SC - "throrow a straynour" - A query about horsetail

[Stefan li Rous]

Ras said:
> Strainers made of horsehair are occasionally available in finer cooking shops 
> even today. However, I doubt they would stand up to the process needed to 
> whip egg whites. 

So why would you want such an item today? It would seem like a strainer of
that style made with monofilament line or some other polymer would be
stronger and less effected by humidity than horsehair.

> Other strainers I seen pictured were low sided pans with 
> holes in the bottom and at least one Roman source that showed a metal 
> strainer which closely resembles today's rounded strainer with holes.

Although, I used to call such items "strainers" isn't the better term
for these "colanders" or are colanders something else?

- -- 
Lord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
Mark S. Harris             Austin, Texas           stefan at texas.net
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org ****