I simply love rigatoni. To this day, I can still remember the cheesy sausage rigatoni my mom used to make when I was just a child. And seeing how I prepare it at least once a month, it’s safe to say that my husband and my boys love it too.
But you know what I hate – when I need to shred a block of mozzarella and just after a few strokes, it starts to get chunky. You know these moments. I always end up wasting a ton of cheese in an effort to finish the dish before my boys become cranky.
Freezing the cheese works, but who wants to wait for another 30 to 45 minutes for their meal?
So is there a way to grate mozzarella and cheddar without ending up with large chunks of wasted cheese?
Best Rotary Cheese Grater
Well, I’m glad to say that you can actually find a cheese grater for this sort of thing.
Rotary cheese graters are designed for this because they have a drum blade within their housing. So all you need to do is put a piece of cheese in their housing, turn the hand, and voila – you have a perfect topping.
And as long as the cheese isn’t too soft (think of cream cheese), you’ll be able to grate it perfectly.
What to Look for When Shopping for a Rotary Cheese Grater
Now, I know that households have a cheese grater, but I also know that they are usually very old and don’t actually work. I’ve even seen a couple of rusty ones, but my friends would kill me if I ever said anything more about it.
If you’d asked me a couple of years ago about a rotary grater recommendation, in all honesty, I wouldn’t have a clue. I’d probably recommend buying an ordinary box grater at your local Target.
But thankfully, I’m much, much wiser today.
So to help you buy the best rotary cheese grater out there, here are a couple of crucial things you may want to consider before picking up the first grater you see:
Sharp Blades
For starters, if you don’t want to end up with lumps of shattered goo on your sandwich or rigatoni, you naturally want to look for a grater with razor-sharp blades. And don’t worry, no matter how sharp the blades are, rotary graters provide the safest way to grate cheese without ever cutting your fingers.
And while you could always settle for a grater with only one drum, if you’re planning to prepare more than one type of food (and I’m sure you’re better than that), look for a grater that comes with a set of drums. Drums with small holes will handle hard cheeses and produce a fine grate, while drums with larger holes will shred softer cheeses and provide great casserole toppings.
Further Reading: Recommended Cheese Slicers
Large Hopper
Now, if you’re a person that mostly uses cheese for garnish, you won’t actually need a very large hopper. But if you’re anything like me, then you’ll want as large a hopper as possible. If you’re organizing or catering a party, you’ll surely need large amounts of evenly measured cheese for finger sandwiches (or any other type of appetizers, for that matter).
Next thing, I know that nobody wants to spend 15 minutes in the kitchen grinding cheese (it can distract you from cooking the pasta and ruin your meal, for instance), so you should look for a grater that has a two-inch hopper. A large hopper will also prevent you from chopping down your cheese as much and stop you from blowing through pounds.
Dishwasher-Proof Materials
Some large, metal rotary cheese graters are really bulky, so it’s understandable if you don’t want to waste time emptying out drawers and looking for the perfect place to store them. So if you opt for a little plastic model, you have to check if the material will be able to withstand the heat of your dishwasher. You see, if the grate is not dishwasher-safe, you won’t be able to sterilize it after each use.
Of course, if the drum is too small (around one inch), it will be hard to wash it by hand adequately. This brings us to our next point – you need to make sure that the drums are both dishwasher and rust-proof. Basically, this is the only way you’ll be completely sure that your grater is completely protected from any bacteria.
Easy to Dismantle and Assemble
While we’re on the subject of washing, I have to mention that if you want to scrub every inch of your grater properly, you need to pick up one that can be easily taken apart. This will allow you to eliminate all of those remnants that routinely get stuck in hard-to-reach cracks and turn moldy after a while. And who wants to get stuck disinfecting a kitchen utensil right before cooking?
The handle, the drum, and crank should all be easy to remove, and personally, I don’t like tools (particularly electric grates) with a ton of pins and screws because I always manage to lose them after a few weeks. But that’s just a personal preference, so don’t worry too much about the small parts. Also, some companies include brushes in their sets that allow you to remove every single piece of cheese from the drum.
In addition, I want to mention one more important thing – look for a grater that doesn’t actually require superhuman strength just to move it a few inches. No matter if you work out five times a week (or just a few times a month like me), a handle that demands all of your upper-body strength to move just isn’t worth it.
Most Recommended Rotary Cheese Graters: Detailed Reviews 2022
Now let’s focus on what you really came here for – how can I help you find the greatest cheese grate ever. These six models are among the top-selling items on the market.
Let’s compare them and see how they perform:
ZYLISS Classic Rotary Cheese Grater – Grate More Cheese in Less Time
Right here, we have the original ZYLISS all cheese rotary grater – and while the regular version doesn’t have any major flaws, I would recommend the NSF-certified model, seeing how it has more design features (it allows you to switch from left to the right hand if you want) and is priced the same.
The grater can be easily taken apart, and like most high-class models, it’s dishwasher-friendly. You can fit a 1.5-inch block of cheese into the hopper, and the drum is made from 100% stainless steel. And I have to say that this was certainly the easiest, best hard cheese grater I’ve ever used.
Things I’ve liked:
- While it’s used in many restaurants, the size makes it perfect for home use.
- It’s durable, comfortable and easy to use, and clean (you don’t have to wash it after each use)
- The handle doesn’t need a lot of pressure and works for both right-handed and left-handed people.
Things I didn’t like:
- It doesn’t work perfectly for medium and soft cheeses.
- The barrel is not too big, so it doesn’t work well if you’re preparing a large meal.
- The rotating part of the handle is stiff and may cause some friction on your fingers.
