The best rotary cheese graters create perfectly uniform shreds, slice up potatoes and pare down blocks of cheese with ease.
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Best Overall
Cambom Rotary Cheese Grater
Pros:
- Grates or shreds ingredients in seconds
- Protects fingers from sharp blades
- Easy and fun to use
- Locks in place on countertop
- Three to five attachments
- Variety of color options
Cons:
- Slice attachment works best with vegetables, not cheese
- Ingredients can get stuck in the chute
Let’s be honest: grating cheese is—well—grating. As our top pick for the best rotary cheese grater, the Cambom rotary grater offers speed, simplicity and super sharp blades. It’s also the original TikTok-famous option, boasting more than 26,000 reviews on Amazon. Two shopping editors swear by this little gadget in our rave review of the Cambom grater. Not only is it inexpensive and easy to use, but it’s also suited to a variety of tasks that go beyond cheese.
Senior Shopping Editor Katie Bandurski tried this grater in her home kitchen with both cheese and veggies—and she’s never turning back. “Over the course of a few weeks, I used this tool to grate a number of foods, including several types of cheese, carrots and cucumbers,” she says. “I was awed at the speed! This thing really transforms an entire block of cheese or carrot into thin, cut pieces in mere seconds.”
The box contains five cylindrical grater heads, including fine, extra fine, coarse, slice and crush. The crush blade is unique to this grater and works well for cookie crumbs and ice chips. There’s also the base, handle, chute and pusher, which come apart for cleanup. Like most other rotary graters, it also comes with a suction bottom, which Katie found a little inconsistent. “Sometimes I would get a good seal on my countertop, while other times I’d need to try a few times before it would stick. It’s also not compatible with wood,” she notes.
Another consideration is cleaning. The main body breaks down so nothing gets stuck in the nooks and crannies. While this is helpful, Katie notes that the tool has many parts, so it’s a little inconvenient to clean. That said, most parts are dishwasher-safe. Overall, despite a few minor drawbacks, we’re smitten with the cute color options and the speed at which this little grater goes.
“I would buy this tool again,” raves Katie. “The time-saving power—especially when bulk shredding things like cheese for mac and cheese—is well worth the pain points. It’s still more convenient than hauling out my food processor! I also like the slicing attachment as a replacement for my mandoline. It’s quicker and safer to use since my hands aren’t in the way.”
On Sale
Easiest to Clean
Zulay Kitchen Rotary Cheese Grater
Pros:
- Blade panels are easy to clean
- Locks tightly into place
- Includes five blades
- Comes with a cleaning brush
- Blade storage included
- Dishwasher safe
Cons:
- Pricier than others
- Changing out panels is somewhat challenging
The Zulay rotary grater is one of the best rotary cheese graters due to its standout features. Primarily, the blade design. Instead of using conical or cylindrical blades that attach directly to the unit, it comes with 10 blades (two of each style). These snap onto a universal blade barrel, then onto the machine. This makes it oh so easy to clean and store.
I’ve used rotary graters in the past, and one of my biggest pet peeves is trying to wash the interior of the inserts. The blades are often narrow, making it difficult to get a brush or sponge inside. Not only does this cheese shredder come with a little cleaning brush, but almost every part detaches. It’s so easy to get every crease and corner entirely clean. While this grater is the most expensive on our list, these little details justify the price point.
One of my favorite things about this grater is its sturdiness. It’s made from super-thick plastic and suctions readily to my countertop to prevent slips. But in case I do break a blade or the blade barrel, Zulay’s website offers additional parts for around $5 each. Luckily, I won’t have to worry about losing any blade panels—the shredder comes with dedicated blade storage.
The five blades conquer a multitude of tasks: thin and wavy vegetable slicing, coarse shredding, and fine and coarse julienne. They’re also sharp, so it takes little effort to slice up veggies like carrots or potatoes. That said, it’s worth noting that attaching and detaching the panels to the blade barrel takes a bit of effort. It’s important to be careful in order to avoid cuts.
In terms of how the Zulay grater compares to others I’ve tried, it absolutely blows them out of the water. It easily fits over small to medium mixing bowls thanks to a tall clearance. I also really love that there’s a little lip on the underside of the chute, which helps hold a bowl in place. I can safely say that after using one of the best rotary cheese graters, I’ll never go back to a box grater again.
Best Basic
Keouke Rotary Cheese Grater
Pros:
- Shreds through cheese, potatoes and carrots easily
- Easy to set up
- Firm suction cup
- Conical graters can stack for easy storage
- Blades secure easily to handle
- Textured pusher grips onto food
- Least expensive option
Cons:
- Base does not break down; hard to store
Much like our top pick, the Keouke rotary cheese grater comes with fully assembled blade inserts, rather than panels. It shares a lot of characteristics with the Cambom grater, including its extra-sharp blades and easy operation. Where it differs is in its setup, which is overall much simpler than the other graters we tested. Tester Nicole Doster appreciates the speed at which it cranks out cheese, carrots and cuts of potato.
“Of the two rotary graters I tested, this is my preferred grater,” she raves. “The blades seem slightly sharper, making it almost effortless (and really fun) to grate through cheese, potatoes and veggies. I am now a rotary grater convert—it’s so much easier than a box grater.”
The grater includes three blade types to shred, finely shred and julienne. Nicole much prefers the safety of the julienne rotary blades to her mandoline. To start shredding, simply thread the handle into the end of the grater blade. It quickly and easily cranks out everything from carrots to cheddar. Texture on the tamper gives a little grip, making foods less likely to slip around in the chute.
