Shred, Zest or Crank: The Best Cheese Grater for Parmesan, Cheddar and Citrus

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The best cheese grater depends on what lands on your plate. A four-sided box grater handles a block of cheddar for tacos and a pile of shredded potatoes for hash browns. A long rasp zester turns Parmesan into fluff and takes the zest off a lemon without the bitter pith. A hand-crank rotary grater keeps your knuckles away from the teeth, and the bigger drum models slice and shred vegetables too.

We compared six graters across those three types using their Amazon listings: two budget box graters (one with a catch container), a premium Cuisipro box grater, the top-selling Deiss rasp, OXO’s tabletop rotary and a five-blade SUSTEAS drum. Every pick was in stock from Amazon.com or the brand’s own store when we checked, and all six sit in our lowest price tier. We quote sides, blades and dishwasher notes exactly as each listing gives them, and we say plainly when a listing leaves something out.

Our Top Cheese Grater Picks at a Glance

Price key: $ under $50 · $$ $50–$100 · $$$ $100–$175 · $$$$ $175+. Prices change often; check Amazon for today’s price.

1. Urbanstrive Box Grater With Container: Best Overall

Urbanstrive’s box grater is a four-sided stainless steel grater that clips onto a detachable container. The listing says the body is made of 304 stainless steel, which makes up 95% of the materials, with black TPE on the base for the remaining 5%. Its four faces cover coarse, medium and fine grating plus a slicing surface.

In daily use, you set the grater on its container, hold the handle and run the cheese or vegetable down whichever face you need. The container catches the shreds, and the listing says you can use it to measure and store freshly grated food, so a cup of cheddar for a casserole goes straight from grater to fridge without a separate bowl. Without the container, the non-slip TPE base is meant to keep the grater steady on a board or plate.

Urbanstrive pitches it for cheese and for hard or soft vegetables, naming cucumbers, cabbage, carrots, onions, potatoes and zucchini, and for chocolate. The handle is described as comfortable and non-slip for a secure grip and control. The listing calls the grater dishwasher-safe for quick cleanup. It is listed at 4.9 x 2.95 x 12.2 inches and 0.73 pounds.

It suits households that grate a block of cheese for taco night, shred zucchini for bread or slice cucumbers for salads, and that want fewer stray shreds on the counter. The listing does not mention a hand guard, so keep fingers well back from the teeth as the block gets small, or wear a cut-resistant glove.

Why we like it

• Container catches and stores gratings
• Four surfaces including a slicer
• Strongest grater sales rank on the page

Watch out for

No warranty term or hand guard is listed, and the container adds height to an already tall grater.

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2. Amazon Basics 4-Sided Box Grater: Best Budget Box Grater

Amazon Basics makes this rectangular box grater from stainless steel, with a perforated grating surface on each of its four sides and a stainless steel handle across the top. The title describes it as a 9-inch handheld grater for cheese, vegetables and zest, and it comes in black.

Day to day, it works like any box grater: stand it on a board or plate, hold the handle and push food down the side that gives you the cut you want. The listing says the sharp perforations on each side let it work as a cheese shredder, lemon zester or vegetable grater. A non-slip base is meant to keep it from skating across the counter while you push.

The handle is described as ergonomic and secure for control. Cleanup is simple, because the listing calls the grater dishwasher-safe, so it can go in the rack after a night of shredding mozzarella. The specs list it at 4.29 x 3.27 x 9.88 inches and 0.48 pounds, so it tucks into a drawer or utensil crock without fuss.

It suits students, first-time renters, vacation homes and anyone replacing a rusty old grater who doesn’t need extras. There is no container to catch the shreds and no hand guard in the listing, so set it on a plate or board and stop before your knuckles get close to the teeth.

Why we like it

• Lowest-fuss box grater design
• Dishwasher safe
• Compact 9-inch size

Watch out for

The listing doesn’t spell out what each of the four sides does, and there is no container or warranty term.

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3. Deiss PRO Zester and Grater: Best Rasp Zester

Deiss sells its PRO zester as a long, flat rasp grater with a stainless steel blade and a non-slip handle. The design is the classic microplane style, with fine, sharp teeth along a narrow blade, and Deiss says its curved sides make it extremely rigid so you can push harder when you need to.

You hold it at an angle over a plate or pot and draw the food along the blade. Deiss says it shears the hardest cheese into grated fluff and that a pile of Parmesan grated this way melts almost instantly on hot pasta. For citrus, you zip it across the rind of a lemon, lime or orange to take off the zest without the bitter white pith, per the listing. It also handles garlic, ginger, nutmeg and chocolate curls for desserts.

Deiss claims the teeth won’t clog the way other graters do and that cleaning is a snap: pass it under running water. The listing says the blade won’t rust, and a bullet promises a lifetime warranty on the zester, though the specs’ warranty field is blank. It is listed at 15.2 x 2.13 x 1.42 inches and just 0.42 pounds.

