What is the Difference Between Shred and Grate

The main difference between shred and grate is that shredding results in longer fragments, while grating results in shorter fragments.

Shredding and grating are two cooking instructions we often confuse since they are very similar. There is a difference between shredded and grated food based on their cooking time and consistency. Both involve food like cheese, coconut and non-leafy vegetables like carrots. You can either shred or grate food using a simple kitchen grater.

Key Areas Covered

1. What Does Shred Mean
     – Definition, Process, Shredding
2. What Does Grate Mean
     – Definition, Process, Grating
3. What are the Similarities Between Shred and Grate
     – Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Shred and Grate
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Cheese, Grate, Grating, Shred, Shredding

What Does Shred Mean

In cooking, shredding means to cut into shreds or thin strips. Recipes usually call for shredded food like cheese, carrots and cabbages. Shredding can be done with graters – either hand grater or box graters. For shredding, you can use a grater with big holes. You can even use a food processor for shredding.

Figure 1: Shredded Cheese

As shown in the above image, shredded cheese looks like thin strips of cheese. These strips usually take a longer time to melt or cook because of their size, when compared to grating.

Before shredding vegetables using a grater, you should first wash the vegetable properly and then peel the outer skin if necessary. Then push the vegetables along the bigger holes. It’s easier if you start from the top and move town. Be careful as not to hurt your fingers.

What Does Grate Mean

Grating means to reduce food material into small shreds by rubbing it on a grater. You use a grater on food like cheese and root-based, non-leafy vegetables. When compared to shredding, grating creates tiny pieces of food, which look like powder.

Figure 2: Grated Coconut

Grating is ideal when you want food like cheese to melt quickly or even a vegetable to liquefy in a sauce. You can do grating with a grater with tiny holes.  

Similarities Between Shred and Grate

• Shredding and grating involve slicing or cutting food materials like cheese, coconuts, and vegetables like carrots and cabbages, into small pieces.
• You can shred and grate using a side grater, box grater or even a food processor.
• Both processes result in small shreds.

Difference Between Shred and Grate

Definition

Shredding means to cut into shreds or thin strips while grating means to reduce food material into small shreds by rubbing it on a grater.

Sizes of Shreds

Shredding gives thin strips while grating gives tiny pieces of food which look like powder.

Grater

For shredding, you have to use the bigger holes in the grater, but for grating, you have to use the smaller pieces.

Cooking Time

Shredded food takes a slower time to cook while grated food cooks quickly. For example, shredded cheese takes a longer time to melt than grated cheese.

Conclusion

Shredding and grating involve slicing or cutting food materials like cheese, coconuts, and vegetables like carrots and cabbages, into small pieces. The main difference between shred and grate is that shredding gives thin strips while grating gives tiny pieces of food which look like powder. Moreover, shredded food takes a slower time to cook while grated food cooks quickly.

Reference:

1. “Technique of the Week: Grating.” We Like to Cook, Blogger, 8 June 2013, Available here.
2. “A Beginner’s Guide to the Most Confusing Cooking Terms.” Lifehacker, 7 Nov. 2013, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Grated cheese and grater” By Marco Verch Professional Photographer (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
2. “Grated Coconut – Howrah 2013-10-18 3544” By Biswarup Ganguly (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia

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