North Shore resident Joanne Martin emailed me about her favorite gadget — the Soup Sock. I had never heard of such a thing, but after reading Martin’s email I could see how Soup Socks would be helpful. “These are stretchable, loosely woven cheesecloth bags,” she wrote. “Nothing to do with smelly real socks.”
She said she used them as a simple tool while making broth, adding vegetable peelings and leftover pieces. “My broths are much richer now.”
HOW IT WORKS
The two times I made chicken soup from scratch I wrapped the bones in cheesecloth, using string to secure the bundle. With a Soup Sock, all I had to do was shove two Costco rotisserie chicken carcasses into a sock (add herbs or other seasoning, if desired) and tie a knot. The rest of the soup-making process stayed the same.
In the end, “lift out the sock, squeeze out the liquid and throw the sock with all those bones, vegetable bits, stems of herbs — right in the trash,” Martin wrote. I just let my bundle drip a little, then threw it away.
It was so easy. Thanks, Joanne!
DOES IT WORK?
Yes.
PROS
Simple to use. A lot can fit into the stretchy sock. Great for stretching your pocketbook by making another meal from scraps. For example, my great-aunt used to make chagai with fish heads and bones, tea and rice. My Aunty Jean said the head and bones gave great flavor, but they had to pick their way around them when they ate the soup. The Soup Sock would have alleviated that problem. Martin said it takes about 30 minutes to make broth from fish bones.
CONS
None that I can think of.
COST AND AVAILABILITY
Bedbathandbeyond.com has a three-pack for $2.99 but with shipping to Hawaii and tax the total came to $13.59. Amazon.com has several choices, from a three-pack for $5.82 to an 18-pack for $14.99, some with free shipping. Make sure you don’t buy the smaller bags meant for spices, loose tea or coffee.
WORTH IT?
Definitely. Now I’m craving chagai, sans bones. It would be perfect for making post- Thanksgiving turkey stock.
Got a gadget that you love? Curious about one you’d like us to test? Email crave@staradvertiser.com or write Crave,Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, Honolulu 96813.
