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The Best Colander Set | 2023

Last updated on November 9, 2022

We looked at the top 11 Colander Sets and dug through the reviews from 56 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Colander Sets.

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Our Picks For The Top Colander Sets

Show Contents
Our Take
Experts Included
Pros
Cons
  Runner Up

QiMH Silica Gel Foldable Colander Set, 3-Piece

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

QiMH

Silica Gel Foldable Colander Set, 3-Piece

Overall Take

Colorful OptionWith this colander set, you'll quickly be able to strain pasta, rinse veggies or even sift flour.

Experts Included
DWYM Kitchen Experts plus . Along with user reviews from Amazon.
  We Also Like

Cuisinart Sifting Hanging Colander Set, 3-Piece

Cuisinart

Sifting Hanging Colander Set, 3-Piece

Overall Take

Wet/Dry StrainersThis colander set of three can handle wet or dry foods equally well.

Experts Included
DWYM Kitchen Experts plus Kitchen Jen, Ah Joo, Wiki EZ Vid, Top 5 Reviews, Ama Top 10, Guatemala Times and 2 more. Along with user reviews from Amazon.
Pros
" The set contains three different strainers, which will help you easily complete all your kitchen chores. Each product comes with sturdy and reliable handles and is machine washable."
Cons
"The larger strainer is a little flimsy."
  Strong Contender

LiveFresh Fast Draining Professional Colander, 5-Quart

LiveFresh

Fast Draining Professional Colander, 5-Quart

Overall Take

Quick-Straining AccessoryTiny pores and solid construction make this colander set a kitchen staple.

Experts Included
DWYM Kitchen Experts plus BestReviews, Cooking Light, Village Bakery, Review Meta, Kitchen Gear Zone, Top Products and 4 more. Along with user reviews from Amazon.
Pros
" Holes are small enough to drain cooked rice and quinoa as well as larger items. No clogging. Use to rinse, sieve, cook, and steam. Fast draining. No tipping. Solid base with precision-cut drainage ports. Made of rust-proof, dishwasher safe 18/10..."
Cons
"Sharp insides of the handle."
  Also Great

Learja Compact Easy Store Colander Set, 6-Quart

Learja

Compact Easy Store Colander Set, 6-Quart

Overall Take

Compact SetThis colander set is perfect for space-saving cooks.

Experts Included
DWYM Kitchen Experts plus . Along with user reviews from Amazon.
Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
18

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the colander sets available to purchase.
11

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

View All Product Rankings

56

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: Kitchenistic, Kitchen Gear Zone, No Place Called Home, Belua reviews, Review Meta.

22,028

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 11 Colander Sets and also dug through the reviews from 56 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Colander Sets.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval
Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in their category.

The Best Overall

QiMH Silica Gel Foldable Colander Set, 3-Piece

User Summarized Score

9.4
6,398 user reviews

Our Take

Soft and flexible is the best way to describe this colander set. Each of the three strainers collapse flat, so you can easily store them in a drawer or on a shelf. The colanders come in green, blue and purple and feature an ergonomic design that is comfortable to use.


The Best Bang For Your Buck

Cuisinart Sifting Hanging Colander Set, 3-Piece

Our Expert Score

9.1
8 expert reviews

User Summarized Score

9.2
1,820 user reviews

Our Take

The stainless steel construction on this colander set makes it extremely durable. The wire handles make the tools easy to maneuver, and they're dishwasher safe for easy cleanup. All three are suitable for wet or dry foods.

