What Is a Good Alternative for Cheesecloth?

This post may contain affiliate links which means I get commissions for purchases. Sponsored posts will always be clearly disclosed. Privacy Policy

Dear Home Ec 101,

I need a good alternative for cheese cloth. I’ve been making a lot of juice lately and I want to strain out the seeds and pulp, but cheese cloth gets expensive quickly. Do you have any suggestions?

Signed,
Strained in Strasbourg

Heather says:

Cheese cloth certainly has its uses and it can be washed and re-used, but and it’s a big BUT, it is rather delicate, frays, and generally becomes more pain than it is worth rather quickly.

Tea towels made from linen are a more durable alternative, but again washing is something of an issue and they must be kept meticulously clean. (Note, pastry cloth is useful if you are looking for an alternative for baking, this question is about general kitchen use.)

So how does the budget and eco conscious consumer strain all the things without filling landfills or draining the budget? heh

You spend a little extra, one time, on a fine mesh strainer, known to chefs as a chinois.

Chinois

This one is available on Amazon for about $25 give or take as prices fluctuate. (2022 update, they are now in the range of $34-$45, I have not priced cheesecloth recently, I still have the same chinois, ten years later.) This comes in three different sizes an 8″, 10″, or 12″ strainer. You can also buy a pointed pestle to squash food through the mesh. A spoon mostly works, but as foods get down toward the point it can be a little aggravating.

So, if you’re an Alton Brown fan, how do you decide whether or not this is a tool worthy of taking up your valuable kitchen space?

The chinois is useful for:

  • making stock or bouillon -who needs to tie up a bouquet garnis? Not you.
  • straining sauces -like caramel
  • draining yogurt for recipes like tzatziki (cucumber sauce)
  • draining cooked pumpkin for pies and other recipes – oh look Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie
  • canning and preserving
  • straining -duh
  • a silly hat for a toddler -the reinforced sides make it more durable than a plain fine mesh strainer. (2022 update, that toddler is almost 15 and not above using kitchen implements for dramatic effect)

But Heather, that costs 25 dollars. You’re right, it does. Cheese cloth at the grocery store, because I’m not about to drive all over town to find it generally runs about 4 bucks and I get enough for maybe two recipes, let’s pretend I had the time, energy, and wherewithal to wash and reuse it, maybe I’ll get another one or two uses out of it. So on the generous side let’s pretend I get four uses out of one pack of cheese cloth. That’s in the neighborhood of twelve recipes that I’ll get to make before I’m now playing the I’ve spent more money than I would have on the chinois. This doesn’t take into account the whole, time factor, either.

So, your mileage may vary, if you only do one or two big cooking projects a year, then you’re absolutely right, cheese cloth is the right strategy for your household. If you are getting into scratch cooking, canning and preserving, or like to make sauces, it’s absolutely worth the investment.

What do you think? Would a chinois be a useful addition to your kitchen or simply a waste of space?

Submit your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Sharing is caring!

7 thoughts on “What Is a Good Alternative for Cheesecloth?”

  1. I’m not sure. I’ve seen these before, but I didn’t know anything about them. I have strainers, I don’t make many of those things you mentioned, but I do sometimes want cheesecloth and never have it. I don’t think I would make it a priority to buy one of these, but let’s say I was at the thrift store and saw one, or if by a miracle, Walmart or Target had them for less, I might buy one.

    Reply
    • The reason I like these over plain strainers is the the reinforcement. Mesh strainers warp, tear easily, and don’t hold up when you squash foods through them.
      Definitely keep an eye out for them and if you have a restaurant supply store in your area, it might be worth ducking in for a few and looking. Generally I can find specialty equipment like you see in the fancy catalogs without the fancy colors, but also without the fancy price tag.

      Reply
    • Thanks for the tip. I haven’t been in one of those stores in quite a while, so I don’t know what they offer. When you see it at the grocery store it’s usually ridiculously over-priced.

      Reply
  2. Your reader must have been reading my mind…. thanks! I’ve added one of these to my Amazon Wish List – and will be sending hubby a link 🙂

    Reply
  3. My mother would use the old time method……..of straining. It is messy so you will need to wear an apron, and beware of the splash back. However a nylon stocking equally does a great job at straining the pulp out………..however as mentioned it is messy, but it is an alternative.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.