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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe best cheese grater for most kitchens is the Microplane Specialty Series 4-Sided Box Grater. Food & Wine named it the best overall after testing 23 graters, finding it effective on hard and soft cheeses, citrus zest, garlic, ginger, chocolate, and slicing tasks. It is not the cheapest option, but its combination of grating surfaces makes it the most useful single grater for a typical household.
There is no single best design for every job, however. A rasp-style grater is better for Parmesan and citrus zest, a compact handheld model makes sense in a small kitchen, and a budget box grater can be the right choice if coarse shredding is your main task. The recommendations below are attributed to published testing by Food & Wine, Serious Eats, Bon Appétit, and Reviewed; ResearchCore did not personally test these products.
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Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Best for | Design | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microplane Specialty Series 4-Sided Box Grater | Best overall | Four-sided box grater | Costs more than basic box graters |
| Cuisipro Surface Glide 4-Sided Box Grater | Versatility and efficient grating | Four-sided box grater with multiple surfaces | Produces finer shreds and is less suitable for mozzarella |
| Microplane Classic Zester | Parmesan and citrus zest | Rasp-style handheld grater | Not suitable for soft cheese or bulk shredding |
| Kuhn Rikon Essential Grater Medium | Compact coarse grating | Flat handheld grater | Offers only one grating texture |
| Cuisinart CTG-00-BG Box Grater | Best value | Traditional four-sided box grater | Fine side is less effective for Parmesan and zest |
| Zyliss SmoothGlide Dual Grater | Two textures in a handheld design | Dual-sided handheld grater | Less effective for zesting than a dedicated rasp |
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1. Microplane Specialty Series 4-Sided Box Grater: Best overall
Food & Wine named the Microplane Specialty Series 4-Sided Box Grater its overall favorite after comparing 23 graters across box, rasp-style, and rotary categories. The publication reported uniform shreds on both hard and soft cheeses, including mozzarella, along with strong results for citrus zest, garlic, ginger, chocolate, and slicing.
#1 Best Overall
- ALL PURPOSE BOX GRATER: Includes three of the most commonly used grating blade surfaces (ultra-coarse, fine, ribbon), plus one slicing blade. With these original, ultra-sharp, photo-etched made in USA blades your grating experience won't be dull. The handle is easy to grip, and included is a cover to keep hands safe when the unit is stored.
- EASY TO CLEAN: The fine blade panel detaches. This feature allows you to clean all the nooks and crannies where cheese and vegetable particles can build up. Plus this item can go in the dishwasher with no fear of rusting since the blades are stainless steel.
- CHEESE GRATER: Use the ultra-coarse blade as a cheddar cheese grater. It can grate any soft cheese, and does it fast and efficiently. This versatile blade is also perfect for grating potatoes for hash browns, or cabbage for coleslaw.
- CITRUS ZESTER: the fine blade included is perfect for zesting citrus, and grating parmesan or other hard cheese. This zester grater blade is useful in countless ways, use to mince garlic, ginger, or grind spices like nutmeg.
- CHOCOLATE AND VEGETABLE GRATER: The ribbon blade is a bi-directional blade, which makes is used to curl chocolate, or grate zucchini for zucchini bread. The size of the blade, combined with two-way cutting makes piles of food fast.
Its four working surfaces are ultra-coarse, fine, ribbon, and slicer. The slicing blade is removable, which is useful if you want to reduce exposed sharp edges during storage or cleaning. The grater also has rubber feet, a rounded handle, a non-slip grip, a protective cover, and dishwasher-safe construction. The manufacturer identifies model/SKU 34006-1PK and describes the blades as U.S.-made stainless steel.
The broad range of surfaces is what makes this the strongest one-tool recommendation. The ultra-coarse side handles potatoes, vegetables, and larger cheese shreds; the fine surface is more appropriate for Parmesan and zest; and the slicing side adds functionality that handheld graters do not provide.
Keep in mind: It costs more than a basic stamped box grater, and all four surfaces are sharp. Fine etched surfaces are generally better for hard cheese and zest than for processing large quantities of soft cheese, even though Food & Wine found this model unusually capable with mozzarella.
