The Best 8 Box Graters in 2020 Reviewed | A Foodal Buying Guide (2024)

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I’ve talked about microplanes in the past, but today I want to talk about the box grater, known for grating some serious cheese!

I feel like most people already have a cheese grater, but they’re usually old, outdated and don’t work very well. Oh, and talk about rusty!

If you’re in need of a new cheese grater, I think you’ll really enjoy this article.

If you asked me a few years ago about a box grater recommendation, I would have no clue which one to recommend, and would most likely have suggested picking one up at Target.

However, now that I spend a lot more time in the kitchen (3-5 hours a day), and I have to pay for my own cooking equipment, there are a few crucial things you may want to consider before just picking up the first box grater you see!

Durability

It’s important to consider the following questions, with durability in mind:

• Can your box grater withstand the test of time?
• In terms of durability, is it dishwasher friendly?
• Can it be dropped or slammed in the drawer (not that we would ever do that but… just in case)?
• Does it have pieces that can be removed, that may get lost or break?

I’m not a fan of buying cheap products that I have to replace frequently, and I would rather spend a little more on a product that lasts me a few years.

User Experience

The way you actually use this tool in your kitchen is a big deal, too.

• How easy is the product to use?
• Can kids use it?
• Can it be used without exerting a lot of force?

These are other questions I ask myself, and I suggest you do the same. Most of the products listed below are a dream to use, but others I looked at, well… they’ll probably give you a good arm workout!

Execution

At the end of the day, you probably just want to know which ones will grate cheese for your taco,which is important. But, does it do its job well?

Let’s take this a little further: can it grate carrots and beets (harder foods), which are perfect for salads?

I’m happy to say, all of the graters below can grate cheese and most hard vegetables. However, some do a much better job than others.

Below are some of the very best box graters on the market, and I’m confident in saying I would recommend any of the options below for your cooking needs!

Standard Box Graters

These are your classic graters, maybe a little nicer than what you grew up with, but pretty much the same design and model.

Cuisipro Surface Glide Technology 4-Sided Boxed Grater Review

When I firstsaw thisCuisipro offering,I thought it was the same as the Cuisinart CTG-00-BG Boxed Grater (listed below), but boy, was I wrong.

This product is definitely a notch above the rest. At a closer glance, you can easily see the blades are sharp like a razor!

Cuisipro Surface Glide Technology 4-Sided Boxed Grater available from Amazon.

They use advanced technology to make it easy to use, and this is what the company had to say about the technology and design of this product: “The science behind Super Glide Technology is based in the repeated grooved pattern that is spread evenly across the face of the grating surface.

The grooves provide 2 distinct benefits beyond other graters. First, the groove reduces resistance, making grating effortless. Secondly the groove elongates the length of each individual blade, so it has a larger cutting surface that comes in contact with food, therefore producing more gratings per stroke.”

I’m impressed, and so is Cooks Illustrated, as this is a product they recommend.

It works (no one questions that), and it’s easy to use. It comes with some extra features, like a ginger grater base that shreds fresh ginger root while leaving unwanted fibers behind. It also has an ultra-fine grater that works well on citrus fruits.

It comes with a 25-year warranty,even when bought on Amazonwhich tells me they are pretty confident it will last at least 25 years.

My Take

If you cook often and have a lot of things you like to grate, like cheese, vegetables and citrus fruits, then this would be the tool I would recommend for you.

I’m impressed by this model, and am already planning on who I can gift it to… or maybe I can convince my husband that we need another one!

What Others Are Saying

The Cuisipro is universally loved for its sharpness and longevity, and itmaintains high marks on Amazon. Two users even complained that this grater was too sharp!The few ratings it received that were less an stellarwere primarilyfrom users who sliced themselves while using it.

NoCry Cut Resistant Gloves – High Performance Level 5 Protection, Food Grade

You can tell by looking at it that it’s sharp, and I would recommend handling with care and perhaps investing in a cut-resistant glove to protect your fingers (these also work very well with mandolines, should you have the desire to invest in one).

Not much more to report –it’s more expensive than most (but not prohibitively), at just about 30 dollars. However, this is a very popular product even with that higher price point, and is worth every penny.

OXO Good Grips Box Grater Review

This is anotherinnovative design from OXO –the company knownfor taking the mundane and making it better. Like most of the other models, it’s stainless steel with 4 sides.

However, it does have a few features that make it stand out. One of the sides of this product is for slicing, so you can actually slice and grate cheese with this.

