike some rasps I tested, this one didn’t clog or require constant tapping mid-use. And cleanup? A breeze. It rinsed clean in seconds and didn’t trap food between the teeth. TL;DR: The Microplane Zester is 1000 percent worth the hype.
What we’d leave: The Microplane’s fine teeth aren’t great for soft cheeses like mozzarella or cheddar because they can turn them into mush rather than nice shreds. It also isn’t the best choice for grating larger amounts or when you want coarser, chunkier pieces.
Best coarse grater: Kuhn Rikon Essential Grater, Medium
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Sharp teeth for easy shredding
- Versatile, medium-coarse grate
- Includes a safety sheath
- Lightweight
- Silicone base prevents slipping
- Easy to store (lies flat)
- Dishwasher safe
Cons:
- Pricey
Specs
- Dimensions: 12”L x 2”W
- Materials: Stainless steel, silicone
What we love: Of all the flat graters I tested, Kuhn Rikon’s Essential handheld grater struck a perfect balance: It’s a fine enough shredder for fluffy cheese and grated vegetables, but coarse enough to avoid clogging or gumming up. It powered through cheddar, carrots, and even chocolate efficiently. The lightweight body made it easy to hold over bowls or plates without wrist fatigue, while the silicone base kept it from wiggling out of place mid-grate. For such a simple tool, it proved surprisingly versatile. While it won’t replace a full, four-sided box grater, it’s an excellent everyday option that stores flat, works fast, and delivers delicious results.
What we’d leave: It’s pricey for a single-use tool. But you get what you pay for, and in this case, you get a quality cheese grater made from high-end materials that should last a long time with proper care.
Best box grater: Cuisinart Boxed Grater
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Four grating options
- Built-in handle
- Large grating surface
- Versatile enough for hard and soft cheeses
- Dishwasher safe
- Affordable
Cons:
- Bulky to store
- No catch bin
Specs
- Dimensions: 4.5"L x 3.5"W x 10"H
- Material: Stainless steel, rubber
What we love: There’s something satisfying about a classic box grater, and this one lived up to the hype. It breezed through big blocks of cheese, potatoes, and even zucchini without jamming or slipping, thanks to its wide, stable base and grippy handle. I liked how each side delivered a distinct result: coarse and fine graters for cheese, a slicer for veg, and even a zester side for citrus or ginger.
Despite its budget-friendly price, it felt sturdy in use—no wobbling or slipping out mid-shave, which was great for my knuckles. Sure, it’s a bit old-school and bulky, but sometimes the classics are classics for a reason—and this one does the job well at a fraction of the cost of fancier models.
What we’d leave: It’s awkward to store due to its size, so if you’re cramped on kitchen space, you might want to opt for a flat grater. Also, it’s tough to clean—you have to really get in there. Technically, it’s dishwasher safe, but I noticed some residue left over after a cycle. You’re better off hand-washing from the get-go.
Best for everything: Sur La Table 5-in-1 Grate and Slice Set
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Includes five blade options
- Versatile
- Grates right into the catch bin
- Dishwasher safe
- Compact and lightweight
- Easy to swap plates
Cons:
- Difficult to store
- Base can be slippery
Specs
- Dimensions: 11.1" L x 3.3" W x 2.5" H
- Material: Plastic, stainless steel
What we love: This set does the most, and in a great way! It functions like a mandoline, with interchangeable blade inserts that make quick work of slicing cucumbers for a salad or grating cheese for taco night. The blade inserts slide easily in and out of the lid, making it super easy to clean by hand (or in the dishwasher). But what I love most is the clear container that catches all the shredded cheese or veggies directly in the bin, eliminating messes on the counter. It’s not the tool I grab for a quick lemon zest, but for prepping larger, more complex meals that require variety, this thing is clutch.
What we’d leave: Unfortunately, the blades don’t nest into each other, which makes storage annoying, especially if you like having all your gadgets “together.” The base is also a bit slippery. It does have silicone feet on the bottom to keep it in place, but I found it can slip out if you’re not pressing down enough.
