In testing, we found both the larger holes and slicer were ideal for prepping ingredients like cheese, carrots and courgettes, while the finer side made light work of grating parmesan and ginger. This zester's rubber foot gives it some traction when you brace it against the counter to add a little more muscle to your zesting.

graters for cheese, vegetables and more | BBC Good Food Best graters for cheese, vegetables and more | BBC Good Food

We've evaluated each model's grating surfaces, sharpness, and special features so you can easily select the perfect tool for your kitchen.

The majority of the products in our review employ two strategies to negate the dreaded knuckle scrape; a rubberized handle and a slip-resistant rubber foot. The Cuisipro's sharpness superiority only adds to its ergonomic qualities since it provides a smooth grate where you're less likely to scrape yourself because you're pushing too hard.

Cuisipro® Fine Rasp Grater | Lakeland Cuisipro® Fine Rasp Grater | Lakeland

Among the zesters, the Deiss Pro Zester offers a rubber foot that allows you to brace it against the counter. For years I have used a normal grater with the fiddley bit for zesting, the type where you have to scrape the zest out with a knife with more zest being left in the grater than on the board. You can use them for veggies such as beets, zucchini, carrots, and potatoes, to add to things such as slaws, latkes, quick breads, and more.Rasp-style models look the best on your dinner table, and they need to look elegant while being convenient for folks who just need more fresh parmesan on their pasta. The Masterclass is an excellent citrus zester, but really shone when we tested its blade against fresh ginger.

Graters of 2023 | Tested by GearLab The 5 Best Graters of 2023 | Tested by GearLab

During our testing, we cleaned these products many times by hand and also by running them through the dishwasher. If kitchen space for storage is at a premium, hand-held graters with hanging loops are excellent alternatives. This award winning grater combines razor-sharp etched blades with a grooved pattern to allow cooks to grate larger quantities of food with less effort. The zester (which zests very well, only second to the Microplane) is removable, so you can easily grate directly onto your food as you would with a rasp-style product.We can't stress enough that the easiest way to keep your grater clean is to hand wash it with hot water immediately after use. Our testers grated different types of cheeses, including hard and soft varieties, taking care to note the texture of the final product and the level of difficulty to use.

Cuisipro 4 Sided Box Grater, Regular, Stainless Steel Cuisipro 4 Sided Box Grater, Regular, Stainless Steel

The sharp teeth made for smooth grating action, and our testers didn't experience any jerky, knuckle-scraping movements while processing cheese and vegetables with this model. This sturdy model is sharp enough to handle hundreds of beets and demolish potatoes for the hash browns of your dreams.Brandy believes that food processors should never be used on cheese, and the box-style grater is king.