Kamil Perry
The first cheese graters were made out of bronze and silver alloys in the early first millennium BCE, with examples uncovered from burial sites in Greece and Italy. However, the first modern cheese grater is often attributed to Frenchman François Boullier in the 1540s. Boullier's original grater was made out of pewter and is reportedly on display in a museum in Le Havre, France.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of invention | 1540s |
| Inventor | Frenchman François Boullier |
| Purpose | To grate hard, sometimes dried-out cheeses |
| Material | Pewter |
| Location | France |
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What You'll Learn
- The first cheese graters were made in the early first millennium BCE from bronze and silver alloys
- The first modern cheese grater is attributed to François Boullier in 1540s France
- The oldest graters were made of bronze or iron sheet perforated with square section nails
- The first modern grater depiction is in the Bartolomeo Scappi Work, published in Venice in 1570
- During the Great Depression in the 1920s, Jeffrey Taylor of Philadelphia made his own cheese grater by sharpening the holes of a metal shower drain
The first cheese graters were made in the early first millennium BCE from bronze and silver alloys
The first "modern" cheese grater is attributed to Frenchman François Boullier in the 1540s. Boullier's grater was made from pewter, a soft metal, and was used to grate hard, sometimes dried-out cheeses. This invention led to the division of time into two epochs: Before Grated Cheese (BGC) and After Grated Cheese (AGC).
The oldest graters were made of bronze or iron sheet perforated with square section nails that, when opened, raised the metal teeth to crush the cheese. Over time, graters have been made from various materials, including silver, iron, steel, glass, porcelain, stoneware, and plastic.
In the 1920s, during the Great Depression, Jeffrey Taylor of Philadelphia created his own cheese grater by sharpening the holes of a metal shower drain. Since then, various inventors, designers, and utensil companies have continually offered remodelled graters.
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The first modern cheese grater is attributed to François Boullier in 1540s France
The first modern cheese grater is attributed to Frenchman François Boullier in 1540s France. Boullier made his first cheese grater out of pewter, a soft metal, to grate hard, sometimes dried-out cheeses, which turned them into a sort of condiment. The invention of the cheese grater is so significant that some people divide time into two epochs: Before Grated Cheese (BGC) and After Grated Cheese (AGC).
The oldest graters were made of bronze or iron sheet perforated with square section nails that, in opening the holes, raised the metal teeth to crush the cheese. There are also graters made of silver alloys, as evidenced by examples uncovered from burial sites in Greece and Etruscan Italy. These early graters were sometimes used to grate goat's cheese in the making of a type of Kykeon, a fast-breaking drink.
One of the earliest known depictions of a grater that resembles contemporary designs appeared in the Bartolomeo Scappi work, *Opera dell'arte del cucinare*, illustrated by Milano Agrappi, published in Venice in 1570. However, this predates Boullier's invention by several decades, and it is unclear whether this design was ever produced.
Since Boullier's invention, various inventors, designers, and utensil companies have continually offered remodelled graters.
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The oldest graters were made of bronze or iron sheet perforated with square section nails
The first graters were made out of bronze, silver alloys, or iron sheet perforated with square section nails. These were made in the early first millennium BCE, with examples uncovered from burial sites in Greece and Italy. They were used to grate goat's cheese in the making of a fast-breaking drink called Kykeon.
The first "modern" grater is disputed, with some attributing it to Frenchman François Boullier in the 1540s, while others point to a depiction in Bartolomeo Scappi's Opera dell'arte del cucinare, illustrated by Milano Agrappi and published in Venice in 1570.
Boullier's grater was made out of pewter, a soft metal, to grate hard and sometimes dried-out cheeses. This invention led to the division of time into two epochs: Before Grated Cheese (BGC) and After Grated Cheese (AGC). Grating cheese allowed for a more even distribution of cheese when melting it in cooking, a technique that is still used today.
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The first modern grater depiction is in the Bartolomeo Scappi Work, published in Venice in 1570
The oldest graters were made of bronze or iron sheet perforated with square section nails that, in opening the holes, raised the metal teeth to crush the cheese. These graters were made out of bronze and silver alloys in the early first millennium BCE. Examples of these graters were uncovered from burial sites in Greece and Etruscan Italy. In line with Homer's *Iliad*, these graters were sometimes used to grate goat's cheese in the making of a type of Kykeon, a fast-breaking drink.
Centuries later, during the Great Depression in the 1920s, when food was scarce and home cooks sought to make dishes look more ample than they were, Jeffrey Taylor of Philadelphia heard of Boullier's invention and made his own cheese grater by sharpening the holes of a metal shower drain. Since then, various inventors, designers, and utensil companies have continually offered remodelled graters.
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During the Great Depression in the 1920s, Jeffrey Taylor of Philadelphia made his own cheese grater by sharpening the holes of a metal shower drain
The first attested graters were made out of bronze and silver alloys in the early first millennium BCE, with examples uncovered from burial sites in Greece and Italy. However, the first "modern" cheese grater is attributed to Frenchman François Boullier in the 1540s. Boullier made his first cheese grater out of pewter to grate hard, sometimes dried-out cheeses, which turned them into a sort of condiment. Pewter is known as a rather soft metal, and Boullier's original grater is reportedly on display in a museum in Le Havre, France.
Centuries later, during the Great Depression in the 1920s, when food was scarce and home cooks sought to make dishes look more ample than they were, Jeffrey Taylor of Philadelphia heard of Boullier's invention and made his own cheese grater by sharpening the holes of a metal shower drain. Taylor's innovation demonstrates the enduring appeal of grated cheese, even during challenging economic times. It also highlights the resourcefulness of people in finding creative solutions to stretch their food supplies and enhance their meals.
Since Taylor's invention, various inventors, designers, and utensil companies have continually offered remodelled graters, each promising improved performance and convenience. However, some cooks still prefer the simplicity and reliability of older grater designs, passing them down through generations as trusted kitchen tools.
The evolution of the cheese grater, from ancient bronze tools to modern innovations, showcases the ongoing quest for culinary convenience and the enduring popularity of grated cheese in various forms and recipes.
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Frequently asked questions
The first cheese grater was made in the 1540s by Frenchman François Boullier.
The first cheese grater was made from pewter, a soft metal.
The first cheese grater was used to grate hard, sometimes dried-out cheeses, which turned them into a sort of condiment.
The oldest known depiction of a grater that resembles contemporary designs appeared in the Bartolomeo Scappi work, Opera dell'arte del cucinare, illustrated by Milano Agrappi, published in Venice in 1570.
The first attested graters were made out of bronze and silver alloys.
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