I picked up the Williams Sonoma Prep Tools Rotary Grater a little over two months ago, mostly on a whim during one of my weekend trips to the Upper West Side store. I was restocking some baking pans and spotted it near the checkout — compact, clean design, and it looked much sturdier than the cheap ones I’d gone through in the past. I cook almost every day for my family — two kids, my husband, and occasionally a few hungry neighbors who drop in — so any tool that makes prep work easier is worth trying.
First Impressions
Right out of the box, the grater felt solid. It’s not flimsy or overly plasticky like some other rotary graters I’ve owned. The handle turns smoothly, and the stainless steel drum has a reassuring sharpness to it. There’s a quiet sturdiness that makes it feel like it’ll last more than just a season of Sunday pasta nights.
It comes apart easily, which I appreciated — especially when you’re juggling dinner, homework questions, and a phone call from your sister, all at the same time. No tiny pieces to lose, no weird angles where cheese gets stuck and refuses to come out.
In the Kitchen
The first test run was a block of Parmigiano-Reggiano over a big pot of rigatoni with meatballs. That night, the grater passed with flying colors. No slipping, no cramping in my hand after turning for a few minutes — and the cheese came out in those perfect little curls that melt instantly into sauce. My younger daughter, who usually insists she “doesn’t like the stinky cheese,” asked for seconds. That was a small victory I owe, in part, to how fine and fluffy this grater made it.
I’ve since used it for everything from cheddar (over chili) to dark chocolate (on birthday cupcakes) and even tried grating some cold butter for biscuits. It handled all of it gracefully. There’s something satisfying about the clean, controlled way it works — it doesn’t splatter bits everywhere or shoot cheese across the cutting board like a box grater sometimes does when I’m rushing.
Cleaning and Storage
As a mom who tries to avoid spending her evening scrubbing sticky kitchen tools, I really appreciated how easy this is to clean. I usually just rinse it under hot water right after using it, and if I forget, even dried bits come off easily with a little soak. All the parts are dishwasher-safe, but to be honest, it’s so simple to clean by hand that it rarely makes it into the dishwasher.
It’s compact enough to tuck into my utensil drawer, though I tend to leave it out more often than not — both because I use it a lot, and because it looks nice. Clean, modern, and doesn’t feel out of place even next to my KitchenAid and Vitamix.
Final Thoughts
Living in New York means my kitchen isn’t the biggest, and I’ve learned to be picky about what earns a spot in my drawers. The Williams Sonoma Rotary Grater has more than earned its place. It’s one of those tools that quietly makes life easier — no fuss, no mess, just reliable performance every time. Whether I’m cooking a simple Tuesday night mac and cheese or putting together a more indulgent weekend spread, I find myself reaching for it again and again.
It’s the kind of tool that doesn’t just make prep easier — it adds a little pleasure to the act of cooking. And in a busy home where meals are our time to connect, unwind, and come back to ourselves, that means a lot.