Calico is wonderful stuff
Years ago I bought a large bolt of unbleached calico from a fabric shop for some ridiculously low price per metre. I have been using and re-using it ever since for everything from curtains to bedspreads to draft-stoppers under doors. More recently I have been using it for kitchen applications such as storing food. I have found that by having a pile of calico cloths available instead of paper towels, virtually every job that is done by a paper towel can be done by a cloth, and the cloth can be washed and re-used. Calico bags and squares can be used indefinitely for food storage if they are washed as required. The cloth is permeable enough to allow air to move through, and absorbs moisture to prevent the food "sweating" and spoiling. Here are some examples:
- Keep salad greens fresh in the fridge by storing them loosely in a calico bag. Alternatively line a bowl with calico to store your leaves in, and put a plate on top of the bowl as a lid.
- Store cheese in a calico bag in the fridge to stop it going mouldy.
- Store onions and potatoes in separate calico bags in a cool, dark place.
- Put mushrooms in a cloth bag instead of storing them in paper bags or (perish the thought!) plastic wrap. Wash the bag after each batch of mushrooms.
- Line the bottom of your fridge veggie crisper with calico. It will stop moisture accumulating in the bottom, and the cloth can be taken out and washed more easily than removing the crisper box for washing.
- To ripen fruit such as avocados or kiwifruit, put them in a cloth bag with some apples and store them at room temperature. Check every day for ripeness.
- I have heard that a ham stored wrapped in calico will last much longer than other storage methods. Change the cloth often and wipe the surface of the ham with vinegar. (I haven't tried this one but am assured it works.)
- To keep sandwiches fresh, wet a calico cloth and wring out excess water. Drape the cloth over the plate of sandwiches to stop the bread drying out.
If I was a domestic goddess I would probably embroider words on my various bags so everyone would know which bag contained the mushrooms and which had the asparagus in it. Instead, I leave it as a surprise! :D
Submitted by Lindis on 22 January 2009 11:30:35
(Login or register to post comments)
(Login or register to post comments)
Comments
Love the ideas! I can vouch for the use of calico for cheese storage I bought a "cheese bag" many years ago (I can't sew & it was only $5!!) and I haven't thrown out or cut off bits of mouldy cheese since - we now buy cheese in 1 kg blocks as it's much cheaper and we don't waste any. I am definitely going to try lining the veggie bin with calico and I may have to get MIL to sew up a bag for our mushrooms. CHEERS!
Submitted by GreenGemini on 24 January 2009 09:09:35
Love your ideas - have emails heaps of friends. I'm off to buy bulk calico to make christmas present food bags to 'wrap' presents in - saves on paper wrapping being wasted.
Submitted by hannahmac on 28 October 2009 12:01:14
Great ideas! I can testify that the ham idea definitely works. My Mum and I both use a similar method (learned from my gran - and it no doubt goes back further than that!) of wrapping the ham leg in good clean old linen tea towels in the fridge. It keeps an age and doesn't go slimey.
Submitted by gardengoddess on 5 November 2009 19:42:54