2. Cuisipro Surface Glide 4-Sided Box Grater: Best for versatility and efficient grating
Serious Eats selected the Cuisipro Surface Glide 4-Sided Box Grater as its top box-grater pick after testing 11 models with cheese, potatoes, tomatoes, and citrus. The review praised its sharp etched teeth, efficient cutting action, four-sided format, measurement markings, and non-slip removable base.
Cuisipro’s current model is 746850. The manufacturer describes Surface Glide Technology, a soft-touch handle, a non-slip base, and five grating surfaces identified as fine, coarse, ultra-coarse, shaver, and ginger. Because product descriptions differ in how they count the working surfaces, it is most accurate to call this a four-sided box grater with multiple grating surfaces rather than rely on a potentially confusing surface count.
This is a particularly capable choice for cooks who grate cheese and vegetables regularly and want a stable tool that moves quickly. It also handles ginger and zest well. Serious Eats found, however, that it produced finer shreds and was not ideal for mozzarella. If large, fluffy shreds of soft cheese are your priority, the Microplane Specialty Series or Zyliss may be a better fit.
Rank #2
- Multi Purpose Grater with Ginger Shredder Base: Having four different grating surfaces, this 4 sided cheese grater helps you grate the fruit and vegetables into the size as you wish, from fine to coarse; With a detachable base, you can not only use it as a ginger shredder but also use it integrating with the grater, acting like a built-in container
- Ergonomic Design with Large Capacity: By using the patended surface glide techonology, the Cuisipro box grater brings you a smooth grating enjoyment; Compared to the traditional handheld ones, this multifunctional box grater with a non slip handle is able to grate more food at a time, more effort saving and time saving
- Dishwasher Safe 304 Stainless Steel Design: Adopting the stainless steel makes the food shredder more durable; Compared to the traditional plastic vegetable grater, this stainless steel box grater is allowed to cleaned by dishwasher, saving more time and effort
- Be Your Own Master Chef: With this sophisticated and versatile grater, you no longer need to worry about your pre-cook skill, which affects the beauty and taste of the food; Even without knife, you can still slice the fruit and vegetables by using this Cuisipro slicer
Cuisipro Surface Glide 4-Sided Box Grater
3. Microplane Classic Zester: Best for Parmesan and citrus zest
For fine work, the Microplane Classic Zester is a better tool than any general-purpose box grater. Bon Appétit selected it as its best fine grater after testing multiple grater styles, reporting exceptionally light Parmesan, effective citrus zest, and easy handling with ginger, garlic, and chocolate.
Recommended Free Tools
Microplane describes the tool as having a photo-etched stainless-steel blade with 400 micro-teeth, a soft-touch handle, a protective cover, and dishwasher-safe construction. The small, sharp teeth remove thin shavings rather than producing the thick strands needed for pizza cheese or a large batch of shredded potatoes.
Food & Wine also found the Classic Series Zester highly effective for hard cheese, citrus, spices, and other fine tasks. Its limitation is important: the small holes can clog with soft mozzarella, and the tool is not designed for coarse shredding. Use it for Parmesan snow over pasta, lemon or lime zest, fresh ginger, garlic, nutmeg, or chocolate—not as a replacement for a box grater.
4. Kuhn Rikon Essential Grater Medium: Best compact handheld coarse grater
The Kuhn Rikon Essential Grater Medium is the practical choice for people who do not want to store a full box grater. Bon Appétit selected it as its best coarse grater, describing a useful middle ground: the teeth were fine enough for fluffy cheese and vegetables but coarse enough to limit excessive clogging.
In testing, it performed well with cheddar, carrots, and chocolate. Bon Appétit also highlighted its light weight, silicone base, flat storage profile, and dishwasher-safe construction. Kuhn Rikon’s current U.S. product information describes stainless-steel construction, a large grating surface, sharp blades, and a silicone anti-slip base, with intended uses including cheese, carrots, zucchini, and apples.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteThe compromise is straightforward: this is a single-texture grater. It cannot match a box grater’s range of fine, coarse, ribbon, and slicing surfaces, and it is not the dedicated fine-zesting tool that the Microplane Classic is. Choose it when drawer space and simple everyday coarse grating matter more than maximum versatility.
