Can a Food Processor Grate Cheese?

While a food processor is a handy tool for grating cheese, there are some cheeses that just don’t do well in it. Here’s a list of cheeses you might want to avoid grating:

• Creamy, Spreadable Cheeses: Cheeses like cream cheese, ricotta, mascarpone, Brie, and Camembert are too soft. They tend to smear or stick to the blades rather than grate.
• Crumbly Cheeses: Cheeses that naturally crumble, like blue cheese, don’t hold up well in a food processor. They tend to fall apart instead of grating evenly.
• Cheeses with Rinds or Add-Ins: Cheeses that have rinds, herbs, or other add-ins can grate unevenly and potentially damage your food processor’s blade.
• Fresh, Wet Cheeses: Fresh cheeses like cottage cheese or fresh mozzarella contain too much moisture for effective grating in a food processor.

How to Shred Cheese Using a Food Processor

Grating cheese with a food processor is super easy and a real time-saver. Here’s a simple guide to get you started:

Step 1: Freeze Your Cheese

If you’re using a softer cheese, pop it in the freezer for about 20 minutes. If the pre-shredded cheese is not firm enough, it will clump together into a ball when grated.

Step 2: Prep Your Food Processor

Grab your food processor and attach the grating disc – this is usually the one with small holes that look like a traditional box cheese grater. Securely fit this disc onto your processor. Most food processors have a simple click-or-lock mechanism for this. Also, check that the main bowl is firmly attached to the base.

Step 3: Cut the Cheese

If your cheese block is too big, use a sharp knife to cut it into chunks that will fit easily into the feed tube of your food processor. Also, remove the rind if you’re not going to eat it.

Step 4: Get Grating

Turn on your food processor, and gently push the cheese through the feed tube. Most processors have a pusher tool to help with this. Keep feeding the cheese until it’s all grated.

Step 5: Clean Up

Once you’re done, disassemble the food processor and wash the parts. Cheese can stick to the blades and grating disc or box grater, so a quick clean right after use is a good idea.

Tips and Tricks for Grating Cheese

• Use a steady pace when pushing the cheese through the feed tube. Pushing too quickly can jam it while going too slowly might not grate it evenly.
• To prevent softer cheese from clumping together, add a bit of flour or cornstarch.
• Clean your food processor right after use. Cheese residue can be tough to clean if it dries up. If the cheese refuses to come out, use warm soapy water.
• If you don’t plan to use your freshly shredded cheese right away, store it in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag in the fridge. You can store your grated cheese for up to a week.

Summary

And there you have it! Shredding cheese with a food processor is as simple as that. Not only does it save time, but it also gives you perfectly grated cheese every time.

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