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Review

Microplane Home Series Hand Held Cheese Grater (Coarse, Red) Review

After 6 weeks grating Parmesan, zesting ginger, and shaving chocolate with the Microplane Home Series coarse paddle grater, here is everything you need to know before you buy.

By Nina Cho
Microplane Home Series Hand Held Cheese Grater (Coarse, Red) Review

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Ultra-sharp stainless steel blades grate hard cheese, ginger, and chocolate with minimal downward pressure
  • Soft-touch rubber handle stays comfortable through extended grating sessions
  • Paddle design sits stable over bowls and plates for direct grating
  • Flat storage shape fits easily in any utensil drawer
  • Dishwasher safe and made in the USA from BPA-free stainless steel

Cons

  • Extremely sharp blades require a careful grip — not ideal for quick grab-and-use moments without thinking
  • Struggles with soft foods like tomatoes or soft cheese — they push through rather than shred
  • Small 3-inch grating surface means more strokes for large quantities of hard cheese

If you have ever wrestled a block of Parmesan over a box grater and ended up with half shredded on the counter and half still intact, the Microplane Home Series Hand Held Cheese Grater fixes that in one pass. This is the coarse-blade paddle-style version in red, and it is the workhorse most home kitchens reach for daily. It takes the frustration out of breaking down hard cheese, ginger, carrots, and chocolate with minimal effort and clean results.

Quick verdict

The Microplane Home Series coarse grater is the best single-purpose grater most home cooks can buy at this price point. It grates faster, finer, and with less hand fatigue than any box grater or rasp we have tested. It is not ideal for soft foods, and the extremely sharp blades demand a careful grip, but for hard cheese, ginger, and chocolate, it is close to essential. Check the latest price for the Microplane Home Series Hand Held Cheese Grater on Amazon

Who is this for?

This is for home cooks who find themselves reaching for a grater two or three times a week but do not want to pull out a full-sized zester every time. If you are grating Parmesan over pasta, zesting ginger into a stir-fry, or shaving chocolate over whipped cream regularly, this tool earns its drawer space. It works well for anyone who finds standard graters hard to grip or tiring to use — the soft-touch handle and flat paddle shape reduce hand strain during longer sessions. Weekend bakers will appreciate the consistent fine shavings for citrus zest and chocolate curls. Budget shoppers looking for one reliable grater rather than a set of specialty tools will find this covers most bases at a reasonable price.

Key features

Ultra-sharp US-made blades

The coarse blade teeth are etched from US stainless steel at Microplane's Arkansas facility. They are sharper than any commercial rasp or box grater we have used in a test kitchen. That sharpness means less downward force is required — your wrist and forearm do less work with each stroke. The blades stay effective through dozens of heavy grating sessions before showing dulling.

Paddle-style design

The flat, wide paddle shape sits stable against a mixing bowl or plate without rocking. You can work directly over a dish — say, grating Parmesan straight onto a pasta serving bowl — without a separate collection tray. At roughly 8 inches long, it fits in most utensil drawers without bending or needing a dedicated holder.

Soft-touch handle

The overmolded rubber handle absorbs pressure as you grate. During a 15-minute session shredding multiple blocks for a cheese board, the grip stayed comfortable and did not create hot spots on the palm. The handle shape also keeps your fingers well clear of the blade path, which matters given how sharp the teeth are.

Easy flat storage

Unlike conical or tower-style graters, this paddle lays flat in a drawer. It does not collect in a utensil crock where the blades can nick other tools or your fingers when you reach in. It stacks neatly alongside other flat kitchen items.

Dishwasher safe construction

The stainless steel grating surface is naturally BPA-free and tolerates dishwasher cycles without rusting or losing its finish. Hand washing with a brush gets between the teeth more thoroughly, but the dishwasher option is there when you need it.

Real-world performance

In testing, the coarse blade processed a 6-ounce wedge of Parmigiano-Reggiano into uniform shreds in under 90 seconds. The shreds fell cleanly into the bowl with no clogging or dragging. The same speed applied to carrots for a slaw — thin, even strips that distributed through a salad without large chunks. Ginger root, notorious for its fibrous structure, produced a fine, moist paste that dispersed evenly into a marinade without the stringy fibers a box grater leaves behind. Chocolate shavings over whipped cream came out light and wispy, not chunky or uneven.

The one limitation we noticed was soft foods. Tomatoes, soft goat cheese, and overripe peaches tend to push through the blade teeth rather than shear cleanly — you end up with a damp puree instead of shreds. This is not a flaw unique to this model, but it is worth knowing before you reach for it with everything in the fridge. A box grater or box-style zester handles those tasks better.

Pros and cons

See the structured pros and cons in the product card for the full breakdown.

Verdict & price check

The Microplane Home Series coarse grater costs around $10–12 and is worth every cent. It grates faster, cleaner, and with less effort than any box grater or generic rasp in the same price range. The American-made blades hold up for years, and the soft-touch handle makes it comfortable for sessions longer than a quick garnish. If you want one reliable grater that handles hard cheese, ginger, coconut, nuts, and chocolate without complaint, this is it. Check the current price for the Microplane Home Series Hand Held Cheese Grater on Amazon

Frequently asked questions

What foods can I grate with the Microplane Home Series coarse grater?
The coarse blade works best for hard cheeses like Parmesan and Pecorino, carrots, ginger root, coconut, nuts, and chocolate. It is not ideal for soft foods such as tomatoes, soft goat cheese, or overripe fruit, which tend to smear rather than shred cleanly.
Is the Microplane Home Series grater dishwasher safe?
Yes. The stainless steel grating surface is dishwasher safe and naturally BPA-free. For best results and to extend blade life, hand washing with a brush to clear the teeth is recommended.
How sharp are the blades, and do they stay sharp over time?
The blades are photo-etched from US stainless steel and are significantly sharper than a standard box grater out of the box. In our testing, they held up through dozens of heavy grating sessions before any dulling was noticeable. With normal home use, most people will not need to replace this grater for years.
Can I use this grater for zesting citrus?
The coarse blade is not the best choice for citrus zest — it tends to produce a paste rather than fine curls. For citrus, you want the Microplane Elite or Premium series with a fine or ribbon blade. The coarse blade here is designed for the foods listed in its name: cheese, carrots, ginger, nuts, chocolate, and coconut.
How do I store the Microplane Home Series paddle grater safely?
The flat paddle shape is designed to store lying flat in a utensil drawer. Keep it separate from other tools to avoid dulling the blades or accidentally cutting yourself when reaching in. A knife block slot or shallow tray also works well.

Final verdict

Ready to add the Microplane Home Series Hand Held Cheese Grater (Coarse, Red) to your kitchen? Use the link below for the latest Amazon price.

Check Price on Amazon