What is a chinois in kitchen?

A chinois is a cone-shaped sieve made with fine metal mesh. It's traditionally used for straining things that are intended to be very smooth, like stocks, sauces and soups. It usually has a metal or plastic handle and a little overhang on the opposite side, in order to rest it upright in a tall pot or a sink.

What is the difference between a chinois and a strainer?

A fine mesh strainer, also known as chinois, is used for straining liquids when a velvety texture is desired. These tend to be expensive, but are a must for any serious home cook. Some even come with a pestle to help you strain every ounce of food (but you could always use the back of a ladle).

Why is a strainer called a chinois?

Chinois is French for Chinese, and it is whimsically so named because its cone shape resembles a coolie's hat. Before blenders and food processors, or even the more sophisticated food mills came on the scene, generations of kitchens contained large and small cone-shaped chinois in the cupboards.

What is another name for a chinois?

Simply put, a chinois is a cone-shaped metal strainer with a very fine mesh. Also known as a china cap, a chinois is used for straining stocks, sauces, soups, and other items that need to have a very smooth consistency.

What is the purpose of a chinois in food preparation?

A kitchen utensil, similar to a sieve, which is used to filter ingredients and separate undesired items such as seeds, skins, or lumpy particles in order to create a very clear liquid.

Chinoise

What is the difference between a china cap and a chinois?

China cap:

Like a chinois, a China cap is also a cone shaped strainer but the holes are much larger than those in a chinois. Instead of producing a smooth texture, China caps give you a coarser final product and can be used to separate larger matter, like seeds, from soft foods.

What does the term chinoiserie mean?

Definition of chinoiserie

: a style in art (as in decoration) reflecting Chinese qualities or motifs also : an object or decoration in this style.

How do you clean a chinois strainer?

Spray the outside of the strainer so the water goes through the mesh and loosens the food particles. Then scrub both sides and rinse again." If the sponge just isn't doing the trick, a coarse brush (a stainless-steel brush or old toothbrush will work) can help get those stubborn bits out.

What is the difference between a colander and a sieve?

We commonly refer to both colanders and sieves as “strainers,” although technically we use a colander to drain (discarding liquids like pasta water) and a sieve to strain (saving liquids like broth for stock).

Is there a difference between a colander and a strainer?

First, let's start with the difference between a strainer and a colander. The main difference between them is that a colander is usually a larger, bowl-shaped utensil with big holes at the bottom, while a strainer is bowl-shaped but with a fine mesh in it. As for uses, both can be used to drain water from pasta.

Why is a chinois conical?

Conical strainers feature larger holes and a china cap shape which makes them perfect for removing seeds and coarse matter from soft foods. Strainers can be used to simply drain water quickly, with precision and accuracy, speeding up food preparation tasks.

What can I make with chinois?

A chinois can be used for taking lumps out of gravy or even for taking the juice from citrus fruit. However, the most common use for a chinois is for making soup stock or sauces. For example, a chinois can be used to remove the seeds from tomatoes to prepare tomato sauce.

Can I use a colander to sift flour?

The simplest way we know to sift flour is to dump it into a strainer over our mixing bowl. A fine-meshed strainer is best, but any old strainer or even a colander can work in a pinch. Holding the handle with one hand and tapping the strainer gently with the other, the flour will gradually sift through the strainer.

What is a spider strainer?

Also called a wok skimmer, wire skimmer, or wire scoop, a spider is a round, long-handled strainer with a wide metal basket that resembles a spider's web (hence the name!).

Why do they call it a China cap?

A similarly-shaped utensil is the China cap, a reference to the conical Asian hats that used to be common in China. It is a perforated metal conical strainer with much larger holes than a chinois.

What is a chinois sieve?

A chinois is a cone-shaped sieve made with fine metal mesh. It's traditionally used for straining things that are intended to be very smooth, like stocks, sauces and soups. It usually has a metal or plastic handle and a little overhang on the opposite side, in order to rest it upright in a tall pot or a sink.

What is a pasta strainer called?

A colander (or cullender) is a kitchen utensil used to strain foods such as pasta or to rinse vegetables. The perforated nature of the colander allows liquid to drain through while retaining the solids inside. It is sometimes also called a pasta strainer or kitchen sieve.

What is the difference between a sieve and a sifter?

A sieve—also known as a sifter—is typically a basket made of a metal fine-mesh weave with a handle attached. Its job is to aerate and separate dry ingredients like flour, cocoa powder, and powdered sugar, which will lead to a lighter and more tender crumb in baked goods.

What's the difference between a sieve and a strainer?

A sieve is a device that can be used to separate larger particles from smaller ones, while a strainer is a device that can be used to separate solid objects from liquid.

What is the finest strainer?

How do you get tea stains out of a stainless steel strainer?

Mix 1 tbsp. of baking soda in a bowl of hot water. Soak your tea strainer in this solution for 3-4 hours. Then, rinse thoroughly and wash your strainer with dishwashing liquid.

Why is chinoiserie so popular?

Chinoiserie was once the most coveted fashion of the aristocracy. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Europeans became fascinated with Asian cultures and traditions. They loved to imitate or evoke Asian motifs in Western art, architecture, landscaping, furniture, and fashion.

Is chinoiserie out of style?

'Chinoiserie is a stylized “European x Far Eastern” hybrid of a panoramic garden landscape. It brings exoticism, color, pattern and movement to a room of any size of style of architecture. This is why it has never been out of style, transcending fashion,' she says.

What is Grandmillennial style?

A grandmillennial has an appreciation for the past, [they are] devotees of classic style with a passion for tradition…with a twist. Think warm, gorgeously layered spaces, a mix of prints, patterns, colors, as well as textiles galore.”