5 Best Collapsible Colanders
Imagine this: you are making Spaghetti Bolognese for the fam. You boil the pasta, and when it’s nearly done, you open a cabinet to take out your colander. You dread opening that cabinet to take out your conservative-looking colander because you know that holey bowl is full of other stuff that you had to put in there to save space. In the time it takes you to take out that colander, put everything back inside the cabinet and set up the instrument, your noodles decide to stick to the bottom of the pan. Disaster.
What you need, then, is the best collapsible colander. I decided to make a list of the 5 top collapsible colanders out there to help you out:
Comparison Of The Best Collapsible Colanders In 2021
PRODUCT |
COLLAPSIBILITY |
BEST FOR |
HIGHLIGHTED FEATURES |
|
Collapses to 1” | Best Overall |
|
| Kitchen Maestro Hands-Free Colander | Collapses to 1” | Best Small |
|
|
Collapses to 1.5” | Best Plastic |
|
|
Collapses to 2″ | Best Rectangular |
|
1. Beaumont Stainless Steel Colander
Highlighted Features
- Collapses to 1”
- Medium-sized
- Stainless steel & silicone
- Dishwasher-safe
This top colander comes in a bright red color. It has holes in the sides as well as in the bottom, making it easier and quicker to strain your food. It has a stainless steel bottom, not a silicone one, which means that it has a solid shape that won’t bend with the weight of the food. Neither will this collapsible strainer be disfigured while in use, nor will the food at the bottom touch the sink. This sturdy utensil is also dishwasher safe, and won’t rust.
Storage
It collapses to a third of its size, roughly to an inch, and assumes the dimensions of a large dinner plate. Therefore, storing it is way easier than storing a large, bowl-shaped colander because traditional colanders can take up to a whole section of a cabinet whereas a flat, thick disk can be stashed anywhere, taking up a lot less space.
Multiple sizes in one
Also, its folding mechanism allows you to use it for three sizes: 4.5”, 3” and 1”, so you can ‘un-collapse’ it all the way if you are washing or draining large quantities, or you can open it half-way if your needs are less. You can even use this collapsible at its flat 1” for washing some lettuce if you’re making yourself a sandwich.
Heat-proof
It can withstand high temperatures so it can double as a steamer. So if you need to steam some veggies, you can just pop them in this. It will save you the hassle of tipping the pot over and will certainly lessen the chance of those pestering burns you can get while straining.
Feet
The bottom silicone ring has three thick, sturdy silicone feet which support the colander a little bit off the surface on which it rests. This means that if you put the colander in the sink and drain your pasta, the liquid won’t slosh back inside like it would do if the colander were to not have supporting feet. Additionally, it won’t slip and slide (like many colanders do because of their plastic or metal footing) because the silicone footing provides more friction as it’s a type of rubber.
Handles
The handles of this collapsible colander, although stainless steel, have an interior of silicone. So even if the top metal ring heats up, you can safely use your colander because the metal is surrounded by heat-proof silicone. The handles are a tad small, though, and the interior silicone padding can get displaced. So make sure the silicone is safely in place, and that you have a good grip, before you lift the hot colander.
Size of the holes
You are good to strain anything in this collapsible colander, from your leafy greens and fruit to your pasta and rice. Since it has holes, and not a mesh, so washing small grains like rice or quinoa might be a problem as they will likely escape through.
Pros
- BPA- Free
- Collapses to one inch
- Can be used in 3 sizes
- Doubles as steamer
- Has silicon footing
- Stainless steel bottom
- Holes in the sides as well
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Only 3 quarts
- Only one color
- Small handles
2. Kitchen Maestro Hands-Free Colander
Highlighted Features
- Compact
- Collapses sideways
- Has small holes
- Hands-free use
Hands-free experience
This handy little contraption comes with a unique handle that allows you to hook it on the sink divider. You can even hook it on the side of the sink if it is narrow enough, and then it can just jut out under the tap, supported by the handle. Since the handle holds it up pretty well, you can have a hands-free experience. You can wash your fruits and vegetables comfortably using both hands, or strain your pasta without fearing that the colander might topple over any minute, spilling all that yummy goodness into the sink.
