Cheese Cloth or Sieve?

[Cooking4Fun]

How are these two things used differently? Can a sieve be just as fine as cheese cloth at extracting solids?

 

[Kathleen]

When I need to separate solids from liquid, it depends on what I need to separate. If solids can pass through a sieve, I will generally line it with a few layers of cheesecloth.

 

[Jade Emperor]

I agree, it’s all dependent on the application you are working on.
For example, I wouldn’t use a sieve for a bouquet garni.

 

[blissful]

I would use cheese cloth to make cheese or thicken yogurt or to make tofu. Many layers of cheese cloth can create a very fine holes.
Just a step up from that, a mesh for larger particles called a nut milk bag, will squeeze out the milk from soy or almonds or oats leaving behind the larger particles and most of the fiber.
Then larger holes in the sieve. A selection of sieves I use for other things including straining seeds out from the chaff and many food items like raspberry seeds from a puree of raspberries.
A food mill also will work for seeds in berries. (or tomato seeds and skins)
When it comes to raspberry seeds, all 4 ways are acceptable, it just depends on your patience and need for perfection.

 

[Jade Emperor]

Yes - if you are making the soup for pho, you need it to be as clear as possible. Some of the very best pho soup I’ve had looked almost like water.
The only way to achieve this is to make sure that all “impurities” are strained out. So, all the minute granules of spice, herbs, vegetables and meat must be extracted from the broth.
Cheese cloth in a few layers inside of a fine sieve is the best way to get the result.

 

[Andy M.]

I never use cheesecloth. It's a bother. I use men's 100% cotton men's handkerchiefs to line a sieve with one to strain homemade stock. A quick rinse and they get washed with the dish cloths and towels.

 

[Jade Emperor]

I use fine washing bags that you normally put your clothes in for the washing machine. They get washed every use, but sure, they stain. I don’t care.
I make a lot of Asian broths, stocks etc. I just put all the ingredients into the wash bags and then close the drawstring and put into the stockpot.

 

[pepperhead212]

I have one ultra-fine SS sieve that I use when straining gritty particles out, like with the water from soaking those boletus mushrooms. No other strainers are fine enough - there will still be grit in the water that passes through. That ultra-fine strainer reminds me of something they make for "permanent" coffee filters, lined with gold filters. But for most things, I just use other strainers, depending on the size I need.

 

[taxlady]

I agree, it’s all dependent on the application you are working on.
For example, I wouldn’t use a sieve for a bouquet garni.

But, if the bouquet garni isn't too big, I might use a tea egg/infuser.

 

[taxlady]

There is another consideration about which you would use. I sometimes make a cream cheese like, fermented milk product called quark. I find that strainer can cause discoloration of the quark, so it isn't a nice white, more greyish. So, I use a tea towel to line a colander to strain it. It could also be quite a few layers of cheese cloth in a colander or some of the fine mesh cheese cloth in a colander. You don't want to go too fine or it will take forever to strain it.

 

[dragnlaw]

@Cooking4Fun so there you have it. It all depends on what you are aiming for.
I'm pretty sure all the answers are here.

Do you have a specific need? If so, just ask!

 

[msmofet]

I never use cheesecloth. It's a bother. I use men's 100% cotton men's handkerchiefs to line a sieve with one to strain homemade stock. A quick rinse and they get washed with the dish cloths and towels.

I never use cheese cloth either (it's a pain to use). Closest I come is a Soup Sock (sold on Amazon if interested) when I make stock.
If I need to strain something, I usually use a fine sieve. Sometimes I line it with a coffee filter or a paper towel if needed.
When I make yogurt, I strain it because I like a very thick Greek style. I put the yogurt in a nut milk bag, then into a strainer basket lined with a 100% cotton tea towel.

 

[blissful]

For making pizza, I often use the sieves in the sink to drain black olives, pineapple, cooked mushrooms, so they are not too wet for topping the pizza. If the sauce is too wet, I can place a coffee filter in a sieve and drain the sauce until it is spoon-able. I often start draining the ingredients around the same time I am starting to make a yeast dough crust, lots of time to dry things out. Pizza takes a while to make here, starting in the mid morning, to eat mid afternoon.

 

[Katie H]

If I want something ultra clear, I strain the liquid through a coffee filter. Takes a little of time but works perfectly.

 

[Cooking4Fun]

@Cooking4Fun so there you have it. It all depends on what you are aiming for.
I'm pretty sure all the answers are here.

Do you have a specific need? If so, just ask!

My main concern is mess and having to keep buying cheese cloth. I'd rather reuse something I don't need to keep throwing out.

Oatmilk or almond milk were my main applications in mind.

 

[dragnlaw]

Although I have had Oat milk and Almond milk, it is not on my grocery lists of things to buy nor make so I can't really help you there.
Have no comparison to purcha$e of coffee filters vs cheese cloth.

When I made jellies I would use cheese cloth. I did reuse them to a certain extent. Maybe twice? Depended on what I used it for. I did a simple up and down in new hot soapy dishwater, after rinsing I'd pour boiling water over them. But after the 2nd time they get messy to use. But they were cheap enough - I just bought more.
My 2nd uses were usually making chicken stock to grab all the little stuff. Then everything got chucked.

Another consideration is quantity at any one time. Coffee filters aren't that big.
Super fine sieves would hold more. Small ones are used for skimming
Something like this?

Amazon about 15$ Canadian. Or a set of 3, would you find a use for them in other things?

 

[taxlady]

I don't make any of the non-dairy milks. I believe that the nut milk bags are reusable. If I was going to make oat milk or almond milk, I would look into that.

 

[msmofet]

I don't make any of the non-dairy milks. I believe that the nut milk bags are reusable. If I was going to make oat milk or almond milk, I would look into that.

They are washable/reusable. I got an extra one. I can fit one gallon of homemade yogurt in it.

 

[blissful]

The nylon nutbags, get triple stitched, they come in different micron measurements for the size of the holes. I saw 80 and 300 micron sizes. I like more fiber going through, so I picked a larger micron size. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BR1W64D/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
My cheese clothes I reuse, some are stained, I don't care about the stains. There are so many reasons to use cheese cloth, I like to keep some on hand.

 

[msmofet]

They are washable/reusable. I got an extra one. I can fit one gallon of homemade yogurt in it.

Mine is 100% cotton.