A rotary cheese grater, or “mouli grater” as it’s often called in the UK, holds the cheese against a drum that you turn with a handle. Your fingers never go near the blade, it’s quicker than a box grater, and the cheese drops neatly into a bowl. There are two main styles: small handheld graters for parmesan at the table, and larger tabletop graters with suction bases that also slice and shred vegetables. Here are five worth buying, then a short guide to choosing.
How we chose: we haven’t tested every grater in this guide by hand. The picks are based on each product’s listed specifications, the design features that matter most for grating, and how widely each one is bought and rated on Amazon UK. We’ll add hands-on notes as we use them.
Our top picks
BEST TABLETOP
Zulay 5-blade
Five drums for grating, slicing and julienne, a suction base and a food pusher. Grates a whole block in minutes.
BEST HANDHELD
Dexam rotary grater
The classic mouli grater design, with three stainless steel drums for fine, coarse and sliced. Light and inexpensive.
BEST FOR PARMESAN
OXO Seal & Store
A stainless steel handheld grater with a sealed cap, so you can keep the parmesan inside it in the fridge.
All five at a glance
| Grater | Type | Drums | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zulay 5-blade | Tabletop, suction base | 5 | Whole blocks of cheese, veg prep | See on Amazon |
| SUSTEAS 5-blade | Tabletop, suction base | 5 | Value, with blade storage | See on Amazon |
| Geedel 3-blade | Tabletop, suction base | 3 | Simple everyday grating | See on Amazon |
| Dexam rotary grater | Handheld | 3 | The classic mouli grater | See on Amazon |
| OXO Seal & Store | Handheld | 1 | Parmesan and other hard cheeses | See on Amazon |
Tabletop rotary graters
These sit on the worktop on a suction base. You drop cheese or vegetables into a hopper, press down with a pusher and turn the handle. They take bigger pieces and come with several drums, so they double as a slicer and shredder for coleslaw, salads and hash browns.
1. Zulay 5-blade: best tabletop grater
Type: tabletop · Drums: 5 stainless steel · Base: suction · Dishwasher safe: hopper and blades
Five drums cover slicing, wavy slicing, coarse shredding and fine and coarse julienne. A food pusher keeps your hand clear of the blades, and the handle works for left- and right-handed cooks. The barrel is angled slightly so grated food falls out rather than clogging. It comes with a storage box for the spare drums.
Why it’s here
- Five drums for cheese and vegetables
- Works left- or right-handed
- Storage box keeps the drums together
Worth knowing
- Plastic body, so turn the handle steadily rather than forcing it
- Base and handle need wiping by hand
2. SUSTEAS 5-blade: best value
Type: tabletop · Drums: 5 (slice, wavy slice, 2mm julienne, 4mm and 6mm shred) · Base: suction · Dishwasher safe: all but the base
A similar five-drum design to the Zulay, usually for a little less. The drums use 18/10 stainless steel and live in an included storage case, and everything except the base can go in the dishwasher. It comes in several colours, including a retro green, if it’s going to live on the worktop.
Why it’s here
- Five drums at a lower price
- Nearly everything is dishwasher safe
- Choice of colours
Worth knowing
- The suction base needs a clean, smooth worktop to hold well
- Heavier and taller than handheld graters
3. Geedel 3-blade: simple and sturdy
Type: tabletop · Drums: 3 (slice, coarse shred, fine shred) · Base: suction · Size: 26 x 12 x 24cm · Dishwasher safe: yes
If you mainly grate cheese and don’t need five drums, this three-drum Geedel covers the basics with fewer parts to assemble and store. The blades are stainless steel, the chute slopes down into your bowl, and the grating parts go in the dishwasher.
Why it’s here
- Fewer parts, quick to set up
- Sloped chute for mess-free grating
Worth knowing
- Usually costs more than the five-drum SUSTEAS
- Suction grip varies with your worktop
Handheld rotary graters
The traditional mouli grater. You clamp a piece of cheese in the hopper with one hand and turn the drum with the other, grating straight onto your plate. They’re small enough for a drawer and ideal for parmesan, chocolate and nuts.
4. Dexam rotary grater: the classic mouli grater
Type: handheld · Drums: 3 stainless steel (fine, coarse, slice) · Body: plastic · Size: 19cm · Dishwasher safe: yes
This is the design most people picture when they hear “mouli grater”. You lift the top, put the cheese in, lower the handle to press it against the drum and turn. Three stainless steel drums cover fine grating, coarse grating and slicing, and the whole thing goes in the dishwasher.
Why it’s here
- Three drums for different textures
- Compact enough for a drawer
- Lowest price in this guide
Worth knowing
- Light plastic body, so it’s not the toughest here
- Cut cheese into small pieces to fit the hopper
5. OXO Good Grips Seal & Store: best for parmesan
Type: handheld · Drum: 1 stainless steel, medium · Extras: collecting cap, silicone seal · Dishwasher safe: yes
A large stainless steel barrel with a medium grating surface suited to hard cheeses, chocolate and nuts. The cap collects the grated cheese and has a window for pouring out as much as you want. A silicone seal means you can store a piece of parmesan inside the grater in the fridge, ready to use.
Why it’s here
- Sealed storage for parmesan in the fridge
- Cap catches and pours grated cheese
- Comfortable OXO grips
Worth knowing
- Best with hard cheeses; softer cheddar can stick in the barrel
- Only one grating surface
- Stock on Amazon UK can be limited, so check delivery times
How to choose a rotary cheese grater
- Handheld or tabletop: handheld graters are best for grating a little cheese straight onto a dish. Tabletop graters are better for whole blocks and vegetable prep.
- Drums: one fine drum is enough for parmesan. Three or five drums add coarse grating, slicing and julienne for salads and coleslaw.
- Suction base: tabletop graters rely on suction to stay put. They grip best on smooth surfaces such as laminate, glass or polished stone.
- Hand strength: a tabletop grater takes less grip than a handheld one, because you press down with the pusher and turn the crank rather than squeezing.
- Cleaning: look for drums and hoppers that come apart and go in the dishwasher. Rinse them straight after use; dried cheese is hard to shift.
Tips for cleaner grating
- Grate cheese straight from the fridge. Cold cheese grates more cleanly than warm.
- For softer cheeses like mozzarella or mild cheddar, 15 minutes in the freezer firms them up and stops them clogging the drum.
- Cut the cheese to fit the hopper rather than forcing it in.
- Wipe the worktop and the suction base before you start, so the grater stays put.
Common questions
What is a mouli grater?
In the UK, “mouli grater” usually means a hand-cranked rotary grater: you hold the cheese against a drum and turn a handle. It’s a different tool from a mouli food mill, which purées cooked food.
Is a rotary grater safer than a box grater?
Yes, for most people. Your hand presses on a handle or pusher, not the cheese itself, so your knuckles never get near the blade. That’s why they’re popular for cooking with children.
Can you grate cheddar in a rotary grater?
Yes, especially in a tabletop grater with a coarse drum. Softer cheeses can clog handheld graters, so chill the cheese well first.
Can a rotary grater do vegetables?
Tabletop graters can. Carrots, cucumber, courgette and potatoes all go through their slicing and shredding drums. Handheld graters are better kept for cheese, chocolate and nuts.
Are rotary graters dishwasher safe?
The drums and hoppers usually are. Suction bases and handles often need wiping by hand, so check the listing for the model you choose.
Making mash for Christmas too? See our guide to the best potato ricers.
As an Amazon Associate, Mouli World earns from qualifying purchases. Product details are taken from manufacturer and retailer listings in October 2026. Check the Amazon listing for the current price and specification.
