Ariete Grati Metal

Best Electric Cheese Grater Around - Although might be hard to get at a reasonable price – The Ariete Gratì Metal Cheese Grater has a design that matches the classic, vintage model called the Ronson Presto that my mum and Nonna still have from decades ago. Despite the design from ages ago, it looks great on the kitchen bench or on the wall if that's what you'd prefer, especially with the metal arm on top. Right out of the box, it's easy to see how user-friendly it is. Operating it is straightforward, and it's ready to go with just a press of a button.

Ease of Use and Charging: Using the Gratì is genuinely easy, which is something I appreciate in a gadget. However, the charging process leaves a bit to be desired. It’s rechargeable, and while that’s convenient, the NiMH battery is somewhat outdated, especially in today’s world where lithium batteries offer faster charging and better overall performance. With the Ariete, you're looking at quite a long charge time - upwards of 15 hours (according to the docs). That said, it compensates somewhat with a lasting charge; the device claims to grate up to 1 kg of cheese on a single charge, though I haven’t put that to the test.

Mounting and Accessories: One thoughtful design feature is the wall-mountable charging base. This is a nice touch for anyone looking to save a bit of counter space, keeping it ready to go when you need it. It comes with most of what you need, including the grater itself, the charging station, two interchangeable grating cylinders (a fine grate and a medium one), and a protective cover. Although it handles cheese grating well, an additional cylinder with a larger grate size would be useful for versatility.

Cleaning and Maintenance: Cleaning the Ariete Gratì Metal is straightforward but does require a bit of extra care. The device isn’t waterproof, so you’ll need to be cautious when rinsing it. Ariete does offer a waterproof model, though it’s nearly twice the price, which might not be worth it for everyone. For regular cleaning, a toothbrush or small cleaning brush works well to get into the small areas that tend to trap cheese residue.

Performance and Overall: Thoughts overall, the Ariete Gratì Metal is a solid choice if you’re looking for a rechargeable, aesthetically pleasing grater that handles its job well without too many frills. While it could benefit from a faster charging, more modern battery system and perhaps another grating cylinder option, it performs reliably and is easy enough to maintain. For those who want a more economical option that’s simple and functional, the Ariete Gratì Metal gets the job done, even if there are a few areas where it could be improved.

A little pricey for a cheese grater, but well worth it in my opinion. Can be purchased from Amazon.

Modification: After having used this for a while I figured out that this can be indeed converted to a lithium battery with a little electronic and soldering know-how. I purchased a 3.7V lithium battery and a small lithium battery charge controller IC (TP4056). Opened the unit and replaced the 2.4V NiMH battery with the lithium one, and mounted the charging controller inside the base station and connected the output to the existing charging contacts. To charge, I now plug in a USB C charger to the base and the grater will still charge from the base station as per normal. The result: The sightly higher voltage gives the grater more power (the motor turns slightly faster - yes, I'm aware that the higher voltage may damage the motor, but it hasn't happened yet), the battery holds it's charge for longer, and the battery will survive more recharge cycles before losing capacity.