Having Problems Grating Ginger? Say Hello to the Ginger Grater

Grating ginger, like many other acts of grating, could be tedious or even result in waste. Have you always wondered if there’s a better option?

How about you use a utensil specially designed for such a purpose? In this case, a ginger grater, but just any type – the ginger grater.

Ginger graters come in different designs but they all have one thing in common – the grating mesh.

They are several tiny holes on which you rub your ginger, shredding it into the tiny pieces you need. The sizes of the mesh holes differ, depending on the manufacturer.

They can produce fine or coarse texture so the type of product you go with depends on your desired texture. They are fast, efficient, and easy to use. They are also less wasteful.

Without further ado, compiled below is a list of some of the best products you can use to grate your ginger.

What is a Ginger Grater?

Almost every household own at least one grater so everyone is familiar with the concept of grating. A ginger grater is basically a grater used to grate – or simply put, shred ginger into tiny pieces.

They come in different designs but most products make use of stainless steel material to make the grating surface. Most designs included a handle, mostly made from a plastic or rubber material.

Another feature you may find, depending on the manufacturer, is a safety cover – to safely keep the sharp tiny blades away. Other features include non-slip rubber feet and edge support.

Why do I need a Ginger Grater?

First of all, they provide you with a fast and efficient way of grating ginger. They are also easy to use, requiring you just rub the ginger across the grating surface applying very little pressure.

In terms of safety, some products come with safety covers to shield the sharp grating surface when not in use, and during use, your hands will never come in contact with the grating surface.

In addendum, most ginger graters offer multiple functions and can be used on other food besides ginger such as chocolate, nutmeg, garlic, or even to zest citrus fruits.

You can rely on their durability as they are made from quality materials compared to inferior graters that won’t last more than a month.

How to Use a Ginger Grater

Using a grater is super easy, but if you’re not already familiar with this concept the following outlined steps will guide you.

• Place the grater in a bowl or on a clean flat surface and firmly hold the handle.

• Grab the ginger with your other hand and gently rub the side (to avoid the fibers clogging the grate) on the grating surface from top to bottom.

• Continue rubbing back and forth over the grating surface making sure you apply the same pressure to ensure the ginger grates evenly.

How to Clean a Ginger Grater

A lot of ginger graters are dishwasher-safe so you can clean them using the dishwasher. All you have to do is just put them in the top rack and watch them come out sparkling.

Some products, however, are not dishwasher-safe and would have to be washed manually. If you belong in this category, place your grate under running water. The pressure of the running water will force out any stuck leftovers within the tiny blade holes. 

You can also clean using a sponge or hairbrush. It is advisable to clean immediately after use.

What’s the Best Way to Fix a Clogged Ginger Grater?

Your grater will eventually get clogged with fiber if you grate from the top or bottom of the ginger root.

There’s a solution for that. Place the grater under running water, preferably warm and use a hard sponge to scrub the stuck fiber away.

How to Grate Ginger without a Grater

While it’s easier to just use a grater, you can actually still grate your ginger without using a grater. There are a couple of methods you can use to achieve this and we’ll share them with you.

• Use a fork or spoon: start by peeling the bulb of your ginger and then use one or two tines of the fork to grind the ginger-like you are using a chisel. Using a fork is more effective but spoons work just fine also. So if you’re using a spoon instead, make use of the pointy edge to grate your ginger.

• Use a chopping board and sharp knife: First, cut your ginger into small sizes with flat sides. Place them on their flat sides on a chopping board and use the knife to cut them from the corners as thin as you can at an angle of 45 degrees. Continue shaving off thin slices until you’re done with all. Now, arrange the pile of thin slices on their flat side and use your sharp knife again to thin vertical slices and that’s it, you’re good to go.

How to Make a Ginger Grater at Home

If for some reason, you can’t get hold of a ginger grater, you can resort to making one for yourself making use of basic household items such as an empty soda can, can opener, sanding paper, and screwdriver.

You start by using the can opener to completely remove the top of the empty soda can which will reveal the inside of the can. Proceed to clean the can thoroughly and leave it to dry.

Use the screwdriver to punch holes into one side of the can. Make sure you follow the pattern of rows and columns, leaving your desired space in between. Note that the screwdriver head will determine how wide the holes will be, so pick that carefully before punching the holes.

Insert your screwdriver in the punched holes and pull out so the metal inside comes outward acting as the blades. Lastly, use the sanding paper to gently brush the holes and clean off excess metal bits. That’s it. Your metal can grater is ready.

Note: It is advisable to not punch holes throughout the side. You should leave some space for holding the can while grating.