It also has a non-slip bottom, so you don’t have to worry about it moving while you’re using it. And, this product even comes with a container that fits on the bottom of the grater to catch your cheese, with measurements on the side of the container, making it perfect for measuring just the right amount.

OXO Good Grips Box Grater availablefrom Amazon

Dishwasher safe, and it’s great for large jobs. If you have a big family to feed and need to shred a lot of cheese, it works well and is fast.

Users reported over and over again that they didn’t think they would like the little box that this comes with, but they were pleasantly surprised, which was exactly what I was thinking!

My Take

Buy this product! In all honesty, I think this is a great model and I love it nearly as much as I do my OXO vegetable peeler.It’s simple enough and made by a company I trust and use.

It’s not fancy, but it’s an upgrade from your basic model.It’s a bit on the pricy side for such a simple tool,but I think it’s stillreasonable at about 60% of the cost of theCuisipro model.

It also meets all the marks: it’s durable, user friendly, and it does what it says it can do. That’s a winner in my book.

What Others Are Saying

It’s praised for its designby many users on Amazon, which is something that you’ll hear about most OXO products.

One user reported using it for things other than cheese (carrots specifically), and said she was totally satisfied with the job it did. Another reviewer mentioned that this product is bulky and doesn’t fit in her drawer, something you might want to consider as well.

Norpro 339 Stainless Steel Grater Review

When I think of this product, the words “basic,” “classic” and “minimalist” all come to mind. It’s very simple: 4 sides, a handle, and holes of different sizes. It’s stainless steel, and the company recommends you hand wash and dry it to prevent rusting.

Norpro 339 Stainless Steel Grater

My Take

This tool is perfect if you: don’t cook too often, want something that can grate cheese, and don’t want to spend a lot of money –I’m talking under 10 dollars on Amazon!

What Others Are Saying

Multiple users say this tool does its job, and can turn a block of cheese into nice shreds. It’s also very affordable and has sharp holes.

One user stated this is the same quality and design that she had for the last 20 years, so she’s confident this one will last just as long.

A few users stated that this was poorly made, and not as high quality as they had hoped. They noted it was flimsy and the handle broke within the first few uses. This is not a tool I would recommend for grating harder vegetables like carrots or beets.

Cuisinart CTG-00-BG Boxed Grater Review

This is another classic model, nothing too fancy. It has 4 sides, including one that can be used for slicing, and is dishwasher safe.

It contains a non-skid base, so it will stay put while you’re using it. It does havea black plastic handle, whichinitially made mequestion its durability.

Cuisinart CTG-00-BG Boxed Grater

My Take

Again, similar to the OXO product above, this tool doesn’t have a lot of negatives. It’s a decent quality product without any bells and whistles or special features to differentiate it, and a middle of the road price.

It’s worth buying if you don’t need anything special, but want a little better quality than the Norpro or dollar store special.

What Others Are Saying

It grates cheese and hard vegetables. Many peopleuse it to gratelots of different vegetables like beets, carrots and even cabbage,withno reported problems.

As for the handle, users reported no problems with it breaking, and saidthey actually find it’s well designed and comfortable to use.

One thing a lot of users did complain about was the non-skid base, and cheese getting caught in it. When they go to wash it or put it in the dishwasher, they findleftover food inside.

I personally wouldn’t think this would be much of a problem, but since more than fiveusers mentioned thisin their reviews on Amazon, it makes me think it might be a bigger nuisance then one might think.

I think you get what you pay for, and this product is a few dollars less than the OXO model. So, if you want to save a few dollars, you might have to deal with some stuck-on cheese or food shreds in the bottom of this tool.

Or, you could spend a few extra dollars andget the OXO model above and avoid that altogether. Really, it’s about personal preference and priorities.

6-Sided Box Graters

4-sided graters are pretty standard, and may be all you need. However, there are some pretty high quality 6-sided graters on the market, and I wanted to add two to this list.

Cuisipro 6-Sided Box Grater Review

I really liked Cuisipro’s 4-sided model, so I was excited to check out the 6 – and it doesn’t disappoint! The company has added two sides to the traditional model, one of which is a chocolate shaver, so you can make fancy dessert recipes.

They also kept the bonus ginger grater, which I’m excited about because I use a lot of fresh ginger.

Cuisipro 6-Sided Box Grater with Bonus Ginger Grater

My Take

It has the same technology and is just as effective as the 4-sided version. However, it’s bigger than your standard grater, and it’s bulkier.

