If you’re a regular reader of Just One Cookbook, you already know that freshly grated ginger is an essential flavor in tons of Japanese dishes. It adds a spicy, refreshing kick that always manages to deepen flavor profiles, but it isn’t the easiest to chop and grate — that’s why I’m glad I own some of the best ginger graters. These handy gadgets are super helpful for adding bright aromatic to meals like everyone’s favorite Japanese curry or Ginger Pork! To help you find a good option, I’ve scoured the market to narrow down my list of top picks, including my favorite from Kyocera! For each, I considered the specs, customer ratings, and my own years of experience using ginger graters in my home kitchen. Ahead, check out the best ginger graters!
My Top Picks:
Reviews of The Best Ginger Graters
1. What’s in My Kitchen: Kyocera Advanced Grater
I absolutely love this ceramic ginger grater from Kyocera. I’ve been using it for a decade, and I’m a big fan of its features, like the raised central plate. It has rows of sharp ceramic teeth that grate ginger into fine, pureed-like pieces while collecting the ginger juice into a hollow area around the cutting surface. Separating the juice from the pieces is an important component in many Japanese dishes! The silicone base prevents it from slipping on most countertops, and I love that it’s dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup, too. While I primarily use mine for grating ginger, it’s also good for grating daikon, wasabi, onion, garlic, and hard cheeses like parmesan. This model has a smaller 3.5-inch sibling, which may work for those extremely pressed for countertop space, but I’ve personally found the smaller version less efficient and comfortable to use than this 6.5-inch version. The Specs:
Dimensions: 6.4” x 6.4” x 1.2” Material: Ceramic Cleaning: Dishwasher-safe Weight: 1.41 ounces
The Pros:
Collects juices without the need for a separate bowl Grates ginger into tiny pieces Silicone base Durable Dishwasher-safe
The Cons:
Some bits of ginger can get stuck Some reviewers found that the ceramic teeth broke their ginger
What Others Are Saying: Buy the Kyocera Advanced Ceramic Grater:
2. Most Stylish: TSUBOE Japanese Copper Grater DO-070
If aesthetics are as important as function to you, this Japanese-made copper could be a great choice. I’ve used this grater in the past, and its beautifully crafted appearance made a lovely addition to the decor hanging on my kitchen wall. That’s not to say it’s lacking in function, though: I found that it did a great job grating ginger, garlic, and small citrus fruit, especially since it’s on the smaller side. However, with a cutting surface just 2 inches wide and 2.5 inches tall, it’s not a great choice for grating daikon or other large items. Also, if you’re looking to collect the juices from grating effectively, you’ll need to place this grater in a bowl as you work. The Specs:
Dimensions: 5.25” x 2.9” x 0.6” Material: Copper Cleaning: Hand wash Weight: 0.15 pounds
The Pros:
Pretty Good for grating small items Durable Made in Japan
The Cons:
Expensive for its small size No built-in juice collector
What Others Are Saying: Buy the TSUBOE Japanese Copper Grater DO-070:
3. Best For Juices: Motoshige Pottery Ishimi Yaki Radish Grater
This grater is functionally quite similar to the Kyocera that I currently use in my own kitchen. While it’s labeled as a radish grater, the teeth in the center make it so it can easily tackle other small vegetables and aromatics like ginger and garlic. It’s a bit larger than my top pick (7.3 inches diameter) and has a more artisanal look and feel with its dark, multi-colored finish and irregular ceramic cutting teeth. It also features a pronounced spot that’s great for collecting and pouring out juices. This makes it much easier to use the juices in a recipe during or after you’ve finished grating. The Specs:
Dimensions: 10.16” x 9.33” x 5.08” Material: Ceramic Cleaning: Dishwasher-safe Weight: 18.6 ounces
The Pros:
Large cutting surface and bowl to store juice Spout makes pouring out juice easy and precise Finish and irregular cutting teeth give a handmade, artisan look Made by a well-known and respected Japanese brand
The Cons:
Irregular ceramic cutting blades may result in different-sized pieces of grated vegetable Limited reviews
Buy the Motoshige Pottery Ishimi Yaki Radish Grater:
4. Best Microplane Grater: Microplane Ginger Tool
As one of the biggest names in kitchen grating tools in the US, it’s not a surprise that one of the best ginger graters is from Microplane. While I’m still partial to Japanese-made graters for my own kitchen, this tool is definitely a good option. It combines three functions: grating, slicing (like a mandoline), and peeling all into one device. Unlike the original microplane, which used rectangular cutting teeth, the grating surface here uses triangular cutting teeth that are more effective at cutting through the fibrous flesh of a ginger root. Though primarily marketed as a ginger grater, it can also take on garlic and turmeric, and it’s dishwasher-safe. Just remember that it doesn’t have a built-in juice collector, so you’ll need to grate into a bowl if you want to save your ginger juice. The Specs:
Dimensions: 10.75” x 2” x 0.5” Material: Stainless steel, plastic Cleaning: Dishwasher-safe Weight: 2.8 ounces
The Pros:
Grates ginger effectively Other functions (slicing and peeling)
