Cheesecloth Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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cheesecloth
[ˈtʃiːzklɔːθ ]
Definition
kitchen item
Cheesecloth is a lightweight and loosely woven cotton fabric that is commonly used in cooking and food preparation. Its primary purpose is to strain liquids and hold solids, such as in the making of cheese or yogurt. The fabric is also used for wrapping herbs and spices or for making pouches for infusing flavors into liquids. Cheesecloth is versatile and can also be used for crafting and other applications, such as covering food during storage to protect it. Its fine mesh allows for excellent filtration while remaining easy to clean and reuse.
Synonyms
gauze, muslin, straining cloth.
Examples of usage
- I used cheesecloth to strain the homemade yogurt.
- Wrap your herbs in cheesecloth before adding them to the soup.
- You can use cheesecloth to create a pouch for spices.
- The recipe calls for cheesecloth to separate the curds and whey.
Translations
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Origin of 'cheesecloth'
The term 'cheesecloth' originated in the early 18th century in the English language. The name describes its primary use in the cheese-making process, where it was first used to separate curds from whey. The fabric was originally made from linen, but over time, cotton became the material of choice due to its availability and ease of use. The manufacturing of cheesecloth improved with the advent of industrial weaving techniques that allowed for tighter and more consistent weaving patterns. Cheesecloth has become a staple in both professional and home kitchens for its versatility, enabling cooks to create various culinary delights while also being useful in other fields such as brewing and crafting.