Grating cheese is NOT one of my favorite kitchen activities. It gets tiring, especially when it comes to cleaning up the mess afterwards.
But freshly grated cheese tastes way better and melts better than cheese you buy already grated in a bag. Here’s why: To keep pre-grated cheese from clumping together in the bag it contains preservatives like potato starch and natamycin. These substances also means that the pre-grated cheese won’t melt together as easily once it’s heated.
Your freshly grated cheese will also taste better without the addition of these chemicals and preservatives – not to mention it makes it healthier.
Here are a few simple tips to help you grate cheese without the mess!
Ok! It’s time to move on to the tips!
How to Grate Cheese Without the Mess
1. Freeze your cheese for 20 minutes before grating. It won’t crumble as much.
2. Spray your grater with nonstick spray. The grated cheese will slide right off and make cleanup much easier!
3. Place the grater in a large shallow food container before grating. This is an easy way to catch all of the cheese without it falling off a plate, but it still gives you plenty of room to maneuver your hands. (I use one like this Rubbermaid container.)
How to Grate Cheese Without a Grater or Shredder
Our tips above all refer to using a cheese grater. If you don’t have a greater or shredder, you can try one of these alternatives.(Be sure to still use our tips of freezing your cheese and spraying the utensil you use.
1. Use a vegetable peeler to shave off small shreds of cheese.
2. Use a sharp knife to slice of very slim pieces of cheese (this one will take longer!)
3. Chop cheese into smaller cubes and place in a food processor. Don’t overload your food processor and choose a shredding blade if you have one.
Barb says
I’d found a brakefast idea that even kids will love and the recipe called for shredded cheese and I only had block cheese and attempting to use a food processor earlier in the morning before the babies woke (my 1 year old and neices almost 2 and 3) wasn’t a good idea lol and my cheese grater is hanging on my wall as a antique lol so the tips of what I could use instead was very helpful! I put it in the freezer so i can get started soon! Thank you for the tips and help! 🙂
Chrysa says
You’re welcome! I’m glad it helped!
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Nicole Becker says
WOW!! Never thought about doing any of these except for putting it into the shallow food container!! Me and the hubby LOVEEE sharp cheddar on just about everything we eat and it is always such a mess. I never buy already shredded cheese because it is so much more expensive than doing it yourself. Thanks so much for these tips!! YOU ARE AWESOME!!
Jasmine P says
This is a great post! I always make a mess when I grate cheese.
Amy Gillespie says
Those were such common sense solutions….I wish I would have thought of them. I just love fresh grated cheese especially for cheese toast(Sharp Cheddar). Yes I too hate the cleanup. So ty 🙂
Jen Rodrigues says
Great tips. I hate grating cheese but I will have to use these tips next time. Thanks.
Danielle Nydam says
I love these tips. I am definitely going to be using some of these. I had no idea and my family is always grating cheese for certain meals and I always hated doing it because the cheese would go everywhere.
LisaLisa says
Great tips! I have never tried freezing the cheese before grating these tips will come in handy for the Holidays..Thanks for sharing!
NYCSingleMom says
This is brilliant. Sadly I am lazy and hate taking out my food processor to grate cheese and like using a grater so this is so timely.
Myrah - Coupon Mamacita says
What a great and helpful post! I make the biggest mess ever!
Susan says
this is great, I hate the mess the cheese leaves I will use this!
Maria says
I love fresh grated cheese! It makes such a huge difference in taste than package cheese.
valmg @ From Val's Kitchen says
I’ve never tried freezing the cheese before grating it, I’ll have to see how that goes.
Roxie says
I use my food processor. The mess is all in the bowl. No clean up at all except to wash the processor bowl and grate. Mine are dishwasher safe so the dishwasher does the work.