Most people have a cheese grater in their kitchen, and if you’re like most home cooks, you’ve probably used it for shredding cheese, slicing vegetables, or zesting citrus. But have you ever looked at that fourth side—the one with the tiny, sharp holes—and wondered, “What is this actually for?”
You’re not alone! Many people overlook this side or assume it’s useless, but it actually serves a very specific and helpful purpose. Let’s dive into the true function of this mystery side and how you can use it to up your kitchen game!
What Is the Fourth Side of a Cheese Grater For?
The side with the tiny, raised holes is designed for grating ultra-fine shavings of food, also known as pulverizing or making zest-like textures. The most common use?
👉 Making finely grated cheese – Perfect for melting evenly into sauces, soups, and pasta dishes.
👉 Turning hard cheeses into powder – Works great for Parmesan, Pecorino, and aged Cheddar to sprinkle on your favorite dishes.
👉 Grating nutmeg, cinnamon, and chocolate – Adds a fine, flavorful dusting to lattes, desserts, and baked goods.
👉 Creating onion or garlic paste – Instead of mincing with a knife, run an onion or garlic clove over this side to create a smooth paste—perfect for soups, marinades, and sauces.
👉 Breaking down stale bread into fine breadcrumbs – No food processor needed! Just rub dry bread against this side for a fine breadcrumb consistency.
👉 Grating citrus zest super fine – If you don’t have a zester, this side works to create extra-fine zest for baking and cooking.
How to Use It Properly
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