Best Overall
OXO Etched Box Grater with Removable Zester
- It has a removable zester, a four-blade design, and a storage cup.
It has a removable zester, a four-blade design, and a storage cup.
- It takes up quite a bit of space in the cupboard.
It takes up quite a bit of space in the cupboard.
Our top grater overall is the OXO Good Grips Etched Box Grater with Removable Zester. The multi-functional design features four different etched grating surfaces: a medium grater, coarse grater, slicer, and a removable zester, which makes it a one-stop shop for grating, slicing, shredding, and zesting (or even de-stemming herbs).
Part of what makes the OXO Good Grips Etched Box Grater one of our favorite graters is that it includes a 1-cup container to catch and measure food, which makes it easy to measure, and it cuts down on the amount of mess on your kitchen counter. Just snap the lid on and store it in the refrigerator to have fresh cheese all week.
If you need to make more than just 1 cup of shredded cheese, the non-slip base can be placed over a bowl. Its secure grip will keep it stable, and the sharp, etched stainless steel surfaces will do the work for you.
All the pieces are top-rack dishwasher safe, so cleanup is incredibly easy. One drawback worth mentioning is that this grater does not fold up, so it takes up a considerable amount of space in the cupboard.
Product Details: Style: Box | Dimensions: 4.5 x 3.4 x 12 inches | Material: Stainless steel, plastic | Care: Top-rack dishwasher safe
Best Budget
Gorilla Grip Stainless Steel Box Grater
- This grater is dishwasher safe and comes with a container and lid.
This grater is dishwasher safe and comes with a container and lid.
- The plastic on the base is slippery and doesn’t prevent it from sliding around.
The plastic on the base is slippery and doesn’t prevent it from sliding around.
This Gorilla Grip Stainless Steel Box Grater is the best budget buy if you’re looking for something inexpensive that will still get the job done. The four-sided box grater, which is available in six colors, has sharp stainless sides that make grating, shredding, zesting, and slicing vegetables simple.
Its ergonomic design features a comfortable soft grip handle and a rubber guard. Although the guard makes it easy to rest the grater against your countertop for better leverage, it’s not entirely slip-resistant.
If you’re food prepping, the included detachable plastic container allows you to catch and store ingredients seamlessly. The measurements on the side of the container will save you from getting a measuring cup dirty. When you’re finished, all the pieces are dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.
Product Details: Style: Box | Dimensions: 10.28 x 5.35 x 3.31 inches | Material: Stainless steel | Care: Dishwasher safe
Best Splurge
Cuisipro 4-Sided Boxed Grater
- It features a range of blade sizes, and an efficient groove blade design.
It features a range of blade sizes, and an efficient groove blade design.
- Hand washing is recommended.
Hand washing is recommended.
Although it’s more expensive than other options, the Cuisipro Box Grater features a grooved design of the grating surface that we think makes it a worthy investment.
The grooved grating surface works to lower the overall resistance of anything being grated, while also working to elongate the length of every blade on the grater. This means that with every stroke of the cheese against the stainless steel grater more food is grated, which means less time and effort on your part.
In terms of design, we like the ergonomic and non-slip handle for added safety. Plus, the four sides are designed to handle whatever your grating needs may be. One side is fine for zesting, one is coarse for cheeses and veggies, another is ultra-coarse for the softer cheeses, and the final side is a slicer for vegetables. Plus, it also comes with a ginger grater base that can handle ginger root, separating the fibers in the process.
It’s worth noting that while this option is dishwasher safe, the manufacturer recommends washing it by hand. While this is not uncommon for box graters, it adds an extra step of cleaning after a meal.
Product Details: Style: Box | Dimensions: 3.5 x 9.25 x 4.5 inches | Material: Stainless steel | Care: Dishwasher safe, hand washing recommended
Best Set
Microplane Home Series 4 Piece Grater Set
- A range of blade styles cover a variety of grating needs.
A range of blade styles cover a variety of grating needs.
- It doesn’t come with a storage case, so you’ll need additional space in your drawers for all four.
It doesn’t come with a storage case, so you’ll need additional space in your drawers for all four.
If you have a variety of grating needs, we recommend Microplane’s 4-Piece Home Series Cheese Grater Set. To start, it’s a highly versatile set that comes equipped with four unique sets of blades: fine, ribbon, medium/coarse, and extra coarse.
All of the graters are made from stainless steel and laser etched for a more sharp finish. Plus, the handle is designed with a softer feel for added comfort while you use it.