Kuhn Rikon Essential Grater Medium
5. Cuisinart CTG-00-BG Box Grater: Best value-oriented traditional box grater
The Cuisinart CTG-00-BG Box Grater is the sensible budget choice for shoppers who want a conventional multi-sided grater without paying for premium etched construction. Reviewed selected it as its best-value model after testing eight graters with mozzarella, Parmesan, lemon zest, carrots, and potatoes.
Reviewed found it sturdy, fast, comfortable to hold, and efficient on coarse grating. Its non-slip feet help keep the box stable while you work. Cuisinart lists four sides for fine shredding, coarse shredding, fine grating, and slicing, along with a soft-grip handle, stainless-steel construction, dishwasher safety, and a lifetime warranty.
The fine side is the main weakness. Reviewed found that it produced powdery Parmesan and trapped more zest than the etched competition. That does not make the grater a poor value; it simply means the Cuisinart is best for buyers who expect to use the coarse side most often and want occasional access to other textures.
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6. Zyliss SmoothGlide Dual Grater: Best handheld two-texture option
The Zyliss SmoothGlide Dual Grater is a useful middle ground between a single-purpose rasp and a full box grater. Food & Wine found that its large blades produced thick shreds while its smaller blades produced finer pieces. It handled both Parmesan and mozzarella without clogging during testing.
Zyliss describes a dual-sided coarse-and-fine design, an ergonomic handle, a stainless-steel grating surface, a protective cover, dishwasher-safe construction, and a five-year guarantee. Its compact form is easier to store than a box grater and gives you two useful textures without adding multiple tools.
The limitation is range. It does not provide the slicing and additional texture options of a four-sided model, and Food & Wine found it less efficient for zesting than a dedicated rasp-style grater. Select it if you mainly need coarse and fine cheese grating in a handheld format; choose the Microplane Classic Zester if citrus and fine Parmesan are central to your cooking.
Rank #4
- Generous coarse, medium and fine stainless steel grating surfaces and slicing surface
- Slim construction conveniently fits into drawers
- Detachable container for catching, measuring, dispensing and storing freshly grated ingredients
- Grate on plate, cutting board or directly into container
- Soft, comfortable, non-slip handle
Zyliss SmoothGlide Dual Grater
How the testing was compared
These recommendations should not be read as one unified laboratory ranking. The publications used different test groups, dates, and evaluation criteria:
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- Food & Wine tested 23 graters across box, rasp-style, and rotary categories, examining cheese, zesting, and related tasks.
- Bon Appétit tested box, handheld, and rasp-style tools with hard and soft cheeses, vegetables, garlic, chocolate, and ginger. It considered sharpness, comfort, cleanup, storage, and dishwasher safety.
- Serious Eats tested 11 box graters with cheese, potatoes, tomatoes, and citrus, emphasizing efficiency and containment.
- Reviewed tested eight models with mozzarella, Parmesan, lemon zest, carrots, and potatoes while considering usability, yield, stability, waste, and safety.
Because the tests were not identical, “best for” categories are more meaningful than pretend precision based on scores that were never measured under the same conditions. Across the reviews, a consistent pattern emerged: etched teeth tend to excel at fine grating and zesting, while coarse or stamped surfaces can be more effective for sturdy, high-volume shredding.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which type of cheese grater should you buy?
Choose a box grater if you want one all-purpose tool
A box grater is the most versatile format. It can usually produce coarse and fine shreds, finer grated particles, and sometimes slices. It is the right default for a household that prepares cheddar, potatoes, carrots, Parmesan, and occasional zest with one tool.
Choose a rasp-style grater for fine ingredients
A rasp is best for citrus zest, hard cheese, ginger, garlic, nutmeg, spices, and chocolate. Its small teeth create light, fine shavings, but they can clog with soft cheese and are inefficient for bulk shredding.
Choose a flat handheld grater for small kitchens
Flat graters store easily in a drawer and are lighter to use and clean. The trade-off is that most provide only one or two textures. They work well when your routine is predictable—such as coarse cheese and vegetables—but they are less useful for varied preparation.
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Consider a rotary grater only for an enclosed, crank-operated design
Rotary graters appeal to cooks who prefer a hand crank and an enclosed feeding chamber. They generally require two-handed operation and are less universally useful than a box grater. They can be worth considering if containment and the crank mechanism are more important to you than having several open grating surfaces.
