People are only just discovering use of the fourth side of the cheese grater

There's a whole load of mysteries in this wild rollercoaster ride we call life.

One of which, no doubt, seems to be perplexing people for decades is what on earth is the actual use of the fourth side of the cheese grater.

Well, search for the answer no further as we have finally solved the age-old the conundrum at long last.

OK - so you've got four sides on your bog-standard box cheese grater each serving its own unique purpose.

The first two sides are typically used for straightforward grating (one large and one fairly small) and the third side is meant for slicing - kind of like a mandoline but far less sharp.

But, what on earth is that fourth and final side actually used for?

One person took to Reddit to put the mystery to the internet, asking: "Does anybody ever use this part of the grater? What is it even for??"

People were quick to share their theories with one joking: "Knuckle shredding."

A second echoed: "Slicing your knuckles open."

"Ruining sponges," declared a third while a fourth chimed in: "Back scratcher."

"It's for the bottom of your foot," quipped a fifth.

Reddit

Another added: "It’s for getting the bloody thing stuck in the kitchen drawer and tearing a chunk of the front of the draw off."

We've all been there.

Others, however, gave some slightly more helpful suggestions.

"Nutmeg, possibly?" wondered one person.

"Lemon zest?" asked a second.

A third responded: "Garlic and ginger?"

"Making breadcrumbs," guessed a fourth while a final Reddit user resolved 'Parmesan."

So - which is it?

Milanchikov / Getty Images

Well, according to the Martha Stewart, the last side of the box cheese grater has 'tiny punched-out holes' designed for zesting or 'very finely grating'.

The 84-year-old chef explained on her website: "The tiniest holes on the grater (the ones that look like teeth) produce the finest strands of cheese.

"If you want to replicate the pre-grated hard cheese (some call it 'cheese dust') sold in plastic tubs or cardboard cans at the grocery store, choose this side."

She added: "It should produce a consistency so fine that the cheese easily dissolves into salad dressings, sauces, and casseroles.

"This side is also used to grate nutmeg and zest citrus. It's also the one most likely to cut your knuckles if you're not careful, and the one that's the biggest drag to clean, so use it judiciously."

Guess you really do learn something new everyday.

Topics: Food and Drink, Life, Home

Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle is a Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from the University of Manchester in 2021 in English Literature. Alongside her studies, she was the Lifestyle Editor of The Mancunian, the largest student newspaper in the United Kingdom. Her favourite topics to write about include sex and relationships, bizarre lifestyle trends and all things travel.