The Clothing Item Martha Stewart Uses To Replace Cheesecloth In A Pinch
Domestic icon Martha Stewart is full of great ideas when it comes to entertaining. Like if you're looking for a hack to make fluffy scrambled eggs, she recommends using an unusual appliance — your cappuccino machine. Stewart explained on "Chopped" that it creates the most incredible-tasting eggs in a "matter of seconds." The famous cook also has a genius technique with her one-pan pasta dish that involves putting all the ingredients into one large pot and cooking it that way. This method, relayed by one of her recipe developers, Nora Singley, not only saves you a lot of time, but it prevents you from having to clean multiple dirty dishes — which is our kind of meal.
With this in mind, it's not surprising that Stewart would take a similar approach if she ran out of cheesecloth or didn't have any on hand for a recipe. Cheesecloth is a woven cloth that's typically used to strain cheese, but can also be used for cold brew, stocks, and broths, per Cook's Illustrated. It's also helpful as a sifter for items like herbs that are being used for soups or stews. However, if you don't have this useful tool for your next recipe, the "Martha Knows Best" star has you covered with a unique alternative.
You likely have this item in your closet
In a recipe from Stewart on how to make a "crisp" and "delicious golden-brown skin" turkey, the famous cook recommends utilizing cheesecloth, according to Today. The gauze-like fabric is ideal for soaking up the butter and wine used to keep the turkey saturated. The recipe explains if you don't have cheesecloth, a T-shirt will work great as well. But, if you don't have an article of clothing on hand that would work, there are plenty of other options.
If you're looking for more cheesecloth alternatives, a fine-mesh sieve will also do the trick. This tool was created to get rid of small particles in your liquid and it also works great to sift through powder ingredients, making it perfect for baking. If you're looking for something that's more easily found in pretty much every kitchen, a kitchen towel will suffice. However, you're going to want to stay away from the super-absorbent kind that's made with tightly-woven loops and instead opt for thin tea towels. These are ideal if you're cooking with soft cheeses like ricotta and need to drain the liquid.
With these clever hacks in mind, you'll be impressing your next dinner party just like Stewart.