Size
This silicone colander is not very big. In fact, it’s quite small. It holds around 2 quarts, and should be adequate to wash some berries or drain cans. Using a full-size colander for these things can be cumbersome, but if you have a utensil like this one, you can just pop it onto the sink and drain a pint of berries that you just bought from the supermarket. The front part opens up expansively so it’s easier to pour out your food. Works well as a spaghetti strainer for one, though!
Holes
It has holes in the bottom and the sides as well, allowing for quick drainage. You won’t have to wait out all the drips for a long time or shake the colander to get rid of the liquid. The holes, strategically placed in the bottom and the curves of the sides, are small enough that you can wash small grains in it without them slipping out. So go ahead and wash the rice.
Collapsibility
This colander, unlike many others, won’t collapse flat. It’s built so that the outer plastic pieces join to the middle silicone part vertically, as opposed to the horizontal arrangement found in many collapsible colanders. So basically, the outer two plastic parts fold in on themselves, bending the silicone between them sideways.
Dishwasher-safe
It is dishwasher safe, so even if you get some grease or rice stuck in the small holes, you just need to pop it in there and you’re good to go. It’s BPA-free as well, so you don’t have to worry about harmful chemicals seeping into your food from the plastic.
Pros
- Handle hooks on the sink divider
- Hands-free experience
- Dishwasher safe
- Holes in the sides as well
- Small holes
- BPA-free
Cons
- Small
- A handle may not hook on the side of the sink
- Doesn’t collapse flat
3. Squish Colander
Highlighted Features
- Collapses to 1”
- Large sized
- Plastic bottom and top
- Pretty purple color
This is a big colander in a pretty purple two-tone, made of plastic and silicone, with large, comfortable handles. It collapses to about an inch in height and is therefore very easy to store.
Size
This collapsing colander is a big one, as the name says, and will cater to your big culinary needs. If you have to cook for a family, this is for you. Its 6-quart capacity will take care of you, whether you have to wash some greens, strain a lot of rice/pasta or wash some fruit that you just bought. It comes in a bright purple color, which will liven up any kitchen nicely. Since it’s all plastic and silicone, it won’t ever rust.
Material
The base and the top are made of hard plastic. The top part of the hard plastic curves out expansively, making it easier for you to grip the colander, no matter how heavy the load is. It also has a small pouring lip, which will help you in transferring the food back to the pot without spilling. Since the bottom and the top are both plastic, you can’t actually cook anything in it because it could distort, and it’s probably best to keep it away from the microwave as well. It is dishwasher safe, though.
Feet
The bottom ring of silicone of this plastic strainer acts as a raised footing but you might want to keep the colander off the sink a little bit because the footing might not be enough to keep the draining liquid from sloshing back in. The silicone footing will give the colander a lot more purchase on the draining surface, though i.e. the sink, than other generally used materials like plastic or stainless steel.
Size of the drainage holes
It has holes in the sides as well as in the bottom which allows for quick drainage, so you won’t have to wait while your food drains drip by drip through the bottom only. The holes are, of course, larger than a mesh, so it might be a good idea to avoid washing rice or quinoa because you might lose some if you wash small grains in this. You could strain long-grain rice, but even then might end up losing some in the process, so it’s best to avoid using it for small grains altogether.
Storage
This plastic collapsing colander collapses to about an inch, so you can store it quite easily. You can keep it with your cutting boards, and you don’t have to waste an entire section in a cabinet to store it. The top ring of plastic even has a nice-sized hole, which you can use to hang your colander once you’ve ‘squished’ it.
