A box grater does four jobs in one tool: coarse shreds for a pile of cheese on enchiladas, fine grating for hard cheese, a slicing side for cucumbers or potatoes, and sometimes a rasp side for zest. When the box grater is missing, dull, or simply too bulky for the drawer, no single tool replaces all four. The right box grater alternative depends on which of those jobs you actually do.
This guide covers five tools that can grate, shred or slice instead of a box grater: a flat two-surface grater, a rasp, a food processor with a shredding disc, a handheld mandoline and a julienne peeler. For each we say how close it gets to a box grater and where it falls short, using what each maker states.
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Why cooks look for a box grater alternative
- It takes up room. A four-sided grater is tall and awkward in a small drawer or a crowded cabinet.
- It is hard to clean. Soft cheese packs into the inside of the box, where a sponge cannot easily reach.
- It is slow for big batches. Shredding a full block of cheese for a tray of enchiladas or a pot of queso by hand takes a while.
- Some jobs suit another tool better. Fine Parmesan, lime zest and garlic paste come out better on a rasp, and even slices come out better on a mandoline.
Quick verdict: the best box grater alternative
For most kitchens, the best box grater alternative is a flat grater with both a coarse and a fine surface, such as the OXO Good Grips Multi Grater. It covers the two sides of a box grater people use most, it lays over a bowl, and it stores flat. For hard cheese, zest and garlic, add a rasp like the Microplane Premium Classic. If you shred a lot of cheese at once, a food processor with a shredding disc is far faster. For slices and julienne, use a handheld mandoline with its food holder, and for carrot or zucchini shreds, a julienne peeler. If you grate cheese and vegetables most days and have the space, a good box grater is still the simplest single tool; our guide to the best box grater covers them.
Five ways to grate without a box grater, side by side
Our five picks, one for each job a box grater does, with what each maker or listing states. All five are reviewed in full below.
| Alternative | Best for | Cuts | Speed | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
OXO Good Grips Multi GraterBest overall alternative
|
Everyday cheese and vegetables | Coarse and fine | Hand speed | View on Amazon |
Microplane Premium Classic Series GraterBest for hard cheese and zest
|
Cotija, Parmesan, lime zest, garlic | Fine rasp | Fast for small amounts | View on Amazon |
Breville Paradice 9 Food ProcessorBest for big batches
|
Whole blocks of cheese, slaw | Coarse and fine shred, 15 slice levels, dice | Fastest here | View on Amazon |
OXO Good Grips Precision Handheld MandolineBest for slices
|
Potatoes, cucumbers, onions | Four slice thicknesses and julienne | Quick, with care | View on Amazon |
OXO Good Grips Swivel and Julienne Peeler SetBest for carrot shreds
|
Carrots, zucchini, jicama | Thin julienne strips | Moderate | View on Amazon |
Product images from Amazon. Cuts, sizes and materials are as stated by each maker or listing; check the listing before you buy.
Which tool matches which box grater side
A box grater is really four tools stuck together. This is our kitchen’s summary of how the jobs split, based on the maker details below rather than a published test:
- The coarse side (shredded Monterey Jack, cheddar or Oaxaca for enchiladas, quesadillas and nachos): a flat grater’s coarse surface by hand, or a food processor’s shredding disc for a whole block.
- The fine side (a light snow of cheese, grated onion for a salsa base): the fine surface of a flat grater, or a rasp.
- The rasp or star side (lime zest, garlic, ginger, cotija or Parmesan): a rasp does this better than any box grater.
- The slicing side (potatoes, cucumbers, radishes): a handheld mandoline, which gives a choice of thickness a box grater’s single slot does not.
- Vegetable shreds for slaw or salad (carrot, jicama, zucchini): a julienne peeler for one or two vegetables, a food processor for a big bowl.
For the full trade-off between a box and a single flat grater, see our box grater vs flat grater comparison.
Five tools to use instead of a box grater
All five are from established makers and were in stock on Amazon, sold new, on the day of writing. Each covers part of a box grater’s work; only the food processor comes close to covering all of it.
