A fine mesh strainer might look like an extra tool to an average person, but a chef can explain how important and vital it is in the world of cooking. The purpose of a fine mesh strainer is to give you the best-strained puree, any edible that need to be separated and do its job phenomenally. Other than straining your fried or boiled item, the real reason behind investing in a fine mesh strainer is beyond that. The best fine mesh strainer will give your mash the smoothest, silkiest and most refined texture of which you can think.
Keep an Eye on These Features When Shopping for a Fine Mesh Strainer
The shape
Most fine mesh strainers come in circular shapes that dip at the center, which make it easier for the liquid you’re straining to drawn down. The circle can be different sizes, and you can use them on different sized bowls as you see fit. The circle shape is best for most utensils, which is why it’s preferred. However, as we saw with Homestia’s strainer, they had significantly decreased the circumference of the sieve and even gave it a pointed tip, because it was solely serivng the purpose of straining drinks only. Consider the items you think you’ll be using the strainer for most often, look at serving size, and choose the shape accordingly
Size of the strainer
We have come across products that strictly give only one size, and other products give a set of fine mesh strainers of different sizes. While making a choice, you need to consider a few things. How many people are you catering? How often do you like to cook in the kitchen? What are the requirements of the people you are serving your food to? Generally, size does not play a very crucial role. What you can manage with a small-sized strainer, you can definitely manage with a large one as well. But it's all about convenience. Taking out a medium-sized strainer to strain a single boiled potato seems a little silly. Now, if you have a baby at home, you need a variety of mashed food items, so keeping a small-sized strainer might be your best option. That's why we would encourage you to assess your usage before selecting a size.
Handle of the strainer
The handle plays a very crucial role as to how easily and comfortably you can hold the strainer while using it. A steel strainer would probably get hot if you pour hot liquid, making it difficult for you to handle it. However, there are other options like wood and rubber grips that can make your job easier. A wooden handle will be a good option if you are looking for using it every once in a while, because if the wood is exposed to water too often, it might lose its quality. On the other hand, if you opt for a rubber grip, it would be easier to wash and food will not get stuck.
The mesh
Steel mesh is durable and strong, which is why our choices above were all made with steel mesh. Even if you pour a lot of content at once, the mesh will be able to hold itself and allow the liquid to strain through. A good quality mesh is something that will only make the process quicker and more efficient. For example, if you are trying to strain strawberry puree for your pastry, you don't want to miss any small seeds, which might require straining multiple times.
The hook on the strainer
Not all fine mesh strainers come with a hook on the other end. The ones that do are like an extra pair of hands. You can just simply fix them on top of a bowl or your sink and they can strain while you get your other things done. We definitely recommend that you get a fine mesh strainer that has a hook on the end.
