Grating a block of cheddar or Parmesan by hand is slow, and a hand grater turns into scraped knuckles fast once the block gets small. A food processor for grating cheese swaps that chore for a few seconds of pulsing, turning a whole brick of cheese into an even pile of shreds you can freeze, melt, or pile onto a casserole. We looked at 8 food processors from Hamilton Beach, Cuisinart, KitchenAid and more, all built around bowls large enough for real batches and reversible discs that handle both soft and hard cheese. Our top pick is the Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor for its combination of a wide feed tube, a dedicated shredding disc, and enough motor power to push through a cold block of Parmesan without stalling.
Every processor here also handles the everyday jobs a kitchen actually needs, chopping vegetables, mixing dough, slicing produce, so grating cheese is one job among several rather than the only trick it knows. If your kitchen is short on counter space, our guide to julienne slicers covers smaller manual tools worth a look before you commit to a full-size processor.
Cheese is one of the few ingredients that punishes a weak processor. Cold, dense blocks of cheddar or Parmesan strain a small motor and dull a soft-metal disc quickly, while a shredding disc that is not truly reversible leaves you stuck with one coarseness no matter what a recipe calls for. The models below were narrowed down specifically because each one ships with a proper shredding disc and a motor sized to keep it turning through a full block, not just the light chopping and pureeing that most food processor reviews focus on.
Pros
- Large 14-cup bowl shreds a full pound of cheese in one pass
- 720-watt motor pushes through cold, dense cheese without stalling
- Reversible disc switches between shredding and slicing
- Dishwasher-safe bowl, lid, blade, and discs
- Stainless steel housing feels sturdy on the counter
Cons
- Large footprint takes up significant counter and cabinet space
- Overkill for a household that only grates small amounts of cheese
The Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor is built for households that shred cheese in real quantities rather than a handful at a time. Its 720-watt motor keeps the reversible disc spinning at a steady speed even through a cold block of Parmesan, and the 14-cup bowl holds a full pound of shredded cheese without needing a second batch.
The reversible disc flips between a fine shred for melting into sauces and a coarser shred for topping a casserole, and a separate slicing side handles firmer cheeses like Gouda for a platter. The wide feed tube accepts a half block of cheese at a time, cutting down on prep before you even turn it on.
The main tradeoff is size. This is a large appliance that needs real counter space when it is out and a deep cabinet shelf when it is stored, so it is best suited to a kitchen that cooks in volume rather than a small apartment setup.
Bottom line: for anyone who grates cheese regularly and in real quantity, this is the most capable and consistent option in this lineup.
- Bowl capacity: 14 cups
- Motor: 720 watts
- Discs: reversible 4mm slicing/shredding disc
- Blade: stainless steel chopping/mixing blade
- Material: stainless steel housing, BPA-free bowl
- Dishwasher safe: yes, all working parts
Best for households that cook in bulk, host regularly, or want to shred and slice a week's worth of cheese in one session. Less suited to a small kitchen with limited storage or someone who only needs to grate a small block at a time.
Wash the bowl, lid, blade, and discs by hand or on the top rack of the dishwasher, and dry the discs fully before storing to prevent rust spots on the cutting edges. Handle the shredding disc by its center hub rather than the blade edges when removing it from the bowl.
Pros
- 10-cup bowl handles a full block of cheese without crowding
- Reversible disc covers both shredding and slicing
- Bowl scraper included for faster cleanup
- Large feed chute reduces pre-cutting
- Simple stack-and-lock assembly
Cons
- Motor is not the strongest in this lineup for very hard cheese
- Storage lid for discs is a separate piece that can go missing
The Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor is a straightforward workhorse aimed at everyday cheese and vegetable prep rather than restaurant-scale batches. The reversible disc shreds cleanly and flips to a slicing edge for firmer cheese, and the 10-cup bowl comfortably holds a full block without needing to stop halfway through.
The included bowl scraper is a small but useful extra, since grated cheese tends to cling to the corners of the bowl and a dedicated scraper clears it faster than a spatula. Assembly is simple, with parts that stack and lock without extra twisting.
