How many times can cheesecloth be reused?
I've only needed to use cheesecloth a few times in the kitchen and was curious to know if it's reusable.
If so, how is it cleaned and how many times can it be reused?
Best Answer
I've not been able to use store bought cheese cloth more than twice and then only if I used it gently. And I'm not gentle on the stuff. I use it for cheese making regularly as well as juicing and random filtering.
I gave up on normal cheese cloth because it is too fragile and way too expensive for what it was.
I now use instead a tightly woven polyester mesh fabric. I found a yard of it in the scraps section of the fabric store for $1. A yard is about 3 times more than I will ever need. I cut it into smaller pieces and hemmed it. It is strong enough to be rung out full of grapes as well as laundered and a tight enough weave to filter small particles out of beef stock.
I was surprised how often I end up using these cloths and highly recommend them.
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Quick Answer about "How many times can cheesecloth be reused?"
If the label on your cheesecloth says one-time use only, you may be able to wash it by hand once or twice, but it will start to break down very soon. If you invest in high-quality cheesecloth, however, you can hand wash it or launder it in the washing machine with your kitchen towels and reuse it nearly indefinitely.Can cheesecloth be washed?
FAQs - Cheesecloth First time, wash in warm water. Rinse curds off with cold water immediately after you finish using it. Wash as you would your dishtowels. Soak for a few minutes in baking soda to refresh after a couple of uses.How do you sanitize cheesecloth?
Wash in the washing machine or by hand in the sink. Avoid detergents and fabric softeners. Use only mild detergent if necessary, and rinse thoroughly to remove any soap residue. If there are bits of curd sticking to the cloth, rinse with whey or white vinegar to help remove it.Should I wash cheesecloth before use?
Be sure to give it a wash before using it. Then, once you've strained your broth or mulled wine, rinse with fragrance-free soap, wring it out, and hang it to dry. Use again to your heart's content! Then, once you've retired your fabric as a cheesecloth, it can shape-shift into a kitchen towel.More answers regarding how many times can cheesecloth be reused?
Answer 2
I save my dishcloths and washcloths that become thin and worn down to just the threads to use as "re-usable" infusion pouches, and for other typical things where cheesecloth is used.
Answer 3
My wife is a gourmet cook (lucky me), and she uses cheesecloth for a lot of her creations. She used to complain about having to throw it away after one use, because the mesh would fall apart if she tried to wash it, even by hand. Then she found a Grade 60 unbleached cheesecloth on Amazon that she swears by. She can wash it a bunch of times by tucking it inside of a tee-shirt and tossing it in the washer. Here's a link, if you're interested: http://www.amazon.com/Cheesecloth-Unbleached-Strainers-Satisfied-Guarantee/dp/B00H9HZQAG/ref=sr_1_11?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1395996475&sr=1-11&keywords=cheesecloth Her fresh, hot, homemade blueberry syrup is one of my favorites.
Answer 4
Honestly, we use cheesecloth constantly in my household (making yogurt, making cheese). In my experience there isn't really a golden number of times it can be reused - it is much more heavily dependent on the quality of the original cheesecloth, and that varies. I have some that has been used 10+ times (stuff purchased from a brewer shop specifically for cheese making). I have other brands (stuff from the craft section at walmart) which barely survived after a single use. So, try a brand, see if it can be cleaned, and if it can try using it again. You'll know when it can't be used anymore (it will fray apart, become stretched thin, etc).
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