One thing to note is the chute doesn’t separate from the body like the other best rotary cheese graters on our list. While this does make it slightly more complicated to clean, it also ensures that no essential parts go missing in the kitchen. It’s also dishwasher-safe and comes in transparent colors, which makes it easy to see any trapped cheese.
The suction on this option is also incredibly sturdy. Nicole didn’t notice any issues trying to get it to stick to the countertop. While there’s no built-in storage, the conical blades are stackable, which saves some room in the cupboard. That said, expect this option to be a bit difficult to store—it certainly won’t fit in a drawer. However, as the least expensive option on the list, we find this a fine tradeoff for its performance.
What to Look for When Buying a Rotary Cheese Grater
After testing six different rotary graters, our shopping team has a few pointers on what to look for:
- Blade style: There are several different blade styles available, from conical to cylindrical. Some of the graters we tested even used blade panels, which attach to a universal panel holder before attaching to the grater. While we did have some difficulty removing the panels on this type of grater, they are generally easier to wash than the full blade inserts.
- Blade number: Many of the best rotary cheese graters come with at least three blades: a large grating blade, a small grating blade and a slicing blade. Those planning on using their rotary grater for veggies may want to splurge on an option with additional blades, like a julienne blade or a crinkle cut blade. Some options, like our top pick, even offer crushing blades for cookies and ice!
- Suction: All the graters we tested include a suction base to ensure they stay put during use. We recommend opting for a rotary grater with a strong suction that doesn’t move or wobble during use.
- Crank: Most of the rotary graters we tried only crank in one direction, which is clockwise. For folks who are left-handed, we suggest finding an option that also cranks counter-clockwise for comfort. The crank should sit comfortably in the hand and work smoothly for the best results.
- Storage and cleaning: Some of the graters we tested come apart into several pieces for storage and cleaning, while others are a single piece of plastic. Those that come apart are easier to clean and store, although there’s alway the risk of losing an important part. Additionally, we recommend snagging an option that’s dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.
- Style: Many of the best rotary cheese graters offer fun colors that fit a variety of kitchens.
How We Found the Best Rotary Cheese Graters
In order to find the best rotary cheese graters, our team of expert shopping editors tested six of the most popular rotary cheese graters. We sourced these top options based on a number of factors, including reviews, existing feedback and looking closely at specs and value.
Once we had our six picks, we divvied up these graters among the team. From there, editors used these rotary cheese graters in their own home, documenting successes and pain points as they arise. We tested each option for approximately a month, shredding everything from cheese to carrots and beyond. At the end of the assessment, we looked at our gathered data and decided which options are truly the best rotary cheese graters.
Other Rotary Graters We Tested
- Geedel Rotary Cheese Grater: The biggest flaw our tester had with this grater is the way that the blades secured onto the handle. Instead of screwing in, they clipped into place, which involves aligning the handle to the blade just right. This makes it a bit frustrating to set up. However, it does perform well despite this, though the blades aren’t as sharp as some others we tested.
- Gorilla Grip Rotary Cheese Grater: This is a great inexpensive option for folks that want to spend a little less. It’s incredibly secure on the counter and produces super consistent results. Because of the low price, we can excuse some of its downfalls. Namely, that it doesn’t break down for storage, it sits low to the counter and the three blades don’t offer much variety. It’s also a bit difficult to clean.
- Susteas Rotary Cheese Grater: This rotary cheese grater is very similar to our “Easiest to Clean” option, and performed fairly well. However, the unit moved occasionally when our tester worked with firmer foods. In addition, fingers can get too close to the rotating drum and the food pusher can get nicked if it comes into contact with the sharper blades. One other limitation is that it doesn’t handle soft cheese well, and smooshes it rather than slicing.
FAQ
How do you clean a rotary cheese grater?
Many rotary cheese graters disassemble for easy cleaning with a dish brush and some soap. For dried-on foods, a soak in soapy water can loosen particles and make them easier to scrub off. Some rotary cheese graters are also dishwasher safe, so cleaning is as simple as taking them apart and putting the parts on the top dish rack. Ensure the pieces are thoroughly dried before reassembling.
How do you use a rotary cheese grater?
Using a rotary cheese grater is simple. First, cut your cheese or veggies down to size so they can fit in the chute. Then, choose your blade. Most rotary cheese graters offer a minimum of two blades, allowing a choice between coarse or fine shreds.
Attaching the blade depends on the model. For cylindrical or conical blades, put them into the unit and thread the handle through the unit. Then, screw on the handle to secure the blade in place. For panel blades, snap them into place on the barrel and then proceed with securing them to the unit.
Next, suction the rotary cheese grater onto your work surface using the crank or lever on the side of the unit. From there, it’s just a matter of putting your cheese or veggies in the hopper, pushing down on them with the pusher and rotating the handle to rotate the blade.
Can I use a rotary cheese grater for cauliflower?
While some rotary cheese graters can handle harder veggies like cauliflower, some are only designed for softer foods like cheese. Always consult your unit’s handbook to see what foods are safe to grate.
Is there a rotary grater for soft cheese?
Many rotary graters support both hard and soft cheeses. Look for a unit that has sharp blades and a variety of blade types for the best results.
Why You Should Trust Us
Emily Way is a shopping editor at Reader’s Digest, Family Handyman and Taste of Home as well as a former sales and deals editor. In these roles, she has found, reviewed and tested hundreds of products ranging from outdoor gear, food and recipes and travel gadgets and tools. Given her experience testing so much lifestyle and kitchen gear, she is well-equipped to provide advice on the best rotary cheese graters.
For this piece, we also spoke to an appliance expert, Kelly Smith. Kelly is Sur La Table’s senior buyer of cooks tools, making her an excellent resource for finding the best kitchen tools.
