Strainer no Prong
Strainers without prong are a subtype of the most widely used type of bar strainer today: So-called Hawthorne Strainers are characterized by a flexible wire spiral around the rim that conforms to the opening of the shaker or mixing glass. This spiral and the strainer's small holes allow liquid to pass through while retaining solids. The variant without prong, however, 'lacks' the small supports, making it quite fundamentally different in its application. While normal Hawthorne Strainers are placed on the shaker or mixing glass, strainers without prongs are inserted into them and fixed there in a beveled position. Some variants also have a notch in the handle, which is fixed to the rim.
The main difference for the user is a change in pouring behavior. In normal Hawthorne strainers, the openings are directly above the opening of the shaker or glass due to the design. Due to the clamping inside the shaker or mixing glass, the drink initially continues to run through the glass or shaker after straining in strainers without a support. This favors the creation of a focused stream for targeted pouring. Ultimately, each bartender must decide individually which variant best supports his or her personal working method.
