The 9 Best Colanders in 2021

Best Overall: Bellemain Micro-perforated Stainless Steel 5-quart Colander

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If you are looking for one colander that can both strain spaghetti and fine foods like rice, this colander for you. It's made of stainless steel that won't rust and is heavy duty so you'll have this gadget for the long haul. Though, you may want to purchase more than one, as several buyers mentioned they love it more than their plastic versions. The holes are tiny which prevents small grains from falling through but also helps drain water faster and more efficiently. When you're all done cooking you can throw this in the dishwasher for cleaning.

Best Pot Straining: Kitchen Gizmo Snap 'N Strain Clip On Silicone Colander

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Let’s face it—most colanders are used for draining liquid from pots—either to keep those cooked potatoes or pasta or to strain out the homemade stock and dispose of the bits and bones. This clip-on colander strainer does the job while taking a lot less storage space, and it clips on snugly without damaging nonstick surfaces.

Made from silicone, this can handle the heat from boiling liquids. It’s flexible enough to fit just about any pot or pan you own, and it will even clip onto most mixing bowls to drain and strain. For simple cleanup, it’s dishwasher safe.

Best Over the Sink: Cuisinart Over-the-Sink Colander

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This large, 5 1/2-quart colander has extendable nonslip handles that fit across almost any sink, so you can rinse vegetables or drain pasta while keeping the bottom of the colander safely above the floor of the sink.

The fine mesh makes this great for rinsing rice or for straining soup stock—just make sure you’ve got a pot below to catch the stock—while the rectangular shape makes it convenient for rinsing carrots, celery, rhubarb, and other long foods that wouldn’t fit as well in a round colander.

Made from stainless steel mesh, this won’t stain or rust, and it’s dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

Best Budget: OXO Good Grips Colander

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If your colander needs are simple, this strainer fits the bill—and the budget. Made from white plastic, it has elongated holes for fast, efficient draining on pasta night, and it’s also great for rinsing vegetables from the garden. It holds 4-quarts.

This has four feet that keep it elevated off the bottom of the sink, and the soft, nonslip handles make it easy to grab, so you can shake the water off your greens.

For easy cleaning, this is dishwasher safe, and since it’s round, it might nest with your mixing bowls for storage.

Best High-End: All-Clad Stainless Steel Colander

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This stainless steel colander makes a fashion statement with its brushed interior, a mirror-polished exterior, and rolled edges, but it’s not just for show. It’s made to last with riveted handles that offer a firm grip. The pedestal bottom looks classy and offers a stable base that keeps the food off the bottom of the sink.

Graduated holes drain quickly and help circulate air so your greens won’t get soggy if you prep them early. It can also serve double duty for storing onions or potatoes.

This is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. It holds 5 quarts.

Best Set: OXO Good Grips 9-Piece Nesting Bowl & Colander Set

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Colanders are great to have, but they can be a pain to store because they’re so bulky. This set solves the problem, since the colanders nest into the included bowls, so the whole set stores in very little space. The set includes three bowls, three colanders, and three lids. The colanders have a wavy base that keeps them stable in the sink, and the base also raises the colanders above the bottom of their matching bowls, so they can be paired with the bowls to catch a little liquid. These are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning, but they are not microwave safe.

Best Berry Colander: Chef'n Bramble Berry Basket and Colander

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Using a giant colander to rinse a few berries seems like overkill, but this 1-quart berry basket and colander is made just for that task. The inner basket is removable and makes rinsing berries easy. Left in the container, the basket allows air circulation around the berries so they’ll stay fresher longer. A clear plastic lid keeps the berries safe from pesky bugs.

The basket and clear container are attractive enough for serving and are top-rack dishwasher safe for easy storage. For folks who like to keep several types of berries on hand, the containers are stackable.​

Best Scoop Colander: Joseph Joseph Scoop Colander

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The scoop shape of the colander makes it simple to reach into a pot to grab pieces of food while leaving the liquid behind. It’s great for retrieving cooked noodles, for collecting vegetables from boiling water, for getting hot French fries from hot oil, and for removing bones and spent vegetables from soup stock. Hooks under the colander allow it to rest on the edge of a pot to drain more completely without having to hold it while the last of the liquid drips away.

This shape is better than a spoon or spatula when removing roasted vegetables from a pan, even if there’s not much liquid to drain. It’s safe for nonstick cookware, and heat-safe to 392 degrees, so it can handle the heat of the kitchen. When it’s done its job, it is dishwasher safe, so cleaning is easy.