Due to its versatility and practicality, the Chinese strainer has become essential in professional kitchens. We tell you everything you need to know about this practical utensil and how it can improve your daily preparations.
Colanders are a must. This simple utensil available in different sizes has become an essential item in any kitchen, whether professional or domestic. If you are interested in learning more about the Chinese strainer, don’t miss this article where you will see what a Chinese strainer is and what you can use it for at home.
What is a Chinese strainer?
A strainer is a practical kitchen utensil with a conical design that allows solids to be separated from liquids, which is very useful for many culinary preparations and makes it essential in haute cuisine. The strainer is especially useful in professional kitchens, especially in haute cuisine where preparations with fine and delicate textures are required, from clear consommés or smooth and velvety sauces to desserts such as fruit coulis. Its design (similar to that of a funnel) with small perforations all over the surface allows liquids to be separated from solids in the most efficient way, removing any impurities and achieving smooth and homogeneous textures.
Although they can be found in different markets, the usual measurements of a Chinese strainer are usually between 15 and 25 cm in diameter at the top and a height of about 20 or 30 cm. As for its capacity, depending on its size it can hold from 1 to 3 liters.
Generally, the most popular material used for the manufacture of Chinese strainers is stainless steel due to its durability, resistance and ease of cleaning. Furthermore, as this material does not react with the food, it guarantees that neither the flavor nor the color of the preparation is altered.
Although not as common, you can also find aluminum strainers. Less expensive and lighter than those made of stainless steel, this strainer, being made of a less resistant material, can react to acidic foods, altering the appearance and flavor of your preparations.
You can even find some models on the market made of plastic. The problem is that this type of strainer will not be as durable or resistant as the stainless steel one. Also, since it is made of this type of material, it will not be effective for preparations that require high temperatures.
What is a Chinese strainer used for?
The Chinese strainer is used to strain and filter food, separating the liquid part from the solid, which allows obtaining finer and softer textures. Likewise, it is used to eliminate impurities in thinner sauces, as well as to wash and drain ingredients.
How to use a Chinese strainer
Because of its conical shape, the best way to use the strainer without causing a mess in the kitchen is to place it on a large, flat-bottomed container to ensure that it is stable. To ensure stability, many of them come with special support on the edge to secure it to the container.
Pour the food you want to pass through the bowl carefully and in several batches if it is in large quantities to prevent it from overflowing. The liquid will pass through the strainer, but if it is of a thicker consistency, use a ladle, a silicone spatula or a wooden spoon to apply pressure and stir the contents of the strainer downwards. The liquid will be collected in the container and the solid remains will remain in the Chinese strainer.
How to clean a Chinese strainer
The best way to wash the Chinese strainer is to place it upside down in the sink, rinse it with water and clean it with a brush or sponge with a little dishwashing liquid on hand, and then rinse it with plenty of water. It is essential to wash it right after you have used it, this way you will prevent food remains from drying out and sticking to the perforations.
Advantages of the Chinese strainer
If you are still not convinced by this work tool, take a look at all the advantages it presents:
- Design with small perforations to remove impurities and achieve a finer result
- Very versatile for use with a wide range of foods
- Efficient in straining food thanks to its shape
- Easy to clean by hand with water and dishwashing liquid
- High durability thanks to the resistance of the materials used in its manufacture
Differences between a Chinese strainer and other strainers
The differences between a Chinese strainer and other types of strainers are in aspects such as their design, size, manufacturing materials or specific uses.
Shape and size
Conical in shape and with fine perforations, the Chinese strainer usually also has a small handle that ensures its stability, thus facilitating its handling. As for size, they are generally medium and large for preparations of a couple of liters.
As for the rest of the strainers, you can find them made of fine mesh in the shape of a bowl, and instead of a handle, they will have a handle for holding. It can also be a larger hole strainer that usually has a more open shape as well as a longer handle. Unlike the Chinese strainer, you will find strainers of different sizes, from some as small as for straining tea, to others of large size for larger brews.
Drilling and filtering
While the Chinese strainer has small, uniform perforations that allow for precise filtering, other strainers are usually made of a somewhat coarser mesh that can retain larger particles.
Manufacturing materials
Although, as we have seen previously, they can be made of plastic or aluminum, the most common thing is that the Chinese strainer is made of stainless steel, while those with fine mesh or large-hole strainers can be made either of plastic, aluminum or metal meshes.
Which strainer is better?
Depending on the needs of the recipe, it will be better to use a Chinese strainer or a mesh strainer, since everything will depend on the texture you need. The Chinese strainer is ideal for filtering fine liquids such as soups, sauces and purees to obtain a smooth, lump-free texture, while fine mesh strainers are useful for straining liquids that allow solid remains as well as for sifting dry ingredients in baking. For their part, colanders with large holes are best for draining pasta, vegetables and other large foods.
Tips for using a Chinese strainer
These are our tips to use the Chinese strainer in the most efficient way and thus guarantee the best results:
- Select the appropriate size according to the liquid volume
- Place the Chinese strainer securely
- Pour the liquid little by little and in batches
- Use a spatula or ladle to help you filter
- Eliminates solid waste
- Clean the strainer immediately after use
Recipes that use a Chinese strainer
Being a very versatile tool in the kitchen, you can use the Chinese strainer in a wide variety of recipes that require a smooth and fine finish.
It is ideal for straining soups and broths that require the removal of solid remains such as bones, vegetables, and spices that allow you to obtain a clear and smooth liquid like a traditional homemade consommé or a fish broth that serves as a base for a fish broth rice.
Likewise, you can use it to refine all types of sauces that require a fine texture so that they are free of lumps or pieces of food. It will also be used for fruit coulis and homemade jams such as homemade tomato jam.
To obtain much finer vegetable creams or purees, we recommend that you use the Chinese strainer, especially for green vegetable creams that contain more threads than others.
You can also use the Chinese strainer for fruit smoothie and smoothie recipes such as a pineapple or pear smoothie, or a strawberry smoothie.