Knowing the best time to buy a cheese grater can help you save money and choose the perfect grater for your needs. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know, from the different types of graters to seasonal deals.

Why Buy a Cheese Grater?

A good cheese grater is a versatile kitchen tool with many benefits:

• Grates hard cheeses like Parmesan and cheddar for salads, pasta, pizza and more
• Shreds softer cheeses like mozzarella for sandwiches and casseroles
• Zests citrus fruits and grates whole spices like nutmeg
• Creates breadcrumbs from leftover bread
• Doubles as a small food processor for tasks like grating carrots or chopping nuts

Having the right grater makes prepping ingredients easier and faster. Upgrading from low-quality to a durable stainless steel grater can save hours of effort over its lifetime.

Buying one suited for your needs means you’ll use it more often and get better value from your purchase.

Types of Cheese Graters

There are 5 main types of cheese graters, each with pros and cons:

Box Grater

This classic style has different grating surfaces on each side:

• Coarse, medium and fine grater holes
• Slicer surface for semi-soft cheese
• Zester surface for citrus fruits

Best for: Hard cheeses, soft cheeses, zesting, small vegetables and fruits.

Pros: Very versatile for most ingredients. Inexpensive. Stands upright on its own.

Cons: Can be awkward to store, bulky. Grating surface wears down over time.

Flat or U-Shaped Graters

These have a large flat or curved stainless steel surface with several grating hole sizes.

Best for: Grating hard cheese like Parmesan and softer cheeses.

Pros: Wide surface grates a lot at once quickly. Thinner profile stores easily in drawers.

Cons: Needs to be held over bowl when grating. No container to catch ingredients.

Rotary Cheese Grater

A cylinder drum rotates against different grater holes as you turn the handle.

Best for: Hard cheeses only.

Pros: No arm strength needed – easy to operate. Hand guard for safety. Interior container catches grated cheese.

Cons: Lots of parts to clean. Bulky. Only good for hard, dry cheeses.

Microplane Grater

Extremely narrow stainless steel blades make fine, fluffy gratings.

Best for: Hard cheese, citrus zest, ginger, garlic, whole spices.

Pros: Ultra-fine gratings. Easy to control. Compact storage.

Cons: Too abrasive for soft cheese/vegetables. Need a light touch. Expensive.

Electric Graters

These plug-in appliances have hoppers that guide cheese over a motorized grating drum.

Best for: Large volumes of hard cheese.

Pros: Very fast and easy for big jobs. Consistent gratings. Safety features.

Cons: Much more expensive. Countertop hog. Lots of parts to clean.

What to Look for When Buying

Keep these factors in mind when choosing a cheese grater:

Types of cheese: Get a box grater for versatility. Microplanes excel at hard cheeses. Rotary for only hard cheeses.

Frequency of use: Electric for batch cooking/entertaining. Box/flat for daily/weekly use.

Ease of use: Box grater requires arm strength. Rotary turns easily. Electric has a hopper.

Easy to clean: Less parts and crevices, the better. Stainless steel avoids rust.

Comfort: Flat surface requires holding over bowl. Box stands on its own. Rotary/electric catch food.

Safety: Non-slip bottom, protective hand guard, blade cover.

Durability: Thick stainless steel resists damage better than thin graters.

Aesthetics: Stainless matches any decor. Colored graters add flair.

Seasonal Deals

Certain times of year may offer better prices or sales on cheese graters than others:

Early Fall (September/October)

Stores want to clear inventory before holiday items come in. Look for sales on back-to-school kitchen gadgets.

Holiday Sales (November/December)

Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer some of the biggest discounts. Stock up on host/hostess gifts or splurge for premium brands.

Post-Holiday Clearance (January)

Deep discounts on unwanted gifts or overstock kitchen items after Christmas.

Wedding Season (May – October)

Great cheese graters for bridal showers or wedding registry. Stock up for peak grating season with summer salads and fall baking.

Back to School (July/August)

Discounts geared toward stocking college dorm kitchens. Bulk buy for the school year.

Amazon Prime Day (July)

Amazon’s biggest sale has amazing lightning deals on kitchen tools. Mark your calendar!

