Skip the pre-shredded cheese and do it yourself at home for, ahem, grater results
You need a good cheese slicer to create beautiful cheese boards and a shredder to produce mounds of cheese for gratins, mac and cheese, and more.
By Debbie Wolfe
Grating your own cheese may seem like an unnecessary task. I mean, that’s why you can get it pre-shredded, right? Pre-shredded cheese might seem convenient, but it comes with a catch: Most are coated with anti-caking additives to prevent clumping. While these don’t alter the taste and are safe to consume, they can affect texture and melting quality, making freshly grated cheese the gold standard for cooking. Plus, buying whole blocks of cheese may save you a little money.
The biggest benefit is you’re getting 100 percent cheese. Pre-shredded cheese includes additives like potato starch, corn starch, and calcium sulfate, which are added “to prevent caking.” Those anti-caking agents also hinder proper melting, which can compromise your results in dishes where a smooth, creamy texture is essential.
The good news? With a cheese grater and slicer, you can easily shred or slice blocks of cheese on demand, ensuring the perfect texture for your dish every time. I evaluated several different graters and slicers to break down the pros and cons of each tool, helping you find the perfect tool for your needs.
Zyliss Restaurant Cheese Grater
The Zyliss Restaurant Cheese Grater is a sleek, handheld tool that is rumored to be the same model used by servers at Olive Garden. The brand says it can be used with hard cheeses, nuts, and chocolate and boasts a sturdy build and a comfortable grip.
The first thing to note is that the rotary handle accommodates right- and left-handed users. This feature is especially important to me because one of my sons is left-handed and loves to cook and help me prep food. It’s easy to unscrew, switch the direction of the grating barrel, and attach the handle to the desired side. The grater itself is lightweight and easy to handle. It easily grated harder block cheeses, like Parmesan, Asiago, and cheddar. It did struggle to grate softer cheeses, but I find this true for all types of graters.
The tool grated 4 ounces of Parmesan cheese in less than a minute. One thing to note is that it offers only one grating level, which is fine. While it works with slightly softer block cheeses, some may not need or prefer the ultra-fine grate, which can also clog the grater. It comes apart easily, making it a breeze to clean. I washed all parts of the grater in the dishwasher, and it came out clean without any visible damage. I suggest you rinse it to dislodge any cheese before placing it in the dishwasher to prevent cheese residue on your other dishes.
The only con I had with the grater is that it’s bulky enough to be a pain to store in a kitchen drawer—it fits in open drawers at least 4 inches deep. Nonetheless, the Zyliss Restaurant Cheese Grater was my top overall pick, and it’s easy to see why it’s popular in home kitchens and restaurants.
Zulay Kitchen Rotary Cheese Grater
The Zulay Kitchen Rotary Cheese Grater is a versatile and user-friendly tool with five interchangeable blades that are perfect for grating cheese—though the brand says it can also be used on nuts and some veggies. Left-handed users can easily turn the gadget for seamless operation.
This was the only grater with extra surfaces and a handy container to store them. It is a bulky device overall—it stands at 11.25 inches tall, so it won’t fit into most drawers—and is meant to fit in a cabinet or sit on the counter. I liked that the extra grating and slicing blades fit nicely into a dedicated storage container and are very easy to swap out, and the process is intuitive. It produces fantastic results using the fine grater with hard cheeses, like Parmesan, and softer cheeses, like Monterey Jack and Colby, using the coarse grater. Grating 4 ounces of cheese took less than a minute using both grating surfaces.
Cleaning is a breeze—the grater housing slips out easily and is dishwasher-safe. My only gripe is the suction base, which requires a perfectly smooth surface to stay put. You can remove the grating section and use it without the stand, but it’s awkward to hold while pressing down on the plunger with one hand and cranking with the other. I recommend placing the grater on a smooth surface to ensure a secure suction. Despite this minor inconvenience, the grater delivers excellent functionality and convenience.
