There is no kitchen that lacks a cone strainer. The only difference is that some people have no idea what they are called. They come in a variety of looks but they always have one thing in common- a wire mesh basket or bowl like feature that allows them to do their work. You will hear people using words like chinois, colander; strainer and in worst case scenarios- metallic sieve. Be that as it may, as long as you know what it is used for then there is not judgment whatsoever. When you go out shopping for these items you need to make that you get the best quality and you will not be disappointed.Why you need to check quality
You might hear people arguing that since they are made of metal then why should they bother checking the quality- they already are better than the plastics. While this might be true you do not want to buy a strainer that will break within a few days. In that case you will end up with a piece of metal and wire mesh that you cannot use. One of the reasons you should check the quality is to ensure durability.
Secondly and most importantly is that the quality will guarantee your health. There are some cone strainers that are made from poor quality metal which rusts after washing. This is extremely dangerous as it can be a potential source of tetanus-causing bacteria and other germs that will contaminate your food.
Uses of strainers
You can use a cone strainer for a whole lot of activities. There are people who use them to squeeze out juice from soft fruits like mangoes, paw paws and bananas. The strainer comes in really handy especially when you do not have electricity to run your blender or you do not have a blender. Who said that you need all sorts of electronics in your house if you are not going to use them all that frequently? The strainers spare you the appliance clutter and give you a good alternative to a blender.
The strainers also come in handy when you are making soups. Before the arrival of blenders and such devices these simple devices were the popular thing when it came to making silk smooth soups. While they might not be able to produce a velvety softness like the modern blenders can, they are a good option as well. It is all a matter of choosing the one that you want to use.
Again you can use this to soften babies’ food. Those mashed potatoes and bananas will not be mashed enough by the wooden stick. This is where the cone strainer comes in to save the day. These are simple and very user-friendly. Simply place the food and add a bit of the stock and strain away!
Choosing your strainer
How are you going to choose from a variety of cone strainers? There are several things you can consider. One of them is the size of the strainer. The size of the strainer will determine the kind of work that you can do with it. There are those strainers that you can use to sieve flour while you are baking and at the same make the soup. There are others that are just make enough for separating tea from tea leaves as you put into a teapot.
The size of the wire mesh itself will determine the fineness of the product. A strainer with a very fine wire mesh will allow only small particles to pass through. When you are buying a strainer, you must consider the fineness of the mesh itself.