The motor is capable but not the strongest in this group, so very cold, dense cheese benefits from a few minutes at room temperature first to avoid the motor laboring.
Bottom line: a dependable, easy-to-clean choice for a household that wants strong everyday performance without paying for restaurant-scale capacity.
- Bowl capacity: 10 cups
- Discs: reversible shredding/slicing disc
- Blade: stainless steel S-blade
- Extras: bowl scraper included
- Feed opening: large feed chute
- Dishwasher safe: yes
A good fit for a household that grates cheese weekly for tacos, casseroles, or pasta and wants a mid-size bowl without stepping up to a 12 to 14-cup model. Pair the shredding disc with a few minutes of chilling for hard cheese to keep the motor from laboring.
Fit the shredding side of the disc onto the drive shaft, load cheese chunks into the feed chute, and use the pusher rather than your hand to feed the block through evenly. Process in two batches if the bowl is more than two-thirds full to keep the shreds even.
Pros
- Auto-iQ presets take the guesswork out of chopping, slicing, and dough
- Strong peak wattage handles hard cheese with ease
- Reversible disc shreds fine or coarse
- 9-cup bowl fits most everyday batches
- Dishwasher-safe parts
Cons
- Preset programs run on their own timing, which takes getting used to for manual pulses
- Base is bulkier than its 9-cup capacity suggests
The Ninja Professional Plus stands out for pairing real shredding performance with Auto-iQ presets that automate chopping, slicing, pureeing, and dough in a single touch. For cheese specifically, the reversible disc shreds evenly and the 1,000-peak-watt base has no trouble with a cold block straight from the fridge.
The 9-cup bowl is a middle-ground size, roomy enough for a pound of cheese but not as large as the 12 to 14-cup options in this list. Where this model pulls ahead is versatility beyond cheese, since the dough blade and presets make it a genuine multi-tasker rather than a single-purpose shredder.
The presets run a fixed sequence rather than a manual pulse, so anyone who prefers full control over every second of processing may find the automation takes a session or two to get used to.
Bottom line: the strongest all-around pick if cheese is one of several jobs you want the processor to handle well.
- Bowl capacity: 9 cups
- Motor: 1,000-peak-watt base
- Discs: reversible slicing/shredding disc
- Extras: dough blade, Auto-iQ presets
- Material: BPA-free bowl, stainless steel disc
- Dishwasher safe: yes
Select the shredding side of the disc, load chilled cheese into the feed chute, and either run the manual dial or the closest Auto-iQ preset for slicing/shredding. Stop and check the bowl partway through a full load to keep shreds from packing down unevenly.
Best for a household that wants one appliance to cover cheese, dough, and purees without switching machines. Less ideal for anyone who wants a no-frills unit with only a manual pulse control.
Pros
- 12-cup bowl handles large batches without refilling
- Stack & Snap assembly locks together without twisting
- Reversible disc shreds and slices
- 2-speed motor for finer control
- Stainless steel blades and disc
Cons
- Larger bowl means more counter space when stored
- 2 speeds is fewer options than some competitors
The Hamilton Beach Stack & Snap 12-Cup Food Processor is built around one clear idea: make a large-capacity processor as fast to assemble as a small one. The Stack & Snap system lets the bowl, blade, and lid click into place without twisting or aligning tabs, which matters when cheese is sticking to your hands mid-prep.
The 12-cup bowl is large enough to shred close to a pound and a half of cheese in one pass, and the reversible disc handles both a fine shred for sauces and a coarser one for topping dishes. The 450-watt motor with 2-speed control is enough for most hard cheeses, though it works a bit harder than the higher-wattage models in this list on very cold, dense blocks.
Two speeds is fewer than some competitors offer, but for cheese specifically the difference rarely shows up in the final shred.
Bottom line: a strong choice for anyone who wants large-batch capacity without a fussy assembly process.
- Bowl capacity: 12 cups
- Motor: 450 watts, 2-speed
- Discs: reversible shredding/slicing disc
- Blade: stainless steel S-blade
- Assembly: Stack & Snap, tool-free
- Dishwasher safe: yes
Rinse the disc and blade promptly after use since dried cheese is harder to clean off the disc slots. Store the disc and blade in their protective cases to avoid nicks that dull the shredding edge over time.
