Written by Sara Ibrahim. Sara researches home and kitchen products for Cupindy.
Published November 2026 · Last reviewed November 2, 2026 · Cupindy is not affiliated with any brand on this page.
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Our quick pick
Cambom Rotary Cheese Grater
A top seller in Amazon's cheese grater category, and Food Network's best rotary pick (it tested the white version). Three steel drums, a suction base, and your knuckles stay clear of the blades.
See the Cambom rotary grater on AmazonThe drawback: the barrel, pusher and base are plastic. Cambom says the plastic is food grade and BPA-free, and the blades are 430 stainless steel.
Want steel blades and no plastic barrel? Spring Chef XL box grater. Grating parmesan? Microplane zester.
The short answer
A hand-crank rotary grater is the fastest way through a block of cheese, and your fingers stay clear of the blades while you crank. Its body is mostly plastic, though. For steel blades and less plastic, get a stainless box grater, plus a rasp for parmesan and lemon zest.
We went through the top-selling cheese graters on Amazon, read the listing and care notes for each, and compared them with what Wirecutter and Food Network found in their own grater tests. We have not tested these graters ourselves, so every product claim below comes from the maker, the listing or a named reviewer.
The 6 best cheese graters at a glance
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Details come from each Amazon listing, read November 2, 2026.
| Grater | Type and material | Dishwasher? | One drawback | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambom rotary. Best overall for speed. | Hand-crank rotary. Plastic barrel and base, 430 stainless drums. | Top rack, per Cambom. | Mostly plastic. | See it |
| Spring Chef XL. Best value box grater. | Four-sided box. Stainless, removable rubber base. | Yes, per the listing. | Water can sit in the base. | See it |
| KitchenAid Gourmet. Best with a container. | Four-sided box. Stainless, plastic 3-cup container with lid. | Yes, grater and container. | Tall and bulky. | See it |
| Cuisipro 4-sided. Sharpest box grater. | Four-sided box. Etched stainless blades, removable base. | Yes, hand wash preferred. | Very sharp. Narrow zester side. | See it |
| Microplane Premium Classic. Best for parmesan and zest. | Rasp. Photo-etched 18/8 stainless. | Yes, hand wash recommended. | Too fine for shredding. | See it |
| Zyliss Classic. Best for grating at the table. | Handheld rotary with one fine drum. | Yes. | Hard cheese only. | See it |
Box graters: the one most kitchens should own
A box grater stands on the counter, keeps the shreds inside its walls and gives you four tools in one: coarse holes for cheddar and carrots, medium holes, fine holes for hard cheese and zest, and a slicing blade. The grating faces are steel. What the cheese falls onto varies: a bowl, a rubber foot or a plastic container.
Look first at how the holes are made. Most box graters are stamped, which means the holes are punched out of a steel sheet and the raised edge does the cutting. Etched graters are made with a chemical process that leaves thinner, sharper teeth. Wirecutter, which says it has tested 44 graters since 2015, explains that etching makes very sharp, fine teeth, and most of its picks are etched. Then look at the base. A grater that slides around is the one that takes the skin off a knuckle, so look for a rubber or silicone foot.
Best value box grater
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Value pick
Spring Chef XL Box Grater
Good for: everyday shredding of cheddar, mozzarella and vegetables, plus a slicing side.
Why we picked it: it is a top seller among box graters on Amazon. The listing describes four stainless steel sides (coarse, medium, fine and a slicer), an extra-wide face, and a removable rubber bottom that stops it sliding and keeps shreds from escaping underneath. It is listed as dishwasher safe.
What to know: the listing does not name the steel grade. The XL version is about 6 by 5 inches at the base and 9.2 inches tall (15 x 13 x 23 cm).
The drawback: some buyers say water gets trapped in the rubber base after washing. Pull the base off and let both parts dry on their own.
See the Spring Chef box grater on AmazonBest box grater with a container
Grate into a bowl and then hunt for a lid every time? A grater that sits on its own container saves a step.
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Container pick
KitchenAid Gourmet Box Grater
Good for: grating a measured amount and keeping the rest for later.
