People are only now realizing what the FOURTH side of a cheese grater is for
- The mysterious fourth side of the cheese grater has baffled social media users
- Some Reddit users have admitted to having no idea what to use the feature for
You can expertly follow a recipe, have a few signature dishes under your belt, and even boast that you’re a bit of a “foodie” to work friends… but do you know what the fourth side of the cheese grater is for?
The pockmarked piece of stainless steel has left food fans baffled after a Reddit user posted a photo of his own cheese grater, with the side with the smallest holes.
He asked, “Does anyone ever use this part of the grater?” What’s it for anyway?’
In a comment, the user added, “All this has ever done is hurt my hand, but I’ve literally never used those little hole rasps before.” Just use the other side to make grated cheese.’
It’s pretty obvious what one, two, and three are for… but what about the fourth side of the cheese grater?
People are only just realizing what the fourth side of a larger cheese is used for after a Reddit user was stunned and searched the site for answers
And it turns out you/MrLewk wasn’t alone in his uncertainty, as hundreds of people struggled to give a solid answer.
One person commented, “It’s to get the b***y thing stuck in the kitchen drawer and tear off a piece of the front of the drawer.”
An equally confused Reditter wrote, “I got this exact one…and I also assumed it was to cut the cheese a bit after grating. “All it does, though, is raise your hand if you’re not holding it…mf…scrapes a good knuckle…”
While another joked, “It’s very useful for shredding cleaning sponges.”
However, some savvy chefs have happily provided some insight into using the dreaded fourth side.
One person wrote, “It took me years to figure out, parmesan cheese and lemon/orange/lime rind is best shredded on those two sides.”
Reddit user MrLewk posted a photo of his cheese grater (pictured), prompting a deluge of comments from other confused users – some savvy chefs happily shared their knowledge
A second suggested, “Zest hard cheese, garlic, nutmeg, or maybe ginger to make a paste.” Another person added, “Potato pancakes come out great with this side!”
Food experts Marthastewart. com have weighed in on the debate ever since, and accordingly the smallest holes in the grater produce ‘the finest pieces of cheese’.
“If you want to mimic the pre-grated hard cheese sold in plastic containers or cardboard cans at the supermarket, choose this side. It should produce a consistency so fine that the cheese dissolves easily in salad dressings, sauces and casseroles,” they wrote.
They continued, “This side is also used to grate nutmeg and citrus zest. It’s also the one most likely to cut your knuckles if you’re not careful, and the one that’s the hardest to clean, so use it judiciously.”
They explained that the largest holes are for shredding semi-hard cheese like cheddar or gruyere, but they’re also perfect for grating fresh produce.
The smaller grating holes are made for grating cheese, chocolate, vegetables and more. It is best used when a recipe calls for a finely grated ingredient.
And finally, the side with the wide slots is designed for slicing and works well for quickly making slices of cheese or vegetables.
They also suggested ways to effectively clean your cheese grater, recommending using an abrasive sponge or soaking it overnight to remove the hardened food stuck to it.