Choose this model over the 8 or 10-cup Hamilton Beach options if you regularly cook for a crowd or like to shred cheese in bulk to freeze in portions. The tool-free assembly is a real advantage for anyone who finds twist-lock lids annoying to line up.
Pros
- Compact 7-cup bowl fits smaller kitchens and cabinets
- 2-in-1 feed tube handles both large and small ingredients
- Reversible disc shreds fine or coarse
- 3-speed control including pulse
- Recognizable, durable build quality
Cons
- 7-cup bowl requires batching for a full pound of cheese
- Fewer bundled attachments than larger models
The KitchenAid 7-Cup Food Processor trades bowl size for a compact footprint that fits kitchens where a 12 or 14-cup processor simply will not fit on the counter or in a cabinet. The 2-in-1 feed tube is a genuinely useful touch, letting you drop a full block through the large opening or feed smaller pieces through the nested small tube without swapping parts.
The reversible disc shreds cheese cleanly on both settings, and the 3-speed control with pulse gives more granular control than some 2-speed competitors. The smaller 7-cup bowl does mean a full pound of shredded cheese may need to be processed in two rounds rather than one.
Build quality is a step up in feel from some of the plastic-heavy budget models, which matters over years of regular use.
Bottom line: the best pick for a smaller kitchen that still wants dependable shredding performance and a trusted name.
- Bowl capacity: 7 cups
- Speeds: 3-speed control with pulse
- Discs: reversible shredding/slicing disc
- Feed tube: 2-in-1 large/small opening
- Blade: multipurpose blade included
- Dishwasher safe: yes
Best for apartments, smaller kitchens, or anyone who grates cheese in modest amounts and values counter and cabinet space over maximum capacity. Larger households that batch-cook should look at the 10 to 14-cup options instead.
If cabinet space is the deciding factor over how much cheese you can shred in a single pass, this is the model to prioritize in the lineup. Its 2-in-1 feed tube also makes it a solid pick for slicing produce for salads and toppings.
Pros
- Strong shredding performance for the price
- Large feed chute reduces cheese pre-cutting
- 450-watt motor handles hard cheese well
- Compact enough for smaller kitchens
- Dishwasher-safe stainless steel parts
Cons
- 8-cup bowl needs batching for very large amounts
- Fewer bundled attachments than premium models
The Hamilton Beach 8-Cup Food Processor delivers the core feature that matters most for this list, a reversible shredding disc paired with a motor strong enough to push through hard cheese, at a lower price than the larger Cuisinart and Ninja models. The large feed chute takes bigger cheese chunks than its 8-cup size might suggest, cutting down on prep time.
The 450-watt motor handles a cold block of cheddar or Parmesan without stalling, and the S-blade covers everyday chopping when cheese is not on the menu. The bowl is smaller than the 10 to 14-cup options here, so a full pound of cheese may take two rounds.
It does not come with the extra dough blade or presets that pricier models include, but for the specific job of grating cheese it performs just as cleanly.
Bottom line: the best balance of shredding performance and price in this lineup, especially for a smaller household.
- Bowl capacity: 8 cups
- Motor: 450 watts
- Discs: reversible shredding disc
- Blade: stainless steel S-blade
- Feed opening: large feed chute
- Dishwasher safe: yes
A strong pick for anyone who wants clean cheese shredding without paying for a 12 to 14-cup bowl they will not fill. It also handles everyday chopping duty well, making it a practical all-around choice rather than a single-purpose tool.
Wash the disc soon after shredding cheese, since dried residue is harder to clean out of the disc slots than off the smooth bowl. Store the blade and disc in a drawer separate from other utensils to protect the cutting edges.