Why we picked it: it has coarse, medium and fine sides plus a slicer, all stainless steel. It sits on a 3-cup (710 ml) container marked at 1/2, 1, 1 1/2 and 2 cups, with a lid. The listing says the container and lid are freezer, microwave and dishwasher safe, and the grater can go in the dishwasher too. Amazon itself sells it.
What to know: the listing promises one year of free replacement and a lifetime limited warranty after that.
The drawback: it is big for a box grater, a little over 10 inches (26 cm) tall and about a pound (0.45 kg), and the container is plastic, per Birch Lane's spec. To keep plastic out of the picture, grate into a glass bowl and leave the container in the cupboard.
See the KitchenAid box grater on AmazonThe sharpest box grater
For a box grater you use often and keep for years, etched blades cut with less effort.
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Premium pick
Cuisipro 4-Sided Box Grater
Good for: anyone who grates a lot and wants less effort with each stroke.
Why we picked it: Wirecutter's top pick is Cuisipro's 4-sided box grater, and its staff have used one in the test kitchen for years. Cuisipro part 746850, the model on Amazon, uses what Cuisipro calls Surface Glide Technology: etched blades with a grooved pattern. Cuisipro lists five surfaces: fine for zest and parmesan, coarse for most cheeses, ultra-coarse for soft cheese, a slicer, and a ginger grater built into the removable base.
What to know: the listing names a 25-year warranty. Cuisipro says the grater is dishwasher safe but prefers hand washing, to keep the blades sharp. Cuisipro also makes a 6-sided version, which Food Network picked as its best box grater; the 4-sided one is smaller.
The drawback: it is very sharp. Wirecutter warns it "will eat your fingers and not even feel bad about it," and the zester and slicer sides are narrower than the two main faces.
See the Cuisipro box grater on AmazonRotary graters are fast, but mostly plastic
A rotary grater works like a small hand-cranked food processor. You drop the cheese into a chute, press it down with a pusher and turn the handle while a steel drum shreds it. Your fingers stay away from the blade while you crank, although you still handle the sharp drums when you swap or wash them. That makes it the one to buy for big batches and for hands that get sore on a box grater.
On most rotary graters the steel stops at the drum: the chute, pusher, crank and base are plastic, and the cheese is pressed against them as you grate.
A typical rotary grater: the blades are steel; the barrel, crank, base and pusher are plastic.
Best overall: the Cambom
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Our quick pick
Cambom Rotary Cheese Grater
Good for: shredding a whole block of cheddar or mozzarella in one go, and hands that tire quickly on a box grater.
Why we picked it: it is a top seller in Amazon's cheese grater category, and Food Network's best rotary pick is this Cambom grater (it tested the white version). It comes with three drums (coarse, fine and a slicing drum), a suction base and a cleaning brush. The seller pitches it at people with arthritis, since you turn a handle instead of pushing cheese across teeth.
What to know: the suction base holds best on smooth surfaces, and the seller names marble and glass. Per the listing, the parts can go on the top rack of the dishwasher, and the seller suggests wiping the handle and base with a dry cloth.
The drawback: the listing gives the material as plastic. The seller says the plastic parts are food grade and BPA-free and the blades are 430 stainless steel, a grade that resists rust less well than 18/8, so dry the drums after washing. Food Network also found the suction base did not always hold.
See the Cambom rotary grater on AmazonBest for grating at the table: the Zyliss Classic
A handheld rotary grater is smaller. You hold it over the plate and turn the knob, the way some Italian restaurants serve parmesan.
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Table-side pick
Zyliss Classic Rotary Grater
Good for: parmesan or pecorino over pasta at the table, plus chocolate and nuts.
Why we picked it: the listing says it is NSF certified for restaurant use, works in either hand, folds for storage and comes apart for cleaning. It is dishwasher safe, according to restaurant supplier Wasserstrom.
What to know: it ships with one fine drum. A restaurant supplier that sells it says it is not recommended for apples or carrots.
The drawback: it is a hard-cheese tool. With one fine drum it will not shred cheddar for tacos. Zyliss describes only the drum as stainless steel, so expect plastic around it. On Amazon it is sold by a third-party seller, not by Zyliss.
