WHAT IS A FINE MESH STRAINER?
Known for it’s conical shape, a fine strainer is an essential tool in the kitchen and bar, whether it be for cocktails, baking, or– if you’re my daughter– sifting dirt out in the garden.
Copyright A Bar Above
USES FOR A FINE STRAINER
Obviously, our focus here at A Bar Above is helping you make great drinks. But a fine strainer really comes in handy for plenty of purposes, not just extra silky cocktails! Here are a few ways to use your mesh strainer, starting– of course– with our favorite way: mixed drinks.
COCKTAILS
When you make cocktails with ingredients like egg whites, fruit, and herbs, you do something called double-straining where you use both a Hawthorne strainer (or julep strainer) and this fine mesh strainer. If you’re not sure how to do this, check out this article first.
Copyright A Bar Above
- Egg white cocktails: Love Whiskey Sours? Then you’ll need a mesh strainer to keep your cocktails free of any larger egg white particles that don’t get thoroughly mixed, creating a smooth drink and gorgeous foam.
- Ice chips: While a Hawthorne or julep strainer will filter out most of the larger ice cubes from your drink, a conical strainer with a mesh design is the most effective tool for keeping out even those tiny pieces.
- Juice strainer: One of the biggest uses for a fine strainer in mixology is when making a drink with pulp or bits of fruit pieces. To get a silky-smooth cocktail, you’ll want to double strainer with this trusty juice pulp strainer before serving your final drink.
- Fresh mint and other herbs: No one wants to chew on a shrub in their cocktail! While you’ll sometimes only filter with a Hawthorne or julep strainer so that small pieces of herbs escape into your drink, you’ll often include a finer mesh option to keep your drink free from herbal debris.
Copyright A Bar Above
TEA AND HOMEMADE KOMBUCHA
This fine mesh sieve also makes a great tea strainer for loose leaf tea. You can even use it directly as a tea infuser. And if you picked up the pandemic habit of making your own kombucha, it’s also ideal for straining the SCOBY bits out of your drink.
And if you don’t have a fancy machine, it can even be paired with coffee filters and a mug to make your own simple coffee.
BAKING
This multifunctional sieve can also be used as a powdered sugar and flour sifter if you’re into baking– it’s great for sifting dry ingredients like cocoa powder, baking soda, and granulated sugar.
Copyright A Bar Above
KITCHEN FOOD STRAINER: SOUPS AND STOCKS TO QUINOA AND RICE
Like to cook from scratch? Our metal strainer sieve also helps create silky-smooth soups and sauces, with the mesh basket acting as a food filter strainer for ingredients you use for flavor but that you don’t want in your final product.
Or you can use it for washing and holding small amounts of other dry ingredients– for example as a rice and quinoa sieve.
Copyright A Bar Above
Creative Uses of Fine Mesh Strainers
- Straining Tea Leaves – Use it to strain tea leaves from hot water or tea after steeping, ensuring a smooth, debris-free cup of tea. Or use it to soak the tea leaves in hot water if you don’t have a small, loose leaf tea strainer on hand.
- Straining Fruit Juices – Fine mesh strainers can be helpful when straining fruit juices like lemon, lime, and orange, which can be mixed with sparkling water or other ingredients to make delicious, refreshing cocktails and homemade flavored soda water.
- Separating Custard Or Puree – If you need to separate the solids from a purée or custard, this can be an effective tool for doing so. Pour the mixture into the strainer and use a spoon to press it through the mesh, leaving behind any solid bits.
- Removing Seeds From Tomatoes – Use a fine mesh strainer to remove seeds from tomatoes before making salsa or other tomato-based sauces.
- Filtering Cold Brew Coffee – Cold brew coffee can be delicious, but it’s often left with a sediment of coffee grounds. Use this strainer to filter out the grounds and enjoy a smooth, clean-tasting coffee.
- Separating Whey From Yogurt – If you make homemade yogurt, use this strainer to separate the whey from the yogurt solids. This process will create a thick, creamy yogurt– perfect for use in recipes or as a healthy snack.
- Filtering Homemade Kombucha – When your kombucha is ready and you want to separate from the scoby, use your fine mesh strainer to make sure that no pieces remain in your drink.
Copyright A Bar Above
THE A BAR ABOVE STAINLESS STEEL MESH STRAINER
We might be biased, but our stainless steel strainer is kind of the best.
We have two sizes to choose from: The larger, double medium mesh wire strainer is approximately 4 inches in diameter, while the single fine mesh strainer has a strainer basket diameter of about 3.5″ across with a shallower bowl.
Copyright A Bar Above
The size you choose is up to you– The 4-inch strainer is meant for holding larger capacity, but the smaller version is slightly easier to store and can be your primary strainer for single cocktails.
Both quality strainers feature ergonomic handles. The handle design is also double-welded to avoid breakage, and the stainless steel is a food-safe and ultra durable, especially compared to something like a plastic strainer.
Make sure to check our the array of products to go with your cocktail strainer– including a standard Hawthorne strainer, cocktail shaker, and alcohol jigger. Soon, you’ll be making the smoothest drinks in town!