Pros
- 11-cup bowl balances capacity and counter footprint
- Includes both slicing and shredding discs
- Stainless steel construction feels premium
- Chrome finish is easy to wipe down
- Dishwasher-safe parts
Cons
- Sits at a higher price than the smaller Hamilton Beach models
- Still sizable for a household that only shreds small amounts
The Cuisinart Pro Custom 11-Cup Food Processor sits between the brand's compact and 14-cup models, and for a lot of kitchens that middle ground is the right fit. The bundled shredding and slicing discs both handle cheese cleanly, and the stainless steel build with a chrome finish holds up well to daily use and wipes clean easily.
The 11-cup bowl comfortably fits a full block of cheese with room to spare, without the counter footprint of the largest 14-cup option. The feed tube is wide enough to skip most pre-cutting.
It costs more than the Hamilton Beach models in this list, and the capacity is still more than a household that shreds cheese in small amounts needs, so it makes the most sense for a mid-size kitchen that wants Cuisinart's build quality without the largest bowl.
Bottom line: a dependable middle-ground pick for shoppers who want premium build quality without going all the way up to 14 cups.
- Bowl capacity: 11 cups
- Discs: slicing and shredding discs included
- Material: stainless steel, chrome finish
- Feed tube: large opening
- Blade: stainless steel electric chopper blade
- Dishwasher safe: yes
Attach the shredding disc for cheese and the slicing disc for firmer blocks meant for a cheese board, loading chunks through the feed tube with the pusher rather than by hand. Run in short pulses for the cleanest, most even shred.
Dry the chrome housing after wiping it down to avoid water spots, and let the discs air dry fully before returning them to storage to keep the shredding edges from developing rust spots.
Pros
- Budget-friendly price point
- Touchpad controls are simple to operate
- 2 speeds plus pulse cover most cheese and chopping jobs
- Easy 3-in-1 assembly
- Dishwasher-safe parts
Cons
- Relies on the S-blade rather than a dedicated shredding disc
- Motor is the least powerful of the group for very hard cheese
The BLACK+DECKER 8-Cup Food Processor is the most budget-friendly option in this lineup and a reasonable entry point for someone who grates cheese occasionally rather than every week. The touchpad controls are simple, and the 3-in-1 easy assembly means the bowl, blade, and lid go together without much fuss.
Unlike most of the other processors here, this model relies on its stainless steel S-blade rather than a dedicated reversible shredding disc, which works fine for softer cheeses but produces a coarser, less consistent shred on very hard blocks like aged Parmesan.
The motor is the least powerful in this group, so it is best paired with cheese that has softened slightly rather than a block straight from the freezer.
Bottom line: a fair budget pick for occasional cheese shredding, though anyone grating cheese regularly will get a cleaner result from a model with a true shredding disc.
- Bowl capacity: 8 cups
- Controls: touchpad, 2 speeds plus pulse
- Blade: stainless steel S-blade
- Assembly: 3-in-1 easy assembly
- Dishwasher safe: yes
Best for a household that grates cheese occasionally and wants a low-cost entry point, or that mainly needs the processor for chopping and general prep with cheese as a secondary use.
Cut cheese into smaller cubes before loading, since there is no dedicated feed tube pusher sized for a full block, and use short pulses rather than continuous run time for a more even result with the S-blade.
Buying Guide: How to Choose a Food Processor For Grating Cheese
Not every food processor grates cheese the same way. Some come with a single reversible disc that flips between slicing and shredding, others ship with two or three interchangeable discs, and a few rely on the main S-blade alone, which turns cheese into a paste instead of clean shreds. The criteria below cover what actually changes the outcome when cheese is the job.
Bowl Capacity and Household Size
Bowl size decides how much cheese you can process in one pass before you have to stop and empty it. A 7 to 8-cup bowl is plenty for a household that grates a block or two at a time for tacos, pasta, or a casserole. Families who cook in bulk, or anyone prepping cheese ahead to freeze in portions, will run out of room fast in a small bowl and end up doing the job in three or four batches.
Bigger is not automatically better, though. A 14-cup processor takes up real counter space and a deeper cabinet shelf, and it is overkill if cheese and the occasional batch of salsa are the only jobs it will ever see. Match the bowl to how much you actually cook, not to the biggest number on the box. As a rough guide, one pound of shredded cheese fills roughly 4 to 5 cups once it is grated, so a household that shreds a pound or more at a time for pizza night or a big pot of chili should lean toward the 10 to 14-cup range rather than a compact 7-cup bowl.
