What is the best box grater?

The OXO Good Grips Etched Box Grater Go to product viewer dialog for this item. and the Microplane 4-Sided Box Grater Go to product viewer dialog for this item. are widely considered the best overall box graters due to their ultra-sharp blades, stability, and smart design features.

Top Recommendations

This model uses sharp, photo-etched blades instead of traditional punched holes, meaning it slices cleanly through cheese and vegetables rather than tearing them. It also features a removable fine-grating rasp that doubles as a standalone handheld zester.

Built with ultra-sharp, surgical-grade USA-made blades, this heavy-duty grater makes quick work of hard blocks of cheese, root vegetables, and citrus. One side pops out completely to use as a handheld tool, and the non-slip rubber base keeps it securely anchored to your counter.

A budget-friendly favorite that comes with a convenient snap-in storage container featuring clear measurement markings, reducing mess and making it easy to measure ingredients directly for recipes.

If you'd like, let me know:

• What you plan to grate most often (soft cheese, hard parmesan, vegetables?)
• Whether you prefer having a catch container included

I can help you narrow down the best choice for your kitchen.

If you want one box grater that will last and work well for almost everything, I’d pick:

— Best overall

• Extremely sharp etched blades that grate cheese and vegetables quickly with less effort.
• Comfortable shape and stable base.
• Excellent for cheddar, carrots, potatoes, zucchini, and hard cheeses.
• The main downside: it costs more than basic graters.

Other strong choices:

— Best for most home cooks

• Comfortable grip, non-slip base, and a removable catch container.
• A great balance of price, convenience, and performance.

— Best value

• Simple, sturdy, sharp, and inexpensive.
• A good choice if you don’t need a storage container or extra features.

— Best with built-in storage

• Useful if you like grating directly into a container and saving leftovers.

My quick recommendation:

• Frequent cooking / want the nicest one: Cuisipro
• Everyday family kitchen: OXO
• Under ~$25: Cuisinart
• Mostly cheese for pasta: consider a separate rasp-style grater like a Microplane instead of relying on a box grater.

A good box grater should have sharp etched stainless-steel blades, a stable rubber base, and a comfortable handle—those matter more than having six different sides.

If you want the best box grater overall, I’d buy the Cuisipro 4-Sided Box Grater.

• Cuisipro Box Grater - $48.00 (Milk Street Store)

Why it’s my pick

• Extremely sharp etched blades — noticeably less effort when shredding cheese, potatoes, carrots, etc.
• Four genuinely useful sides: coarse, medium, fine/zest, and slicing.
• Stable and comfortable thanks to the grippy handle and base.
• It has consistently ranked at or near the top in hands-on testing, including tests from Serious Eats and Milk Street.
• It is particularly good if you want one grater that can do almost everything rather than buying separate tools.

The main downside is price—it's considerably more expensive than a basic box grater.

Best alternatives

• OXO SoftWorks Stainless Steel Box Grater - $19.97 (Walmart)

• Cuisinart Box Grater - $18.99 (Walmart)

• KitchenAid Gourmet 4-Sided Box Grater - $19.99 (Walmart)

• Best value: Cuisinart Box Grater. Epicurious found it exceptionally capable despite its low price, particularly for cheese and vegetables.

• Best convenient option: OXO SoftWorks Box Grater. It has a comfortable nonslip handle and a removable container for catching and measuring what you grate.

• Best if you want a larger, feature-rich model: KitchenAid Gourmet.

My bottom line: If you grate frequently and don't mind spending ~$45–50, get the Cuisipro. If you just want a very good grater without spending much, get the Cuisinart.

When choosing the best box grater, top picks from major testing publications share a few key features: ultra-sharp stamped or etched blades, stable bases, and comfortable non-slip grips.

The top-rated box graters on the market stand out for specific reasons:

Add to list Selected as a top pick by The New York Times - Wirecutter , this model is widely praised for having some of the sharpest, most efficient blades available. It glides effortlessly through hard cheeses, potatoes, and root vegetables without tearing or clogging, and features a "surface glide" technology that reduces resistance.

Highlighted as a favorite by America's Test Kitchen and Epicurious , this budget-friendly option delivers high-end performance. It provides exceptionally sharp teeth, a sturdy upright stance, and reliable coarse/fine shredding surfaces without unnecessary bells and whistles.

Add to list Known for setting the gold standard with razor-sharp photo-etched rasp blades, Microplane’s box grater incorporates their signature micro-teeth alongside standard coarse and slicing blades. A major plus of this model is a removable side panel, making it vastly easier to clean out trapped cheese and safely reach the blades.

Add to list A great ergonomic choice that features soft, comfortable handles and a removable zester blade attachment. It provides a secure non-slip base and handles tough grating tasks with minimal hand fatigue.