The Cons:
Recessed blades may be somewhat difficult to access for cleaning
What Others Are Saying: Buy the Microplane Ginger Tool:
5. Best Budget Grater: OXO Good Grips Etched Ginger & Garlic Grater
When it comes to value in a ginger grater, shoppers have a clear favorite in this model from OXO. Designed to grate garlic or ginger into fine paste with minimal effort, its etched stainless steel blade measures an impressive 3.5 by 6 inches, which should be more than large enough to grate radish or other large vegetables and fruits. Safe to put on the top rack of your dishwasher, it also has a soft, non-slip handle and even includes a snap-on cover that holds grated vegetable pieces as you go. The Specs:
Dimensions: 2.15” x 1.66” x 12.16” Material: Stainless steel Cleaning: Top rack dishwasher-safe Weight: 73 grams
The Pros:
Affordable Finely grates ginger Large grating surface should be able to grate all but largest ingredients Soft-grip handle Dishwasher-safe
The Cons:
No effective built-in way to save juice Some reviewers say plastic isn’t durable through extensive use over time
What Others Are Saying: Buy the OXO Good Grips Etched Ginger & Garlic Grater:
Other Ginger Graters to Consider
Microplane Classic Zester Grater
Radish Grater DAIKON OROSHI
Microplane Home Series Fine Grater
Moha Rotating Ginger Grater
Why You Can Trust Me
I used freshly grated ginger to add a lovely zing to my gyoza filling. Check out my gyoza recipe! Ginger plays such a central role in Japanese cooking, it’s been a part of my daily meals for as long as I can recall. While I’ve chopped plenty of ginger using a knife and cutting board, one of the best ginger graters is a real lifesaver in my kitchen. It saves me time and helps me grate ginger more finely than I could hope to without one.
Everything to Know Before Buying a Ginger Grater
Ginger grater is so helpful when I make a soothing cup of Honey Ginger Tea (shogayu), the best home remedy for cold!
What to Consider Before Buying a Ginger Grater
When deciding which of the best ginger graters to purchase, there are some things to consider.
Purpose: First of all, what kind of cuisine do you intend to cook? If it’s mostly Japanese dishes you’ll be cooking, I’d recommend looking for a grater that has a built-in bowl to collect the ginger juice extracted in the grating process. This is because Japanese cuisine typically uses this juice as well as the solid grated ginger pieces. Quantity: Second, how much ginger do you think you’ll need to grate? If you need to grate a lot, either because you have a large family or just really like ginger, I’d recommend a larger grater with a correspondingly large grating surface, since you’ll be able to grate more ginger more quickly. On a related note, if you intend to grate larger items like daikon with your grater, a larger cutting surface will be necessary. Functionality: Third, are you looking primarily for functionality, or do you want a ginger grater that both works well and looks great? If it’s the latter, you’ll likely want to spend a bit more money on an artisanal product, like the Tsuboe or Motoshige products from Japan.If you just need an effective grater that you’ll store out of sight most of the time, something like the Kyocera or OXO models in my top picks should be more than sufficient.
How Do You Grate Ginger?
Freshly grated ginger is an elemental flavor in Japanese curry! Get my Japanese curry recipe!
How Do You Grate Ginger Without a Grater?
If you don’t have a proper grater, there are a couple of ways to create finely chopped pieces of ginger similar to those you would make with a grater. For more irregular pieces, you can use a fork. Place the fork with its prongs facing upward on a cutting board, then carefully applying some downward pressure, run a peeled piece of ginger over the tines. Repeat the process until you have enough grated ginger to meet your needs. Alternatively, if you’d like more regular pieces of ginger, you can simply peel a piece of ginger and then finely mince it on a cutting board using a sharp knife.
Is It Better to Grate or Slice Ginger?
Sometimes, adding bits of ginger around the dishes is nice, so I do that. I use slices of ginger for boiling or stewing, where I can remove them quickly. Grating the ginger helps to intensify the flavor with a small amount, making it suitable for certain dishes. So, it really comes down to the dishes you’re making.
Can You Microplane Ginger?
It is possible to grate ginger using a classic microplane. It is not ideal, however, as the long, thin blade of the microplane can make grating larger pieces of ginger awkward, and catching the resulting ginger pieces and ginger juice in a bowl can be difficult. Also, due to the inward curving blade, pieces of ginger can become stuck and make cleaning difficult. Instead, I would recommend opting for a pick from my list of the best ginger graters.
Delicious Recipes with Grated Ginger
Blistered Shishito Peppers with Ginger Soy Sauce – an amazing and versatile appetizer to go with your BBQ meals. Now that you’ve decided on one of the best ginger graters to buy, here are some of my favorite recipes that incorporate the refreshing, spicy taste of ginger:
Honey Ginger Tea Vegetarian Ramen Blistered Shishito Peppers with Ginger Soy Sauce Okra with Ginger Soy Sauce Ginger Pork Rolls with Eggplant Miso Ginger Pork
Prices were accurate at time of publication.