KitchenAid Gourmet 4-Sided Stainless Steel Box Grater
The KitchenAid Gourmet 4-Sided Stainless Steel Box Grater features four sides for grating, shredding, slicing, and zesting, along with a convenient 3-cup container that fits neatly inside to catch your grated or sliced ingredients, making prep and storage a breeze. While the container doesn’t catch every piece during shredding, it contains most of the mess well. I like box graters because they are versatile. With four grating and slicing planes, they meet a multitude of needs and work well with both hard and semi-hard cheeses.
Its robust stainless steel construction feels solid in hand, and its ergonomic handle adds comfort. However, I found it slightly awkward to use with the removable container attached, as the grater slid more. While the grater itself includes an anti-slip gasket at the base, it’s surprising that this feature wasn’t added to the bottom of the storage container. Despite these minor drawbacks, this reliable and versatile box grater can easily handle various grating and slicing tasks for nearly every type of cheese.
Spring Chef Professional Cheese Grater
The Spring Chef Professional Cheese Grater is a budget-friendly option that simply gets the job done. This box grater features four sides for grating, shredding, slicing, and zesting, making it versatile enough for most kitchen tasks. While it doesn’t have the premium feel of the KitchenAid Gourmet 4-Sided Stainless Steel Box Grater, it’s a practical option for those looking for functionality on a budget.
I found the grater sturdy enough for everyday use, though its build quality feels lighter and less robust compared with the KitchenAid above. The handle is functional but lacks the comfort of more ergonomic designs. That said, it grated cheese and vegetables effectively.
Presto Salad Shooter Electric Slicer/Shredder
The Presto Salad Shooter makes quick work of grating and slicing tasks. It shredded 4 ounces of cheese in seconds. I was impressed by how easy it was to control—no stray cheese flew across the counter, which was a pleasant surprise given its name.
At 2.5 pounds, it’s solid enough to stay stable during use, but I found it awkward to hold over a bowl or dish while pressing down on the plunger. Instead, it worked best when placed on a flat surface, allowing for smoother operation. It also comes with two surfaces: a coarse grater and a slicer. So don’t expect to get finely grated Parmesan with this machine—it’s best for blocks of cheddar or other semi-hard cheeses. While it’s a bit pricey, its versatility to grate and slice various ingredients with little effort makes it a worthwhile investment—especially if you’re a salad enthusiast or a cheese lover.
Fohere Electric Cheese Grater
The Fohere Electric Cheese Grater is a hefty machine built for larger families or anyone who loves making fresh salads and grating plenty of cheese. With four different grating surfaces, it’s versatile enough to handle various grating and slicing tasks and accommodates most cheeses. I found the operation intuitive and easy, and the grating attachment removed effortlessly for cleaning—and it’s dishwasher-safe. How much can you grate at once? Well, that depends. The manufacturer doesn’t specify the maximum grating capacity, but based on my measurements, it can handle items up to 4×2.25×2.25 inches (LxWxH). I subtracted 1/4 inch from the shaft’s internal dimensions to allow room for the plunger to function properly.
However, there are a couple of drawbacks. I was disappointed that there wasn’t a storage container for the extra grating surfaces, leaving them loose and harder to organize. Additionally, this machine takes up a fair amount of counter and cabinet space, so it’s not the most storage-friendly option.
Oxo Wire Cheese Slicer
I tried the Oxo slicer on Parmesan, block cheddar, and soft mozzarella, and it performed beautifully, gliding through each cheese without a hitch. It’s a simple yet effective slicer, and including an extra wire is a bonus. Adjusting the wire tension is quick and easy, ensuring the slicer is always ready.
Maintaining consistent slice thickness can be tricky with this type of slicer, especially if you’re aiming for uniform pieces. It’s great for casual slicing but not the best choice if you need precision.
Boska Stainless Steel Cheese Slicer
The Boska Stainless Steel Cheese Slicer is a sleek and well-made tool that’s as functional as it is attractive. Its sturdy design and sharp blade make controlling uniform cheese slices surprisingly easy, though the slices tend to be thinner. I found it ideal for semi-hard cheeses, and it worked wonderfully for crafting picture-perfect slices for a cheese board. It did not perform well on soft cheeses.