Pros
- Collapses to about an inch
- Easy-to-grip handles
- Won’t rust
- Large capacity
- Stable silicone base
Cons
- Large holes, are not good for small grains
- Can’t be used for direct cooking
- Only one color
4. Precision Expanding Colander
Highlighted Features
- Collapses to 1.5”
- Large sized
- Plastic bottom and top
- 6 quarts
This one is a kitchen strainer that has non-slip handles that extend out from the side to rest the colander safely and securely over the sink.
Shape
This collapsible colander is not the traditional round bowl. It has a distinctive, rectangular shape that will add the element of uniqueness to your kitchen. So if you are someone who likes to try new things and hates normalcy, this is for you. You will also like this colander if you feel that the round, bowl-shaped construction of traditional colanders constricts you while you wash vegetables like carrots, leeks or radishes. Since most kitchen sinks are rectangular, it’s unique design will fit in nicely.
Handles
Its defining feature is the extendable handles. How many colanders have you seen that give you the liberty to extend out their handles? That’s right, not many. This one, however, has handles that extend out to accommodate your colander over your sink for an amazing, hands-free experience. The handles are furnished with a non-slip base underneath which will provide great purchase on the sides of the sink so that you can work freely with your hands, without the fear of the colander toppling over and spilling the contents into the sink. The colander has a raised, plastic footing that will keep your food out of the way of external elements, but these handles will give it extra lift. So if you have some dirty dishes in the sink, you don’t have to take them out to drain your food; you can just hang the collapsible colander over your dishes with the help of these anti-slip handles and you’re good to go.
Size
Its 6-quart size is a good family size, so it will take care of all your greens and your pasta when you are cooking for the fam. Like some collapsible colanders, it doesn’t have the feature of collapsing or ‘un-collapsing’ to various heights, so you’ll have to open it up all the way even if you just have to drain a pint of berries.
Size of the holes
The holes are only in the bottom, not on the sides, so drainage might be a tad slower. The holes are also rather large you won’t be able to wash small grains, rice, quinoa, etc. in it because you might end up losing some grain. It’ll be better to use a mesh for that. But it works great as a pasta strainer!
Variety of colors
This noodle strainer comes in three colors: white, blue, and pink, so you can choose whichever you like best or whichever goes with your kitchen’s color scheme. It’s dishwasher safe and even comes with a free, reusable grocery tote (say no to plastic shopping bags, people).
Pros
- Large-sized
- Extendable handles
- Distinctive rectangular shape
- Multiple colors
- Free grocery tote
Cons
- Collapses /uncollapses to one height only
- Holes only in the bottom
5. Microwave Plate Cover and colander By Still On Point
Highlighted Features
- Doubles as microwave plate cover
- Easy to store
- Collapses to an inch
This one is perhaps the most unique colander in the whole list. So far, the colanders have been just that: colanders. The special, differing thing about this contraption that sets it apart is that it serves two purposes: a microwave plate cover and a colander. So if you aren’t using it to wash your greens and pasta, you can pop it in the microwave over a plate of food to prevent your machine from getting food splattered all over its insides.
Size of the drainage holes
It’s quite good-sized too; you can wash up to three cups of anything in it quite comfortably. The holes in this collapsible colander are quite large, so you probably can’t wash small grains like quinoa or rice in it because they might slide out, leading to wastage. Also, the holes are only present in the bottom, not in the sides, so the drainage might be slow. But then again it might not, because, as mentioned earlier, they are quite large.
Storage
It has a plastic top and bottom, with the collapsible silicone in the middle. It collapses to about an inch from its full height of 3.5”, to allow for easy storage as one can stash a colander the size of a dinner plate anywhere. And since this is a microwave plate cover as well, it’s most probably going to live in your microwave anyway.
No feet
And since it’s a plate cover as well, it doesn’t have any footing, so when you use it as a colander you might not want to put it in the sink directly, because the draining liquid will swirl around the sink and will most certainly slosh back inside the colander, and you don’t want that.