Factors to Consider to Buy the Ginger Grater?

Buying the best product on the market can be difficult if you don’t know what to look for. Just because we want you to make the best decision, make sure to consider the following factors.

Durability

Getting value for your money is very important so make sure you won’t have to replace the product as soon as you get it. To ensure you get a durable product, check the construction materials.

Some products are made with ceramic or porcelain but generally, the winning formula is the combination of stainless steel and plastic – the former for the grate and the latter for the body or handle.

A ginger grater with stainless steel grate and plastic handle is the ideal choice.

Safety

Make sure the construction materials are of food grade and FDA approved especially if it has a plastic part. If it’s not directly specified, reach out to the makers to confirm.

Also, it would be great if the product comes with a safety cover so you can safely store your grater. This will help protect your finger from getting hurt when reaching for the grater in your kitchen drawer.

Ginger Grater Reviews

1. OXO Good Grips Etched Ginger & Garlic Grater: Best Overall

Highlighted Features

• Stainless steel grating surface
• Soft grip handle
• Safety cover and scraper
• Dishwasher-safe
• Non-slip feet

Expect nothing but fast, safe, and efficient grating from this product. It has an etched stainless steel grating surface that is sharp and will stay sharp so you can enjoy consistent efficient grating of your ginger – or garlic, turmeric, or horseradish. Yes, it offers multiple functions!

It’s a handheld product that safely rests on its non-slip feet while you’re grating and the handle is also non-slip and allows a comfortable grip.

There’s a safety cover included in the package to protect the grating surface and also to scrape your grated food from the surface. It goes in the top rack of dishwashers for fast and easy cleaning.

2. Kyocera Advanced Ceramic Grater

Highlighted Features

• Durable
• Corrosion-resistant
• Dishwasher-safe
• Multi-use

This ginger grater boasts of a rare design made from ceramic. It’s a round, bowl-like grater with a grating surface in the middle. There’s a silicone ring below the grating surface just to hold it in place.

The round grating surface is 3.5″ wide and the spaces around serve as a container to hold your grated food.

Since it’s made from ceramic, it is non-corrosive and durable. This ginger grater offers multiple uses as you can use it to grate chocolate, cheese, garlic, or daikon radish. It can also be used to zest orange, lime, or lemon.

It requires simple maintenance by just rinsing or placing it in the dishwasher. It’s lightweight and has rubber feet for increased sturdiness on surfaces you place it.

3. Deiss Pro Citrus Zester & Cheese Grater

Highlighted Features

• Stainless steel grating surface
• Multiple uses
• Dishwasher-safe
• Firm handle

Whenever you need to grate and zest, you can rely on this 2-in-1 product to smoothly get the job done for you. The grating/zesting blades are sharp and made from stainless steel which means it won’t rust and will last long.

It is long; about 15.2″ in length and has a solid handle for firm grips. On the end of the long grating surface is a rubber base to prevent slips and it comes with a blade cover to ensure safety after use.

Cleaning is as easy as it gets, just places under running water or better still, place in your dishwasher.

4. Sweese Porcelain Grater Plate for Ginger

Highlighted Features

• High quality
• Multi-functions
• Dishwasher-safe
• Non-slip rubber feet

Sweese Porcelain Grater Plate for Ginger stands at 0.8″ tall and 4.4″ wide. It’s a bowl-like product with double curved openings to pour out juice. Overall, it’s a quality product made from hard-paste porcelain which is resistant to chip and stain.

The grating area is 2″ wide and contains tiny sharp holes to grate your ginger. It doesn’t end there. This product offers an additional function of making fruit or carrot paste and can also be used to grate onions, garlic, and other spices.

The space around the grate area collects the ginger fiber. Underneath are three non-slip rubber feet to ensure stability on tables or countertops. It is dishwasher and microwave safe.

5. Jofuyu Ginger Grater

Highlighted Features

• Stainless steel grate
• Multi-purpose
• Firm handle
• Non-slip foot support

Making use of this product will be very easy courtesy of its brilliant design. It has a total length of 15.7 inches with the grating surface covering most of it – about 10.5 inches. Speaking of the grating surface, it is made from premium 18/8 stainless steel which means the blades are sharp and durable.

The handle accounts for the remainder of its length. It is made from silicone to make sure it’s comfortable and firm to hold during use. It has a hole at the end if you prefer to hang it in your tool rack.

At the tail end of the grating surface is a non-slip foot which serves as support on whatever surface you place this ginger grater on.

It can be used not to grate ginger alone but also parmesan cheese, chocolate, garlic, nutmeg. You can use it on carrots, potatoes, and citrus fruits. It is dishwasher-safe. 

