What is fine strainer
Mia Morrison
Updated on April 13, 2026
A fine mesh strainer, also known as chinois, is used for straining liquids when a velvety texture is desired. These tend to be expensive, but are a must for any serious home cook. Some even come with a pestle to help you strain every ounce of food (but you could always use the back of a ladle).
What is fine mesh strainer used for?
Fine-mesh strainers are great for rinsing rice, washing small quantities of herbs or vegetables, sifting flour or powdered sugar, and straining sauces and blended purees.
What is considered a fine mesh strainer?
Fine sieve: mesh size = 1/32 inch. Used most for refining texture and separating fine particles or seeds, such as for a fresh berry sauce Superfine sieve, a.k.a. tea strainer: Mesh size is so small you can barely see through it, let alone measure it. Used most for dusting desserts with cocoa or confectioners’ sugar.
What can I use as a fine strainer?
- Tongs.
- Slotted Spoon.
- Lid.
- Cheesecloth.
- Coffee Filters.
- Bandana.
- Pantyhose.
- Fine Mesh Bag.
What is a coarse strainer?
A Coarse Strainer industrial water filter is an in-line configuration of an automatic self-cleaning water filter. … A Coarse Strainer industrial water filter is often used in combination with other Forsta filter models to provide complete equipment protection.
Can I use mesh strainer for frying?
Though they can act like handheld strainers perfect for rinsing berries and other small foods, they’re also capable of a wide variety of kitchen tasks. They’re a great choice for removing pieces of fried chicken from a deep skillet without destroying the crisp crust and transferring them to a rack to cool.
What if I don't have a fine mesh strainer?
Generally if a fine mesh sieve is called for, a basic colander won’t work because the holes are too big. … Simply layer the coffee filter inside your colander. I found it works best to get it wet first before adding your ingredients. Coffee filters also work for things like straining bacon grease for storing.
Can I use a strainer instead of a sieve?
Yes you can use a strainer to sift a powdered ingredient such as flour if you are in a sifting dilemma. Using a fine mesh strainer will sift any powdered ingredient but it may require more patience and time than if using a sifter. Just ensure the strainer you are using is clean and dry.What does cheesecloth look like?
What is cheesecloth? Cheesecloth is a cotton cloth that is loosely woven and resembles gauze. It comes in seven grades, from open to extra-fine weave. The grade is determined by the amount of threads per inch constructed in each direction.
Is colander same as strainer?A strainer is really a catchall name for any type of, well, strainer. It is usually fine mesh and bowl-shaped, good for rinsing a pint of berries or draining pasta. A colander is typically a larger bowl-shaped strainer, often with bigger holes (although that’s not always the case).
Article first time published onCan I use a mesh strainer for pasta?
Fine mesh strainers are good for a whole lot more than rinsing vegetables, draining pasta, or straining the solids from stocks and broths. Here’s a look at our go-to tips.
What is conical strainer?
Conical Strainers are temporary devices for mechanically removing unwanted solids from liquid, gas or steam lines by means of a perforated or wire mesh straining element. They are temporary used in pipelines to protect pumps, meters, control valves, steam traps, regulators and other process equipment.
What is a pasta strainer called?
A colander (or cullender) is a kitchen utensil used to strain foods such as pasta or to rinse vegetables. The perforated nature of the colander allows liquid to drain through while retaining the solids inside.
What's a soup strainer?
Noun. 1. soup-strainer – slang for a mustache. toothbrush. moustache, mustache – an unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip; “he looked younger after he shaved off his mustache”
Can you use a shirt as a strainer?
The majority of kitchen towels are made of cotton, but it is always best to check that the one that you have is made of this before you use it to strain stock. Alternatively, you can use muslin fabric, fine mesh bags, coffee filters, and even socks to strain stock.
Can I strain with a paper towel?
If you ever find out you’re short on cheesecloth in the kitchen, a coffee filter or linen dish towel — even a paper towel — can work in a pinch. Line a strainer with a coffee filter or towel (linen or paper) to strain stocks and broth, and substitute a coffee filter for cheesecloth when you need a sachet.
Can I use a tea towel instead of cheesecloth?
While using tea towels, opt for those which are non-dyed and have been washed repeatedly. They are a close substitute to cheesecloth as they have the same weaving pattern when threadbare.
Can I use strainer for deep frying?
The 5” deep fryer strainer is ideal for everyday use. The long handles are perfect for scraping the bottom of all fryers as well as skimming all floating particles. Nickel plated, this square skimmer is extremely durable, they will both stand up to any cooking temperature.
Can I use a strainer in hot oil?
Use a wire-mesh strainer or a slotted spoon with a long handle to remove food from the hot oil. Both utensils let the oil drain off, allowing you to remove just the food.
Why do you strain chicken stock?
It makes straining your stock a one-step operation – you are filtering out the big stuff and the little stuff all at once, resulting in a pot full of strained stock. …
Should you filter bone broth?
Homemade Bone Broth MUST HAVE #5: A Good Strainer For the majority of us that means a cheesecloth-lined strainer or a fine mesh strainer. Another choice is the bouillon strainer below for those of you that make large batches.
Do you have to strain stock?
A good stock isn’t done until it’s been strained, seasoned and cooled. Skimping on any of these steps can leave you with stock that’s murky, bland or stale-tasting. To strain, pour the stock into a colander lined with at least two layers of cheesecloth.
What can I use if I don't have a cheesecloth?
Since cheesecloth is cotton, other types of cotton fabric will work as a substitute. You can use a flour sack towel, pillowcase, bandana, scrap of fabric, clean cloth diaper, cloth napkin, or jelly bag to strain foods or contain little bundles of herbs.
How do you make a cheesecloth?
Place the wrong sides of the cheesecloth together with the raw edges level and sew ¼” from the edge. Trim slightly and press the seam flat with the seam allowances to one side. Turn over, and with the right sides now facing and the join right on the outer edge, pin and sew approximately ¼” from this edge.
What is cheesecloth called in the UK?
Also called, especially British, butter muslin.
What is a strainer used for in cooking?
A kitchen device that is most used to strain liquids away from other ingredients but also to ocassionally sift fine ingredients away from larger ingredients. The Strainer may be formed as a spoon-shaped utensil or a basket-shaped strainer from various materials such as metal, nylon or cloth.
What's the difference between a strainer and sifter?
In cooking, a sifter is used to separate and break up clumps in dry ingredients such as flour, as well as to aerate and combine them. A strainer (see Colander), meanwhile, is a form of sieve used to separate suspended solids from a liquid by filtration.
Can I use a fine mesh strainer to sift flour?
The simplest way we know to sift flour is to dump it into a strainer over our mixing bowl. A fine-meshed strainer is best, but any old strainer or even a colander can work in a pinch. … You won’t get the flour quite as light as when sifting, but this will work to break up any clumps and fluff up the flour a bit.
What does colander look like?
A colander has a wide bowl (often with two handles) and feet or a base that let it stand on its own in a sink while you pour a pot of pasta or boiled vegetables into it. … The bowl of a sieve can be rounded or cone shaped. Sieves are usually referred to as coarse- or fine-meshed.
What can I use if I don't have a colander?
Use a spoon (the largest one you have) for small pasta, beans, and blanched vegetables only. Scoop what you want, then cradle the edge of the spoon against the pot and tilt slightly to drain. It takes a while, but it works.
What can you use colander for?
A colander is a kitchen utensil that is primarily used to rinse vegetables or strain foods such as pasta. The bottom is perforated, which allows for water or liquid to drain through while holding on to the solids inside.