We understand that you're elated about buying a new grater for your kitchen. Rightfully so, since it is sure to help you prepare some mouthwatering dishes for yourself and your loved ones.
However, before you pull the trigger on this purchase, we would like to take you through all there is to know about this handy kitchen tool in our comprehensive buyer's guide.
What are the Different Types of Graters?
Graters come in five types.
The Box grater however answered the call of those of us who got tired of cramping our hands to support the flat grater. Box graters are designed to stand and often have 3 to 4 sides that offer a different grind for each. I like the variety these graters have and the handle at the top along with the standing construction makes grating a lot easier.
- Flat handheld graters
The flat grater has a flat design with a handle on one end. You can grate cheese or vegetables by standing them up or lying them over a bowl. While they do a good job of grating, they are tedious to use. You can grate soft and sometimes hard cheeses and vegetables easily, depending on how sturdy your grater is. They often have a middle section for slicing. That usually works better for vegetables. Cheese is difficult to slice with that feature. - Flat heavy-duty graters
The only issue with these graters is they can tend to clog if you are not careful due to the constant turning action. You should be checking the drums after each grating session to make sure it isn't getting full of leftover ingredients. The Rotary grater however is less work than the other previous methods. The grating drums can then be removed for washing.
These work well for most cheeses and vegetables. The coarse grate side is only good for hard cheese however. The grater is hollow inside which is a great way to contain your ingredients while grating. Some newer styles even have storage cups.
Finally you have the Rotary grater. Most of these have hand cranks but there are a select few that are electric. These graters usually have interchangeable grating drums that fit in the body of the grater. These are good for cheese but really stellar for vegetables like cabbage and zucchini. You typically feed the ingredients through the top opening and crank with the other hand.
At the end of the day, choosing the right grater has more to do with your personality. If you are always in a hurry or like short cuts, then the Rotary grater would be best. If you don't mind manual labor but want ease of use, you're probably going to prefer the Box grater. If you don't mind manual labor and don't cook much, the Flat grater is fine. Heck, you hardly cook anyway and when you do, it isn't high volume.
Let's take a brief look at them now, shall we?
Box Graters
These types of graters are four-sided with each side boasting a differently sized grating hole. If you're wondering what purpose this feature serves, well, you're able to grate a wide variety of foods this way. Whether it is potatoes that need to be grated for hash browns or vegetables for Chow Mein, the box grater has got you covered. Here is a great guide that tells you how to use all four sides of your box grater!
Flat Handheld Graters
Flat handheld graters are also called rasps and boast a single flat grating board. The medium to small-sized grating holes on these bad boys are great for grating garlic, nutmeg and fine cheese.
Flat Heavy-Duty Graters
A larger sized flat handheld grater is called a flat heavy-duty grater. This type of grater has a single panel with grating holes which must be held steady with one hand as you rub the food across its surface with your other hand. Simple and efficient.
Multi-Purpose Graters
Multi-purpose graters are the most versatile graters of them all. You can simply switch up the plates on it to ones that meet your slicing and shredding needs. The grater's base is made from a housing that stores the shredded material.
Rotary Graters
If you're into baking and frequently find yourself in need of shaved chocolate and grinded nuts, well, this type is for you! Rotary graters are great for shredding soft food types in small amounts which are placed in the basket that the grater boasts. Once the food is placed, you simply use the hand crank to rotate the basket, and voila, shredded food!
What to Look for When Buying Graters?
We would now like to talk about some factors to look out for when in the market for a new grater.
Material
We all know that a utensil's composition is what makes or breaks its longevity. However, in the case of tools like a grater, the material will also determine its effectiveness at doing what it does best- grating.
Now, most graters usually come in stainless steel makes whose resistance to corrosion is important because you'll be exposing your grater to moisture and liquids quite frequently. The material is also great at making blades that shave precisely and cut deep. So, the next time you'll need to remove only the colored part of a citrus fruit, just grab a grater, and make short work of the task.
While evaluating the best graters for you, we came across some graters that were made out of wood, ceramic, and even tin! Now, tin is a corrosive metal, so we recommend avoiding that material altogether.
As far as wood and ceramic goes, make sure that a grater made out of it is water resistant and cuts just as well as metal. These types of graters are usually safer and easier to clean. However, nothing can beat the surgical accuracy of metal graters.
Size & Storage
The general rule of thumb is that the larger the grater, the more food you'll be able to shred and slice. However, larger graters will demand more space. Also, not to forget that they would be relatively heavy and difficult to move around.
So, we recommend that you weigh the pros and cons of it and decide upon the size of the grater depending on the amount of food you regularly grate. Some manufacturers provide a handy container for storing the various blades which is always a plus point.
How We Chose the Best Graters
What's the use of taking you through our list of the best graters if we do not disclose the methodology that we adopted when shortlisting them? Well, here is our secret recipe to selecting the best graters.
Design
When we talk about a grater's design, we're not talking about aesthetics. Well, an aesthetic grater never hurt anyone, unless that someone was not careful with the blade. Please be careful with the blades.
When we say design, we mean a grater that possesses handles that do not feel uncomfortable to grip for long times. Ideally, a box grater should also boast an anti-slip bottom.
Easy to Clean
The best graters, like the ones on our list, are dishwasher safe since no one likes extra load on sink duty. On the flip side, easy-to-clean does not only mean being dishwasher safe. In fact, experts recommend spot cleaning your grater and only washing it on hand to ensure the blade’s sharpness.
How Much Do Graters Really Cost? Is it Worth Buying One?
The price of a grater depends on its type. Generally speaking, a grater would not cost you upwards of $50. Usually, the most expensive graters are the rotary ones. As far as their worth as an investment goes, they are a far cheaper option when compared to a food processor which is not only expensive but also has a larger footprint.
So, in our opinion, a grater is a great investment for when you instantly need small amounts of food shredded and sliced.
Best Graters FAQ
Here is a list of FAQs to tackle all your grater related queries.
What is a grater used for?
A grater is simply used to grate foods into fine pieces. The best grater will make short work of potatoes, cheeses, and carrots when it comes to slicing and shredding them.
What is the best grater?
The best grater, in our opinion, is the KitchenAid Box Grater. The one-of-a-kind comes with a 3-cup storage container that has capacity markings for accurate measuring. The soft handle on the grater is super comfy to hold and the grater, along with its box, is also freezer, microwave and dishwasher safe.
What are graters made from?
The best graters are made out of stainless steel which lends the grater its sharp and durable nature. Some graters are even made out of ceramic and wood.