PanSpanAll Clad Colander
Is the All-Clad colander worth choosing, or would another stainless steel strainer suit your cooking better?
For a sturdy everyday pasta strainer, I’d choose the All-Clad 5-quart colander: it has a stable pedestal base, riveted handles and a limited lifetime warranty under normal use and care. Its 5-quart capacity suits regular family cooking, but at 3 pounds it’s a substantial piece of kitchenware. Pick the OXO instead if easy lifting and compact storage matter more; choose the fine-mesh U.S. Kitchen Supply model for rice, orzo and other small ingredients.
#1 · All-Clad
All-Clad Tools and Accessories Stainless Steel Colander 5 Quart Strainer, Pasta Strainer with Handle, Pots and Pans Silver
Choose this if you want a substantial, traditional colander for pasta and vegetables and appreciate its pedestal base and limited lifetime warranty under normal use and care. The different-sized openings help it drain quickly, but use a fine-mesh sieve when you need to catch very small ingredients.
#2 · OXO
OXO Good Grips Strainer - 5 Qt Capacity, Stainless Steel | Colander, Nesting Design For Easy Storage, Non-Slip Handles, Drains Pasta And Vegetables, Dishwasher Safe
This is the everyday alternative if you want a 5-quart stainless steel strainer that’s much lighter to lift, with non-slip handles and three raised feet. Its nesting design is especially handy when cupboard space is tight.
#3 · Calphalon
Calphalon Astro Colander Set, 2-Piece Stainless Steel Colander and Strainer, 5 QT & 1.5 QT Pasta Strainer with Handles, Matte Finish Kitchen Colander, Silver
Buy this set if you want both a family-size 5-quart colander and a smaller 1.5-quart one for rinsing berries, draining a small portion or handling quick prep jobs. It’s the most versatile choice when two useful sizes beat one heavier-duty piece.
#4 · U.S. Kitchen Supply
U.S. Kitchen Supply Stainless Steel Colander Strainer - 6-Quart Collapsible | Colander with Expandable Rubber Handles - Rectangular Sieve, Fine Mesh Stainless Steel Strainers and Colanders for Kitchen
Pick this 6-quart over-the-sink basket if you want fine mesh to retain rice and small pasta shapes, and prefer to drain hands-free across the sink. Its expandable handles and rectangular shape make it a different kind of strainer from a bowl-shaped countertop colander.
#5 · EXCELSTEEL
EXCELSTEEL Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Colander 5 Qt | Easy Grip Handles | Self-Draining Base | Mirror Polished | Dishwasher Safe | Pack of 1
This is the straightforward choice if you want a lightweight 5-quart stainless steel colander with easy-grip handles and a self-draining base, without the added features of the All-Clad or OXO. It’s a practical basic for routine pasta and vegetable prep.
Is the All-Clad worth choosing over the OXO?
Choose the All-Clad if you value a more substantial feel, a pedestal base and a limited lifetime warranty under normal use and care. Choose the OXO if lifting a full colander comfortably and storing it neatly are bigger priorities: it weighs about a pound, compared with 3 pounds for the All-Clad, and has non-slip handles. Both are 5-quart stainless steel options for everyday draining. I’d take the OXO for ease of handling and the All-Clad when a heavier, more traditional tool is what you want.
Will a colander catch orzo, rice and angel hair?
For rice, orzo and tiny ingredients, choose the fine-mesh U.S. Kitchen Supply basket; its mesh is intended to keep small food particles from escaping. The All-Clad has openings of different sizes, but no colander with unspecified openings is one I’d trust for every tiny grain. For angel hair, drain gently and use a fine-mesh sieve if losing strands would bother you. A punched-hole colander is convenient for larger pasta and vegetables; mesh is the safer choice for small pieces.
Is a 5-quart colander big enough for family meals?
For a couple or family making regular batches of pasta or washing vegetables, 5 quarts is a sensible everyday size, including for a one-pound pasta batch. It gives food room to drain without forcing you to handle an oversized basket for every small job. If you often prep just a little fruit or a small portion, the Calphalon set earns its place with its separate 1.5-quart colander. If you cook more than one task at a time, the 6-quart over-sink option offers extra capacity.
Will the pedestal base keep the colander out of sink water?
A raised base helps keep a colander off the sink or counter, and both the All-Clad and OXO have elevated support features. But a footed base can’t prevent pooling if the sink is blocked or drainage is slow. For draining a full pot, place the colander where water can escape freely; the U.S. Kitchen Supply basket is designed to rest across the sink instead.
How they compare
Which one is yours
All-Clad: Take this for a substantial 5-quart everyday colander with a pedestal base, riveted handles and a limited lifetime warranty under normal use and care.
OXO: Take this if comfortable lifting, non-slip handles and nesting storage matter more than a heavier feel.
Calphalon: Take this if you want two colander sizes for both family batches and smaller prep jobs.
U.S. Kitchen Supply: Take this for rinsing rice or draining small pasta shapes in a fine-mesh basket that rests over the sink.
EXCELSTEEL: Take this for a lightweight, no-frills 5-quart stainless steel strainer with a self-draining base.
You will also want
A full colander means handling hot water and wet food, so keep a dry grip close by for lifting and wiping up drips.
5 PCS Pot Holders for Kitchen, Cotton Potholers with Great Heat Resistance, Hot Pads, Trivets for Cooking and Baking Black
Keep a potholder within reach when draining boiling pasta, especially before touching metal handles that may have warmed.
Zeppoli Classic Dish Towels - 15 Pack - 14" by 25" - 100% Cotton Kitchen Towels - Reusable Bulk Cleaning Cloths - Blue Hand Towels - Super Absorbent - Machine Washable
A washable cotton towel is useful for drying hands before gripping a wet strainer and for wiping splashes around the sink.
Questions buyers ask
Do noodles fall through the All-Clad colander?
It has openings of different sizes, so I wouldn’t count on it to retain every very thin noodle or tiny pasta shape. For angel hair, drain carefully; for orzo, rice or other small pieces, use the fine-mesh U.S. Kitchen Supply strainer.
Is a mesh strainer better than a punched-hole colander for pasta?
For ordinary larger pasta, a perforated colander is a straightforward choice and drains quickly. Fine mesh is better when you need to keep small pieces from slipping through, though it can take more attention to rinse clean after starchy foods.
Do stainless steel colander handles get hot?
Metal handles can warm when they’re close to boiling water or a hot pot, so don’t assume they’ll stay cool. Keep a dry towel or potholder nearby, and avoid grabbing a metal handle straight after it has been exposed to heat.
How do I keep a stainless steel colander from rusting?
Stainless steel resists rust, but good care still matters: rinse away food and salt, wash it after use, and let it dry rather than leaving it wet in the sink. The All-Clad and OXO are dishwasher-safe, and the Calphalon and EXCELSTEEL are dishwasher-safe as well.
Is the All-Clad colander too heavy for everyday use?
At 3 pounds, it is noticeably heavier than the OXO, which is listed at about 1 pound, and the EXCELSTEEL at half a pound. If you regularly lift and shake a full strainer, consider whether that extra weight will feel cumbersome; the lighter options are easier to handle.
What should I choose if I don’t want my colander sitting in sink water?
A pedestal alone does not guarantee clearance above standing water in every sink, so check how the colander’s feet sit against your sink floor. If you want to drain directly across the sink, the U.S. Kitchen Supply model has expandable handles designed to rest over it.