If you have ever dine in a restaurant and want to know how their sauces and purees become silky smooth, the answer is simple: a mesh filter. The best mesh filters create a lovely, perfect texture that can enhance and elevate any dishes you make in your own kitchen.

For the mesh filter that professional chefs swear in the kitchen, the LiveFresh large stainless steel fine mesh filter is a good choice.

Food filters can be used for anything, from draining pasta to rinsing vegetables. But for more elaborate kitchen tasks, you need a mesh filter. It is important to choose the screen filter that best suits your needs.

If you want to buy a mesh filter, the filter basket should be at least 8 inches wide. This is not too wide for a smaller pressure, but it is wide enough to hold more food.

Likewise, please consider the depth of the strainer basket. A shallow filter basket means that food will overflow your kitchen sink, but a too deep basket means you can't use a spoon or spoon to reach the bottom for filtering. When it comes to basket depth, look for a happy medium.

You might consider buying a set of mesh filters with different basket sizes for different kitchen tasks. For example, a smaller mesh filter can add the finishing touch of powdered sugar to baked desserts, while an 8-inch mesh filter can make a beautiful butternut squash puree. Having multiple mesh filters can provide you with greater kitchen flexibility.

Home cooks may be troubled by the soft wire mesh. The best filter is made of finely woven stainless steel wire, which should be firm and maintain its shape even if it is squeezed. If not, pressing the berries into a seedless jam or pressing the vegetables into a puree is challenging. Well-formed stainless steel wire can also maintain a longer shape and is generally more durable.

Again, find the right mesh size for your filter. If the grid is too fine, nothing will pass. But if it is too big, your nervous food will not achieve the silky texture you might be looking for.

Some mesh filters have retractable handles that allow you to place the filter on a large bowl or sink. If you need to lift a large pot of food with both hands, this hands-free operation can be very helpful.

Like the retractable handle, some mesh filters have metal hooks on the side of the basket opposite the handle. This allows the smaller filter to rest on the bowl for easier handling.

When you pour hot food into the wire mesh filter, the last thing you want to worry about is that the filter slips out of your hands. The handle of the filter should be comfortable and easy to hold, and its texture will allow you to hold it well even when wet.

Can't decide which size mesh filter is best for you, or are you switching between baking and cooking tasks? Look for a set of mesh filters with multiple sizes.

The price of the mesh filter ranges from US$12 to US$50. There are high-quality options in this price range.

A. The larger mesh filter can be used to drain pasta and rinse vegetables, but the smaller mesh filter also has many other uses:

A. Although many mesh filters can be cleaned in the dishwasher, fine mesh filters may not be completely clean in the dishwasher. In order to maintain the life of the filter and remove all food residues, some special steps need to be taken.

First, rinse the filter immediately after use to prevent food from staying in the screen. Then soak the filter in soapy water, then scrub with soap and rinse thoroughly. Check that the grid is completely transparent, and then wipe it dry with a cloth. Make sure your filter is completely dry before storing. This will prevent rust.

LiveFresh large stainless steel fine mesh filter: available on Amazon

Our view: This filter is durable and the first choice for professionals and experienced home chefs.

What we like: This filter is designed for use in commercial kitchens with a reinforced mesh that can handle anything you throw in. There are hooks to support the filter on the bowl, and the handle is very comfortable. It provides a 100% lifetime warranty.

What we don’t like: Some professional chefs think the hooks are not wide enough.

Cuisinart Fine Mesh Stainless Steel Filter: Available on Amazon 

Our view: This set of three mesh filters provides a variety of sizes for a variety of kitchen tasks.

What we like: The durable metal edges mean that this filter holds the fine mesh very well, even when pressed. These dishwasher-safe mesh filters also have comfortable handles.

What we don’t like: the fine mesh can trap food and it’s difficult to clean thoroughly.

Makerstep Over the Sink Mesh Strainer: Available on Amazon

Our view: Use this filter to give yourself another hand.

What we like: This hands-free filter is like adding a preparatory chef to your home kitchen. Use it with the retractable handle above the sink or place it on the attached feet. The structure is sturdy and big enough to replace the colander.

What we don't like: The two halves of the filter have sharp raw metal where they meet below. Be careful when cleaning.

Suzannah Kolbeck is a contributor to BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company whose mission is to help simplify your buying decisions and save you time and money.

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