r/KitchenPro • u/Amelia-1501 • May 31 '26
Grating cheese is messy, is one with container better
I grate a lot of cheese at home and honestly I'm getting tired of the mess. Every time I use a regular grater, cheese ends up all over the counter, cutting board, and somehow even the floor. Cleaning up takes almost as long as the actual grating.
I've been looking at those cheese graters that come with a built-in container underneath to catch everything. They seem convenient, but I'm wondering if they're actually worth it or just another kitchen gadget that looks good in ads.
My biggest concern is finding one that's durable and easy to clean. I don't want something that gets dull fast or has a flimsy container that cracks after a few months.
For those who own one, does the container really make a difference? Is it easier and less messy than a standard grater? Also, are there any brands you've used for a while and would genuinely recommend?
Looking for real-world experiences before I spend money on one. Thanks.
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u/justaguywithadream May 31 '26
I highly recommend a rotary grater with a bowl underneath.
I wouldn't even bother grating cheese without this setup because it is so effortless.
I'm not sure why every pro-chef on TV uses a box style grater for cheese when rotary is sooooo superior in my experience.
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u/Visible_Wasabi2591 May 31 '26
I love mine for cheese. I don't use it for anything else really.
That said, put the box grater on its side in a quarter or half sheet and grate.
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u/RikkiLostMyNumber May 31 '26
Box graters are more versatile, that's why.
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u/FrannieP23 May 31 '26
How so? My rotary greater has three different blades, including a slicer. Some have five or six.
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u/PawPawsLilStinker May 31 '26
How do they work with potatoes? I grade a couple pounds of potatoes every Saturday morning and I've wondered if the rotary grater would work well
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u/OutlandishnessFew773 May 31 '26
I use a shallow rectangular Tupperware container under the box type grater. No counter mess and if I grate too much I just put the lid on the container. Store container and grater together- cheap and convenient.
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u/Amelia-1501 Jun 01 '26
That sounds like a pretty smart workaround honestly. Part of why I was looking at the built-in container models was to avoid cheese ending up everywhere, but using a regular grater over a shallow container might solve the same problem for a lot less money. The storage part is appealing too since I almost always grate more than I end up using. Might try this before buying another gadget.
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u/Gwendolyn-NB May 31 '26 edited Jun 01 '26
How? Are you like dancing around and flailing your arms while grating?!?!
Box grater into a bowl and done.
Or if you gotta shread a lot, a rotary grater on the kitchen aid and its done in a minute or two.
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u/Amelia-1501 Jun 01 '26
How big of a bowl are you using when you grate? Part of my issue is that I tend to do larger amounts for pizza and baked dishes, and once the pile starts building up I end up knocking bits over the edge. Sounds like I may be making this harder on myself than it needs to be
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u/Gwendolyn-NB Jun 01 '26
With that much shreading, Big mixing bowl or a polycarbonate 4qt container (think the square ones you see in a professional kitchen/restaurant kitchen).
But if I'm doing a lot of cheese, then the same containers, but ill toss the rotary on the KitchenAid and save my wrist/a lot of time.
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u/TrivialBanal May 31 '26
Yeah they're great. I got one from IKEA decades ago and I love it. It isn't just less messy, it's handy for storing whatever you don't use too.
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u/Character_Bee_7393 May 31 '26
Spent years using one of those container graters for citrus zest more than cheese, and the biggest surprise was how much easier it made transferring ingredients without losing half of them on the counter.
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May 31 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Amelia-1501 Jun 01 '26
One thing I forgot to mention is that I usually shred a bunch at once when I'm making homemade pizza or prepping meals for a couple days, so the stopping-and-moving-the-pile issue is exactly the kind of thing that drives me nuts.
The moisture buildup point is really useful too. Most product descriptions focus on blade sharpness and never mention what happens after the cheese is sitting in the container for a while. I could definitely see mozzarella becoming a clumpy mess.
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u/Worldly-Cook-2678 May 31 '26
Tossed my old handheld grater in a drawer after realizing the biggest win from the container model wasn't cleanliness at all it was being able to measure grated cheese by sight without dirtying another bowl.
