cheese graters

Cheddar into ribbons

Cheese graters are kitchen tools with sharp-edged holes or slots used to shred cheese into smaller pieces.

The surface typically offers different hole sizes for fine or coarse shredding.

Though named for cheese, they work on vegetables, citrus zest, chocolate, and other foods: I used the cheese grater for the carrots.

tools

microplane

Ultra-fine kitchen grater

zesterCitrus rind scraper
raspCoarse shaping tool
mandolineAdjustable vegetable cutting tool

slicer · shredder

technique

shredding

Cutting into thin pieces

zestingScraping citrus rind
raspingHarsh and grating
shavingRemoving hair with blade

output

shreds

Torn-up fragments

shavingsThin strips removed
flakesThin, flat pieces
gratingsFrameworks of parallel bars

strips · ribbons · crumbles · filaments · morsels · wisps · curls · dusting

cheeses

parmesan

Granular Italian grating cheese

pecorinoItalian sheep's milk cheese
cheddarFirm aged English cheese
gruyereSwiss melting cheese

mozzarella · asiago · romano · gouda · emmental · manchego · provolone · fontina · jack · havarti

dishes

pasta

Shaped wheat dough

pizzaTopped flatbread dish
saladCold dressed vegetables
tacosFilled folded tortillas

casserole · gratin · nachos · lasagna · risotto · soup · au gratin · garlic bread · fondue

Opposites

food processing action

cheese graterscheese slicers

Utensils for cutting dairy blocks

mandolines · cheese knives · bread knives · food processors · butter knives

material transformation

cheese graterscheese molds

Frames shaping pressed curds

meat grinders · garlic presses

Family

cheese, grater, cheeses, cheesy, grate, grates, grated, grating, graters

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G