What other experts liked

The set contains three different strainers, which will help you easily complete all your kitchen chores. Each product comes with sturdy and reliable handles and is machine washable.
- Kitchen Jen
October 16, 2019 | Full review
Provides a lifetime limited warranty to prove to you that these strainers are quality.
- Ah Joo
Set of 3, you’ll always have the proper size on hand for sifting wet or dry ingredients. Well suited for making teas, sauces, and stocks, they're made with durable, stainless steel mesh and are conveniently dishwasher safe.
- Wiki EZ Vid
Delivering impressive drainage during different cooking projects. With a unique draining system, this unique set of 3 mesh strainers is perfect for straining different wet ingredients. Each mesh strainer from the set was designed with durable stainless steel mesh.
- Top 5 Reviews
October 18, 2019 | Full review
These are made of stainless steel, you get three heavy-duty mesh strainers that are resistant to rust, corrosion, and stains. They are also light and have ergonomic wire handles that do not dig into the hands. While baking, you can use them for long without irritation.
- Ama Top 10
All of the mesh strainers in the set are ideal for sifting dry ingredients. Furthermore, each of the mesh strainers in the package is made out of a durable, stainless steel material and they’re all dishwasher-friendly.
- Guatemala Times

What other experts didn't like

It would be safer to not drain heavy foods as the mesh might bend and the handles might not support the total weight.
- Kitchen Jen
October 16, 2019 | Full review
The larger strainer is a little flimsy.
- Ah Joo

Overall Product Rankings

1. QiMH Silica Gel Foldable Colander Set, 3-Piece

Overall Score: 9.4
Reviews Included: 1

2. Cuisinart Sifting Hanging Colander Set, 3-Piece

Overall Score: 9.3
Reviews Included: 10

3. LiveFresh Fast Draining Professional Colander, 5-Quart

Overall Score: 9.2
Reviews Included: 11

4. Learja Compact Easy Store Colander Set, 6-Quart

Overall Score: 9.1
Reviews Included: 1

5. Priority Chef Traditional Mesh Colander Set, 3-Quart

Overall Score: 9.0
Reviews Included: 7

6. Vremi Stackable Mixing Bowl & Colander Set, 13-Piece

Overall Score: 9.0
Reviews Included: 8

9. Comfify Space Saving Foldable Colander Set, 2-Piece

Overall Score: 8.7
Reviews Included: 11

10. Homwe Large Collapsible Kitchen Colander, set of 3

Overall Score: 8.4
Reviews Included: 2

Our Colander Set Findings

291716


QiMH Silica Gel Foldable Colander Set, 3-Piece

What We Liked: Soft and flexible is the best way to describe this colander set. Each of the three strainers collapse flat, so you can easily store them in a drawer or on a shelf. The colanders come in green, blue and purple and feature an ergonomic design that is comfortable to use.


Cuisinart Sifting Hanging Colander Set, 3-Piece

What We Liked: The stainless steel construction on this colander set makes it extremely durable. The wire handles make the tools easy to maneuver, and they’re dishwasher safe for easy cleanup. All three are suitable for wet or dry foods.


LiveFresh Fast Draining Professional Colander, 5-Quart

What We Liked: The small holes on this colander set are nearly as effective as mesh at straining smaller foods, but are less subject to clogging. The pores drain very quickly, and the handles are made of the same sturdy stainless steel as the body. The entire colander is rust-proof and safe for dishwashers.


Learja Compact Easy Store Colander Set, 6-Quart

What We Liked: The folding features of this colander set make it the perfect accessory for those with limited kitchen space. The raised bottom makes it equally effective in the sink or on the countertop. For those straining beans or small pasta, never fear: The holes are small enough to prevent slip-through.

Our Colander Set Buying Guide

Some of us have a favorite kitchen tool for everything. A go-to pot for boiling pasta, a failsafe steamer for rice, a pan that gets our veggies just right every time. But there’s one bit of kitchenware essential for all those dishes: The humble colander.

Simplemost Media

If you’ve somehow been straining the water out of your food with a strategically-placed plate up til now, you should know that a colander is a container that’s lined with small holes. They’re generally bowl-shaped and the size of the holes might vary from minuscule mesh to large and decorative, but the purpose of any colander is to allow water or other liquids to drain out of and away from your food.

This simple process of gravity and filtration doesn’t lend itself to a lot of innovation in the design of colanders, but there are definitely some features you’ll want to look for in this heavily-used tool. First of all, the shape. Most colanders are bowl-shaped, though you’ll find some “over-the-sink” models that are wider and might even be shaped like a pan. They have long handles on either side that are meant to let it suspend itself over your sink, straining your food into the drain while you take care of other prep. While this can be great for certain meals, they’re generally not as versatile or easy to pour from.