If you'd like to narrow it down, let me know:

• What you plan to grate most often (e.g., blocks of hard cheese, soft cheese, vegetables for slaws, or citrus zest)
• Whether you prefer a removable side/zester for easy cleaning or a traditional all-in-one body

I can help you choose the ideal model for your kitchen.

Best overall: Cuisipro 4-Sided Box Grater

• Cuisipro Surface Glide Technology 4-Sided Box Grater - $39.95 (Nordstrom)

If you want one excellent box grater and don't mind spending around $40–50, I'd buy the Cuisipro 4-Sided Box Grater. Independent testing has repeatedly put it at or near the top because its etched blades are exceptionally sharp, produce uniform shreds, and require less effort. Christopher Kimball's Milk Street also named the Cuisipro the winner of its 2025 box-grater test.

My picks

• 🏆 Best overall: Cuisipro 4-Sided — sharpest, fastest, excellent for cheese and vegetables.

• 💰 Best value: OXO Good Grips Box Grater — about $20, comfortable handle, nonslip feet, and a useful catch container.

• OXO SoftWorks 12" Stainless Steel Box Grater - $19.97 (Walmart)

• 🧀 Best for serious cheese/zesting: Microplane 4-Sided Box Grater — extremely sharp etched blades, though more expensive.

• Microplane 4-in-1 Stainless Steel Ultra-Sharp Box Grater - $52.99 (Walmart - Microplane)

Bottom line: If you grate a lot of cheddar, potatoes, carrots, mozzarella, or Parmesan, get the Cuisipro. If you just want a really good grater without spending $40+, get the OXO.

Selecting the best box grater depends heavily on whether you prioritize razor-sharp etched blades, storage attachments, or overall value . Top culinary testing publications consistently point to a few standout models:

Widely regarded as a top pick by publications like Wirecutter and The Spruce Eats , this model features etched, razor-sharp teeth with Surface Glide Technology that zests, shreds, and grates hard or soft cheese with minimal effort. It also includes a non-slip silicone base flush with the metal.

Highlighted by Food & Wine and The Spruce Eats , this option comes with a handy removable fine zester/grater plate that can be used independently, a comfortable non-slip handle, and an included measurement/storage container that fits right underneath.

Recommended by America's Test Kitchen , this budget-friendly, upright classic provides exceptional value. It relies on sturdy stamped teeth that excel at standard heavy-duty shredding while remaining inexpensive and stable on the counter.

A favorite for those willing to splurge, combining Microplane’s legendary ultra-sharp photo-etched rasp blades into a stable four-sided tower that handles delicate citrus zesting and fluffy parmesan effortlessly.

If you'd like to narrow this down, let me know:

• Do you prefer hand-washing or dishwasher-safe tools?
• Are you mostly grating hard cheeses and zesty citrus or large volumes of potatoes and vegetables?

If you want one box grater that does almost everything well, I’d buy the Cuisipro 4-Sided Box Grater.

Cuisipro 4 Sided Box Grater

$47.99

🥇 Best overall: Cuisipro 4-Sided

It consistently comes out on top in hands-on testing. Its etched blades are exceptionally sharp, it handles cheese, potatoes, carrots, vegetables, ginger, and citrus zest very efficiently, and the rubberized base/handle makes it stable. Serious Eats, TechGearLab, and Milk Street have all rated it exceptionally highly.

Why I'd choose it: You get noticeably less effort when grating, particularly with hard cheese and potatoes. It's around $45–50, so it's not the cheapest, but it's the one I'd buy once and keep for years.

🥈 Best value: OXO Good Grips

OXO SoftWorks 12" Stainless Steel Box Grater

$19.97

At roughly $20, the OXO is a very good everyday choice. It's comfortable, stable, has coarse/medium/fine/slicing surfaces, and includes a catch container. BBC Good Food gave it 5/5 in testing.

🥉 If you do lots of Parmesan/zest: Microplane

Microplane 4-Sided Box Grater

$44.99

Microplane's etched blades are superb for fine grating, Parmesan, ginger and zest. But for a general-purpose box grater, I prefer the Cuisipro.

My ranking:

1. Cuisipro 4-Sided — best overall
2. OXO Good Grips — best value
3. Microplane 4-Sided — best for very fine grating
4. Cuisinart Box Grater — good budget alternative

One caveat: if you mainly want to shred cheese, rather than zest or finely grate things, I can narrow this down to the best grater specifically for cheese.

Based on extensive testing from major culinary and product review publications (like Wirecutter and Food & Wine ), a few top-performing box graters consistently stand out for their sharpness, stability, and thoughtful design.