6. Yoshikawa Oros Grater

Highlighted Features

• Stainless steel construction
• Concave design
• Dishwasher-safe
• Very portable

If you ever need to grate tiny sizes of ginger, here’s the product you should get. It’s a small ginger grater with a length of just 7.87″. It boasts of a concave design which is a nice touch to it.

Weighing less than 1kg, it’s a lightweight ginger grater that can be moved and used anywhere. Of course, it can also be stored easily by simply placing it in your drawer.

It is most useful when you need to grate ginger directly into your dish and certainly adds more style to your table courtesy of its fancy look. Whenever you need to wash; it goes right into the top rack of your dishwasher.

7. AsonTao Premium Multipurpose Cheese Grater: Budget Pick

Highlighted Features

• Grate made from stainless steel
• Comfortable handle
• Base support
• Safety cover
• Dishwasher-safe

Here’s another quality product made from premium 18/8 stainless steel and BPA-free plastic for the grate and handle respectively.

The grate is sharp and can be used to also grate hard chocolate, cheese, garlic, carrot, onion, cabbage, and many more. The handle is non-slip and comfortable to hold.

This 12.2″ long grater has a width of 2.5″ with the grating surface about 5.9″ in length – sufficient to grate enough ginger. The design has been engineered to making its use very simple and comfortable.

Base support with rubber covering the stainless steel ensures stability on any surface you place this product during use and it comes with a safety cover to shield the sharp grate when not in use.

It can be cleaned easily by placing under running water or in the dishwasher.

8. Joseph Joseph Shred-Line Garlic and Ginger Grater

Highlighted Features

• Stainless steel construction
• Very portable
• Odorless
• Dishwasher-safe

A true definition of “last but not least”, this grater quickly turns your ginger or even garlic into tiny shreds making use of its dual action grate or cutting blades. It boasts of a 100% stainless steel construction which eliminates any form of odor.

Its brilliant design makes it useful in grating nutmeg and a whole lot of other spices. It doesn’t have a handle but can be held at the end of the loop. The loop is used for hanging the ginger grater on the tool rack.

Its compact design makes it super easy to store. It’s also dishwasher-safe for hassle-free maintenance.

9. Yarmoshi Ginger Grater

Highlighted Features

• Stainless steel grate
• Dishwasher-safe
• Soft rubber handle
• Thermo-resistant

Here’s an excellent product from Yarmoshi. It’s a brilliant combination of quality and comfort making use of stainless steel for the grate and soft rubber for the handle.

To prevent scratches on your countertop, the grater is housed in a plastic body that is strong and also thermo-resistant.

Apart from grating ginger, you can also grate garlic, cheese, chocolate, nutmeg, or zest citrus. At 8 inches long and 3 inches wide, it can be stored easily in drawers or can be hung through the loop on the penguin handle.

It’s easy to use and requires a little pressure as the blades are very sharp. Thinking of how to wash? It is dishwasher-safe for stress-free cleaning.

10. COOKDUO Ginger Peeler with Grater

Highlighted Features

• Versatile
• Stainless steel grate
• Firm, robust handle
• Dishwasher-friendly

This is a 2-in-1 product providing you with an extra feature of peeling in addition to grating ginger. It boasts of a solid construction making use of stainless steel for the grate and non-slip plastic material for the robust handle.

All materials used are BPA-free, hence it is safe to use. The grating surface is surrounded by sharp contour wings which do a great job peeling your ginger (but make sure to soak in water for a few minutes to soften the ginger skin).

When you’re done using and ready to clean, it goes in the top rack of your dishwasher for fast and easy cleaning. 

Final Thoughts

A ginger grater is an indispensable kitchen utensil not just because it does an excellent job grating ginger; it can also be used on other foods such as garlic, chocolate, cheese, etc.

If you regularly find yourself needing tiny bits of ginger then you should get a ginger grater. The tricky part now is which product to pick from the large pool of ginger graters available.

The good news is, it’s not so tricky anymore. Our reviews and buying guide will help you make the best decision and if you’re still confused, here are a couple of recommendations.

Without wasting your time while internet shopping, simply go for OXO Good Grips Etched Ginger & Garlic Grater. It’s the best product with features like a strong and sharp stainless steel grate, a safety cover, and non-slip feet. It is also dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.

Are you on a low budget and still want top quality? The product you’ll be looking for is AsonTao Premium Multipurpose Cheese Grater. It boasts of stainless steel and silicone construction for the grating surface and handles respectively. It comes with a safety cover and is dishwasher-safe.