The company recommends that you wash it by hand.

It normally runs about 10 dollars more than its 4-sided sister tool (but prices fluctuate).

Ifyou are going to be doing lots of grating, slicing,and shaving chocolate, then the 6-sided Cuisipro just might be the tool for you. This model is sharp enough that it could easily replace a mandoline for shaving small to mediumquantities of vegetables, and it could also replace a zester.

There is no doubt in my mind that this tool works, and will last for a long while with proper care. If I were to keep a six-sided box grater in my kitchen, this would be my choice.

What Others Are Saying

Users rave, “This product just works, there’s not much more to say.” It’s easy to use, comfortable to hold, and comes with the same 25-year warranty as the other model available from this brand. Check out additional customer reviews on Amazon.

Isabella Dora 6-Sided Box Grater Review

When I first saw this product, the first thing thatI noticed was the handle– it’s made of silicone and just looks comfortable to use.

This product was designed to be used on cheese and harder vegetables, which is a good sign of its durability. It has multiple grating sizes and a slicing side as well.

Isabella Dora Cheese Grater – 6-sided Stainless Steel Box Grater

My Take

Again, not much to complain about. It’s sharp without being too sharp, it’s easy to use, and it comes with a lifetime warranty.

It’s a solidly built device that should last a long time, and thesilicone strip at the bottom makes it a joy to use –it simply stays put while it’s in use.If you want a six-sided grater, go with this product!

What Others Are Saying

One user reported that she really liked that soft cheeses don’t get stuck in the grater, and almost all reviewers mentionedthat it is easy to clean (since the silicone bottom is removable, there is no chance of cheese getting stuck in it) and heavy duty.

Others commented that this model allowed them to get rid of 4 or 5 other cutting, slicing, or grating devices lurking in their drawers.

Withhigh praise from most reviewers on Amazon, you can’t really go wrong with the Isabella Dora.

Box Sets

I thought I would add a couple sets to the list as well. These usually includemultiple pieces that can be used interchangeably. The two options below are the most popular, and the highest reviewed.

Prepworks from Progressive International Review

I have to be honest, I didn’t even know these sets existed and wasn’t sure how I was going to like them. But when I first saw this model, I thought, “I can totally see this in my house.”

This product comes with 4 interchangeable blades and 1 box container to catch/store whatever you’re grating. It is dishwasher safe and is easy to store.

Prepworks from Progressive International HG-84 Grater Set, 5 Piece

My Take

This is the product for you… if it’s just for you! Or, if you don’t cook very often but want to be equipped when you do, it’s a good option.

I also like that I could put this in a drawer rather than taking up cabinet space, but that’s my personal preference and it really depends on where you have more space in your kitchen.

What Others Are Saying

You would think this product would be fancy, with its interchangeable blades, but users repeatedly stated that this is just a simple product that works. It works best on cheese, but can be used for vegetables as well. Although not the Cadillac of graters, its construction is adequate and it is competitively priced.

And, one user stated hers lasted 10-12 years.

The one problem I heard over and over again about this tool, is the size. Users complained that it is a lot smaller than it looks. It’s best for small jobs and perfect for grating cheese for one person.

OXO Good Grips Complete Grate and Slicer Set Review

This is the “jack of all trades” set, and it’s brightly colored! This set will grate and slice, cut and julienne.

If you need to grate and slice very thin and you don’t have a mandoline, this is a great product for all of your needs.

It comes with a container to catch the final product that also acts as a storage unit for the tool. It also comes with a food holder, to protect your hands and keep your fingers safe.

OXO Good Grips Complete Grate & Slice Set

My Take

OXO is a great brand, and they really cover all the bases with this tool. I like OXO and I like this product.

I would recommend it if you don’t have a mandoline and want to do more than just grate cheese and vegetables.

What Others Are Saying

Users reported that this tool is very durable and gets the job done. Some users found the horizontal grater harder to use, and said it was something they weren’t used to.

Another user reported that this product is sharp and dangerous to use, although she did not say whether she was using the food holder, which is designed to keep you safe.

Conclusion

I hope this extensive list will help you find the perfect tool for the job. Feel free to leave a comment with any questions, or just let me know whichone you went with.

I have to say, at the end of the day, I’m impressed with the high quality graters on the market. I know there are a lot of options, but when you think about it, there are probably only a few that will fit exactly what you are looking for. I hope this helps you to find it!

First published April 26th, 2015. Last updated January 18th, 2017.