What Is the Best Way to Grate Cheese?

Consider this your definitive guide to grating cheese! Nothing beats fresh, creamy cheese for taking any of your favorite dishes to the next level.

I've got step-by-step instructions for using a KitchenAid cheese shredder and shredding cheese by hand, as well as loads of suggestions and recommendations for getting precisely grated cheese every time.

Why would you want to shred your own cheese when the grocery store offers an unending supply of grated and shredded cheese? I mean, it's basically the same thing, right?

No, not exactly. To prevent the individual shreds from clumping together in the box, anti-caking chemicals such as cellulose powder are added to shredded and grated cheese at the grocery store.

This powdered coating is fantastic for keeping shredded cheese fresh in the supermarket, but it's not so great for cooking.

Shredded and freshly grated cheese

If you've ever created a cheese sauce with store-bought shredded cheese, you've probably noticed that it has a slight grittiness to it rather than being smooth.

Perhaps you've observed that when you add pre-shredded cheese to a pizza or baked potato, each individual shred melts but doesn't fully melt together. That's the anti-caking agent in action.

Skip the pre-packaged cheese and learn how to grate your own, and your mac and cheese will be smooth and creamy, your handmade pizza will have the ideal cheese pull, and your lasagna will taste just like the sort you get at your favorite Italian restaurant.

Why Should You Shred Your Own Cheese?

It's more flavorful; it's fresher, contains no extra cellulose, and contains no additional preservatives or additives.

Why restrict yourself to cheddar, Monterey Jack, Parmesan, and mozzarella when you can have more variety? You may buy blocks of havarti, smoked gouda, Dubliner, and any other specialty cheese you choose and instantly improve your meal.

It's cost-effective. We're all looking for ways to save money on groceries these days, and shredding or grating your own cheese can help you get more bang for your buck.

Smooth, creamy, melty bliss—you'll never go back once you start shredding your own cheese. Store-bought goods just cannot compete.

Selecting the Best Cheese: Shredding vs. Grated

In this post, we'll go over shredding and grating cheese. In recipes, the terms "grated" and "shredded" are occasionally used interchangeably. Technically, grated cheese is finer than shredded cheese, which is, well, shredded.

Hard cheeses, such as Parmesan, Pecorino Romano, and Asiago, are ideally suited for finer grating because of their crumbly nature due to their dryness.

These firm cheeses are versatile and may be used in sauces, salads, and other foods.

Softer cheeses, such as mozzarella, cheddar, and Monterey jack, on the other hand, are ideal for shredding. While these cheeses are fantastic in sauces, they may also be used in tacos, pizza, and casseroles.

Using a KitchenAid Mixer to Grate Cheese

For a comprehensive list of ingredients and directions, see the printable recipe card.

Prep: Begin by inserting the KitchenAid slicer/shredder attachment to your mixer and selecting either the medium or coarse shredding blade. Underneath, place a big basin to collect the cheese as it falls.

Load the cheese into the tube of the slicer/shredder attachment and begin your mixer on Speed 4. Push the cheese block into the feed tube with the food pusher.

Adjust: Increase or reduce the speed, but remember that shredding at a faster pace might result in a sloppy mess!