Simplemost Media

The classic bowl shape will generally come with “feet” or a raised base that can vary in height. This lets it sit above the liquid that drains out of it. In that sense, it does the work of draining just as easily as an over-the-sink colander — as long as you’ve got room in the sink.

Both sides can be constructed from a variety of materials. The most common is definitely stainless steel, for obvious reasons. The rust-proof properties of this go-to cookware alloy are invaluable when you’re in contact with lots of food and water. The size and spacing of the holes will vary a lot, but they’ll tend to be around an eighth to sixteenth of an inch. That makes them great for most types of pasta, meat and veggies, but maybe a bit too large for rice or other grains.

Mesh strainers, like the Cuisinart Fine Mesh Strainers, set of 3, are basically woven steel wire with a pinhole-sized space in between. They’re generally used for draining those smaller grains or berries, and mesh strainers will sometimes have longer handles that (along with their lighter weight) make them easier to maneuver around. In most cases, though, this construction doesn’t allow for the raised base that other colanders have. And depending on the construction, mesh colanders might be prone to dents or warping.

Simplemost Media

A growing amount of colanders are made of plastic or silicone. There’s a lot of benefits to this type of material, including feather-light weight. Some silicone colanders are even collapsible, making them much easier to store than other types. On the downside, they’re not generally as durable as steel, may melt in boiling water and they won’t drain as quickly since the material doesn’t lend itself to smaller holes with tiny spaces in between.

Some fancier “heirloom” colanders might be covered in enamel or porcelain, with steel or plastic underneath. These will hold heat fairly well, and there’s nothing quite like the look of decorated porcelain. Just make sure you handle them with care: Any chipping of the outer layer will ruin the look and possibly expose the steel underneath to rust.

Whatever type of colander you buy, it’s always worth paying a little more for durability. As we said, it’s one kitchenware tool you’re likely to use for multiple meals a week.

DWYM Fun Fact

Like most simple tools, the colander has more applications than one. When you’re done using your colander to drain your pasta and veggies, you can also use it to:

  • Store your berries. Keeping a colander full of rinsed berries in the fridge helps them stay aerated, reducing the chance of mold.
  • Keep the flies away. Don’t want to share with the wildlife while you’re eating outside? Simply plop a colander upside-down over your dish.
  • Grow a garden. Put some moss into an old colander, fill it with dirt, and voila: You’ve got a great medium for houseplants or herbs to grow in.

The Colander Set Tips and Advice

  • Whether you’re going with stainless steel, mesh, plastic or some combination of the above, size matters. If you’re only getting one colander, make sure it’s roughly the size of the largest pot you own. Many options can handle up to five quarts, perfect to pair with your biggest pot. That way, you’re covered no matter what dish you make.
  • Of course, big colanders open up a whole storage problem. Collapsible colanders are just perfect for campouts or filling out the smaller kitchen cabinets of mobile homes. Some colanders come in sets of more than one, which is ideal for a kitchen tool that you’ll use as much as this one. In those cases, look for colander sets of multiple sizes that nest inside one another, so you don’t give yourself additional storage problems. If those colanders come with a variety of different hole sizes, so much the better.
  • Going with plastic colanders? Take a look at the type of plastic, and whether it’s able to consistently stand up to the heat of boiling water (212° Fahrenheit). Even if it will, you’ll want to also make sure they’re BPA-free. BPA, or bisphenol A, is a chemical used in the construction of polycarbonate plastics, although it’s less common. Which is a good thing, since it can leach into foods that are heated, contributing to a host of health concerns.

About The Author

Tod Caviness 

Tod Caviness is a professional writer and journalist for the past 20 years. Tod's years of experience writing a nightlife column for the Orlando Sentinel have cursed him with an affinity for cocktails he can't afford. He makes up for it with his cheap yet killer slow cooker cuisine. At least, his wife hasn't kicked him out for them yet.