Cheesecloth is a fabric designed out of loosely woven cotton fiber. It can come in a variety of grades, which indicates how open the weave of the fabric is. It was originally designed to help in the manufacturing of cheese by pressing the cheese curds together. The curds would be placed into the cheesecloth, where it would be molded by hand to create a ten pound ball that would be tied together.
In the 1960s and 1970s, cheesecloth became a popular choice in fabric for shirts and blouses. Today, this fabric sees a variety of uses and functions, from cooking to crafts. It is a good product to have on hand in your home, since you never know when it might come in handy.
Uses for Cheesecloth in the Kitchen
This is a popular item in many kitchens today, and can prove useful in a variety of ways. Cheesecloth is a good tool to use when you need to strain broth or other liquid through a fine sieve. Simply stretch the fabric across your sink area, and have someone pour the liquid out into a bowl or pot underneath. The cloth will catch the residue and leave you with a clean liquid for cooking or drinking.
Cheesecloth can also be useful in creating bags of herbs...