Salade Niçoise Végétarienne (Vegetarian Niçoise-Style Salad)
Niçoise-style salad with potatoes, eggs, tomatoes and olives
What to look for in a colander
Start with stability. A wide base or feet help the colander sit securely in the sink, especially when it is heavy with pasta or potatoes. Hole size is the next decision: larger perforations drain quickly but can lose small shapes and grains; finer holes are more versatile but can drain more slowly. Material changes how it behaves. Metal handles heat well but can get hot; plastic stays cooler to touch but can warp if it meets very hot cookware. A colander with comfortable handles is easier to lift and shake dry, which is often what a recipe is really asking you to do.
Top picks in Colander
Air Fryer Roast Potatoes
Crisp air fryer roast potatoes with rosemary and garlic.
Stoofvlees met Friet (Belgian Beef Stew with Chips)
Belgian beef stew with dark beer, served with chips
Bossam (Boiled Pork Wraps)
Boiled pork belly lettuce wraps with rice, kimchi and ssamjang
Tortelloni al Burro e Salvia (Pasta with Butter and Sage)
Tortelloni tossed with butter, sage and Parmesan
Spaghetti al Tonno (Tuna and Tomato Pasta)
Spaghetti with tuna, tomato, capers and parsley
Common draining mistakes (and why they matter)
The biggest mistake is pouring without a plan. Make sure the sink is clear, the colander is positioned securely, and you have a safe grip on the pot before you lift. Another common issue is over-rinsing. Some foods are meant to keep surface starch (for example, pasta when you want sauce to cling), while others benefit from rinsing to cool or to remove excess starch. Finally, leaving food sitting in the colander can trap steam and moisture, leading to sogginess. A quick shake and prompt return to the pot or bowl keeps texture more intentional.
All recipes in Colander
Baccalà alla Livornese (Tuscan Salt Cod Stew)
Tuscan salt cod stew with tomatoes, olives and capers
Scallops with Cauliflower Purée and Crispy Pancetta
Pan-seared scallops with cauliflower purée and crispy pancetta
Vegan Pasta al Pomodoro Fresco (Fresh Tomato Pasta)
Vegan spaghetti with fresh tomato, garlic and basil
Pasta alla Nerano Rossa (Courgette and Tomato Pasta)
Spaghetti with fried courgettes, tomato sauce, basil and Parmesan
Spaghetti alle Cozze (Spaghetti with Mussels)
Spaghetti with mussels, garlic and white wine
Spaghetti Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino (Garlic, Oil and Chilli Pasta)
Spaghetti with garlic, olive oil and chilli flakes
Spaghetti alla Nerano (Courgette and Cheese Pasta)
Spaghetti with fried courgettes and melted cheese
Jerk Chicken Bowl
Jerk chicken with rice, black beans and mango salsa
Tahini Noodle Bowl with Chickpeas and Lemon Dressing
Noodles with tahini lemon dressing, chickpeas and crisp vegetables
Moroccan Carrot and Chickpea Salad (Modern)
Carrot and chickpea salad with lemon and toasted almonds
Vietnamese Prawn Vermicelli Noodle Salad Bowl
Vermicelli noodle salad with prawns, herbs, peanuts and nước chấm
Chè Trôi Nước (Vietnamese Floating Rice Balls in Ginger Syrup)
Glutinous rice balls with mung bean in ginger syrup
Hot water and steam: keep it controlled
Draining boiling water is one of the moments in cooking where accidents happen quickly. Pour away from your body, keep children and pets out of the kitchen path, and be mindful of steam rising as the water hits the sink. If you are unsure about lifting a heavy pot, consider removing some water with a ladle first, or using a pot insert designed for draining. The goal is steady, controlled movement rather than speed.
Where to look next
Cooking method pairs naturally with a colander because draining and rinsing are often part of the technique, not just a final step. Difficulty can also be useful: some recipes rely on confident handling of hot, heavy cookware, while others keep draining simple and low-risk.
Simmer
Zabaglione con Fragole (Marsala Custard with Strawberries)
Warm Marsala custard served over fresh strawberries
Bake
Classic Chicken Pot Pie
Chicken and vegetable pie with shortcrust pastry
Pan fry
Côte de Veau à la Crème (Veal Chops with Mushroom Cream Sauce)
Veal chops with creamy mushroom sauce
No cook
Caprese-Style Tomato and Burrata Salad with Basil
Tomato and burrata salad with basil, olive oil and balsamic
Medium
Sfiha (Open-Faced Lamb Pies)
Open-faced pies topped with lemony spiced minced lamb
Easy
Pasta alla Trapanese (Sicilian Tomato and Almond Pesto Pasta)
Sicilian pasta with tomato, almond and basil pesto
Medium
Nanban-Zuke (Sweet-Sour Marinated Fried Fish)
Sweet-sour marinated fried fish with onion and carrot
Medium
Christmas Ham with Caribbean Glaze
Baked Christmas ham with pineapple, rum and allspice glaze
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a colander if I have a sieve?
A sieve can drain small items well, but a colander is designed for volume and speed, especially for pasta and larger vegetables. Many kitchens use both for different scales of draining.
Should I rinse pasta after draining?
It depends on the recipe. Rinsing cools pasta and removes surface starch, which can be useful for pasta salads. For hot pasta with sauce, not rinsing often helps the sauce cling.
Why does my food stay watery after draining?
It may need a shake to shed trapped water, or the holes may be too fine for the volume you are draining. Letting food sit can also trap steam, which condenses back into water.
What is a colander best for besides pasta?
Washing leafy greens, draining blanched vegetables, rinsing beans, and cooling foods under running water are all common uses. The key is letting water move freely while keeping the food contained.
Is metal or plastic better?
Metal is durable and handles heat well, but can become hot to touch. Plastic is lighter and cooler to handle, but can warp with very hot liquids. Choose based on how you drain most often.
How do I stop small grains falling through?
Use a fine-mesh strainer or a colander with smaller perforations. For very small grains, lining a colander with muslin can work, but it slows draining.
Let the recipe guide the choice
If you mostly drain pasta and potatoes, prioritise a stable, fast-draining colander with comfortable handles. If you often rinse grains or small shapes, finer holes or a mesh strainer will make the work cleaner and less frustrating.
