How to Use Cheesecloth: 6 Ways to Use Cheesecloth

Cheesecloth is a food preparation tool made of woven cotton cloth. The fabric's loose, open woven style allows liquid drainage while holding solid substances. Traditionally, cheesecloths played a crucial role in cheesemaking, as the cloth separates the solid cheese curd from the liquid whey. Mexican queso fresco, Italian ricotta cheese, and Indian paneer are popular cheeses made using cheesecloth.

Today, cheesecloths serve various purposes in the kitchen: You can use it to strain broths, wrap herbs and citrus fruits, and make homemade almond milk. Common cheesecloth alternatives include coffee filters, paper towels, muslin, and even kitchen towels made from thin cotton fabric.

Cheesecloth’s primary function is to drain curds to make cheese; however, you can also use it for baking, food storage, and even printmaking.

• Bundling herbs: Bouquet garni is the French term for wrapping fresh or dried herbs in cheesecloth to add flavor to braises and stews. A traditional bouquet garni includes thyme, parsley, and a bay leaf; however, you can wrap any herbs of your choosing. The cheesecloth makes it easy to remove the herbs before serving.
• Feeding fruitcake: “Feeding” is the process of soaking traditional fruitcake in rum or other alcohol, which flavors and preserves the cake. To feed the fruitcake, soak your cheesecloth in alcohol and then wrap the cake in the cloth.
• Thickening yogurt: Greek yogurt and labneh are yogurt-based products that involve straining yogurt through cheesecloth to achieve a thicker consistency. To strain yogurt, lay a cheesecloth on top of a colander and place the colander in a large mixing bowl. Scoop store-bought or homemade yogurt into the cheesecloth and tie the top shut with a piece of string or twine. Allow the yogurt to drain until it reaches the desired consistency, up to three days. Save the strained liquid, known as whey, for smoothies.
• Straining liquids: Cheesecloth is great at separating liquids from solids. Home cooks can use it to make smooth and velvety nut milks and custards.
• Wrapping citrus: Wrap cheesecloth over leftover fruit slices, covering the exposed flesh with the cloth and tying the ends with twine or a rubber band around the fruit’s skin. The cheesecloth will keep the seeds from entering the fresh juice when you squeeze the fruit.
• Printmaking: Some printmaking techniques, such as lithography and intaglio, use cheesecloth to gently remove excess ink from stone (in the case of lithography) or plates (for intaglio).

You should wash and sterilize the cheesecloth before each use to remove any lingering bacteria or stains in the fabric. Washing before and after each use also preserves the versatile cloth and allows you to use it for different purposes.

Some cheesecloths are single-use, while others are reusable. Review your cheesecloth’s packaging to determine whether you can wash and use it multiple times.

1. 1. Rinse with warm water. The best way to clean your cheesecloth is to rinse it immediately after each use, as it’s easier to clean stains out before they set in. Rinse your cheesecloth in the sink under warm water, scrubbing the cloth with your hands to remove any stuck food debris.
2. 2. Soak in baking soda. Fill a large container with water and add half a cup of baking soda to the tub. Let the cheesecloth soak for thirty minutes before removing it from the baking soda mixture.
3. 3. Sterilize with boiling water. Once your cheesecloth is free of food debris, sterilize it with boiling water to remove any lingering bacteria. Bring a medium pot full of water to a boil over high heat. Add the cheesecloth to the pot and let it boil for five minutes. The hot water will sterilize the cloth, preparing it for the next use.
4. 4. Wring and hang dry. Wring out excess water before hanging the cloth to dry. Allow the cloth to dry in a well-ventilated space to prevent mold growth.

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