The top recommendations depend on what features matter most to you:

• Best Overall: Cuisipro 4-Sided Surface Glide Box Grater Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
  Widely considered the gold standard by experts. It features a unique "surface glide" texture that creates micro-grooves to reduce friction, meaning it glides through hard blocks of cheese, sticky potatoes, and dense carrots with remarkably less effort. It is exceptionally sharp and includes coarse, fine, ultra-coarse, and slicing surfaces.
• Best Multi-Purpose / Splurge: Microplane 4-Sided Box Grater Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
  Famous for making the sharpest chemically-etched blades in the business (originally derived from woodworking tools), Microplane’s box grater version slices cleanly rather than tearing food. It stands out because it features a removable fine/zester side that can be taken out and used standalone, plus it comes with a hard plastic cover to protect the blades (and your fingers) in the drawer.
• Best with Storage / Value: OXO Good Grips Box Grater Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or KitchenAid Gourmet Box Grater Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
  If you love convenience and less mess, these models feature a sturdy, non-slip rubber base and come with a matching snap-on plastic container with measurement markings. They catch your freshly grated cheese or veggies neatly and double as a storage lid if you have leftovers.
• Best Budget Pick: Spring Chef Professional Box Grater Go to product viewer dialog for this item. or Gorilla Grip Box Grater Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
  Priced around $14, these heavy-duty stainless steel options feature an ergonomic soft handle and a secure non-skid rubber bottom ring, performing nearly as well as the pricier competition without breaking the bank.

To help narrow down the ideal choice, let me know:

• What do you grate most often (e.g., blocks of hard cheese, soft cheddar, potatoes for hash browns, or citrus zest)?
• Do you prefer a catch-container attachment, or do you just grate straight onto a cutting board?

If you want the best traditional box grater, I’d buy the Cuisipro 4-Sided Box Grater.

Cuisipro 4-Sided Box Grater

$39.95

Why it’s my pick

• Exceptionally sharp etched blades — noticeably less effort, especially with cheese and vegetables.
• Produces clean, consistent shreds rather than mashing softer foods.
• Four useful surfaces: coarse, ultra-coarse, fine/zest, and slicing, plus a ginger-grating surface.
• Good stability and a comfortable grip.
• Recent testing by Food Network, Serious Eats, and Milk Street consistently puts Cuisipro among the top box graters.
• Current price is roughly $40–$50, depending on retailer.

Best alternatives

Cuisipro 4-Sided Box Grater

$39.95

OXO SoftWorks Box Grater

$19.97

Cuisipro 6-Sided Box Grater

$59.95

Farberware Professional Box Grater

$10.97

Best value: OXO Good Grips Etched Box Grater — around $20 and easier to clean/use, with a removable zester and collection container. Serious Eats actually names the OXO its overall winner, while Cuisipro wins on sheer grating performance.

If you grate a lot of Parmesan/citrus: I'd still choose Cuisipro. Its sharpness is the biggest advantage.

If you want one grater that will last for years: Cuisipro is the one I'd spend the extra money on.

One caveat: don't buy a box grater primarily for fine zesting. A separate Microplane-style rasp is substantially better for citrus zest, ginger, and very fine Parmesan.

When looking for the best box grater, top culinary equipment reviews (including testing from Wirecutter and Food & Wine ) consistently highlight a few standout models depending on whether you prioritize raw performance, features, or value.

Cuisipro 4-Sided Box Grater — Widely crowned as the best overall box grater by publications like Wirecutter and The Spruce Eats . It features electrochemically etched, razor-sharp teeth (rather than stamped holes) that slice through hard cheese, potatoes, and carrots with minimal friction or tearing. It also includes a unique "Surface Glide" design to reduce effort and a small ginger grater base.

OXO Good Grips Etched Box Grater — A favorite for features and convenience, praised by Serious Eats and Food & Wine . It comes with a comfortable soft-grip handle, a non-slip removable base foot, and often includes a clever built-in, snap-on catch container with measurement markings and a detachable zester blade.

Cuisinart Boxed Grater — Recommended by America's Test Kitchen as a top no-nonsense performer. It skips unnecessary bells and whistles, offering exceptionally sharp blades, a sturdy vertical build, and a comfortable grip at a very reasonable price point.

KitchenAid Gourmet 4-Sided Box Grater — A great choice if you prefer an included storage system. It features a large surface area, a sturdy stainless-steel handle, and a snap-on 2-to-3-cup plastic storage container with measurement markings that doubles as a base cover for neat storage [1.22].

Gorilla Grip Professional Box Grater — The top pick for budget-conscious buyers from Food & Wine . It features a heavy-duty stainless steel build with a thick, secure rubber ring on the bottom to prevent sliding during vigorous grating, all for a fraction of the cost of premium models.

If you'd like to narrow down which one suits your kitchen, tell me:

• Are you mostly grating hard/soft cheeses or vegetables (like potatoes for hash browns)?
• Do you prefer a built-in catch container or a classic open bottom?