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There are a few kitchen items that have stuck with me since I started and finished college over the past four years. Quite a few have bit the dust — mostly, I prioritized affordability over quality — but one of the long-lasting (and often used) ones that immediately comes to mind is my colander, of all things. Even though I’ve used it for years and it’s gone from dorm to dorm to my first apartment to my current place, it was still easy on my student self’s wallet at the time, and I don’t see myself ever switching it out for a pricier option.
Long before I learned that OXO was a favorite retailer amongst AT editors, I’d been using the brand’s space-saving colander nearly every day, whether I was making pasta (my easy and quick meal of choice in college) or washing fruits and veggies. Now, I’m totally convinced I need to stock up on all of their other tools and gadgets now that I have more time on my hands for cooking. If you’re right there with me and want a gadget that takes up hardly any space at all, let me tell you more about why the first product you snag should be the Good Grips 3.5-Qt. Collapsible Colander.
What is the OXO Good Grips Silicone Collapsible Colander?
Able to hold up to 3.5 quarts, this silicone colander is my most used item in my kitchen; it’s consistent and effective every time I use it. I’d always been used to the bulky metal colanders that took up tons of valuable space in the few cabinets we had. This one can be pressed flat so that it’s only an inch or two thick — so it ends up taking about as much space as a wooden cutting board would. The flexible silicone is heat resistant, the holes are spaced for quick draining (which is helped along by the tall feet on the underside), and it has handles that make for smooth transport between the sink and the stove.
Why I Love the OXO Good Grips Silicone Collapsible Colander
Of course, the main draw of this tool is the space-saving aspect, an area in which it more than delivers. However, collapsible colanders always sound like a good idea on paper, but you run the risk of it collapsing when you’re pouring something into it. But I’ll be the first to assure you that, after years of daily use, that hasn’t happened to me once with OXO’s version. And it has handled a ton of pasta at once, on multiple occasions. Further, the silicone feet on the bottom keep it from budging when it sits in the sink, even during a heavy pour.
The silicone also makes the colander extremely easy to clean. It’s dishwasher-safe, but no residue stubbornly sticks to the bottom or gets stuck in the holes or creases. The heat resistance comes in handy when boiling water is involved, too — I’ve been known to be a bit clumsy in the kitchen and get a burn every now and then, but it’s never happened when using this tool. The water drains completely in seconds, so once it’s time to move my pasta back to the pot on the stove, there isn’t any drippage.
This colander has long cemented itself as my kitchen MVP, and I don’t see that changing any time soon. I’ll never use a metal colander again, and I encourage everyone who has yet to make the switch to try the OXO Collapsible Colander at the top of your to-do list! (It’s also available on Amazon here!) Small kitchen or not, why take up space when you don’t have to?
