It turns out that the fourth side of the box grater isn’t just for skinning your knuckles, as folks on the internet are just learning.

The handy box grater has to be one of the most commonly used kitchen gadgets across the land but most of us have been left scratching our heads at the purpose of the teeny tiny holes on one side.

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The purpose of this side of the grater is for finely grating hard cheeses like parmesan into a fine snow, and zesting citrus fruit. It can even be used to mince garlic and ginger in a pinch (though we’re skeptical of that one). If you’re garnishing dessert, it can also be used for chocolate and nutmeg.

The side you know is the one filled with medium-sized holes for shredding cheese. The side with the slightly smaller holes is for (unsurprisingly) a slightly smaller shred of cheese. The side with one or two long slits is a mandolin of sorts and is ideal for slicing potatoes and onions. 

The more ya know!

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