cheesecloth

American  

[cheez-klawth, -kloth] / ˈtʃizˌklɔθ, -ˌklɒθ /

noun

1. a lightweight cotton fabric of open texture.

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cheesecloth British  

/ ˈtʃiːzˌklɒθ /

noun

1. a loosely woven cotton cloth formerly used only for wrapping cheese

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Etymology

Origin of cheesecloth

First recorded in 1650–60; so called because first used to wrap cheese

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Compare meaning

How does cheesecloth compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• cheesecloth vs. muslin

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Explanation

The loosely woven fabric that's useful for straining food is called cheesecloth. You can thicken yogurt by wrapping it in cheesecloth and setting it in a colander for a few hours. Cheesecloth gets its name from its most common use, in cheesemaking. The gauze-like material is perfect for allowing moisture, or whey, to run out of cheese curds, leaving solid cheese behind. Cheesecloth is also useful in many other ways, both in the kitchen (covering food, straining soup) and out (wiping ink during the printmaking process, making lightweight clothing).

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cheesecloth

The taste and texture of a warm block is priceless when I first unwrap it from the cheesecloth.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 2, 2026

You baste every 30 minutes before removing the cheesecloth to cook uncovered to burnish the skin.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 16, 2023

Finally, remove the stock jelly from the refrigerator and push it through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth so that it forms uniform, grain-sized pieces, then combine with your raw meatball mixture.

From Salon ● Feb. 26, 2023

Strain through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth, transfer to a bottle and refrigerate until needed.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 15, 2022

The lining of Mother’s coat hung thin, like fluttering cheesecloth.

From "Between Shades of Gray" by Ruta Sepetys

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