What Is The UK’s Best Colander?
In this guide we’ll look at the best colanders for the UK market.
We’ve compared material, design, drainage ability and cost
to give you our top recommendations.
Colander Reviews
Colander Buyer’s Guide
A colander is possibly one kitchen item that you will almost certainly use every day. For rinsing salad, washing fruit and vegetables and draining hot food like pasta and rice, a colander is an indispensable piece of kitchen equipment.
Not sure what to look for when it comes to buying the best colander? Check out this buyer’s guide.
Material
Colanders were traditionally always made of stainless steel but there are silicone and plastic options available now which many people prefer because they are lighter when full and don’t get so hot to the touch.
Make sure if you choose a steel colander that it is quality with no sharp edges, and rust-resistant. Some designs have a fine mesh and are almost closer to a sieve. Silicone and plastic should always be food-grade and BPA free.
Size
Size matters but actually shape can be more important – colanders can be either deep or wide and shallow depending on your preference. Large colanders can be bulky to store so choose one of the collapsible varieties if space is at a premium.
Design
Choose from the traditional circular or one of the new square designs. The base is important for stability and the style of the handles for grip and ease of use. Micro-perforations are popular with some brands to optimise drainage.
There are some radical new designs out there from manufacturers who pride themselves on ergonomically styled kitchen equipment. If you are short of room then a wide handle will act as a handy hanging hook or choose a collapsible style for maximum storage efficiency.
Colanders FAQ
What is a colander used for?
A colander is used for washing and rinsing foodstuffs like fruit, vegetables and salad. It is also used for draining cooked foods such as rice, pasta and vegetables.
What is the difference between a colander and a strainer?
A strainer is a generic term which can be used to mean a sieve or a colander but is commonly applied to a fine mesh bowl-shaped kitchen aid which can have one long handle like a pan or two short handles either side.
A colander is typically circular and stands on a base or feet. It can be bigger with larger draining holes although many new designs have fine perforated holes almost like mesh so are sometimes closer in design to a sieve.