Using grated cheese in a toasted sandwich, or indeed any recipe, often results in a much smoother finish and level consistency in your cheese and flavor throughout the dish.
It is also a great way to use less cheese for the same impact and lower food waste and your food bill.
And if that is not enough a good handheld cheese grater will allow you to grate your cheese directly over your food saving you time and mess.
So, now you are convinced you need a new handheld cheese grater I expect you are wondering “which is the best handheld cheese grater to get?” Well, wonder no more as in this article I discuss the top 7 handheld cheese graters available today and the points to consider when buying a new cheese grater.
Contents
- Top 7 handheld cheese graters
- What to look for when buying a handheld cheese grater
- What’s the difference between a grater and a zester
- Detailed look at the top 7 cheese graters
- Tips for using a handheld cheese grater
Top 7 handheld cheese graters
The following table provides a summary view of the top 7 handheld cheese graters available today.
| Grater | Review |
| DI ORO Pro Grade Fine Zester & Grater | Great value twin pack delivering a high quality and robust set of cheese graters |
| Jamie Oliver Cookware Range Acid Etched Fine and Coarse Grater Set | Angled handles for stability and a razor sharp acid edge cut |
| Huanyu Rotary Cheese Grater | One of the most expensive in our list but this stainless steel, high quality, handheld grater is well worth it |
| OXO Good Grip Grater | The easy, strong and comfortable grip is the star point for this handheld grater |
| H Homewins set of three handheld graters | This comprehensive set of three handheld graters will meet all your grating needs |
| BasicForm Zester and Grater | This low cost, non slip, handheld grater is a great choice that doesn’t break the bank |
| Blade Ergonomic Grater | Ergonomic design and easy to clean, especially with the cute little brush this set comes with |
What to consider when buying a new handheld cheese grater
Price
Price is always something to consider when buying any kitchen equipment but rather than just look at the price tag what you are really looking for is good value for money. Does it deliver enough features and will it last. After all you don’t want to spend £50 on a handheld grater only for it to last a few weeks.
Material/Metal (how strong it is)
Review what the grater is made of and will it hold up to agressive grating. For the best results I recommend stainless steal.
Size of holes
What size are the holes, can it do both fine and course grating? Ideally, you want a handheld grater that can do both or comes in a set.
Weight
You will have to hold your handheld grater, rather obviously, in your hand so you don’t want anything too heavy.
Handle and Grip
Handle and grips is the key consideration for any handheld grater. You want to be confident that the grater isn’t going to slip from your hand and risk your knuckles or fall in your food while you are using it.
What’s the difference between a grater and a zester?
You may be wondering what the difference is between a zester and a grater. Well the answer is not much.
They are basically the same except the term grater is often used as a short term for coarse grater, see pic above, where you will cut medium soft cheese like cheddar into ribbons.
A zester is a very fine grater that is used to zest citrus fruit and other firm items such as Parmesan cheese, chocolate and nutmeg. It works exactly the same way as the course grater but creates much smaller ribbons.
Detailed look at the top 7 choices
A detailed look at my top 7 handheld grater choices.
DI ORO Pro Grade Fine Zester and Kitchen Grater
This set from Di Oro comes in at the mid point price range for a grater set between £20 and £30.
It comes with both a zester (fine grater) and separate coarse grater so will meet all your needs.
It is made of stainless steel so nice and strong.
It has a shaped comfy grip handle and support bar for easy use reducing the risk of slipping.
Jamie Oliver Cookware Range Acid Etched Fine and Coarse Grater Set
Another set of fine and coarse graters but this time from one of Britain’s favorite tv cooks Jamie Oliver.
These super sharp graters come with a set of useful safety shields for storage.
They also have angled non-slip handles for easy use and are dishwasher safe.
Huanyu Rotary Cheese Grater
The most expensive handheld grater in this list but this set comes with 5 blade and grater options and is the easiest to use with no risk of catching your fingers.
It is light weight and made of stainless steel so easy to clean.
The only negative aspect of this set is storage as the five parts and units take up a bit more room than your average handheld grater.
OXO Good Grip Cheese Grater
This coarse handheld grater is robust, comes at a good price and includes an easy grip handle.
H Homewins set of three handheld graters
This is a great set of easy to used handheld graters for a price under £20.
One of the graters is also a ribbon grater allowing you to add thin slices of cucumber or gherkins to your toasted sandwich.
BasicForm Zester and Grater
This easy to use fine grater is the cheapest on my list of recommend handheld graters and is a great starter choice to help make those all important toasted sandwiches and pasta dishes.
Blade Ergonomic Cheese Grater
This set of three handheld graters is a great set and will meet all of your grating needs.
However, the most fun part of this set is the tiny cleaning brush you get with it.
Tips for using your new handheld grater
Hopefully, you have found just what you need in my list of handheld grater recommendations.
Now, to help you get the most out of your handheld grater here are a few useful tips.
How to clean a handheld grater
For best results before you wash your grater or place in a dishwaser be sure to shake and brush as much cheese as possible from the grater. Otherwise, and especially in the dishwasher, you run the risk it will just melt and stick to the grater.
When washing your grater in the sink I recommend a brush rather than a sponge as it gets into the holes well and a grater tends to shred a sponge.
How to use your grater without scraping your knuckles
To avoid scrapping your knuckles or fingers when using a handheld grater be sure to to hold the cheese in the tips of your fingers and keep an eye on it. Then, as you get down to the last pieces place your palm over the cheese to finish off.
How to store your handheld grater
You want to make sure you store it is a cool and dry location, but also somewhere where you can calearly see it and won’t catch your hands on it while rummaging through a draw.
If you can buy a model with a storage shield for added protection.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has helped you choose a great new handheld grater to use when making your toasted sandwiches and other tasty dishes
If you want some inspiration on which toasted sandwich to create next then be sure to check out my A..Z of toasted sandwich recipes.
Disclaimer
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