How To Use Cheesecloth For More Than Just Making Cheese
There are plenty of single-use kitchen tools out there: spiralizers, peelers, those handy things that cut apples into perfect slices. While these are all helpful, it's really nice when we discover new uses for our supposedly one-note kitchen items. A great example of this is cheesecloth, which actually can be used for way more things than just making cheese — and a lot of them are super practical, according to The Kitchn.
Broth has become more popular in recent years (via Eater), and if you want to see what all the fuss is about (and own cheesecloth) you're in luck! You can follow this easy recipe from NY Times Cooking for a basic chicken broth, or try a trendy bone broth from Minimalist Baker. The cheesecloth serves to improve the fine-mesh sieve used for the straining process, and according to Valley Natural Foods it works wonders. If you're a coffee person, The Kitchn says cheesecloth can also be used for making the perfect cold brew: all smooth coffee, no errant grounds.
Other ways to use cheesecloth
If you want to add an extra punch of flavor to your soups, wrapping a rind of parmesan cheese in cheesecloth and sticking it in the pot creates a delicious savory note and keeps the parmesan from melting and getting too messy (via The Kitchn). If you're really looking for ways to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, you can even use cheesecloth to thicken yogurt. Plain yogurt can quickly become thick and creamy Greek yogurt, all thanks to this handy tool. For bakery-level decorating, The Kitchn also recommends using cheesecloth in place of a sifter to dust powdered sugar or cocoa powder over your next cake. They state that covering a cup full of your topping of choice with cheesecloth and securing it with a rubber band is the next best option for creating a perfectly even layer of powder.
Once you're done with all that cooking, you can even use cheesecloth to clean up! The Kitchn explains the product is lint-free, making it great for wiping down stainless steel and glass. Who knew one item could have so many different uses?