Though you can use them however you see fit, Microplane suggests the fine blade be used for things like garlic or citrus zests, the medium/coarse option for carrots, apples and hard cheeses, the extra coarse option for potatoes and soft cheeses, and the ribbon grater for chocolate cheddar cheese.
Though we highly recommend the set, keep in mind that it doesn’t come with a storage case, so you’ll need to allocate a bit more room in your drawers to store them.
Product Details: Style: Paddle | Dimensions: Not listed | Material: Stainless steel | Care: Dishwasher safe, hand washing recommended
Best for Bowls
Microplane Mixing Bowl Grater Extra Coarse
- The smart design can work with any size of bowl.
The smart design can work with any size of bowl.
- It is not suited toward harder cheeses.
It is not suited toward harder cheeses.
Microplane’s Mixing Bowl Grater works well to alleviate some of the mess that comes with cheese grating, in addition to helping to eliminate some of the awkward strain required by holding a grater to use it. This mixing bowl option is uniquely designed to fit inside of any bowl, no matter the size.
For smaller bowls, the grater can fit directly on top of the bowl. For medium bowls, it will hug the inside rim of the bowl to suspend it in place. Lastly, it can be angled downward inside of larger bowls. All of these options ensure there’s no spillage.
The blades are stainless steel and are designed not to rust, which is a bonus, because the grater is also dishwasher safe. Though not a dealbreaker, keep in mind that blade is designed for medium soft cheeses, like mozzarella and cheddar.
Product Details: Style: Flat | Dimensions: 12.6 x 0.98 x 1.18 inches | Material: Stainless steel | Care: Dishwasher safe
Best Handheld
Joseph Joseph 2-in-1 Twist Grater
- It has a dual surface for both fine and coarse grating, comes with a protective sheath, and the handle can rotate down to provide additional leverage.
It has a dual surface for both fine and coarse grating, comes with a protective sheath, and the handle can rotate down to provide additional leverage.
- The blade and plastic feel slightly flimsy.
The blade and plastic feel slightly flimsy.
There’s a lot to like about the design of the Joseph Joseph Twist Grater 2-in-1 Grater with Adjustable Handle. Its dual-surface features two styles of etched stainless steel blades, so switching from fine to coarse grating is very easy.
It's our pick for the best handheld cheese grater because of its non-stick grip—on the handle and the feet. Additionally, the flat grater’s handle can swivel and tilt 90 degrees to be propped up on the counter. This feature means you can get extra leverage when you need it, making this grater a particularly safe option. It also comes with a removable plastic sheath to protect the blade and can be flipped upside down to neatly collect ground nutmeg or the zest of a lemon.
Overall, this option has the most features and versatility of all the best graters on our list. The drawback is that the blade and plastic can be a bit flimsy, so it’s not the most durable option—though it is dishwasher safe.
Product Details: Style: Flat | Dimensions: 11.5 x 4 x 1 inches | Material: Stainless steel, plastic | Care: Dishwasher safe
Best Electric
Presto Salad Shooter Electric Slicer/Shredder
- It has a lightweight and compact design, is easy to clean, and produces even slices in record time.
It has a lightweight and compact design, is easy to clean, and produces even slices in record time.
- The motor is very loud.
The motor is very loud.
The Presto Salad Shooter Electric Slicer/Shredder is one of the quickest ways to slice or shred vegetables, fruits, and cheese for delicious salads, soups, and more. It is basically a handheld food processor—only better—because it shoots food right into a bowl or pot, so you’ll have fewer dishes to do later.
It comes with two medium-grade cones with stainless-steel cutting blades, one for slicing and one for shredding. They are so sharp they can shred an entire block of cheese or slice a carrot into coins in less time than it takes to boil water. Thicker-grade and fine-grade options are available, but they’re sold separately.
To use the shredder, simply slip the cone into the main shoot and twist it to lock it in place. You’ll have to cut the food into blocks to fit into the food chamber. If you want shorter slices, place the food upright in the chamber. For elongated slices, place them horizontally. Either way, the slicer will shoot out uniform pieces, which is essential for certain recipes, such as cooking scalloped potatoes evenly.
Except for the base, where the motor is stored, all the parts can be washed in the dishwasher, and its small size makes it easy to store. It’s also worth noting that the motor is very loud.
