(Phoenix-East Valley) Very silly question...where can I buy twine/string for tying up roasts, poultry, etc.?

[Jen76]

I can't find it anywhere! Where do I buy this stuff and how much does it typically cost? I don't usually make much that requires tying, but even if I wanted to, I can't seem to find kitchen twine anywhere.

[MobyRichard]

I've found kitchen twine, in various thicknesses, ate Walmart, but NOT in the kitchen section. Oddly enough the Walmart in my area keeps them in the hardware section.

[Sherri]

Most grocery stores carry cotton twine for cooking. You can certainly find it at Sur La Table in Chandler. I'll probably take some hits for this, but I buy mine at the hardware store. Just make certain it is 100% cotton. A very large ball of simple white cotton twine costs less than $5 and lasts for a long time (if I keep it away from other household projects). If you're squeamish about using ordinary string for cooking, I suppose you could boil it first. I've never found that necessary, afterall, it is being used in conjunction with heat - at least 350 degrees in the oven for a trussed roasted chicken. So far, so good.
BTW, while you're in the hardware store, there are many ordinary household items with culinary uses that cost far less than their counterparts in the food specialty emporiums. All my microplanes come from the hardware store, as does the blowtorch I use for browning and pliers for removing bones from fish. I use el cheapo bristle paintbrushes for pastry crusts and BBQ (different ones naturally), paintbuckets for wine buckets, a rubber mallet to tap my largest chef's knife through a tough pumpkin skin, PVC pieces for napkin rings, some kind of laundry rack for drying pasta, I wouldn't be without my hardware store oyster knife - it is the do-everything tool. This listing just scratches the surface; it must be time for another visit.

[Jen76]

Thanks!

I will check Ace next time I stop by there. I'm not squeamish - at least - not about using the string.

I looked at both Safeway and 2 Fry's (one Marketplace and one regular) and had no luck finding it there. Unfortuntely, I'm rarely there when the butchers are. I found a spool at Whole Foods, but egads, they wanted like $10 for it.

[Sherri]

Baloney to "designer string", Jen. Ace is the place!

Sometimes the grocery stores keep it in the back as a seasonal item, you'll see a lot around Thanksgiving. Ditto for cheesecloth -- but if you're still not squeamish, the hardware store has that as well and for a lot less money. Look in the paint dept.

[Jen76]

Designer string. That's funny. I thought $10 might be a tad extreme for string.

[aztami]

I actually couldn't find it @ Fry's so I asked the butcher if they sold it and he actually gave me a whole bunch......more than I would ever use in this lifetime, lol

[azhotdish]

Fry's, Safeway, they all have it in the cooking supplies. You'll probably get 50 feet for $2. If not, AJ's will definitely have it.