Anyone use an electric cheese grater?

[Finster]

Considering the possibility of getting an electric cheese grater.
Rather than buying pre-grated cheese, was thinking it would be less expensive, and also better quality, to grate our own. We go through quite a bit of cheese, so it might be worth a reasonable investment to upgrade from the manual box grater.

Whatcha got?

[MBMorgan]

Still got a box grater … and six unscarred knuckles. Also got a couple of handheld crank graters that work well … but only for relatively small quantities of hard cheeses. For bigger jobs, the grating disk on the food processor suffices.

[texastweeter]

Yup the grater on the KA food processor, or the KA mixer attachment gets her done.

[Finster]

Good to know. Thanks. A new food processor is on my wish list, so maybe I could kill 2 birds with 1 stone. The food processor I had been using was a 60s model that I inherited from my MIL. It gave up the ghost about 6-8 months ago. It didn’t have the attachment to fine grate hard cheese

[MBMorgan]

If you're looking for a good food processor, you could do a lot worse than this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AXM4WV2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's recommended by ATK and I've had (and liked) one for a little over two years.

[tstalafuse]

Our food processor has a cheese grater blade, which we use from time to time on cheeses we can't find already grated. Although, I haven't found any noticeable savings on block vs. pre-grated cheese, but I guess you could maybe find a better quality or cheeses that aren't sold as grated.

[MBMorgan]

Thanks for the reminder. In my previous post I failed to mention the KA mixer grating attachment(s). They've never been used ... but it could still happen.

[texastweeter]

Pre crated cheese is treated with cellulose to keep it from clumping, that's why it never really melts right. I try hard to avoid it.

[Donw]

Same as MBMorgan in that we use the grating disks on the food processor for large quantities. Ours came with different sizes for grating. The nice thing is that we have one device that serves multiple uses instead of one dedicated device.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

We got a Cuisinart 14 Cup food processor to replace our Ninja blender as it was being used more for food processor like tasks. I've used it to grate cheese quite a few times and it definitely has us doing recipes with bulk grated cheese more often. The manual shredder rarely gets used anymore unless it's for just a handful of cheese needed. Well worth the 200 bucks even if we only use it once every other month or so.

[acorgihouse]

I don't have the space for an electric gizmo I use occasionally for one thing. I normally grate in larger quantities with the food processor, mine has small and large size grating discs. For things like the Costco size Dubliner that I use a LOT, I just grate the whole block when I open it. I put in three or four Ziplocs in the freezer, and pull one out every time I use the previous (so they don't mold, everything here molds or rusts). For small/fine grate of parm or romano, say, I use a microplane. For the inbetweens, I have my great aunt's old box grater (I have sentimental attachment to such things, if they are useful), but I don't use it much.

[rickgregory]

Aside from cost savings, remember that the pregrated stuff has anti-caking agents so it can melt funny. Better if you're doing cheese sauces or 'za to grate your own if you can.

[texastweeter]

Yep, I'll pass on the cellulose and corn starch.

[acorgihouse]

Yes, I intended to mention that. The starchy coating is an addition I can live without.

[Texas Larry]

We rarely buy pregrated any more. Box grater or food processor. Also microplane/zester and coarse flat grater.

[WillTravelForFood]

Manual.rotatry grater, box grater, microplane, and processor should get the job done

And hopefully eliminate having a dedicated unitasker in the drawer.

[barelfly]

The KA attachment is really nice for that. We buy and grate and freeze portions to take out. My food processor has the blade, but I think cleanup is easier with the KA.

[rickgregory]

Which attachment do you use? The fresh prep one or the bigger, food processor one?

[barelfly]

rickgregory it is the rotary slicer and shredder. It looks like the fresh prep one, although that ‘s not the one I have. Mine is an older model, as I’ve had it for a number of years. That food processor attachment looks cool for someone who doesn’t have a processor.

[shify]

Individual amounts of things like pecorino or Parmesan cheese - microplane

slightly bigger amounts of cheddars and jack cheeses - box grater

big ole pile of cheese - food processor shredding disk or even the blender for finely grated Parmesan cheese

[Finster]

I needed 2 cups of grated parm for a recipe I made last night, which is what ignited this thought.
Never would have considered using the blender for fine grating. Gonna have to try that

[Attjack]

I've used my food processor before but you have to weigh the hassle of washing it against the hassle of hand grating.