When we think of a grater, the first thing that often comes to mind is cheese. This is especially true for us Italians. However, this humble kitchen tool is actually more versatile than you may realize. While there are some graters that are specifically designed for cheese, we will be focusing on the most multi-functional options in this article.
As you know, there are also the manual ones, which help in the kitchen on any occasion, but there is no doubt that the electric grater is easier to use, requires less effort and gives better results.
You probably know these things already for this you are reading our guide! And we will help you find the best electric grater for you. Let’s begin!
Here we had listed out some of the best models of cheese graters that are given below.
How to Choose Cheese Graters?
Electric graters can help you save time and effort in preparing different dishes. Before you start using it, we want you to know its operation well, the advantages it can offer you, and what sets it apart from a manual grater. This section is dedicated to all this (and more!).
Better Electric or Manual?
The first criterion for choosing between the different models is whether to prefer electric or manual ones. Not everyone can count on the necessary strength in the arms, or some prefer very mature and hard cheeses.
In these cases, an electric device is useful because it requires no other force than that needed to hold the appliance and the cheese.
If you are used to the price comparison, you will have noticed that the manual models, on the other hand, require much lower costs. Generally, a crank is sufficient to operate the mechanism that rotates the blades, while the other hand holds grater and cheese tight.
In our ranking, you will find purchase suggestions, and they are all models selected based on the sales success obtained and the number of positive opinions expressed by users.
Cheese Grain Is Not Always the Same
In a careful review, users highlight the grater’s ability to pulverize cheese. Purists do not like the grain filaments very much, and the graters often create this vermicelli which some do not go down.
So if you want to use your accessory to reduce Parmesan or other hard cheeses to powder, you will have to pay attention to the possibilities it offers. In some types, it is possible to choose which blade to use, with which holes and with what thickness.
Check that it is possible to change the type of shirt, or make sure that the one available is to your liking. Many models offered on the market, however, do not give a choice and the type of hole through which the cheese passes is only one.
The type of cheese greatly affects the consistency that is obtained by using the same grater. The less mature and softer cheeses will create longer vermicelli, perhaps suitable for use on pizza or to be melted in a short time under the grill.
Only for Cheeses or With Other Functions
The best brand of kitchen appliances today is the one that tends to give more possibilities of use to the same tool. So that grater with a guide to working other foods, or the same giving them different shapes, will be more versatile and can be used in different recipes.
Depending on the type of accessory to be replaced, it is possible to create anything. From fruit juices to cooked vegetable pasta, there are few limits to imagination. Certainly, an instrument that lends itself well to different uses will be used more often and will better justify the investment necessary for its purchase.
How to Use a Cheese Grater?
Who gives up a nice grated parmesan or pecorino cheese on pasta? Lactose intolerant, of course, but who else? There are very few of them.
Forget those cheeses that sell you wrapped, already reduced to small granules, the cheese, especially the good one, must be grated at the moment and to do it you need a good grater.
Right below is the video guide about how to use the cheese grater properly and carefully have a look at that.
The Manual Grater
The most classic tool, and also widely used in Italian kitchens, is the manual grater. There are two ways of using it. Let’s start with the first one: position the tool with one end resting on a plate or other functional container for the purpose while the other end.
Which generally has a handle, must be held in hand. The position of the tool must be such as to form an angle of about 45 degrees. At that point, the cheese is placed, and a movement is made by first pushing forward and then returning to the starting position.
There are similar graters that include a container: it is a very convenient solution in our opinion.
The Semi-Manual Grater
An alternative for quickly grating the cheese is the semi-manual grater. It is a crank tool that, turning thanks to the user’s strength, in a very short time causes an abundant cascade of cheese to fall.
The Electric Grater
It is a very comfortable appliance in our opinion but has limits due to power. Most electric models, for example, go under strain if the cheese is too seasoned and therefore hard. Of course, we are talking about a grater for home use, not the ones we can see at the deli counter in the supermarket.
It is important, then, to remember not always to leave it in charge; otherwise, there is a serious and concrete risk of damaging the battery: at that point, the grater would be useless.
Purchase Criteria
Before buying an electric grater, we recommend that you consider the features you want to include. Currently, thanks to the arrival on the market of numerous models of this product, you can find different functions, even if they are often similar.
In this section, we talk about the criteria you should follow in order not to make a purchase which you may regret later.
- Power
- Safety
- Hygiene
- Dimensions
Power
The electric grater, depending on the desired use, may require high power. Normally, a product of this type of mid-range can have power between 100 and 200 watts. The more features the electric grater can include, the more likely its power will be.
It is important to consider the power of the electric grater because, if on the one hand, it marks a higher cost of electricity in the utility bill, on the other hand, you can understand how far the product can go. That is the intensity of the use that you can make of the grater without overheating.
Safety
Although the most modern electric graters are designed to ensure the safety of those who use them, indeed, it does not hurt to be careful when handling them.
Among the measures to consider before purchasing is the position of the blades, to make sure they are not too exposed when used to avoid manual cuts.
It will also be very useful that the electric grater has a rubber base or some other non-slip material to reduce the chance of hurting yourself for some unexpected movement. Cutting and grating food, being daily activities, can lead to fatal distractions.
Hygiene
In kitchen utensils such as the electric grater, unwanted food remains may remain, even after cleaning it. A bad washing of the product can produce bacteria that could be transferred to other foods if the necessary precautions are not taken.
To avoid this, we recommend choosing an electric grater that has an easy-to-clean structure and that the materials are of quality. If it has multiple removable parts, it should be easily washable, either by hand or in the dishwasher.
Dimensions
You may find it interesting to pay attention to the size of the electric grater for several reasons. On the one hand, because a larger size usually means that the power will also be greater (even if it is not always the case).
On the other hand, if you have little space or don’t want to make big investments when choosing an electric grater, the bigger size could be discarded.
Keep in mind that there are basic products with which you can obtain an optimal result. However, if you want to use it for different types of food, you should opt for a fixed (and therefore larger) model.