1. OXO Good Grips Multi Grater – Coarse and Fine in One Flat Tool
Most people use only two sides of a box grater: the big holes for shredded cheese and the small holes for a finer grate. OXO’s Multi Grater keeps exactly those two and drops the bulk. It has a fine and a coarse stainless steel grating surface, and OXO says the two surfaces separate for easier use and cleaning.
The listing says it can be used flat on a surface or over any size bowl, with non-slip feet for control and a soft non-slip handle. That matters, because a flat grater’s weak point is stability: a box stands on its own, while a flat grater needs to be braced. Resting the feet on the rim of a bowl and pushing the cheese away from you is the steadiest way to use it. It is listed as dishwasher safe.
What you give up is the slicing side and the volume. A flat grater has a smaller grating area than a box, so a pound of cheese takes longer, and there is no slicer. For tacos on a weeknight it is plenty.
Why we like it
- Coarse and fine surfaces, the two sides used most
- Surfaces separate for cleaning, per OXO
- Non-slip feet for use over a bowl
- Stores flat in a drawer
Key specifications
| Model | 32780 |
|---|---|
| Type | Flat two-surface grater |
| Material | Stainless steel surfaces, soft handle |
| Cuts | Coarse and fine |
| Cleaning | Dishwasher safe, per the listing |
| Warranty | Satisfaction guaranteed, per the listing |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you mainly shred cheese and the odd vegetable and want a box grater’s two main sides in a tool that stores flat.
Skip it if you grate whole blocks at a time or want a slicing side; see the food processor and mandoline below.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Two grates in one
- Works over any bowl
- Easy to store
Cons
- No slicing side
- Slower for big batches
- Needs bracing, unlike a box
2. Microplane Premium Classic Series Grater – Fine Cheese, Zest and Garlic
The smallest side of a box grater is the one cooks complain about most: it clogs, it tears knuckles, and it turns lime peel into a wet mess. A rasp replaces it outright. Microplane’s Premium Classic is a long, narrow rasp with photo-etched stainless steel teeth, and Microplane says the blades are made in the USA from surgical-grade stainless steel that stays rust-free and keeps its sharpness.
The listing names zesting citrus while leaving the bitter white pith behind, grating ginger and garlic into a paste, and grinding whole cinnamon or nutmeg. For a Mexican kitchen that means lime zest for a crema, garlic for a marinade, and a fluffy grate of cotija or añejo over elote or beans. Microplane says it is dishwasher safe, and suggests a kitchen brush on the underside of the blade to clear stuck bits.
A rasp is not a shredder. It cannot make the coarse, melting shreds you want inside an enchilada, and soft cheeses like Monterey Jack gum up its fine teeth. Think of it as the box grater’s fine and zest sides, done better. Our guide to the best Microplane grater covers coarser Microplane blades.
Why we like it
- Photo-etched blade made in the USA, per Microplane
- Zests without the white pith
- Grates garlic and ginger to a paste
- Dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | 46901 |
|---|---|
| Type | Rasp grater and zester |
| Material | 18/8 surgical-grade stainless steel blade |
| Cuts | Fine |
| Cleaning | Dishwasher safe; brush the underside |
| Warranty | Not stated on the listing |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you mostly grate hard cheese, citrus, garlic or ginger, or want a fine side that does not clog.
Skip it if what you need is shredded melting cheese; a rasp cannot make coarse shreds.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Very sharp fine grate
- Small and easy to store
- Many uses beyond cheese
Cons
- No coarse shreds
- Soft cheese clogs it
- Small grating area
3. Breville Paradice 9 Food Processor – Shreds a Whole Block in Seconds
If the reason you want a box grater alternative is volume, a food processor is the answer. Shredding two pounds of cheese for a party tray of enchiladas, or a head of cabbage for curtido, by hand is tiring; through a feed chute with a shredding disc it takes moments. A processor also slices and chops, so it covers the coarse, fine and slicing sides of a box grater at once.