Top Places to Shop

Here are the best stores for finding deals on cheese graters when the timing’s right:

Big Box Stores: Walmart, Target, Costco

Warehouse Stores: Sam’s Club, BJ’s Wholesale Club

Department Stores: Macy’s, Bed Bath & Beyond

Specialty Kitchen Stores: Sur La Table, Williams Sonoma

Restaurant Supply: Webstaurant Store, Restaurant Depot

Online: Amazon, eBay, Etsy

Dollar Stores: Dollar Tree, Dollar General

How Much to Spend

Budget-friendly graters cost $5 – $15, mid-range run $15 – $30, and high-end professional models go up to $50+.

Go cheap for a backup grater, small jobs or short-term use. They’ll wear out faster with thin metal and plastic parts.

Spend more for workhorse graters to handle frequent use. Premium materials like 18/10 stainless steel and thicker blades resist damage so they last for years.

Consider how often you’ll grate cheese and other ingredients. Buying quality saves money over time since quality graters have a longer lifespan.

Expert Tips for Buying

Follow this advice to choose the best cheese grater and get a great deal:

• Match the grater design to your needs: Get the right tool for the job based on your diet, recipes and frequency of use. Don’t overbuy features you won’t use.
• Feel the heft: Better quality graters have substantial weight and density. Lightweight graters tend to be flimsy.
• Examine joins and edges: Avoid rough, sharp or uneven spots that can snag food and hands.
• Consider ease of cleaning: Graters with removable parts clean easier than one-piece graters.
• Buy extra coarse for hard cheese: The larger holes and sharper blades required to grate Parmesan and aged cheddar last longer than fine graters.
• Try before you buy: Test the grating action in-store for smoothness.
• Check the warranty: Good brands stand behind their products if you get a defective one.
• Buy extra blades: Replacement blades extend the life of flat and rotary graters.
• Store properly: Keep in a drawer organizer or hanging on a wall hook to prevent damage.

Care and Maintenance

With proper care, a good cheese greater can last for years. Here’s how to maintain it:

• Hand wash only: Never put graters in the dishwasher! The harsh detergents and hot water degrade metal over time.
• Dry thoroughly with a towel: Letting moisture air dry can allow mold or food to get trapped.
• Periodically sharpen the blades: Use a metal sharpening tool designed for knives to close up microscopic dents on the grating surface that happen with use. This restores efficiency.
• Oil regularly: Apply a light food-grade mineral oil to all metal surfaces to prevent corrosion and rust. Let it soak in for a few minutes then wipe off residue.
• Check for damage after drops: Even a short fall off the counter onto a hard floor can bend or dull blades. Replace if the grating function seems compromised.
• Store out of reach from children: Sharp grater blades pose a safety hazard for little hands. Keep in a secure cabinet out of reach.

FAQ

Get answers to common cheese grater questions here:

What’s the best cheese grater brand?

Top brands include Cuisinart, KitchenAid, OXO, Microplane, and Spring Chef. High-quality materials and sharp blades make them worth the extra cost.

How long do cheese graters last?

With proper care and maintenance, a high quality stainless steel grater lasts 5-10 years. Cheap graters last 1-3 years. Replace immediately if blades become dull.

How do you clean a cheese grater properly?

Wash by hand only using warm water and dish soap. Rinse thoroughly. Dry immediately and thoroughly to prevent mold, rust and food getting stuck.

Should you oil a cheese grater?

Yes! Apply a thin layer of food-grade mineral oil to all metal surfaces periodically. This prevents corrosion. Wipe off excess.

What can you use if you don’t have a cheese grater?

In a pinch, use a vegetable peeler or sharp knife to shave hard cheese into thin slices or slivers. A clean coffee grinder also works for short bursts of finely grated hard cheese.

Can you put cheese graters in the dishwasher?

No. The hot water and harsh detergents will degrade the metal over time. Always hand wash and dry cheese graters.

How do you sharpen a cheese grater?

Use a metal knife sharpening tool designed for graters to gently smooth out dents and nicks on the grating surface. Go slowly to avoid removing too much metal.

I hope this guide gives you all the information you need to choose the perfect cheese grater and save money! Let me know if you have any other questions.