Shredding Disc Quality
The shredding disc is the part that actually turns a block of cheese into usable shreds, and it matters more than the horsepower listed on the box. Look for a reversible disc that offers a fine and a coarse shred on opposite sides, since fine shreds melt evenly into sauces while coarse shreds hold their texture on top of a casserole or a plate of nachos. Stainless steel discs stay sharp longer than the softer metal used in some budget models, and a sharp disc grates cleanly instead of tearing the cheese into ragged clumps.
A few processors in this list also include a slicing disc alongside the shredding disc, which is worth having if you slice hard cheeses like Gouda or cheddar for sandwiches and platters in addition to shredding for cooking.
Motor Power for Hard Cheese
Soft cheese like mozzarella grates easily in almost any processor, but a cold block of Parmesan or aged cheddar is dense enough to stall a weak motor or make it labor and overheat. A motor in the 450 to 720-watt range handles hard cheese without bogging down, and a two-speed or multi-speed control lets you slow things down for delicate shredding and speed up for a quick chop.
Chilling the cheese for 15 to 20 minutes before grating firms it up and reduces the load on the motor, which helps even a mid-power processor produce cleaner shreds instead of a greasy clump.
Feed Tube Size and Assembly
A narrow feed tube forces you to cut a cheese block into small chunks before you can even start, which adds prep time and defeats some of the convenience. Look for a wide feed tube, or a two-in-one tube with a small opening nested inside a larger one, so a full brick of cheese drops in with minimal cutting first.
Assembly matters too. Processors with a simple stack-and-lock design go together and come apart in seconds, while models with fussy twist-lock lids and multiple small parts add friction to a job that should be quick. If you regularly grate cheese for a quick weeknight meal, a fussy lid is the kind of small annoyance that adds up over dozens of uses, even though it barely shows up in a one-time unboxing review.
Attachments and Versatility Beyond Cheese
A food processor bought for cheese rarely stays a one-job appliance for long. Most of the models here also include a standard S-blade for chopping vegetables and nuts, and several add a dough blade or Auto-iQ presets that extend the appliance into bread dough, hummus, and salsa. If you expect to use the processor for more than cheese, weigh how many discs and blades come in the box against how many you would actually reach for, since extra attachments only help if they solve a real task in your kitchen.
A slicing disc paired with the shredding disc is especially useful for cheese boards, letting you switch from shredded cheddar for cooking to clean slices of Gouda or Swiss for a platter without pulling out a knife.
Cleanup and Dishwasher-Safe Parts
Grated cheese sticks to plastic and metal alike, so cleanup speed is worth weighing before you buy. Every processor in this guide has a dishwasher-safe bowl, lid, and discs, which turns a sticky job into a rinse-and-load task instead of hand-scrubbing cheese out of disc slots. A bowl scraper or spatula included in the box is a small extra that saves scraping cheese out of corners by hand.
| Food Processor | Bowl Capacity | Shredding Disc | Motor Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuisinart 14-Cup (DFP-14BCNY) | 14 cups | Reversible slicing/shredding disc | 720 watts |
| Hamilton Beach 10-Cup (70730) | 10 cups | Reversible shredding/slicing disc | Stainless steel S-blade + disc |
| Ninja Professional Plus (BN601) | 9 cups | Reversible slicing/shredding disc | 1,000-peak-watt Auto-iQ base |
| Hamilton Beach Stack & Snap (70725A) | 12 cups | Reversible shredding/slicing disc | 450 watts, 2-speed |
| KitchenAid 7-Cup (KFP0718) | 7 cups | Reversible shredding/slicing disc | 3-speed control |
| Hamilton Beach 8-Cup (70740G) | 8 cups | Reversible shredding disc | 450 watts |
| Cuisinart 11-Cup (DLC-8SBCYP1) | 11 cups | Slicing and shredding discs | Stainless steel blade + discs |
| BLACK+DECKER 8-Cup | 8 cups | Stainless steel S-blade | 2-speed + pulse |
If cheese boards and hard-cheese slicing come up as often as shredding does in your kitchen, our flatware and cutlery guide is a useful companion for the knife side of that job.