See the Zyliss rotary grater on AmazonZesters and rasp graters for parmesan
A rasp grater, often just called a Microplane after the brand that made it famous, is a long, narrow strip of etched steel covered in tiny sharp teeth. It turns hard cheese into light, fine shreds that melt straight into hot pasta, and it takes the zest off a lemon without digging into the bitter white pith. Garlic, ginger and nutmeg work on it too.
Paddle graters are wider versions of the same idea, and fold-flat graters are two paddles hinged at the top. Both store more easily than a box grater, but neither holds the shreds for you.
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Best for parmesan and zest
Microplane Premium Classic Zester
Good for: parmesan, pecorino, citrus zest, garlic, ginger and nutmeg.
Why we picked it: Wirecutter picked it as its best grater for fine grating. Microplane says the photo-etched 18/8 stainless steel blade is made in Russellville, Arkansas, and the grater is put together in Mexico. It comes with a protective cover for the drawer.
What to know: Microplane suggests tapping the blade on a board straight after grating, rinsing it and letting it air dry. It is dishwasher safe, but the maker recommends hand washing to keep the teeth sharp for longer.
The drawback: the handle is plastic, and Wirecutter mentions reviews saying it can snap off, although several of its staffers have owned one for years without problems. It is also too fine for shredding cheddar.
See the Microplane zester on AmazonWhich grater for which cheese
Big holes for soft cheese, small holes for hard cheese.
| Cheese or job | Best tool | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Parmesan, pecorino, aged gouda | Rasp, or the fine side of a box grater | Tiny teeth make light shreds that melt fast. |
| Cheddar, Swiss, Monterey Jack | Coarse side of a box grater, or a rotary grater's coarse drum | Long, even shreds for tacos, casseroles and melting. |
| Mozzarella and other soft cheese | The largest holes on a box grater (Cuisipro calls this side ultra-coarse) | Small holes and fine drums squash soft cheese instead of cutting it. Chilling it first helps. |
| Slices for sandwiches | Slicer side of a box grater, or a rotary slicing drum | Thin, even slices without a knife. |
| A pound or more at once | Rotary grater | Faster, and easier on the hands. |
| Lemon zest, nutmeg, garlic, ginger | Rasp | The same tool you use for parmesan. |
| Small kitchen, drawer storage | Paddle or fold-flat grater | Flat and easy to store, but nothing catches the shreds. |
Coarse cheddar, fine parmesan and slices: three jobs for one box grater.
What touches your food: steel, plastic and coatings
On a cheese grater, the parts that matter are the cutting surface and anything the cheese rests against or falls into.
- Stainless steel. Nearly every grater uses it, and the grade mostly decides how well it resists rust. The Microplane is 18/8, and the Cuisipro listing says 304, the standard 18/8 grade. Cambom names 430, an 18/0 steel with little or no nickel. It resists rust less well than 18/8, even though the seller says it won't rust, so dry it well. Our guide to stainless steel grades explains the numbers.
- Etched or stamped teeth. Both are steel. The difference is sharpness, not safety: etched teeth are finer and cut with less pressure, stamped holes are cheaper to make.
- Plastic. Rotary graters and storage containers are where plastic meets your food. Cambom says its plastic is food grade and BPA-free, and the KitchenAid listing calls its container microwave safe; we would still warm food in glass. Cheese goes in cold, so nothing is heated while you grate. Our guide to plastic grades covers the codes.
- Coatings. Some cheap graters come in bright colors, with paint or a nonstick layer on the metal. If a listing shows a colored grating surface and does not say what the coating is, skip it.
- Rubber and silicone feet. These touch the counter more than the food, but the Spring Chef's base also catches shreds, so wash it with the grater.
Etched teeth on the zester, punched holes on the box grater.
For the least plastic near your food, grate a stainless box grater such as the Spring Chef XL straight into a glass or steel bowl, with the rubber base off.
Cleaning a grater and keeping it sharp
Cheese is easiest to remove before it dries, so rinse the grater as soon as you finish. Then scrub with a small brush, working along the holes. Use a brush; a sponge snags on the teeth and shreds.
