647468 Tue Aug 25 14:44:34 -0700 2009 8 41 Cookware 0 4977167 I'd like to get my husband a chinois strainer for his birthday, but there seems to be a pretty good range of prices and style variations (albeit small) out there. Can anyone suggest a brand/type that they really like? Tue Aug 25 14:44:34 -0700 2009 186923 Cachetes 1 4977237 I've only had one brand - Williams Sonoma's - but have been very happy with it; bought it about 4 years ago. It comes with a stand and pestle. I like the height (perfect for straining chicken stock into tupperware), and I've had no problems the few times I've thrown it in the dishwasher (it says to handwash). http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/cw053/index.cfm Tue Aug 25 15:01:34 -0700 2009 4977167 10271 Rubee 2 4978004 I agree with Rubee. I use mine to strain anything. It is nice because it comes with the stand and pestle. I also use it to strain my lemoncello. It is a little pricey, but worth it. I also put in the washer, with no problems. The stand is also handy to dry decanters. Tue Aug 25 19:15:21 -0700 2009 4977237 21396 normalheightsfoodie 1 4977576 How fine a strainer you want? I finally bought a fine one after several years of using the kind with about the same size holes as your typical food mill. I used it ONCE, spent the better part of a day cleaning all the tiny particles out of the tiny apertures, and have used it only to strain liquid, with a cheesecloth liner, since then. The old medium-fine one works great for juicing pomegranates etcetera. Tue Aug 25 16:53:51 -0700 2009 4977167 11478 Will Owen 1 4978057 I don't have a chinois anymore (hmmmm -- don't remember what happened to it) but do have a fine strainer. There are some times you really need a fine strainer. The critical thing, I think, is to rinse it upside down as soon as you are done using it. Sometimes hard to remember. But it saves a lot of work cleaning. Tue Aug 25 19:36:07 -0700 2009 4977167 123744 karykat 2 4988089 Thanks to all - I want a pretty fine mesh one, so the cleanign tips are a great help (I loved the imagery of WillOwen spending all day cleaning the tiny holes : ) ) In any case, the Williams Sonoma looks great, and there's one other I found online that is also stainless steel with the stand, and about half the price. Much cheaper than that and they become aluminum or don't come with stand. Thanks for the input! Sat Aug 29 06:54:50 -0700 2009 4978057 186923 Cachetes 3 4988271 The stand is key! Sat Aug 29 08:45:59 -0700 2009 4988089 21396 normalheightsfoodie 4 4996908 My old one is aluminum, with three steel-rod loop legs that plug into receptacles around the rim. I've never had any trouble with it because of the material - we now use it about once a year to butcher a few dozen pomegranates. Mrs. O has a special set of old clothes she puts on for that little exercise, with a fresh set of indelible purple stains added every year. Tue Sep 01 14:16:56 -0700 2009 4988271 11478 Will Owen 5 5020481 We have the same one, and you are spot on, we also use it to juice poms. You get all of the juice and not pith. Thu Sep 10 15:45:24 -0700 2009 4996908 21396 normalheightsfoodie