LOVKITCHEN Rotary Cheese Cutter – A Multifunction Grater
If you love cooking, then I’m sure you’re always looking for quality tools that can make your experience simpler for years to come. Fortunately, LOVEKITCHEN is a grade-A steel rotary cheese grater, which means it will last for a decade or few, no matter how much you use it.
It’s also much safer for kids than most hand-held cheese graters I’ve used because you don’t have to hold the food while you’re grating it. You just need to place your cheese into the chamber and turn the handle that rotates the blades inside, and you’re all done.
Things I’ve liked:
- It comes with three drums, all of which are good for grating really good cheese.
- In addition to cheese, it also works great with vegetables and even chocolate.
- The product was made to last; the gauge of the metal is quite thick and will probably last long.
Things I didn’t like:
- The grater has a wide gap in the front, which causes the last slice to slide out.
- The handle also requires a lot of force to grate some types of hard cheese.
- Plastic drum inserts are awkwardly positioned and bump into your thumb constantly.
See also: Top Recommended Potato Ricers Reviews 2022
Westmark Multipurpose Rotary Cheese Grater – Effortless to Use, Easy to Store
This particular rotating grater has been engineered and manufactured in Germany and is made with the highest EU standards in mind. It comes with 3 different drums (for fine and medium grating and a slicer for veggies).
Unfortunately, it seemingly lacks the sturdy feeling of some other handheld models on the market. Furthermore, when in use, the handle feels “bendy” in your palm, which gives you the sensation that it may snap any second.
Things I’ve liked:
- It can grate more than a pound of cheddar in less than 90 seconds.
- It comes with suction cups that stick to your counterpart pretty well.
- The Westmark folds compactly, so you’ll never have any problem finding where to put it.
Things I didn’t like:
- The arm is plastic, and while the quality is fine, it will inevitably break after a few years.
- It doesn’t have enough space for a bowl; it dumps the cheese onto the countertop.
- The mouth is fairly small – a pound of cheese needs to be broken down into four blocks to fit.
Zyliss Classic Cheese Grater, 6.5″, White
This classic cheese grater by Zyliss is another all-time favorite kitchen tool for professionals and for home cooks alike.
It is affordable but very easy to use and maintain clean.
The grater has durable plastic housing and has a comfortable ergonomic grip for safe and easy use.
It has a stainless steel drum blade that can be used for grating all types of cheese, as well as for nuts and chocolate.
The Zyliss classic rotary cheese grater disassembles easily so that you can wash it and store it in a drawer after use.
It is dishwasher safe and is perfect for food prep in the kitchen or as a table-side cheese grater too.
The size of the nifty kitchen tool is 4.75 x 3.2 x 7.5 inches, and it weighs 7.5-oz.
Thing I liked
- It is inexpensive
- The body of the grater is made of very sturdy plastic
- You can use it to grate cheese, chocolate, or nuts
- Once you are done, you can disassemble it and pop it in the dishwasher
- It is compact when disassembled, so you can easily store it in a drawer
- It is comfortable to hold and use
Things I didn’t like
- It is not so suitable for grating soft cheeses because of the smaller holes in the grating surface.
- There is only one size blade, so the shred dimensions cannot be adjusted
Orecchi Rotary Cheese Shredder – The Best Micro Grater in its Price Range
With their latest cheese drum set, Orecchi Company went for a more polished and modern grater. Furthermore, the company markets this grater as a child-friendly tool, which may be true, but in reality, you could also say that for every other grater on the list.
It may have a thinner handle than other models here, but it’s still fairly reliable, but that doesn’t mean you should use too much power when pushing the cheese into the hopper. It may be a little pricier than its competition, but the tool comes with a storage bag and recipe book included.
Things I’ve liked:
- Even though the grater is made out of plastic, it’s still sturdy and works well.
- If you simply turn the handle clockwise, it also works as a shredder
- You could use it for everything from asiago to mozzarella, and it gets the job done
Things I didn’t like:
- The handle feels fragile and clearly can’t take much force (many people report it breaks often)
- The suction cup doesn’t always stick to the countertop and often needs a few tries.
- If you have any wrist problems, you should definitely look for a more stable grater.
Ourokhome Rotary Cheese Grater Shredder – 3 Drum Blades
This manual rotary cheese grater comes with three different drums, so you can use it not only for grating cheese but for slicing veggies and grinding nuts too.
It is a versatile kitchen tool that will allow you to prepare a wide variety of dishes, including potato chips, toppings for pizza, coleslaw, hash browns, veggies, and many more.
The three drum blades are – one standard slice blade, a coarse shredding blade, and a fine shredding blade.
It is not electrically powered so you can use it anywhere without the need for a power outlet.
The unit is made of sturdy ABS plastic, which is BPA-free and has no odors. The three drum blades are crafted from 430 stainless steel, which is food safe and approved by the FDA. Plus, it has a strong suction cup on the bottom to keep it in place during use.
You can buy this multifunctional and useful tool in four different color options. It is compact, easy to disassemble and wash, and will replace a number of other kitchen tools in your kitchen.
Things I liked
- It has three different drum blades for different uses
- It is made of sturdy and food-safe materials
- It is easy to take apart to wash
- It has a suction base to keep it steady on the kitchen counter
- It can be disassembled for compact storage and portability
- No electricity is required
Things I didn’t like
- The handle can sometimes come off during use
- Users complain that the plastic can break if you are not very careful when disassembling the unit.
And the Best Rotary Cheese Grater Is…
Even though great, professional cheese graters are a bit pricey (as you’re probably aware).
So if you need something that’s both reliable and cost-effective, the ZYLISS Classic Rotary Cheese Grater – NSF Restaurant Certified should be the perfect choice for you.
In addition to the price, this grater has a nifty design, is easy to use (works perfect for both lefties and righties), and is even easier to clean.
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