5 Best Graters For Parmesan Cheese In 2023
Parmesan cheese makes the perfect topping to many dishes, particularly Italian-based dinners.
You can certainly purchase the processed versions of parmesan cheese that are shredded or finely grated into a powder but the best way to enjoy parmesan cheese is using whole chunks of parmesan that you’ve grated yourself.
However, if you are going to grate parmesan cheese yourself, you’ll need a good grater.
This cheese is a hard cheese so you need something that can grate it as finely as you want it grated but won’t just tear it up or shred to a mess that isn’t really what you want.
What is the best grater for parmesan cheese? The best graters will be something solid and robust that can handle hard cheese and will let you get a fine shred. Sturdy, solid blades that won’t blunt over time as well as easy accessibility and storage are also key factors to consider.
In this guide, we will share with you our top 5 best graters for parmesan cheese, complete with all of the details you should know about them.
We’ve scoured the market to find the very best options out there and we feel like you will be happy with any of the ones that we have to share.
Keep reading to learn about the 5 best graters for parmesan cheese and more.
How to Choose a Cheese Grater for Parmesan
Before we look at the cheese graters we’ve picked out, we thought it might be helpful to give you some characteristics or things to consider as you pick out a cheese grater.
These tips are designed to simply help you make an informed decision with all of the details.
Blade Sharpness
One of the most important considerations in choosing a cheese grater is the blade. When it comes to hard items like hard cheese or even vegetables, the sharpness of the blade makes a major difference.
If the blade is not sharp enough, it will just push down or bog down and cause resistance against the cheese rather than successfully grating it to the desired size.
It really doesn’t matter how you are grating, the blade has to be sharp to get a good result.
Grater Stability
Another thing to consider is whether your grater is stable or not. Whether you use a handheld grater or one on a stand, it needs to be stable and secure.
You don’t want it to just bend and flex or perhaps even fall over or scoot away from you while you are grating the cheese.
Grater Comfort
Comfort is another important element here. Some graters make you push so hard or grasp so tightly that your hand cramps up. You want something that will be comfortable to hold and grip while you get the work done with your cheese.
If your grater is slipping out of your hands or making your hand cramp, then you can definitely do better.
Cleaning and Storage
Finally, think about how easy or not easy it will be to clean up your grater when you finish. Look at every little aspect from the ability to get into the grooves to cleaning up the base if you use a countertop model.
From there, you also need to be able to store the grater so consider how much space it might take and whether or not your kitchen storage will be able to accommodate such a need.
The 5 Best Graters for Parmesan Cheese
There are several different options for graters out there to choose from. It can be overwhelming because you have to decide which type of grater and then figure out what is good and what isn’t.
Thankfully, we’ve got your back! You don’t have to spend hours searching and trying to figure out the best options. We’ve already done that! We made every effort to bring you versatile options here to choose from as well.
Below, you will find our top picks for the 5 best graters for parmesan cheese.
| Rank | Brand | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Geedel | Suction cup base, slanted tube for disposal of gratings into bowl |
| 2. | Zyliss | Restaurant-style grater, compact and simple design |
| 3. | Stainless Steel | Zester-style grater, useful for multiple applications |
| 4. | Tevokon | Countertop version, comes with 3 different blade options, easy to clean |
| 5. | Sicaco | Handheld design, easy to use and clean |
1. Geedel
This first option is our top pick overall. It’s a simple yet versatile option that is highly-rated across the board.
It’s stable and sharp and it will do great on your parmesan cheese.
You can choose from exceptional colors like red, teal, or lime green which just makes it that much more fun.
You can effortlessly push your block of cheese into the feeder tube and turn the handle and let it do the work for you. No sore arms and no cramping hands here. It’s durable and fast and you will have grated parmesan in no time.
With various attachments, you can also get just the right size for your needs.
The tube is slanted so that whatever you’re shredding can easily pour out into the bowl or dish you are using to catch your cheese. The blades are made with food-grade stainless steel.
It makes a great multi-purpose option that is quite sharp. It’s also nice and compact so it doesn’t take up a ton of space for storage.
Pros:
- Stable and secure
- Simple to use with a turn handle
- Multiple blade attachments
- Sleek and easy to clean and use
- High-quality materials
Cons:
- The suction cup for stability doesn’t work well on every surface and works less over time
2. Zyliss Classic Rotary Cheese Grater
This next option is a restaurant style grater.
If you’ve ever been to a nice Italian restaurant, you may have seen these used when they deliver the food to your table.
They use it on parmesan cheese and it creates a finely shredded cheese that is perfectly nice. It can be a topping or be mixed into a dish.
The grater is ideal because it’s small. You place your cheese inside and hold it in your hands. Then you just turn the small crank and produce cheese to your liking.
It does just grate to a single size but it’s a small size that can be useful. The handle can also be switched so this can be right or left-handed.
It’s simple and yet highly effective and it works really well for parmesan. It’s a dishwasher-safe grater and the company offers a 5-year guarantee as well. It’s comfortable to work with and so easy to clean when you are finished as well.
Pros:
- Small, handheld grater that won’t cramp your hands
- Simple turn crank that can be right or left-handed
- Fine grating drum built for hard items
- Easy to use
- Dishwasher-safe materials for easy cleanup
Cons:
- Some users feel as though this is cheaply made and simply doesn’t hold up well over time
3. Stainless Steel Zester Grater
This option is really great. If you’re looking for finely-grated parmesan, this might just be the option for you.
This is a zester-style grater that works perfectly for finely grated parmesan, among other things.
It’s a simple device but it’s comfortable to hold and work with.
This grater has a very sharp blade made with stainless steel. It can grate in either direction and it has a long blade so your hand shouldn’t cramp up using it. It’s perfect for hard things like parmesan cheese and other similar items.
The grip is soft and yet solid at the same time. This gives you all of the comfort that you need. It comes with a protective cover for the blade. To finish it off, this grater is even dishwasher-safe.
Pros:
- Dishwasher-safe
- Handheld grater with a long blade
- Comfort grip handle
- Super sharp and works well for parmesan
Cons:
- This works best for small amounts of grating in a single setting
4. Tevokon Rotary Cheese Grater Shredder
If you like the countertop option, here is another highly-rated option that looks like a great choice.
It even comes with a brush that will make cleaning a breeze, as well as a peeler for veggies if you need it.
This grater comes in several different color choices as well.
With the hand crank, you get plenty of versatility. You can choose from 3 different blade options but for parmesan, you really only need the smallest one most likely.
You can lock it for safety and it has that nice tilted chute for catching the cheese as it grates.
This is easy to use and it cuts parmesan and other items cleanly and smoothly. It’s simple and reliable.
Pros:
- Reliable countertop grater
- Sharp and reliable
- Easy to clean up when finished
Cons:
- The smallest blade may not grate parmesan quite as finely as you like
5. Sicaco PRO
Finally, we leave you with one more handheld zester/grater combo.
This one has a wide blade so you can easily grate more at one time.
You can even set the grater over a bowl and slide your cheese alongside the top if you prefer.
This one is wide but also has good length so you can grate finely and quickly with your parmesan cheese.
It’s easy to use and really easy to clean up when you’re finished as well. The blade is dishwasher-safe and even comes with a protective cover as well.
Pros:
- Sharp and versatile blade
- Grates finely and consistently
- Made with heavy-duty materials
Cons:
- The blade cover really doesn’t cover well so caution is still required
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