The culinary world is full of items that are necessary in order to create amazing dishes. When it comes to the preparation of meat items and especially poultry, the ability to truss and stuff wouldn’t be possible without Kitchen twine.
When it comes to twines used in the kitchen, there are three terms that we need to deal with:
Butchers Twine
Kitchen Twine
Regular Twine
Table of contents
- Is Kitchen Twine the Same as Butchers Twine?
- What Is Kitchen Twine?
- What is Regular twine?
- What are the main differences?
- What are the uses for Kitchen twine and Regular twine?
- Can I use Regular twine instead of kitchen twine ?
- Do you need to soak butchers twine before use?
- Where can you buy kitchen twine?
- Conclusion
Is Kitchen Twine the Same as Butchers Twine?
Yes, they are synonyms for the same product that is safe for contact with food and can withstand oven temperatures. Sometimes this type of twine is also called Cooking Twine.
What Is Kitchen Twine?
Kitchen twine also commonly goes by the name Butchers twine. Kitchen twine is a string that is used in cooking. Kitchen twine is used because it’s safe for contact with food and won’t burn in the oven.
What is Regular twine?
Regular twine is often made of a cotton blend and is not intended for use in cooking. It tends to include synthetic materials that you really don’t want to be used in the kitchen. Regular twine is not approved for contact with food and cannot withstand oven temperatures. Jute Twine is a type of general purpose, strong twine that is regularly used in crafts, for tying packages, etc…
What are the main differences?
The main differences are that kitchen twine is 100% cotton and made to be used when cooking. Regular twine on the other hand is usually a cotton blend, polyester and is not intended for use in cooking.
What are the uses for Kitchen twine and Regular twine?
There are many fantastic uses for kitchen twine and for regular twine. For starters, kitchen twine is commonly used when preparing meat dishes and trussing up chicken.
Trussing up the meat into a nice uniform shape can prevent burning and this helps the meat to cook evenly. Kitchen twine AKA butchers twine is also great for helping to keep the stuffing in place instead of falling out whilst cooking.
Regular twine is used mainly for functional and decorative situations and should be avoided for use in cooking.
Can I use Regular twine instead of kitchen twine ?
Typically, no.
Technically, it depends on what the regular twine is made from. There are some twines that are completely food-safe, like linen, but will melt at high temperatures.
The twine that is commonly bought at hardware or craft stores will usually be synthetic or made from polyester and are not safe to use with food or in the oven.
Your best bet is to buy some kitchen twine (AKA Butcher’s twine) and avoid using regular twine with food. If you are stuck and need something to use, right here right now, please check out this article: kitchen twine substitutes.
Do you need to soak butchers twine before use?
It can be a good idea to soak your kitchen twine for a minute or 2 before usage. This is especially important if you are going to expose your dish to an open flame. You can use either water or some kind of stock or broth. This will help prevent burning.
Where can you buy kitchen twine?
Kitchen twine can be bought at most good supermarkets and culinary stores. There are also online stores such as amazon and target that will sell it. It’s usually inexpensive and a must-have for any dedicated home cook.
Conclusion
Twine in all forms is a useful tool for use in any household. One should try to make sure they keep both regular twine as well as kitchen twine as they do serve different purposes.