Product Details: Style: Electric | Dimensions: 7 x 3.5 x 9.5 inches | Material: Plastic, stainless steel | Care: Dishwasher safe (except for the base)
Best Rotary
Zyliss Classic Rotary Cheese Grater
- It’s easy to use for both left- and right-handed cooks, folds up for easy storing, and looks professional enough to be used table-side at a restaurant.
It’s easy to use for both left- and right-handed cooks, folds up for easy storing, and looks professional enough to be used table-side at a restaurant.
- It’s intended for hard cheeses like Parmesan, and softer cheeses like mozzarella could clog it up.
It’s intended for hard cheeses like Parmesan, and softer cheeses like mozzarella could clog it up.
The Zyliss Classic Rotary Cheese Grater gets our top vote for overall best rotary cheese grater because of its ability to grate Parmesan cheese as a server does in an Italian restaurant. Its classic design makes it ideal for a home cook who wants to recreate a fine dining experience at home.
Figuring out exactly how much pressure is needed to use the grater may take a few trials. However, once you get the hang of it, you’ll find that hard cheese, chocolate, and nuts are super easy to grate. Note that the grater is not intended for softer cheeses. Using mozzarella and cheddar could clog it—and make it very hard to clean.
The grater has a built-in feature that switches the crank from one direction to the other, so it’s easy to use whether you are left- or right-handed. Plus, the grip is comfortable to use. Once you’re done, the unit can be disassembled and placed on the top rack of the dishwasher. The drum handle can be folded into itself for compact storage.
Product Details: Style: Rotary | Dimensions: 6.3 x 3 x 4.4 inches | Material: Plastic, steel | Care: Dishwasher safe
Best Zester
Deiss Pro Citrus Zester and Cheese Grater
- It is lightweight with a non-slip ergonomic handle, so it’s comfortable and secure in your hand.
It is lightweight with a non-slip ergonomic handle, so it’s comfortable and secure in your hand.
- The blade is 15 inches long, which makes it awkward to store.
The blade is 15 inches long, which makes it awkward to store.
The Deiss PRO is the best zester on our list. The ergonomic handle has a textured grip that feels comfortable and secure in your hand. The stainless steel blade is sharp, lightweight, and durable, plus it’s safe to wash in the dishwasher. Its curved edges allow you to grate and zest upside down, so you can easily see how much you’ve grated as it falls neatly below.
The razor-sharp teeth produce finer shreds than a traditional box or rotary grater. Instead of hard granules, it slices through cheeses to produce ribbon-like curls that melt almost instantly on the plate. It can pierce through the exterior of nutmeg and coconut in one swoop. The super fine blades grab the zest of oranges, limes, and lemons without digging into the layers underneath, so you don’t have to worry about bitterness associated with the pith.
This grater’s bright yellow color is easy to find in a drawer, and it comes with a protective safety cover, but at 15 inches from tip to tip, it could be cumbersome to store.
Product Details: Style: Zester | Dimensions: 15 x 2 x 1.5 inches | Material: Stainless steel, rubber | Care: Dishwasher safe
Best Attachment
KitchenAid Fresh Prep Slicer/Shredder Attachment
- It comes with three different blades, works on both hard and soft cheeses, and makes huge batches in minutes.
It comes with three different blades, works on both hard and soft cheeses, and makes huge batches in minutes.
- It requires a KitchenAid Stand Mixer.
It requires a KitchenAid Stand Mixer.
The KitchenAid Fresh Prep Slicer/Shredder is the best choice for those who want high yields with minimal effort and already own a KitchenAid Stand Mixer. The appliance attachment is on the pricier side, but because it does all the work for you to create mountains of perfectly uniform slices or shreds in minutes, it’s well worth the investment.
The attachment comes with a food pusher that can handle small and large fruits and vegetables or blocks of cheese that are cut to size. Three stainless steel blades offer a variety of cuts: a 3-millimeter slicing blade that’s ideal for cucumbers and zucchinis, a 4-millimeter medium-sized shredding blade for cheeses and firm vegetables, and a 6-millimeter coarse shredding blade for cabbage and potatoes. The blades will not rust or stain. They are easily interchangeable, making it easy to switch from slicing potatoes to grating cheese.
Operating the grater is easy. Simply choose the size you need, select a speed, place a bowl underneath, and insert the food into the tube. When you’re finished, the unit disassembles easily. The blades can be washed on the top rack of the dishwasher, then stored in the included storage case.
Product Details: Style: Rotary electric | Dimensions: 8.2 x 4 x 6.9 inches | Material: Stainless steel, plastic | Care: Top-rack dishwasher safe