Tamis facts for kids
A tamis (say "tammy") is a special kitchen tool. It looks a bit like a small drum. People also call it a drum sieve or chalni in Indian cooking. A tamis helps you strain, grate, or mash food. It has a round edge, usually made of metal or wood. Inside, there's a flat screen or mesh. This mesh can be made of fine metal, nylon, or even horsehair.
To use a tamis, you hold it over a bowl. Then, you put the food you want to strain onto the mesh. You use a scraper or a tool called a pestle to push the food through. Tamises have been used for a very long time, even since the Middle Ages.
What is a Tamis Used For?
A tamis is great for making food super smooth. Because its mesh is flat, it's easy to push food through it. You just scrape the food across the mesh. This makes sure the food comes out very fine and even.
When you use a tamis, make sure the inner ring is facing up. This helps it hold more food. It also lets the bowl underneath rest on the ring, not on the delicate mesh. Tamises can make ingredients finer than most other kitchen tools. The texture of the food you strain will be very smooth and consistent.
Different Types of Tamises
Tamises come in different sizes, usually from about 15 to 40 centimeters wide. The mesh also comes in different strengths or "gauges."
- Nylon Mesh: This type of mesh is strong and keeps its shape well. It's great for making fruit purees. Nylon won't change the color or taste of the fruit.
- Wire Mesh: Wire mesh is sharper and stronger than nylon. But you need to dry it very carefully after each use. If you don't, it might rust.
- Horsehair Mesh: These tamises used to be common a long time ago. Today, they are very hard to find. You might only see them in antique shops.