Why You Should Trust Us
Our picks come from real listings on Amazon, and we weighed each one on the specifics that matter for grating cheese: disc quality, motor power, feed tube size, and how many verified owners rate the shredding performance highly. We read through the manufacturer specs and owner feedback for each model rather than relying on marketing copy alone, and we ranked using a scoring method that favors consistently high ratings across a large number of verified purchases over a handful of five-star reviews.
We also checked that every processor on this list includes a genuine shredding disc rather than relying solely on the chopping blade, since a blade alone turns cheese into a sticky paste instead of clean shreds. Models built only for chopping or blending, without a disc suited to cheese, were left off this list even if they perform well for other kitchen tasks.
We also gave weight to details that only show up after repeated use rather than in a single unboxing photo: how easily the bowl locks onto the base, whether the discs stay sharp after a dishwasher cycle, and whether the feed tube is wide enough to skip pre-cutting a full block of cheese. Processors that scored well on paper but leaned on a narrow feed tube or a disc prone to dulling were ranked below models that were more modest on capacity but held up better for the specific job of shredding cheese.
Final Thoughts
For most kitchens, the Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor (Best Overall) is the easiest recommendation. Its wide feed tube, reversible shredding disc, and 720-watt motor make quick work of a cold block of Parmesan or a bag of cheddar without stalling, and the bowl is large enough to grate a full pound in one pass.
If you want the same shredding performance without paying for extra capacity you will not use, the Hamilton Beach 8-Cup Food Processor (Best Value) grates cleanly and cleans up fast for a fraction of the footprint. Households that batch-cook or host often should look at the Hamilton Beach Stack & Snap 12-Cup instead, since its larger bowl and tool-free assembly are built for bigger jobs. Whichever size you land on, browse the rest of our home and kitchen picks for tools that pair well with a new food processor.
Two other models are worth calling out for specific kitchens. The Ninja Professional Plus is the strongest pick if you want the food processor to double as a dough and puree machine, since its Auto-iQ presets take the guesswork out of switching tasks. The KitchenAid 7-Cup is the better fit for a smaller kitchen that still wants a name-brand build and an adjustable slicing disc, even though its bowl is the tightest fit of the group for a full pound of cheese in one pass.
FAQs
What is the best food processor for grating cheese in 2026?
The Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor is our top pick for food processor for grating cheese thanks to its wide feed tube, reversible shredding disc, and 720-watt motor, which together handle hard cheese without stalling or leaving ragged shreds.
Can any food processor grate hard cheese like Parmesan?
Not every model handles it well. Hard, cold cheese needs a stainless steel shredding disc and a motor strong enough to keep the disc spinning at speed instead of bogging down. Chilling the cheese beforehand also makes a real difference, since a firm block grates far more cleanly than one that has softened at room temperature.
Is a food processor better than a box grater for cheese?
For small amounts, a box grater is faster to grab and rinse off. For a full block or multiple blocks at once, a food processor is faster overall and spares your knuckles, since the disc does in seconds what a box grater takes several minutes of hand cranking to finish.
How do I keep grated cheese from clumping in a food processor?
Clumping usually comes from cheese that is too soft or a bowl that is overfilled. Chill the cheese first, cut it into pieces that fit the feed tube without forcing, and process in smaller batches rather than packing the bowl to the top. Tossing the shreds with a spoonful of cornstarch also helps if you are storing them for later rather than using them right away.
Do I need a special disc for shredding cheese?
Yes. The main S-blade included with most processors chops and purees but does not shred cleanly, so you need the reversible shredding/slicing disc that ships with each model on this list. If a processor only comes with the S-blade and no disc, it is not a good match for regularly grating cheese. For general kitchen upgrades beyond cheese prep, see our cookware set recommendations.
Write Your Review
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience!