A tammy is a professional-grade straining cloth used to ensure sauces are perfectly smooth.
Word in 30 Seconds
- A fine fabric used for straining sauces and stocks.
- Commonly used in professional French culinary techniques.
- Historically a glazed woolen cloth used for garment linings.
Overview
'Tammy' refers to a specialized fabric used in both culinary and textile contexts. In the culinary world, it is most commonly known as a 'tammy cloth' or 'tamis,' used to achieve an exceptionally smooth texture in sauces by straining out even the smallest solids. In historical textiles, it was a plain-woven fabric, often glazed, used for durable linings. 2) Usage Patterns: The word is most frequently used in the phrase 'pass through a tammy' or 'strain through a tammy.' It functions as a countable noun, though it is often used attributively (e.g., 'tammy cloth'). 3) Common Contexts: You will primarily encounter this word in professional culinary schools, high-end French cooking manuals, or historical literature describing Victorian-era clothing. It is less common in everyday domestic cooking, where 'cheesecloth' or 'fine-mesh sieves' are more standard. 4) Similar Words comparison: Unlike cheesecloth, which has a loose weave and is often disposable, a tammy is much finer and more durable, designed for multiple uses and superior clarity in liquids. It differs from a 'tamis' (a drum sieve), though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably in modern kitchens; the tammy is the cloth itself, while the tamis is the frame and mesh tool.
Examples
I need a clean tammy to finish this gravy.
everydayI need a clean straining cloth to finish this gravy.
The recipe requires the consommé to be strained through a tammy cloth twice.
formalThe recipe requires the consommé to be strained through a tammy cloth twice.
Just grab the tammy from the drawer; this sauce is too chunky.
informalJust grab the tammy from the drawer; this sauce is too chunky.
Historically, the tammy was a preferred material for durable undergarment linings.
academicHistorically, the tammy was a preferred material for durable undergarment linings.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
tammy cloth
straining fabric
to tammy a sauce
to strain a sauce using a tammy
Often Confused With
A tamis is a drum-shaped sieve with a mesh bottom, whereas a tammy is specifically the cloth.
Cheesecloth has a much looser weave and is generally less effective for fine sauces.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
It is a technical term used mostly in professional kitchens. In general conversation, people might simply say 'fine cloth.' It sounds somewhat old-fashioned outside of culinary school.
Common Mistakes
Don't confuse it with 'Tammy' as a nickname for Tamara. In a kitchen context, it always refers to the cloth rather than a person.
Tips
Use two people for wringing
For the best results when straining, have two people twist opposite ends of the tammy cloth.
Avoid scented detergents
Never wash a tammy cloth with scented soap, as the fabric will absorb the smell and ruin your food.
French Haute Cuisine Staple
The tammy is essential for creating the velvety texture required in classic French 'Mother Sauces'.
Word Origin
Derived from the French 'estamine,' meaning a sieve-like cloth, which comes from the Latin 'stamen' (thread).
Cultural Context
Essential in French 'Mother Sauce' preparation to achieve the 'nappe' consistency, representing the precision of classical cooking.
Memory Tip
Think of 'Tammy' the chef 'taming' the lumps in her sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsIt should be boiled in plain water to remove fats and then rinsed thoroughly without soap. Soap can leave a residue that taints future sauces.
No, a tammy is much finer and more tightly woven than standard cheesecloth. It provides a much smoother result for delicate sauces.
While primarily for liquids, it can be used to sift very fine powders, though a drum sieve is usually preferred.
It likely derives from the French word 'estamine,' which refers to a sieve-like fabric.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct word.
The chef instructed the apprentice to pass the velouté through a ___ to remove lumps.
A tammy is the specific culinary tool used for straining sauces to a smooth consistency.
Choose the profession most likely to use this item.
Which profession is most likely to use a tammy regularly?
Chefs use tammy cloths for refining sauces and soups.
Reorder the words to form a correct sentence.
through / the / sauce / tammy / pass / the
The standard imperative structure is Verb + Object + Prepositional Phrase.
🎉 Score: /3
Summary
A tammy is a professional-grade straining cloth used to ensure sauces are perfectly smooth.
- A fine fabric used for straining sauces and stocks.
- Commonly used in professional French culinary techniques.
- Historically a glazed woolen cloth used for garment linings.
Use two people for wringing
For the best results when straining, have two people twist opposite ends of the tammy cloth.
Avoid scented detergents
Never wash a tammy cloth with scented soap, as the fabric will absorb the smell and ruin your food.
French Haute Cuisine Staple
The tammy is essential for creating the velvety texture required in classic French 'Mother Sauces'.
Examples
4 of 4I need a clean tammy to finish this gravy.
I need a clean straining cloth to finish this gravy.
The recipe requires the consommé to be strained through a tammy cloth twice.
The recipe requires the consommé to be strained through a tammy cloth twice.
Just grab the tammy from the drawer; this sauce is too chunky.
Just grab the tammy from the drawer; this sauce is too chunky.
Historically, the tammy was a preferred material for durable undergarment linings.
Historically, the tammy was a preferred material for durable undergarment linings.