It suits cooks who grate small amounts often, bakers who use a lot of zest, and anyone who wants a grater that slips into a drawer. It is not built for shredding a pound of cheddar or a pile of potatoes; a box or rotary grater handles bulk jobs better.

Why we like it

• Fine, fluffy Parmesan and zest
• Slim and light for a drawer
• Lifetime warranty in the listing

Watch out for

The listing doesn’t say whether it is dishwasher safe, and its fine teeth are not meant for coarse shredding.

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4. OXO Good Grips Rotary Cheese Grater: Best Rotary for the Table

OXO’s Good Grips Rotary Cheese Grater pairs a large stainless steel barrel with a hand crank, a body that holds a wedge of cheese, and a cap underneath that collects what you grate. It comes in white, and the listing focuses on hard cheese rather than vegetables.

You load a chunk of Parmesan into the hopper, turn the crank and let the barrel do the grating while your hand stays on the handle, away from the blades. The cheese falls into the cap. From there, OXO says you adjust a window to pour out the amount you want, so it works as both grater and shaker at the dinner table.

The grating surface is medium, which OXO describes as ideal for hard cheeses, chocolate and nuts. A silicone seal is meant to keep cheese fresh when you store the whole grater in the refrigerator, so the leftover wedge and the gratings stay together between meals. It is listed at 5.1 x 7.05 x 8.05 inches and 0.55 pounds.

It suits families who put grated cheese on pasta, salads and soups several nights a week, households with kids who want to help at the table, and anyone whose hands find a box grater awkward. Soft cheese like mozzarella and vegetables are better handled by a box grater or a larger drum model.

Why we like it

• Crank keeps fingers away from teeth
• Grate, pour and store in one tool
• Familiar OXO Good Grips brand

Watch out for

There is just one medium surface, and the listing doesn’t mention the dishwasher or a warranty term.

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5. SUSTEAS Rotary Cheese Grater, 5 Blades: Best Multi-Blade Rotary

SUSTEAS builds this rotary grater around an oversized drum, a wide output chute and a hand crank, with five swappable blades: fine grate, coarse shred, thick slice, thin slice and a wavy cut. A suction base holds it to the counter, and a storage case for the spare blades comes in the box.

Using it is a matter of locking the base on a smooth countertop, choosing a blade, loading food into the hopper and turning the handle. SUSTEAS says the big drum lets you load larger pieces without pre-cutting and shreds cheese, potatoes and zucchini up to 12 times faster than a box grater; that is the brand’s claim, not a measured result. Shreds fall from the chute into your bowl.

On safety, the listing says your fingers never contact the blades during operation because the drum is enclosed. Every part detaches without tools, and SUSTEAS calls it top-rack dishwasher safe on a normal or low-temperature cycle, advising you to skip high-heat dry to keep the blades sharp longer. It is listed at 11.22 x 7.87 x 5.69 inches and 2.62 pounds.

It suits families who make hash browns, coleslaw, gratins and big batches of shredded cheese, and cooks who want slices and wavy cuts without reaching for a mandoline. The size means it needs cabinet space, and the suction base works best on smooth stone or laminate counters.

Why we like it

• Five blades cover grating and slicing
• Enclosed drum design
• Dishwasher guidance spelled out

Watch out for

It is the biggest and heaviest grater here, and the speed claim is the brand’s own.

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6. Cuisipro 4-Sided Box Grater: Best Premium Box Grater

Cuisipro’s box grater is a four-sided stainless steel grater with a non-slip handle and a detachable base. The listing describes four grating surfaces that run from fine to coarse, and the base does double duty: on its own it is a ginger grater, and clipped under the grater it acts like a built-in container.

Cuisipro credits what it calls patented surface glide technology for a smooth grating feel, and says this box grater handles more food at a time than a flat handheld grater, saving effort and time. In practice, you grate cheese or vegetables into the base, lift the grater away and pour or measure from there.

The body is listed as 304 stainless steel, and the listing says it can go in the dishwasher. Cuisipro also pitches the slicing face for fruit and vegetables, so you can cut cucumber or potato slices without a knife. The specs list it at 4.5 x 3.75 x 10.5 inches and 0.53 pounds, and the warranty field reads 25-Year.

It suits cooks who use a box grater often and want one they can keep for years, plus anyone who grates fresh ginger for stir-fries and marinades. As with any box grater, the listing names no hand guard, so finish the last nub of cheese with care or switch to a rotary grater.

Why we like it

• 25-Year warranty field
• Ginger grater base
• Slicing face for produce

Watch out for

It has the weakest sales rank here, and the listing has no hand guard.

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How We Chose the Best Cheese Graters

We compared each grater’s Amazon listing, specs and sales rank, and quoted only what the listings say:

• Type: box, rasp zester or hand-crank rotary, so the guide covers bulk shredding, fine grating and finger-safe cranking.
• Sides and blades: how many grating or slicing surfaces each listing names.
• Containers and storage: catch containers, storage caps and blade cases.
• Safety features: non-slip bases, suction feet and enclosed drums, as listed. None of the box graters lists a hand guard.
• Cleanup: dishwasher notes exactly as given, or flagged as not stated.
• Availability: every pick was in stock and sold by Amazon.com or the brand’s own store when we checked, and we kept to one grater per brand.

