Pastry cloth is a heavy and durable fabric, which can be used to roll out the dough. In most cases, the pastry cloth is made from unbleached cotton denim and can be rolled out on the shelf to make sure the dough doesn’t stick to it. The best thing about using pastry cloth is that it’s reusable but it can be hard to find if you don’t have a baking supply store nearby. For this reason, we are listing down some substitutes with you!
Pastry Cloth Substitute
- Cheesecloth
Cheesecloth is made from porous material and is usually used for straining proteins from the milk, and as the name suggests, it’s used during cheese production. It has a loose weaving, which makes it suitable for filtration, and can be easily used in recipes that require straining. In addition to making cheese and filtering milk, cheesecloth can also be used to wrap chicken to make sure it remains succulent, moist, and juicy. Since it has a porous nature, it can be used for dusting pastries with icing sugar, cinnamon powder, or flour. Not to forget, it can be used to cover the food, so your fruits and food are safe from bugs and flies.
- Coffee Filters
In case you wanted to use a pastry cloth for dusting the pastries or filtering the ingredients, you can opt for coffee filters as well. The coffee filters are designed to keep the coffee pieces out of the brew, which is why it can be used for straining as well. In most cases, the coffee filters have a tight weave but it’s not to be used with dough and flour. However, you need to remember that a tight weave means it will take more time to complete the straining and powdering process.
The best thing about choosing coffee filters is that they are readily available and you can find them in every grocery store. In addition, if you have to use it regularly, there are reusable filters as well but they must be cleaned before every use.
- Fine Wire Sieve
The third substitute for pastry cloth is a fine wire sieve. There are different sizes of sieves available on the market, so it’s recommended that you choose the size according to the application. What we love about using a fine wire sieve is that you can secure it on the edges of the container during powdering or straining, making it a user-friendly choice. However, if you want to use it for filtration, keep in mind that a sieve cannot filter the little particles.
- Fine Mesh Bag
It’s likely that you already have a fine mesh bag in the kitchen if you go for groceries regularly, and fortunately, you can use it to replace the pastry cloth. The fine mesh bag is extremely easy to clean and lasts a long time. It can be used for powdering the dough and you can also use it for straining. Also, it’s a reusable option, so you will never run out of it!
- Paper Towels
If you have paper towels in your home, it’s time to take them out and use them in place of pastry cloth. However, before we share information about its usage, you need to remember that paper towels are delicate and you have to be careful while using them. You can opt for paper towels with multiple layers to create a stronger base but it will negatively impact the straining and filtration capacity. But again, it’s readily available and can be used with dough without sticking!
- Muslin
Muslin is one of the best substitutes for pastry cloth because it is woven cotton that’s not only plain but lightweight as well. It is available at an affordable rate and can be cut into your desired size. In addition, it has a smooth texture, which makes it a promising choice for straining sauces and stocks. Moreover, muslin is recommended for wrapping puddings and filtering the wine.
- Medical Gauze
The last option that you can try is medical gauze. That’s because it has an open weave design and is extremely lightweight. For this reason, it can be used for pressing and wrapping the dough. As far as filtration is concerned, it can be used for stocks or other food items that don’t need the filtration of small particles.