12 foods you can grate outside of cheese with a cheese grater

Grating cheese is a common kitchen task that most of us are familiar with, whether it’s for topping a pizza, adding to a casserole, or spicing up a salad. But the humble cheese grater has potential far beyond working with just cheddar or Parmesan. This often underutilized kitchen tool can help you prep ingredients in new and exciting ways, from vegetables to chocolates. Here’s a list of 12 foods you can grate that might just change your cooking and meal prep game.

Carrots are a versatile vegetable that can be grated for salads, coleslaw, carrot cake, or even for sneaking into pasta sauces for an extra dose of nutrition. Grated carrot cooks quicker, integrating easily into a variety of dishes.

Zucchini can be grated and used in bread, muffins, and pancakes for moisture and nutrition. It's also great for making zucchini fritters or topping a pizza when you're looking for a lighter touch.

Grated potatoes are the foundation of latkes, hash browns, and many other crispy potato dishes. The key to great-grated potatoes is to ensure they’re dried well before cooking to avoid sogginess.

Grated apples can be incorporated into breakfast dishes like oatmeal or pancake batter, added to cakes and pies for natural sweetness, or used in a fresh apple slaw.

Beets can be tough to chop, but they're surprisingly easy to grate. Use them raw in salads or bake them into savory beet galettes for an impressive dish. Remember to wear gloves if you want to avoid stained hands!

Grating garlic is a time-saver compared to mincing, and it creates a smoother, more integrated flavor. A cheese grater does a perfect job and can help avoid the lingering garlic smell on your hands.

Fresh ginger can be a chore to mince, but it grates beautifully. Grated ginger is perfect for stir-fries, dressings, or making a zesty tea. Plus, it’s easier to get past the fibrous texture when it's grated.

Hard butter is a challenge in recipes. Grating frozen butter makes it easy to incorporate into doughs for pastries or scones, leading to a flakier texture.

For baking or garnishing desserts, grated chocolate is a must. It melts evenly in baked goods and makes a pretty topping for cakes and hot beverages.

Stale bread can be grated to make breadcrumbs for coating or adding bulk to meatballs or meatloaf. It's an economical way to use up leftover bread and adds a homemade touch to your dishes.

Whole nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, and other spices can be grated to add robust flavor to dishes. Freshly grated spices are more aromatic and flavorful than pre-ground varieties.

While you might typically slice or dice cucumbers, grating them is ideal for tzatziki or other sauces and salads. The watery nature of cucumber means grated pieces can blend seamlessly into dishes.

Grating isn't just for cheese. Expanding your use of the cheese grater can make preparation easier, introduce new textures to your cooking, and perhaps even inspire you to create new recipes. Give these foods a try the next time you pull out your grater, and you might be surprised by the versatility it brings to your culinary creations.