Money-back guarantee
Still On Point LLC also offers a 30 days money-back guarantee, no questions asked, which is a pretty swell offer and makes you think they must have an awesome product to offer. It’s BPA-free and did I mention it’s microwave safe?
Pros
- Doubles as a microwave plate cover
- BPA- free
- Microwave safe
- Collapses to an inch
- Easy storage
- 30 days money back guarantee
Cons
- Large holes
- Not very big
- No feet
Things To Look For Before Buying!
Stepping out into the big wide world and making a buying decision is a tough task. A thousand questions flood your mind, along with a hundred concerns. Buying a regular colander might be easy, but a collapsible one might be a bit of a challenge.
The best collapsible colanders have certain features that set them apart from the rest, and you need to know exactly what you need before making a buying decision.
Here are some important things you should consider before you set out to buy the best collapsible colander:
- How much collapsibility do you need?
- What is your material of preference?
- Does the size cater to your needs?
- Is it easy to clean?
Buying Guide
What To Look For In A Collapsible Colander?
You are here, looking for a collapsible colander, which means you are likely pressed for storage space in your kitchen. So the primary thing that you need to look for in a collapsible colander is how much space does it take when it collapses. If it’s taking almost the same space as a non-collapsible one, then there’s little point in buying it. Look carefully at the dimensions mentioned when the product is in a collapsed state.
Secondly, you should look for whether it is dishwasher safe or not. Colanders have lots of holes which can get pretty tricky to clean, especially if you use it to it drain something oily or with a lot of seasoning. You need to be able to pop it in the dishwasher without worrying that it will fall apart.
Thirdly, you want a colander that has a raised footing. Unless you are just washing some berries, it can be quite hard to hold the colander and work one-handed. And you probably won’t want to put it in the sink where the draining liquid can seep back in. If your colander has a raised footing, you don’t have to worry about all of that.
Does The Size Of The Drainage Holes Matter?
Big holes in your colander will prevent you from washing rice or similar stuff in it, as it will likely escape through them. A colander with smaller holes will present no such problem. But if you have found a colander that you like but it has big holes, you shouldn’t pass up on it. You can always use a mesh strainer for your small grains.
What Material Should You Choose?
Collapsible colanders usually have a middle part made of silicone that allows the collapsing action to occur. The top and bottom are made of a different, harder material. This can be stainless steel or plastic, and you can choose whichever you like. Most colanders with stainless steel bases will allow you to actually cook your food in them by placing them in the pan itself. Of course, you can’t do this with plastic colanders. But the metal part is more liable to burn you while straining hot food, than plastic, so you should take care to see that the metal handles have some sort of insulation from the heat.
How To Use A Collapsible Colander Safely?
Accidents happen all the time, which is why you need to make sure that you have done everything to ensure nothing is amiss on your part. Washing fruits and vegetables, or draining cans, is a safe enough job in a food strainer. The part that presents a bit of a challenge is straining hot foods like rice or pasta.
First, you need to ensure that your collapsible colander is opened properly. If it has levels, make sure that the level you are using is fully opened and is not sliding into another level. Secondly, make sure the sink is empty of all other things; you don’t want that contamination in your food if the water were to slosh back.
If your colander is metal at the top and doesn’t have proper insulation, be sure to use oven mitts to prevent slight burns. To avoid this, it is better to be thorough while making a buying decision: choose a colander with proper insulation against the heat.
How To Take Care Of Your Collapsible Colander?
If you have a great contraption that helps you out whenever you need it, you need to return the favor. When you’re done using your collapsible colander, pop it in the dishwasher (if it’s dishwasher safe) at once. Once it’s clean, make sure to collapse it properly and gently, and make sure that it is fully collapsed and you’re not putting it away in a distorted position, which might damage the colander over time.
Make lots of salads, wash lots of fruit, and enjoy your colander!
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