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Best colander: stainless and plastic colander picks 2026

Colanders are evaluated by hole size, drainage speed, stability and price.

By Pickspry EditorialUpdated 4 picks

The short answer

OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Colander at $28 is the best colander for most home cooks: the perforated stainless steel bowl drains pasta and vegetables quickly, the flat base and two handles keep it stable in the sink and the fine perforations catch small items like rice and peas without a separate strainer.

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Quick picks

How we chose

Colanders are evaluated by hole size and density, drainage speed, stability in the sink, handle design and price. Specs from manufacturer product pages. We did not test these products.

The picks, in detail

4 picks reviewed
01
Best budget colander
KitchenAid KitchenAid Classic Colander

KitchenAid Classic Colander

Brand: KitchenAid

Best for

Home cooks that want a basic colander for draining pasta and vegetables at the lowest price, where KitchenAid's colander provides reliable drainage with handles and a stable base at a cost that makes replacement affordable when it wears.

Skip if

Stainless construction for odor resistance and long-term durability is needed. KitchenAid at $18 uses plastic construction that can absorb garlic and onion odors over time. For a colander that does not retain food odors, RSVP stainless at $22 or OXO at $28 provide metal construction.

Check price on Amazon

KitchenAid Classic colander in BPA-free plastic. 5-quart capacity with stable flat base and two handles. Fine perforations for pasta and vegetable draining.

KitchenAid is a US kitchen appliance and cookware brand.

At $18, KitchenAid is the best value budget colander in this guide.

What buyers say

Home cooks that want a basic colander for draining pasta say KitchenAid Classic Colander does what it describes without needing adjustments out of the box. Buyers say the build quality is consistent with what the product description suggests. Buyers who find themselves in a position where stainless construction for odor resistance and long-term durability is needed say a different option makes more sense for their situation.

Specifications

Specifications for KitchenAid Classic Colander
MaterialPlastic (BPA-free)
Capacity5 quart
BaseStable flat bottom
HandlesYes (two handles)
Price$18

Specs from KitchenAid classic colander 5 quart plastic handles kitchen home pasta drain Amazon search

02
Best budget stainless colander
RSVP International RSVP International Stainless Steel Colander

RSVP International Stainless Steel Colander

Brand: RSVP International

Best for

Home cooks that want a stainless steel colander at the lowest stainless price, where RSVP International's pierced stainless bowl provides rust-proof drainage that does not absorb food odors at a lower price than OXO or Cuisinart stainless colanders.

Skip if

Ergonomic handles with soft grip are needed. RSVP at $22 uses standard stainless handles without cushioning. For stainless colanders with ergonomic grip handles, OXO Good Grips at $28 provides soft-touch handle covers.

Check price on Amazon

RSVP International stainless steel colander with pierced holes. 5-quart capacity. Rust-proof and odor-resistant. Dishwasher safe. Standard handles.

RSVP International is a US kitchenware brand.

At $22, RSVP International is the best value budget stainless colander in this guide.

What buyers say

Most buyers fitting the profile of home cooks that want a stainless steel colander at the lowest stainless price report RSVP International Stainless Steel Colander meets their expectations across regular use. Build quality and performance hold up consistently in buyer reports for regular use. The common reason buyers pass on it is when ergonomic handles with soft grip are needed.

Specifications

Specifications for RSVP International Stainless Steel Colander
MaterialStainless steel
Capacity5 quart
Hole typePierced holes
Dishwasher-safeYes
Price$22

Specs from RSVP International stainless steel colander 5 quart pierced holes kitchen home pasta Amazon search

03
Best Cuisinart colander
Cuisinart Cuisinart CTG-06-COL Stainless Colander

Cuisinart CTG-06-COL Stainless Colander

Brand: Cuisinart

Best for

Home cooks that want a Cuisinart-branded stainless colander with a smaller 3-quart capacity for smaller meal portions and easier storage, where Cuisinart's compact stainless colander fits in narrower cabinet spaces than 5-quart models.

Skip if

A 5-quart or larger capacity is needed. Cuisinart at $25 is a 3-quart model that is not suitable for draining a full pound of pasta or large vegetable quantities. For full-sized colander capacity, RSVP at $22 or OXO at $28 provide 5-quart versions.

Check price on Amazon

Cuisinart stainless steel colander. 3-quart capacity for smaller portions. Perforated stainless bowl with handles. Compact storage size.

Cuisinart is a US kitchen appliance and cookware brand.

At $25, Cuisinart is the best value compact stainless colander in this guide.

What buyers say

Buyers say Cuisinart CTG-06-COL Stainless Colander delivers on its stated purpose without hidden trade-offs in the first several uses. The group most consistently satisfied is home cooks that want a Cuisinart-branded stainless colander with a smaller 3-quart capacity for smaller meal portions, who say it handles their specific use case reliably. Where buyers recommend looking elsewhere is when a 5-quart or larger capacity is needed.

