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View Full Version : Why do you think cheesecloth is so spendy?


KayLR
6-29-13, 10:43am
I've been making my own yogurt for a while, and straining it for Greek-style. It took me a while to find some better cheesecloth than what they had at Kroger (cheap, flimsy). But wow, 11 bucks for 2 sq. yd? Really? Why?

http://www.goodolddaysstore.com/detail.html?prod_id=1815&cat_id=115
sweetana3
6-29-13, 11:11am
Specialty store = specialty price.

Do you have a Joanns or other misc. fabric store close? Call them. Walmart also might have cheesecloth in the fabric department. I am just trying to think of all the places that might have cheesecloth. Amazon also has it. Check their prices.
bUU
6-29-13, 11:11am
We've used paper towel in the past, instead. We're still alive.
Selah
6-29-13, 12:12pm
bUU, how many layers did you use of paper towel to get the draining results you wanted? I'm in the same boat...I'm in Israel and can't find cheesecloth or muslin anywhere, and when DH went to America, Wally World was out of cheesecloth! I think many Americans are onto the Greek yogurt hack (drain regular yogurt through cheesecloth and save big money).
bUU
6-29-13, 1:46pm
We use a single layer of paper towel, lining a wire mesh strainer.
treehugger
6-29-13, 2:07pm
The book Make the Bread, Buy the Butter says that you can use a clean, white T-Shirt to strain yogurt. So, traditional cheesecloth isn't an absolute requirement. I personally prefer not to use paper towels because I avoid disposables when possible.

Kara
pinkytoe
6-29-13, 3:56pm
I have a very fine wire mesh strainer I use to make greek yogurt. No cheesecloth needed.
bUU
6-30-13, 6:39am
My spouse reminded me that we've stopped using paper towels for making yogurt thicker; we now use coffee filters.

We do actually have cheesecloth in the house, but we use it for making paneer (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/aarti-sequeira/paneer-homemade-indian-cheese-recipe/index.html), not thicker yogurt.
razz
6-30-13, 10:01am
Try using the permanent metal fine-meshed coffee filter that is simply cleansed and reused. They are even dishwasher safe.
iris lilies
6-30-13, 11:43am
Years ago I made a bed dust ruffle out of "scrim" which is, essentially, cheesecloth. It was difficult to sew, but I loved the ethereal, floaty effect. I was less than $1 per yard.

It only lasted a few years, it wasn't practical because it wasn't sturyd, but I liked the effect while it lasted.
Selah
7-1-13, 2:07am
Wow, coffee filters, white t-shirts and paper towels are all options? I KNEW I could count on this group for some good, frugal and eco-friendly solutions! Thanks!
Tussiemussies
7-1-13, 3:17am
I still feel that I could use cheesecloth only for certain things and would love to find it cheap too. Just doesn't make sense!
redfox
7-1-13, 10:16am
We've used paper towel in the past, instead. We're still alive.

LOL! Good standard.
Selah
7-4-13, 11:04am
Update: I cut up an old white t-shirt so now I have two pieces of ersatz cheesecloth. (Perhaps I should call it "Cheez-Whiz" cloth?) Anyway, I used the sleeves to roll into a little plaything for the (non-frugal) abandoned kitten who joined the family a couple of weeks ago. The cloth works great!
treehugger
7-5-13, 4:50pm
Update: I cut up an old white t-shirt so now I have two pieces of ersatz cheesecloth. (Perhaps I should call it "Cheez-Whiz" cloth?) Anyway, I used the sleeves to roll into a little plaything for the (non-frugal) abandoned kitten who joined the family a couple of weeks ago. The cloth works great!

Everybody wins! :) I find the T-Shirt material much easier to wash and reuse than the cheesecloth that rolls itself into a tiny ball when wet.

Kara