Cheesecloth: Types, Fabric and Uses

Looking for the cloth that you can use to make cheese then go for the cheesecloth which is a soft loosely woven cotton cloth to make cheese. Cheesecloth has small holes in it which are large enough for liquid to drain and small enough for the solid to pass through it. Cheesecloth is also called mesh cloth or strain cloth because of its use and it is mostly un-dyed and natural as it is extensively used in culinary items. It is thus an indispensable part of the kitchen linen products. 

Uses of Cheesecloth

• Cheese cloth is extensively used for making cheese from curd or sour milk. You can also use it for straining stocks, making tofu and even to remove water from yogurt to thicken it.
• Cheesecloth along with these also used in printmaking processes such as lithography and intaglio printing. In these it is mostly used to remove excess of ink.
• #60 cheesecloth is used in the regulatory testing. In this the device that is to be tested is wrapped in the cheesecloth for any fire hazard. The device could be destroyed in the checking but nothing should happen to cheesecloth. This is also called Underwriters Laboratories (UL). So cheesecloth has important role to play in product safety.
• Cheesecloth is also used in making tops and other garments as this cloth breaths heavily.

Types of Cheese Cloths

• Cheesecloths are purchased on the basis of grade that is defined as thread per inch in each direction. The grades can be #10, #40, #50, #60 and #90. In #10 grade of cheesecloth there are 20 vertical and 12 horizontal threads per inch. In grade #40 there are 24 vertical and 20 horizontal thread. # 50 has 28 x 24, #60 has 32 x 28 and #90 has 44 x 36 vertical and horizontal threads. So you can purchase the one that fits into your need and purpose.
• Cheesecloth can also be categorized as light weight and heavy weight cheese cloth. Light weight cheese cloth tear apart easily whereas heavy weight cheese cloths retain their shape and last long.

Now a days cheesecloth bags are also available that are used for making cheese or to thicken the curd. You can buy cheese cloth from the stores like Different Dollar Stores, Walmart, K-Mart, Safeway and can also be found in the hardware stores along with grocery stores. Coffee filters and fine mesh strainer or a fine cloth can be cheesecloth substitute.