Best Value
- Each side of the Grater features a different surface: medium grater, coarse grater, slicer and removable zester
- Sharp, etched stainless steel surfaces for fast, easy grating and slicing
- Angled slicer for a smooth cut
- Removable zester can be used directly on grater, or over bowls or cutting boards
- Convenient container catches and measures freshly-grated food, and stores inside grater
Soft mozzarella is an important test
Soft cheese separates the recommendations more clearly than hard Parmesan does. Food & Wine favored the Microplane Specialty Series and Zyliss for soft-cheese performance. By contrast, fine rasp-style tools such as the Microplane Classic are specifically poor choices for mozzarella because their small openings can clog and their teeth are intended for fine shavings.
If you regularly grate mozzarella for pizza, lasagna, or baked pasta, prioritize a coarse surface and a grater that moves cheese cleanly without forcing it through tiny openings. If your main goal is Parmesan or zest, the opposite is true: a sharp fine rasp will usually produce a lighter, more even result.
Safety and cleaning
- Use a stable base. Non-slip feet or a silicone base reduce movement while you grate.
- Keep your fingers above the working surface. Stop grating when the remaining piece becomes too small to hold securely; use a cut-resistant glove or a food holder if appropriate.
- Use protective covers. A cover helps protect the teeth in a drawer and reduces the chance of contacting the blade while storing the tool.
- Rinse promptly. Cheese, ginger, and zest are easier to remove before they dry in the teeth.
- Follow the manufacturer’s care instructions. Several picks are dishwasher-safe, but dishwasher use does not guarantee that sharpness will be preserved indefinitely. Removable bases or panels should be cleaned and reassembled carefully.
- Do not assume every surface behaves the same way. Fine etched areas can be excellent for zest but frustrating with soft cheese; coarse stamped areas may be faster for large quantities but less refined for Parmesan.
How to choose among the six
- Need one tool for almost everything? Choose the Microplane Specialty Series 4-Sided Box Grater.
- Want fast, versatile box-grater performance? Choose the Cuisipro Surface Glide.
- Mostly grate Parmesan, zest, garlic, or ginger? Choose the Microplane Classic Zester.
- Have very little storage space? Choose the Kuhn Rikon Essential Grater Medium.
- Want a traditional box grater at a value-oriented price? Choose the Cuisinart CTG-00-BG, especially if coarse shredding is your main task.
- Need coarse and fine cheese grating but not slicing? Choose the Zyliss SmoothGlide Dual Grater.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best cheese grater overall?
The Microplane Specialty Series 4-Sided Box Grater is the best overall pick because it combines ultra-coarse, fine, ribbon, and slicing surfaces with strong reported performance on hard and soft cheese, zest, garlic, ginger, and chocolate.
Which grater is best for Parmesan and lemon zest?
The Microplane Classic Zester is the strongest choice for Parmesan and citrus zest. Its fine rasp-style teeth create light shavings, but it is not appropriate for mozzarella or large batches of coarse shreds.
What is the best grater for mozzarella?
Among these recommendations, Food & Wine reported especially good soft-cheese performance from the Microplane Specialty Series 4-Sided Box Grater and the Zyliss SmoothGlide Dual Grater. Use a coarse surface rather than a fine rasp.
Are these graters dishwasher-safe?
Several of the recommended models are described by their manufacturers or testing publications as dishwasher-safe. Check the instructions for your exact model, and do not assume dishwasher cleaning will preserve blade sharpness indefinitely.
Is a box grater better than a handheld grater?
A box grater is generally better when you need several textures, slicing, stability, and higher capacity. A handheld grater is easier to store and can be preferable when you mainly need one or two textures.
The Bottom Line
For the broadest range of kitchen tasks, buy the Microplane Specialty Series 4-Sided Box Grater. Choose the Microplane Classic Zester instead if fine Parmesan and citrus zest are your priorities, the Kuhn Rikon Essential Grater Medium if storage space is tight, or the Cuisinart CTG-00-BG if you want a value-oriented box grater for mostly coarse shredding.
Quick Recap
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