Bouquet garni (Home style) (Spice packet) - soups => Nylons?

Question

One day I'll plant a herb garden, however, for now, I use dry spices -- cheap, highly available, comparably longer shelf life.

I usually package a mixture of spices for my soup/stock in a coffee filter, tied with dental floss -- very homestyle -- both alway available and plentiful -- I don't want little herb floaters in my finished soup.

Someone recently posted a suggestion that they use a piece of pantyhose as a herb container.

This seems like an interesting idea, however, my concern would be with dyes used on these.

-Should I concern myself with the dye or material (nylon) issue of pantyhose in my soup ?

- Are the holes in metal tea balls (another posted suggestion) sufficiently small to contain ground spices ? Is this a better alternative ? Downside ?

- Any downside on the coffee filter/ dental floss (non-flavored) method I currently use ?

Thanks !

Answer 1

Nylons can melt so don't even think about it. Though not a huge issue to be sure but nylon is a chemically produced product.

Coffee filter? You've been lucky as this can fall apart as well. I use a metal tea ball if I have to. 99% of the stuff stays in it if it is a fine mesh. I sometimes use a bigger teaball and first tie the spices up in some cheese cloth. Cheese cloth alone, wrapped a few time and tied will also work great!

Answer 2

Bouquet Garni Spice Balls

Answer 3

i would use a double layer of cheese cloth tied with string. it lets all the flavor out while keeping the contents in and when your soup is done you just pull the pouch out and throw it away.