How to Reuse a Cheesecloth

Cheesecloth can be used to drain homemade cheese.

Cheesecloth has a variety of uses in the home kitchen, from draining the whey from homemade cheese curds, making soft yogurt cheese or even straining pulp from fruit juices or other beverages. This thin material comes in several weights and fabric options, though the most traditional is woven from cotton. Cleaning your cheesecloth allows you to use it again and again, rather than purchasing a new cloth for each new culinary project.

Things You'll Need

• Laundry soap
• Hot water
• Dryer
• Scrub brush
• Bleach
• Pan (for boiling water)
• Washing machine (optional)
• Vinegar (optional)

Instructions

1. Rinse the used cheesecloth in tap water to remove traces of the whey or other liquid. If there are pieces of cheese or other food particles sticking to the cloth, scrape or rub them off.

2. Soak the cheesecloth in hot, soapy water for 15 to 20 minutes; this will help to release any stubborn food particles. Use a scrub brush (or just rub the fabric against itself) to create suds, then rinse in cool water until the water runs clear. Remove all traces of soap before proceeding.

3. Dry the cheesecloth, preferably in a clothes dryer.

4. Boil the cheesecloth if the fabric retains the scent of the previous foodstuffs that were strained through it. Boil the cleaned cheesecloth in a small pot for 10 to 15 minutes to kill any bacteria, then wash and rinse as directed above or in a clothes washer. Dry and use.

5. Soak your cheesecloth in a bleach solution (as per the manufacturer's instruction) if the cheesecloth has not returned to its original color, then rinse and wash normally. Make sure that all traces and scent of bleach have been removed from the fabric before drying, as the scent could transfer to the food the next time you use the cheesecloth.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't boil a cheesecloth made from synthetic materials, as this can cause them to melt. Attempt high-temperature sanitation only with cotton fabric cheesecloth.

• Add a little vinegar to the water the cheesecloth are soaking in before the final rinse. This can help remove odors.

References

• Overstock.com: How to Sanitize Bath Towels
• CheeseForum: Cheesemaking Equipment, Cheesecloth