Breville’s Paradice 9 is a 9-cup processor. The listing says it comes with a reversible shredder (coarse and fine), an adjustable slicer with 15 levels, an S-blade, a dough blade and a dicing kit for half-inch cubes, all held in a storage caddy that fits inside the bowl. It has a 4.7-inch wide feed chute and a brushless induction motor. Breville states a 2-year limited product warranty and a 30-year motor warranty, and says the bowl and lid are dishwasher safe.
The limits are size, setup and cost class. A processor is the largest and most expensive tool here, it takes counter or cabinet space, and washing the bowl, lid and disc is more work than rinsing a grater. For a handful of cheese, a hand grater is quicker. Soft cheeses shred more cleanly if they are well chilled first, which is general kitchen sense. Our guide to the best food processor compares other sizes.
Why we like it
- Reversible coarse and fine shredder included
- Adjustable slicer with 15 levels
- Wide 4.7-inch feed chute
- 30-year motor warranty, per Breville
Key specifications
| Model | BFP638 (BFP638OLT1BNA1) |
|---|---|
| Type | 9-cup food processor |
| Material | Stainless steel body; bowl and lid without BPA |
| Cuts | Coarse and fine shred, 15 slice levels, 0.5 in dice |
| Cleaning | Bowl and lid dishwasher safe |
| Warranty | 2 years limited; 30 years on the motor |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you shred cheese or vegetables by the pound, or want one machine that also slices, dices and chops.
Skip it if you grate a little cheese a few times a week; a flat grater or rasp is faster to grab and to wash.
Pros and cons
Pros
- By far the fastest
- Shreds, slices and dices
- Long motor warranty
Cons
- Bulky
- Most parts to wash
- Highest cost class here
4. OXO Good Grips Precision Handheld Mandoline – Even Slices With a Food Holder
The slicing slot on a box grater gives one thickness and an awkward angle. A handheld mandoline does the same job with a choice. OXO’s Precision Handheld Mandoline has five cutting options, which the listing names as julienne, thin, medium, thick and extra thick, so it covers potato slices for papas fritas, thin cucumber for a salad and julienne strips for a slaw.
Safety is the real question with any mandoline. OXO says this one has an automatic, height-adjustable food holder that applies even pressure while helping protect hands, and that the holder stores under the mandoline. It also has a clear runway so you can see the food as it passes the blade, a non-slip handle, and it is dishwasher safe. Use the holder every time and stop before the last small piece; that part is general kitchen sense. If a mandoline feels like too much blade, our mandoline alternative guide covers other ways to slice thin.
A mandoline slices and juliennes; it does not grate. It will not give you shredded cheese, and soft cheese should not go near it. Our guide to the best mandoline slicer covers standing models with more settings.
Why we like it
- Five cuts, including julienne
- Food holder included, per OXO
- Clear runway shows the food
- Slim and dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | 11391800 |
|---|---|
| Type | Handheld mandoline |
| Material | Not stated on the listing |
| Cuts | Julienne, thin, medium, thick, extra thick |
| Cleaning | Dishwasher safe |
| Warranty | Not stated on the listing |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you used your box grater’s slicing side for potatoes, cucumbers or onions and want even slices in more than one thickness.
Skip it if you need shredded cheese, or if you will not use the food holder.
Pros and cons
Pros
- More thickness choices
- Hand protection built in
- Compact
Cons
- Does not grate
- Very sharp blade
- Material not stated
5. OXO Good Grips Swivel and Julienne Peeler Set – Carrot Shreds Without a Grater
Many people pull out a box grater for one vegetable: carrots for a salad, zucchini for a fritter batter, jicama for a slaw. A julienne peeler makes thin strips of these straight into the bowl, with less mess and no box to clean. OXO’s set pairs a julienne peeler with a straight swivel peeler, so it also covers ordinary peeling.
The listing says both have sharp stainless steel blades that will not rust and non-slip handles, and that the set is dishwasher safe. Run the julienne blade down the length of a carrot and you get long, even strips that hold their shape in a salad better than the wet shreds from a grater’s coarse side; that is our kitchen’s view, not a maker claim.