How we tested these cheese graters
I grated, shredded, and zested with a wide variety of ingredients: hard and soft cheeses, various veggies, garlic, chocolate, and ginger. I tested a wide variety of types of graters (box graters, flat handheld graters, rasp-style graters) for blade sharpness, comfort, and cleanup. Bonus points were given for smart storage features, dishwasher safety, and an enjoyable experience.
What to consider when shopping for cheese graters
Grating style
Fine or coarse? It all comes down to what you’re making. “Hard cheeses go fine when you want them to melt fast or disappear into a dish—sauces, soups, that kind of thing,” says Nicholas Restivo, executive chef at the Madeline Hotel & Residences in Telluride. “If you’re building texture, like in a sandwich or on top of a baked dish, you want a coarser shred. It holds its shape, gives you that pull, and doesn’t vanish the second it hits heat.”
Sometimes, it's also about style and tone. As Neall Bailey, executive chef at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, puts it: “In most situations, large cuts are rustic and fine cuts are more elegant. Cook time matters as well—if something is cooked quickly, you would want fine cuts, and if it is cooked slowly, you would want a larger piece.”
Comfort and grip
A good grater should feel stable, no matter what you’re using it for. If you’re using it over a pan or a bowl, it should feel especially sturdy—look for graters with grippy handles and nonslip, silicone feet to keep the tool from sliding out from underneath you.
And know that, no matter how comfortable your grater might be, you can still nick yourself on the blades when you get too close. Stop when you should. “Truth is, once you’re down to the nub, it’s survival mode,” says Chef Restivo. “Either switch to a Microplane or surrender and eat the rest. No cheese is worth losing a knuckle over.”
Cleanup
Graters are more difficult to clean than other cooking tools by design, but some are easier to rinse than others. Most graters should be washed by hand to preserve the life of the tool (and to make sure all of the gunk gets out), but some can be put in the dishwasher. Look for dishwasher-safe materials like stainless steel, and always put it on the top rack.
Do I need more than one cheese grater?
If you’re grating different types of cheese, the answer is yes. “In our kitchen, we use Microplanes almost exclusively when working with Parmesan and the box grater for Fontina, Cheddar, or Jack cheese,” says Ryan Pearson, executive chef at the Lotte Hotel Seattle. A Microplane is perfect for fine finishing touches, but it’s not going to get you anywhere with a block of cheddar. If you cook a lot, having both a fine rasp and a coarser grater (like a box or flat model) makes life easier.
Is it just a cheese shredder, or can I use graters for more than cheese?
Graters are for more than just cheese! Professional chefs love them for garlic, ginger, citrus, chocolate, and even grating frozen butter into pastry dough. (That’s where having multiple types of graters comes in handy!)
How should I clean my cheese grater?
When in doubt, rinse it out immediately by hand with warm water. “I start by wiping the grater with a dry cloth in the direction of the blades to get any coarse debris off of it,” says Chef Bailey. “I then run it under warm water and continue to wipe in the direction of the blades with the same cloth to clean up and sticky residue. If there are stubborn bits, I will use a scrub brush in the direction of the blades. Don't quit until it comes clean. It is important to dry it thoroughly before putting it away.”
Other cheese graters we tested
This budget-friendly box grater surprised me with how well it performed for the price. It has the standard four sides (coarse, medium, fine, and slicer), and it worked well on soft cheeses like mozzarella and cheddar. The grating surfaces aren’t as sharp as premium models, but they get the job done for casual cooks. Plus, it comes with a catch box that nests directly under the box for easy cleanup.
This sleek, all-stainless-steel box grater from Henckels feels solid and looks sharp—literally and aesthetically. It handled hard cheeses like Parmesan with ease, but floundered with softer, stickier cheeses. It’s also small, and the silicone feet get slippery if you don’t have enough pressure on them.