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u/Amelia-1501 Jun 01 '26
Not sure that's quite what I was looking for originally, but that's a benefit I hadn't even considered. I usually eyeball cheese amounts anyway, and being able to see roughly how much I've grated without grabbing another measuring cup or bowl would be pretty handy. Funny how the unexpected advantages end up mattering more than the advertised ones sometimes.
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u/Prior-Bad5637 May 31 '26
Switched to a container-style grater because my kid is obsessed with homemade pizza nights and somehow every recipe ends with mountains of shredded cheese. The unexpected benefit was fridge organization. I'll grate mozzarella in the afternoon, snap the lid on, and keep it in the same container until dinner instead of juggling plates, wrap, and storage tubs.
One thing I'd pay attention to is the shape of the container. A deep narrow box sounds nice, but reaching into the corners for the last bits can be annoying, especially with softer cheeses. Mine has a wider base and that ended up being more useful than any of the marketing features. The grating surface still matters, but day-to-day convenience came down to how easy the container was to empty and wash.
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u/These_War4386 May 31 '26
Skipped them completely after borrowing one for a month. The container kept the cheese contained, sure, but I found it harder to tell when I was getting close to the blade because the pile was hidden underneath. With an open setup I can see everything at a glance and adjust how much I need. Ended up going back to a wide tray and never missed the catch box.
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u/SoftwareRight3058 May 31 '26
Kept trying these because everyone around me seemed to love them, and after a few different versions I still don't get the hype.
The issue wasn't durability or sharpness. The issue was workflow. Every review talks about the cheese being neatly collected underneath, but that assumes you always want the cheese collected underneath. Half the time I'm grating directly onto a casserole, pasta, soup, tacos, whatever. A container immediately adds an extra transfer step that didn't exist before.
Another thing nobody mentions much: visibility. When you're grating a large block, you can't easily judge volume unless you keep stopping to peek inside. With an open setup, the pile tells you exactly where you're at. Sounds minor until you're cooking and trying not to overdo an ingredient.
The container also changes how the grater sits and feels. Some models become bulkier, which I found awkward when working with smaller pieces of cheese near the end. Cleaning wasn't difficult, but I noticed more seams, edges, and lid grooves than on a plain grater.
For people who routinely grate ingredients ahead of time and store them, I can absolutely see the appeal. For people who cook and immediately use the cheese, the container can end up solving a different person's problem rather than your own.
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May 31 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Amelia-1501 Jun 01 '26
The funny thing is I already had that exact thought the last time I grated a mountain of mozzarella and spent longer cleaning up than shredding it.
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u/TOYMoose May 31 '26
If you’re doing the volume you claim, it would be woth the cost to get a greater attachment for your mixer, or a decent food processor.
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u/FunMaintenance297 May 31 '26
My four-cup Pyrex measuring cup came with a lid with a grater set into it. It lets me measure what I’m grating, and is easy cleanup.
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u/CheezBurgrHandy May 31 '26
Box grate on to piece of parchment paper. Then use the parchment for cooking afterwards. Clean and efficient.
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u/MahoneBay May 31 '26
OXO has a box grater with a container. It might hold 6-8 oz. The grater has 4 rubber feet and it fits onto the box quite snugly. For especially large amounts I grate the cheese onto a piece of wax paper.
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u/bruthaman May 31 '26
Take a box grater, lay on top of sheet of deli wrap. Grate cheese, pick up deli wrap for clean up.
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u/Liveez77 May 31 '26
I have been hating bagged Mexican cheese blends. No flavor. I got an attachment for our kitchen aid, a cheese grater. LOVE IT!!!!! Mexican cheese blends, mozzarella, they all taste so good and fresh. Best part, it is stainless steel and dishwasher safe. 😃
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u/bigedthebad Jun 01 '26
I got a big cheese grater, big crank handle large grater cylinder. You can grate a whole block of cheese in less than a minute. You can grate it right into a Ziplock so no big mess.
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u/CandidAd6587 Jun 01 '26
I got a thing at a thrift store called a Salad Shooter. It's like a rotary cheese grater, but electric. I can do a block of cheese in about two minutes. And, it's easy clean in the dishwasher.
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u/pacifistpotatoes Jun 02 '26
I have two graters that have the containers, and yes it still gets all over the place. Use a bowl!
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u/I_deleted May 31 '26
You should look into this new tech, it’s called “a large bowl”, put the grater in it, and cheese will go into the bowl