A julienne peeler is for firm vegetables. It will not shred cheese, it gets slow on large amounts, and the last part of each carrot is hard to hold, so stop and cut that by knife. Our guide to the best julienne peeler compares other models.
Why we like it
- Julienne and straight peelers in one set
- Stainless blades that will not rust, per OXO
- Non-slip handles
- Dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | 11316500 |
|---|---|
| Type | Julienne and swivel peeler set |
| Material | Stainless steel blades |
| Cuts | Julienne strips; peel |
| Cleaning | Dishwasher safe |
| Warranty | OXO Better Guarantee (repair or replacement) |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if your box grater mostly shredded carrots, zucchini or other firm vegetables.
Skip it if you shred cheese; it is a vegetable tool only.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Neat, even strips
- Tiny to store
- Also peels
Cons
- No cheese
- Slow for large amounts
- Hard to finish the last bit
Grating without buying anything
If you need shredded cheese tonight and own none of these tools, there are workable no-buy options. These are general kitchen sense rather than sourced methods:
- A chef’s knife. Slice cheese thin, then cut the slices into thin matchsticks and chop across. It will not look like shreds, but it melts the same in an enchilada or a quesadilla.
- Freeze soft cheese briefly. Twenty minutes in the freezer firms Monterey Jack or Oaxaca enough to slice or crumble cleanly.
- Tear string cheese. Oaxaca cheese pulls apart into strands by hand, which is how it is often used anyway.
- A vegetable peeler. An ordinary peeler shaves hard cheese into thin ribbons for a salad or beans.
Be careful with any improvised method that brings fingers close to a blade, and keep the last small piece for snacking rather than grating.
What we left out, and why
We did not include another box grater or a four-sided grater, because that would not be an alternative; see our box grater guide for those, and our guide to the best Parmesan grater for hard cheese tools. We looked for a hand-crank rotary drum grater from an established maker, but the ones we found were either already recommended on our other pages or in short supply on the day of writing, so we did not add a lesser-known brand to fill the slot. Electric salad shooters from established makers were in the same position. A stand-mixer shredder attachment works well if you already own the mixer, but it is only an alternative for that small group of cooks.
When a box grater still makes more sense
If you grate cheese and vegetables most days, in amounts between a handful and a pound, a sturdy box grater is still the simplest single tool. It stands on its own, catches nothing on the counter, and gives coarse, fine and slicing cuts without changing parts. Its only real drawbacks are storage and cleaning. A flat grater plus a rasp covers nearly the same ground in less space; a food processor beats it only when the batches are large.
Box grater alternative questions, answered
What can I use instead of a box grater?
A flat grater with coarse and fine surfaces covers the two sides most people use. A rasp handles hard cheese and zest, a food processor’s shredding disc handles big batches, a mandoline handles slices, and a julienne peeler handles carrot and zucchini strips.
Can a food processor replace a box grater?
For volume, yes. A processor with a shredding disc, such as the Breville Paradice 9 with its reversible coarse and fine shredder, shreds a whole block of cheese quickly. For a small amount it is more work to set up and wash than a hand grater.
Is a Microplane the same as a box grater?
No. A Microplane-style rasp matches only the fine and zesting sides of a box grater. It cannot make coarse shreds of melting cheese.
How do I shred cheese without a grater?
Chill or briefly freeze the cheese, slice it thin with a chef’s knife, cut it into matchsticks and chop across. Oaxaca cheese can simply be pulled into strands by hand.
Is a flat grater safer than a box grater?
Neither is safe near the last inch of cheese. A flat grater with non-slip feet, used over a bowl and pushed away from you, is steady; a box grater is steadier because it stands on its own. Stop before your fingers reach the teeth with either.
Our final word on grating without a box grater
Split the box grater’s jobs. A flat coarse-and-fine grater like the OXO Multi Grater covers everyday cheese, a rasp does zest and hard cheese better, and a food processor wins on big batches. Add a mandoline for slices or a julienne peeler for carrots only if you need them. And if you would rather have someone else grate the cheese tonight, call to order from Julia’s.