The History of the Cheese Grater

Both François Boullier and Isaac Hunt have been separately credited with inventing the cheese grater in the 1540s. Boullier, who lived in France, created his cheese grater from pewter and reportedly hoped that his invention would help people make better use of excess cheese. Isaac Hunt, who lived in England, created a similar grater that was also intended to help households stretch cheese due to a shortage in England. Then in the 1930s, during the height of the Great Depression in America, a Philadelphia cheesemonger and entrepreneur named Jeffrey Taylor wanted to find a way to help people stretch what little cheese they could afford. He read about Boullier’s invention and created his own cheese grater by sharpening the holes of a metal shower drain. In the intervening years, companies released cheese graters in various materials and styles. Today, cheese graters remain important kitchen tools.