Grated Cheese Substitutes

Out of grated cheese? These are the swaps that actually work, with conversion ratios for any recipe size and notes on how each one changes the result.

Need to convert grated cheese between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the grated cheese converter.

What to use instead of grated cheese

  • Parmesan Cheese

    Ingredient swap

    1:1 by volume (100 g per cup each)

    Parmesan is a sharper, nuttier upgrade for generic grated cheese: both weigh 100 g per cup, so the volume measure stays the same. Parmesan's stronger flavour means you may want to use slightly less; it works best in pasta, risottos, and gratins where a distinct, aged-cheese note is welcome.

    See parmesan cheese substitutes →

  • Pecorino Romano

    Ingredient swap

    1:1 by volume (100 g per cup each)

    Pecorino Romano is a sharper, saltier alternative to generic grated cheese: both weigh 100 g per cup, but Pecorino's bold sheep's-milk flavour is more intense. Use it where a stronger, more distinctive cheese note is wanted, and reduce any added salt in the recipe to compensate.

    See pecorino romano substitutes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for grated cheese?
There are 2 workable substitutes for grated cheese, depending on what you have on hand and which property of grated cheese matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1:1 by volume (100 g per cup each). Each option below lists the conversion ratio for any recipe size, plus notes on how the swap changes the texture, flavour, rise, or browning.
Will substituting grated cheese change how my recipe turns out?
Yes, every swap trades one property for another: fat content, moisture, acidity, or protein. The notes on each substitute describe what changes in texture, flavour, rise, or browning, so you can choose the swap that matters least for your recipe. Open the grated cheese converter
How do I measure grated cheese accurately?
Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The grated cheese converter on this site converts between cups, grams, ounces, tablespoons, and teaspoons, so you can scale a recipe up or down without losing the ratio. Open the grated cheese converter

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