Cheese Grater Buying Guide

Best Box Grater for Everyday Shredding

A four-sided box grater is still the most versatile tool for a block of cheddar or a pile of carrots. The Urbanstrive and Cuisipro both list coarse-to-fine surfaces plus a slicing face, and the Amazon Basics keeps things simple with four perforated sides. If you also want paper-thin vegetable slices, a dedicated mandoline slicer gives you adjustable thickness that a box grater’s single slicing face can’t match. Grate onto a stable cutting board or a plate, not a slick countertop.

Best Rotary Cheese Grater: Tabletop or Drum

Rotary graters move the blade instead of your hand. The OXO is a tabletop model with one medium barrel for hard cheese, chocolate and nuts, a pour window and a silicone seal for fridge storage. The SUSTEAS is a countertop drum with five blades, including slicing and wavy cuts, and a suction base. Pick the OXO for Parmesan at dinner and the SUSTEAS for big batches of shredded cheese and vegetables.

Best Microplane Zester Style for Parmesan and Citrus

A long rasp like the Deiss PRO gives you the fine, fluffy texture that melts into hot pasta, and Deiss says it takes zest off lemons and limes without the bitter pith. It also handles nutmeg, garlic and ginger. For pressing garlic in bulk, a garlic press is quicker than grating clove by clove.

Best Cheese Grater With Container

Containers keep shreds off the counter and let you measure as you go. The Urbanstrive has a detachable container for catching, measuring and storing, the Cuisipro’s base doubles as a container and a ginger grater, and the OXO’s cap collects cheese and seals for the fridge. The Amazon Basics and Deiss have no container, so set a bowl underneath.

What About the Best Electric Cheese Grater?

No electric grater made our shortlist of in-stock listings from qualifying sellers, so this guide has no electric pick. If you shred pounds of cheese at a time, the SUSTEAS drum is the closest manual option: its maker claims it shreds up to 12 times faster than a box grater. Otherwise, the shredding disc on a food processor does the same job.

Dishwasher and Cleanup Notes

The Urbanstrive, Amazon Basics and Cuisipro listings call them dishwasher safe. SUSTEAS says top rack only, on a normal or low-temperature cycle without high-heat dry. The OXO and Deiss listings don’t say; Deiss suggests rinsing under running water. Either way, the FDA’s safe food handling guidance says to wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils and countertops with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item.

Grater Cuts and Kitchen Safety

Graters are sharp on purpose, and the last inch of a block of cheese is where knuckles get scraped:

• Stop before the end. Save the final nub for snacking or finish it on a rotary grater, where your hand stays on the crank.
• Use the guard you have. None of the box graters here lists a hand guard, so a cut-resistant glove on the hand holding the food is the simplest protection.
• Keep it steady. Use the non-slip base or suction foot as designed, and grate onto a board or plate that won’t slide.
• Clean the teeth carefully. Brush or rinse from the back of the blade rather than wiping across the teeth with a sponge.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best cheese grater for most kitchens?

The Urbanstrive Box Grater With Container is our overall pick. It ranks #2 in Graters, lists coarse, medium, fine and slicing surfaces, has a detachable container to catch and store gratings, and the listing calls it dishwasher safe.

What is the best rotary cheese grater?

For grating hard cheese at the table, the OXO Good Grips Rotary has a crank, a cap with a pour window and a silicone seal for fridge storage. For big batches and slicing, the SUSTEAS drum has five blades and a suction base.

Is a microplane zester better than a box grater for Parmesan?

For fine, fluffy Parmesan and citrus zest, a rasp like the Deiss PRO is the better tool, and it is the top-ranked zester on Amazon by sales rank. For shredding cheddar or mozzarella in bulk, a box grater is faster.

What is the best cheese grater with a container?

The Urbanstrive has a detachable container for catching, measuring and storing. The Cuisipro’s base acts as a container and doubles as a ginger grater, and the OXO rotary collects cheese in a sealable cap.

Are cheese graters dishwasher safe?

Some are. The Urbanstrive, Amazon Basics and Cuisipro listings say dishwasher safe, and SUSTEAS says top rack on a normal or low cycle. The OXO and Deiss listings don’t say, so check the packaging or hand wash.

The Bottom Line

For most kitchens, the Urbanstrive Box Grater With Container is the best cheese grater: four surfaces, a container that catches and stores, and the strongest grater sales rank here. The Amazon Basics box grater covers the basics for less, the Cuisipro adds a 25-Year warranty field and a ginger base, and the Deiss PRO rasp is the pick for Parmesan and zest. If you want your knuckles off the teeth, choose the OXO rotary for the table or the SUSTEAS drum for big batches.

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