The Best Colanders

If you’ve done even a quick search for colanders on Amazon or inside your local Bed, Bath, & Beyond, you’ll notice that like any common kitchen utensil, there are an overwhelming number of options and features to choose from. Thus, we’ve put together a list of the best colanders for your needs and your budget, whether you’re just draining pasta and beans, or you’re looking for a multi-use decorative option to spice up your kitchen.
First, let’s go over the basics: what should you look for when buying a colander? If, say, you’re a kitchen newbie renting your first apartment, you may not have even realized that you need one of these gadgets, and you might be tempted to just pick up any old strainer off the shelf. It helps, though, to put some thought into what brand and style you want to buy. Let’s take a look.
What Am I Even Going to Use This Thing For?
If you’ve been in the kitchen for years, you probably know how a colander works– otherwise, you should know that this is a versatile kitchen tool, and is not only made for professionals.
I’m willing to bet you’ve at least cooked some pasta in your days. For draining cooked spaghetti, you’ll want a large, sturdy (not mesh) colander.
Or, maybe you’ll want to rinse some berries or veggies. The holes in a colander, which let the water out, come in varying sizes, so you’ll want to take this into consideration– smaller berries will require smaller holes so they don’t slip down the drain.
This goes for rinsing rice, as well. For this purpose, you may want to use a mesh strainer, or if not, a colander with very small holes. We’ll describe in detail below how you can most efficiently use each colander we’ve selected.
How Do I Store A Colander?
Some colanders are designed to be less bulky and easier to put away. If storage space is your main concern, we’ve suggested colanders which are collapsible (i.e. you can squish them down into a flat shape, so they can fit easily into even a tiny cabinet).
On the other hand, maybe you’d like something visually pleasing that you can also use as a fruit bowl. Use a colander! We’ll show you a cute option below.
Other Factors to Consider
You might have wondered how you’re supposed to wash one of these. We’ve recommended several dishwasher safe models.
In addition, some colanders hang right over your sink, so you don’t have to worry about holding them while you strain your food. If you’ve ever had a colander tip over while you’re pouring and you lose half of your spaghetti down the drain, you’ll appreciate these hands-free models.
If you didn’t already, you probably have an idea of what type of colander you’re looking for now. Let’s get onto the list!
Best High-End: All-Clad Stainless Steel Colander
If you want to splurge on a nice, durable colander, this multi-use model received lots of nice Amazon reviews. It comes in 1.5, 3, or 5-quart sizes, and features large stainless steel handles and a round base so you can set it in the sink without it wobbling. It is polished and won’t rust, so it’ll look fantastic in your kitchen. In addition, it is dishwasher safe.
The holes are relatively small– reviewers had no problem draining angel hair pasta, but anything smaller such as rice may fall through, so read on for more rice-friendly models.
Best Budget: KUKPO Stainless Steel Colander
Here’s a nice strainer that won’t break your budget. Like the more expensive All-Clad, it won’t rust and is dishwasher safe. This one comes with handles, too: these are coated in rubber, so you can handle hot, steaming pasta without burning yourself. It holds 5 quarts, more than enough to drain a pound of spaghetti.
If you need to rinse some rice, stop here. This model has small, perforated holes; reviewers said even jasmine rice would not fall out.
Best High-End Collapsible: Rosle 10-Inch Collapsible Colander
This is one of those colanders which collapses to the size of a dinner plate, so you can store it pretty much anywhere, even propped up on your countertop against your knife block if you use it frequently.
The Rosle colander is made of stainless steel and food-grade silicone. It’s designed so that all of its parts that touch a piece of food will remain exposed, so it’s painless to wash, and it’s dishwasher-safe. Also, you don’t have to worry about the silicone melting, as it’s heat-resistant.
This colander comes with a lifetime warranty and is made to last. It also comes in four fantastic colors!

Best Budget Collapsible: Squish Colander
Squish has a great reputation for their wide selection of collapsible colanders. The one mentioned in this article is the purple six-quart model, but Squish makes just about any color and size you could wish for, from three cups to six quarts. These collapsible colanders are great for your wallet and for storage.
This colander’s holes are quite tiny, so you’d be safe rinsing rice or straining angel hair pasta. It even has little silicone feet on the bottom, so it can stand up in your sink without you having to hold on to it. All Squish products are dishwasher safe.

Bonus: Over-The-Sink AND Collapsible!
Of course, Squish also makes a colander that sits right on top of your sink– it has extendable handles, to fit bigger or smaller sinks. That way, you can set it under the faucet, and rinse your rice and berries hands-free. It has anti-slip edges, too, for extra protection.

Best High-End Over-The-Sink: Kraus CS-2 Stainless Steel Colander
Kraus produces three sizes of these fancy-looking colanders; the one we list here is the 17.5” by 9” version, so you’ll have to check your sink before buying one.
The Kraus colander would be good for cleaning berries or veggies, since you can just place the food right under the faucet. It is dishwasher-safe and rust-resistant, and comes with a lifetime warranty. It’s made sturdy and has a satin finish and protective cushions covering the corners.

Best Decorative: Pioneer Woman Flea Market Colander
This is a stylish option if you need a new centerpiece for your kitchen table. On Amazon, it comes in a pack of two: a 3-quart and a 5-quart size. It is made of sturdy carbon steel, so it won’t dent, and also has a steel base, which is great if you want to use it as a fruit bowl.
It comes in three attractive colors. The holes are a little large, so if you need to strain some rice, you may want to try one of the above models instead. Also, this colander is NOT dishwasher safe, so be careful washing it!

All-Around Best: Beaumont Kitchenware Collapsible Colander
This colander is wonderfully rated in every area we can think of. The holes are tiny, but plentiful, so the water drains fast and there’s no need to shake out the excess.
It’s collapsible, but large, so you can drain anything from pasta to pomegranate seeds.
The handles are coated in silicone, which makes for easy gripping. You can also hang it on your pot rack if you have one.
It’s made of dishwasher-safe silicone and stainless steel, and is also heat resistant up to 425 degrees– that means you can even use it as a steamer!
Lastly, it’s not expensive– far cheaper than many of the other models listed here, but at the same time, it’s high-quality and durable.
We hope you’ve found the perfect colander to fit your taste and budget. There are literally hundreds of options out there, but when it comes down to it, any of these eight will satisfy your needs. Now, you can get cooking!

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This page about Colander was composed by V. Tobies and published by Alternative.me.
It was last updated on 2024-11-29 08:19:12 and has been viewed 3676 times.