All six can go in the dishwasher, according to their makers, listings or (for the Zyliss) a restaurant supplier. Microplane and Cuisipro still prefer hand washing, because the dishwasher dulls fine teeth over time. Dry the grater with a towel straight after the cycle if your dishwasher leaves stainless spotted. Our list of things you should never put in the dishwasher covers the rest of the drawer.
Rinse it before the cheese dries, then use a brush instead of a sponge.
The bottom line
For speed and easy hands, get the Cambom rotary grater and dry the drums after washing. For less plastic, get a stainless box grater, and add a rasp for parmesan and zest.
See the Cambom rotary grater on Amazon
Questions people ask
What is the best cheese grater?
For speed, the Cambom rotary grater, a top seller in Amazon's cheese grater category. For steel blades and less plastic, a stainless box grater such as the Spring Chef XL. For parmesan, a rasp like the Microplane Premium Classic.
What do professional chefs use to grate cheese?
Microplane says its rasps are used by professional chefs, and the Zyliss Classic rotary grater is sold as NSF certified for restaurant use. For hard cheese over a finished plate, a rasp or a small rotary grater is the usual choice.
What are the best cheese grater brands?
Among the reviews we read, Microplane and Cuisipro come up most for etched blades, OXO and KitchenAid for box graters, and Cambom and Zyliss for rotary graters. Pick the type first, then the brand.
What is the difference between a zester and a grater?
A zester, or rasp, has tiny etched teeth on a narrow blade and makes very fine shreds: citrus zest, parmesan, nutmeg. A grater has bigger holes for shredding cheese and vegetables. Most box graters have a fine side that can zest, but a rasp does it more cleanly.
Are electric cheese graters worth it?
Only if you shred large amounts often or turning a crank is hard for you. We did not review any. A hand-crank rotary grater needs no power, and a food processor's shredding disc handles bigger batches.
Can a cheese grater go in the dishwasher?
All six on this page can, according to their makers, listings or (for the Zyliss) a restaurant supplier. Microplane and Cuisipro still recommend hand washing, because the dishwasher can dull fine teeth over time.
What is the best grater for mozzarella and other soft cheese?
Use the largest holes on a box grater, and put the cheese in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes first so it firms up. Fine drums and small holes squash soft cheese into a paste.
Why does my cheese grater rust?
Usually because it stays wet, either sitting in the sink or in a dishwasher that does not dry well. Nickel-free 18/0 steels such as 430 rust more easily than 18/8. Dry the grater right after washing. If rust has pitted the teeth, replace it.
When should you replace a cheese grater?
When it tears cheese instead of cutting it, needs real pressure to work, or the face is bent or rusty.
Is there a cheese grater with a container?
Yes. The KitchenAid Gourmet box grater sits on a 3-cup container with measuring marks and a lid. The Spring Chef XL's rubber base also keeps shreds inside the box while you grate. For a small handheld grater with no container, the Zyliss folds flat and fits a drawer.
What we left out and why
- The OXO Good Grips Etched Box Grater with Removable Zester, Food Network's best-value pick. We kept the Cuisipro as our etched box grater because Wirecutter has years of use on record with it.
- Stand mixer shredder attachments. They only make sense if you already own the mixer.
- Mandolines and vegetable choppers. They are different tools. For dicing and shredding vegetables, see our vegetable chopper guide.
- Unbranded graters whose listings name no steel grade or coating.
How we put this together
On November 2, 2026 we pulled the top-selling cheese graters from Amazon's US product data and checked each one's materials, care rules, seller, stock and category. We read the grater reviews from Wirecutter and Food Network, plus the brand text on each Amazon listing and retailer pages from Abt, Wasserstrom and Birch Lane. The Cambom is our quick pick because it is a top seller among cheese graters on Amazon and Food Network's rotary pick. The box graters are here for readers who want steel only. We did not test any grater ourselves, and no brand saw this page before it went up.
More for the cheese course: cheese and charcuterie boards, non-toxic cutting boards and non-toxic cooking utensils.
Sources (opened November 2, 2026). Product facts come from each Amazon listing on the same date.
