Best Cheese Graters of 2026

The reason to look at the KitchenAid Gourmet is the container clipped under the box: a 3-cup vessel marked at half-cup steps, with a lid that turns the grater into a prep and storage tool. Grate Parmesan over the sink? The cup catches it. Need a cup and a half for a sauce? You can see the level without dirtying another measuring cup.

We think that container is more useful than it sounds, because it changes where the grating happens: you can work over the counter, then carry the cup to the pot or put the lid on for the fridge. The four surfaces include coarse, medium, fine, and a slicer, and the top handle gives you a place to bear down. This is the one we choose when a recipe gives measurements and we do not want to wash a second bowl.

The container is also the reason the grater feels like a system rather than a single tool: the cup nests inside for storage, and the lid is freezer, microwave, and dishwasher safe. For measured prep, that is the feature that earns the cabinet space.

If your kitchen has more drawer inches than counter space, OXO's 4-sided grater is the shape to notice. It is built slim, with a soft non-slip handle and a detachable container that nests underneath. The four stainless-steel sides cover coarse, medium, fine, and slicing, and the container sits below the blades so you can grate directly into it without a board.

The OXO is easy to live with because it does not demand a dedicated spot. You can grate onto a plate or into the container, then put the whole thing away with the cup attached. The handle is comfortable when you bear down on hard cheese, and the non-slip grip keeps the box from walking across the counter. It is the sort of tool that disappears until you need it.

Our verdict is that this is the box grater for small batches and tight storage. The catch container is modest, filling quickly when you grate a whole block, so it is better for a cup of Parmesan or a few carrots than for a holiday baking session. We still prefer it when drawer space is the deciding constraint, because it stores more neatly than the larger boxes here. For a cook with a shallow drawer, that trade is worth it.

A Microplane is a finishing tool, and that is the point. The Premium Classic turns Parmesan into fluffy threads and strips citrus zest without the bitter pith. Its fine etched blade is the reason: it shaves rather than shreds, so hard cheese and citrus peel come away in light, delicate pieces. That is the job we reach for it to do.

The 12-inch tool has a soft handle and a protective cover, so it can live in a drawer without turning into a hazard. The blade is made in the USA from surgical-grade stainless steel, and the tooth set is designed to take the flavorful rind off citrus while leaving the white pith behind. We like that it is dishwasher safe, though a quick rinse keeps sticky cheese from drying in the teeth.

What it does best is the small, high-impact job: a shower of Parmesan over pasta, zest for a cocktail, garlic or ginger worked into a paste. The fine surface turns hard cheese into light flakes rather than long strands, which is exactly what you want at the table. It takes up little room, and the cover means it can stay in the drawer with the paring knives.

The draw of a rotary cheese shredder is speed, and the Cambom delivers it: a few turns of the crank pull a block of cheese across three stainless blades and drop it into the clear barrel. The food pusher keeps your fingers away from the cutting surface, which is the real advantage over a box grater when you have a lot of cheese to get through.

We like the rotary design for volume, not for every job. The coarse and fine shredding blades handle cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan, while the slicing blade is better for cucumbers and carrots than for soft cheese. The crank turns easily, and the parts come apart for cleaning, so the whole thing is less fuss than it looks. The suction base is the make-or-break: it holds on clean, dry marble or glass, and it can slide on wood or textured stone, so test it on your counter before you commit.

The Cambom is at its best when you are shredding several blocks for a casserole or a batch of mac and cheese. It is bigger than a handheld grater but smaller than a food processor, and it breaks down into a few pieces for the dishwasher. If your counter is the right surface, it turns a chore into a minute of cranking.

Small jobs are where the OXO Etched Medium makes its case. The whole tool is 13.58 inches long, with a soft handle and a snap-on cover that makes it safe to toss in a drawer. Its etched surface is longer than a box grater's fine side, so a little cheese or a few vegetables have room to move.

The medium cut is the useful middle for semi-soft cheese, apples, potatoes, zucchini, and garlic; it produces short, even pieces rather than a fine dust. The non-slip foot keeps the narrow frame from skating, and the handle gives you enough to hold without a box taking up counter space. It is also easy to rinse, which matters for a tool that lands in the sink after a small job.

We prize it for small kitchens and quick toppings. It is not the tool for a whole block of cheddar or a pile of carrots, but it is the one that stays in the drawer and comes out for a single apple or a few cloves of garlic. The compact shape is the reason: it stores where a box grater cannot. The cover also means you can reach past it without thinking.

Plain is the point of the Amazon Basics 4-sided grater: a stainless-steel body, a simple handle, a non-slip base, and no extra container to wash. It measures 4.29 by 3.35 by 9.84 inches, so it tucks into a drawer more easily than the XL boxes here.

The four sides cover coarse, medium, fine, and slicing, which is the same useful set you get on pricier boxes. The blades are sharp enough to take cheddar and carrots without much pressure, and the stainless handle gives you a secure grip when your hands are slick. It is dishwasher safe, so cleanup is a rinse-and-load job rather than a scrubbing session.

The rubber footing is the one detail to watch: it can work loose from the base, so press it back into place before you start. That is a small annoyance, not a reason to pass, because the grater itself stays stable when the strip is seated.

We recommend it as a first grater, a second grater for a vacation rental, or the one you keep for messy jobs. At its price position, it leaves room for a rasp later if you catch the zesting habit.

A catch cup with its own lid is the detail that separates the Gorilla Grip XL from the plain boxes here. The cup clips under the grater to catch what you shred, and the lid means you can carry the results to the fridge without hunting for a separate container.

The stainless-steel surfaces cover coarse, medium, fine, and slicing, and the removable slip-resistant border gives the base a grip on the counter. We like that the border comes off for cleaning; cheese that collects around the edge does not have to become a permanent resident. The top handle is comfortable when you are working through a block.

The extra size is useful for cabbage, potatoes, and a family-sized pile of cheddar, but it is not the grater for a cramped utensil drawer. The catch cup is handy for prep, though you still have to empty it before a very large batch. It is a practical, budget-minded box, not a tiny one.

We recommend it when you want the convenience of a lidded container without paying for a premium brand. Used as a stationary grater, it does the job and keeps the cheese contained. The lid also makes it easy to prep ahead and stack the cup in the fridge.