The only limitation is its slicing width—at 2.25 inches, it’s not suited for larger blocks of cheese. However, its stylish look and reliable performance make it perfect for entertaining or adding a touch of elegance to your kitchen tools. This slicer is a great addition if you love hosting and creating beautiful cheese boards.
Another Grater We Evaluated
Williams Sonoma Prep Tools Rotary Grater
Although the grater feels hefty and features an ergonomic design, I found it harder to maintain pressure on the top while turning the handle. By comparison, the Zyliss Restaurant Cheese Grater required less effort. Additionally, the handle isn’t interchangeable between the right and left sides, which is a deal-breaker in my home.
That said, the grater produced excellent results, delivering perfectly grated cheese. Like the Zyliss, it offers only fine grating and is best with harder cheeses. Its high-end-looking, modern style is exactly what you’d expect from Williams Sonoma. However, I felt that it didn’t feel as high-end as you expect from the brand. The rotary drum is stainless steel, but the housing is all plastic. At more than double the price of the Zyliss Restaurant Cheese Grater (at time of purchase), I don’t think it’s worth the extra cost when the Zyliss performs just as well and is made from similar materials.
Expert Tips for Grating and Slicing Cheese
Grating and slicing cheese may seem simple, but a few expert tips can make the process smoother, safer, and more enjoyable. Consumer Reports’ deputy home editor and trained chef Paul Hope shares his insights to help you get the best results from your cheese graters and slicers.
Choose the right cheese for the job: The texture of your cheese plays a major role in how easy it is to grate or slice. “It’s all about moisture content,” says Hope. “There’s a definite sweet spot with cheeses like mild cheddar or Monterey Jack—they’re soft enough to shred and slice easily without crumbling but firm enough to hold their shape.” Softer cheeses, like fresh mozzarella or feta, can ball up or crumble when shredded, while hard cheeses, like Parmesan or aged Gouda, can be brittle and prone to crumbling during cutting.
Consider the temperature of your cheese: Cheese behaves differently depending on its temperature. Hard cheeses like Parmesan can soften slightly as they warm up, making them easier to slice. But for softer cheeses like mild cheddar, it’s often better to shred them straight out of the fridge to prevent them from becoming sticky or overly soft. As Hope says, “We don’t recommend keeping cheese out of refrigeration for more than 2 hours—like all perishable foods, it should be kept safely refrigerated at or below 40 degrees as much as possible.”
Prevent cheese from sticking: Cheese sticking to the grater or slicer can be frustrating, but there’s a simple hack for rotary graters. “When I use a rotary grater for Parmesan, I like to use a piece of the rind on top of the cheese,” says Hope. This technique helps push the cheese into the grater teeth while minimizing waste.
Safety first: When using sharp tools, it’s important to prioritize safety over efficiency. “I never get too close to the end of the block when I’m grating—it’s just not worth the risk of slicing open your hand to save a few cents of cheese,” Hope says. Instead, grate until you’re no longer comfortable holding the block, then slice what’s left for snacking.
For entertaining, Hope also recommends preparing cheese boards in advance to avoid guests struggling with sharp tools. “I know people love cutesy cheese tools, but I think a guest juggling a drink and trying to slice cheese with a single free hand is more likely to get cut than you are, prepping ahead in your own kitchen.”
How We Evaluated Cheese Graters and Slicers
For performance, I assessed how consistently each tool grated or sliced cheese, looking for uniformity in size and texture. I also evaluated versatility by checking the variety of grating size options available—could it handle everything from fine shreds to thicker slices? Additionally, I timed how quickly each grater could process 4 ounces of cheese to measure efficiency.
For ease of use, I considered how user-friendly each tool was. Was it easy to clean? Did it slide around on the counter or stay stable during use? I noted whether the grater required holding it at an awkward angle or whether it offered a comfortable grip. I also evaluated the tools based on whether they offered comfortable operation for left-handed users. For models with setup requirements, I tested how intuitive the process was. I also factored in storage space—was the tool compact or did it take up half the cabinet? Lastly, I observed whether the grated cheese collected neatly or scattered messily across the counter.
These parameters helped me evaluate each cheese grater and slicer’s overall functionality, practicality, and value.
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