The Best Cheese Graters For Shredding & Zesting (2025)

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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

Sur La Table 5-in-1 Grate and Slice Set

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

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

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.”

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.”

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.

The cheese grater questions you should be asking

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

Thyme & Table 4-Sided Box Grater

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.

Henckels Classic Stainless Steel Cheese Grater

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.

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