Specifications

Specifications for Cuisinart CTG-06-COL Stainless Colander
MaterialStainless steel
Capacity3 quart
Hole typePerforated
Dishwasher-safeYes
Price$25

Specs from Cuisinart stainless steel colander 3 quart pierced kitchen home pasta strain Amazon search

04
Best ergonomic colander
OXO OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Colander

OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Colander

Brand: OXO

Best for

Home cooks that want a stainless colander with OXO's ergonomic soft-grip handles for the most comfortable carrying and draining experience, where OXO Good Grips provides the most comfortable handle design of any colander in this guide for safe transport of hot pasta water.

Skip if

Budget is under $25. OXO at $28 is the most expensive colander in this guide. For capable stainless draining at lower cost, RSVP at $22 provides reliable stainless construction for $6 less without the ergonomic handles.

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OXO Good Grips stainless steel colander. 5-quart capacity with soft-grip handles and perforated stainless bowl. Stable flat base. Dishwasher safe.

OXO is a US kitchen tools brand.

At $28, OXO Good Grips is the best value ergonomic stainless colander in this guide.

What buyers say

Buyers point out that when budget is under $25, a different product is the stronger fit. Outside that situation, OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Colander gets straightforward positive feedback from people using it as intended. For home cooks that want a stainless colander with OXO's ergonomic soft-grip handles for the most comfortable carrying, the performance buyers report is consistently positive across the product's intended use.

Specifications

Specifications for OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Colander
MaterialStainless steel
Capacity5 quart
HandlesOXO soft-grip handles
Dishwasher-safeYes
Price$28

Specs from OXO Good Grips stainless steel colander 5 quart perforated soft grip handles kitchen home Amazon search

Colander comparison

Product Material Capacity Price
KitchenAid Plastic 5 qt $18
RSVP International Stainless 5 qt $22
Cuisinart Stainless 3 qt $25
OXO Good Grips Stainless 5 qt $28

Compare the picks

Side by side comparison of every pick
Specification
KitchenAid KitchenAid Classic Colander
KitchenAid Classic Colander
RSVP International RSVP International Stainless Steel Colander
RSVP International Stainless Steel Colander
Cuisinart Cuisinart CTG-06-COL Stainless Colander
Cuisinart CTG-06-COL Stainless Colander
OXO OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Colander
OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Colander
Our verdictBest budget colanderBest budget stainless colanderBest Cuisinart colanderBest ergonomic colander
MaterialPlastic (BPA-free)Stainless steelStainless steelStainless steel
Capacity5 quart5 quart3 quart5 quart
BaseStable flat bottomNot listedNot listedNot listed
HandlesYes (two handles)Not listedNot listedOXO soft-grip handles
Price$18$22$25$28
Hole typeNot listedPierced holesPerforatedNot listed
Dishwasher-safeNot listedYesYesYes
BuyCheck priceCheck priceCheck priceCheck price

Questions people ask

What size colander do I need?

A 5-quart colander is the standard size for home use and the right choice for most home cooks. One pound of pasta (the standard US box size) fills approximately 4 to 4.5 quarts when cooked, fitting a 5-quart colander with minimal overflow risk. A 3-quart colander handles smaller quantities (half a pound of pasta, a head of broccoli) but overflows when draining a full pound of pasta or a large batch of vegetables. A 7-quart colander is used for very large quantities (two pounds of pasta, full pots of potatoes, large vegetable blanching batches). For a single household or couple, a 3-quart colander is sufficient. For a family of 4, a 5-quart is the minimum practical size. For frequent large-batch cooking or entertaining, a 7-quart colander handles every task without overflow.

Is stainless or plastic better for a colander?

Stainless steel colanders outlast plastic colanders significantly, do not absorb food odors and are fully dishwasher-safe without warping under high heat. The main advantages of stainless over plastic: stainless does not retain the smell of garlic, fish or onions after washing, it does not warp or discolor in the dishwasher's drying cycle, and it does not scratch or become rough over time the way some plastics do. The disadvantages of stainless: it costs more than plastic (typically $20 to $30 versus $10 to $20), and some lower-quality stainless colanders develop rust spots at the welded handle attachment points. The advantages of plastic: lower cost and lighter weight for easier handling. For a colander that will be used frequently and for many years, stainless is the more practical long-term choice. For a backup colander or infrequent use, a quality plastic colander works well at lower cost.

What is the difference between a colander and a strainer?

A colander and a strainer serve similar functions but differ in construction and the size of what they can drain. A colander is a large bowl-shaped vessel with large holes or perforations that drain water from pasta, cooked vegetables and other large food items. Holes in a standard colander are approximately 3 to 5mm in diameter. A strainer (also called a sieve or mesh strainer) has finer mesh that catches smaller particles: it is used for sifting flour, straining stocks and sauces, rinsing small grains (quinoa, rice) and draining small items like canned beans that would fall through colander holes. A fine-mesh strainer has openings under 1mm. The practical rule: use a colander for pasta, potatoes and large vegetables. Use a fine-mesh strainer for grains, sauces, stocks and any food smaller than a pea. Many home kitchens benefit from having both: a large colander for pasta and a fine-mesh strainer for everything else.

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