Salade Niçoise (Niçoise Salad)
Niçoise salad with tuna, eggs, vegetables and an olive oil dressing
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
Tripas à Moda do Porto (Porto-Style Tripe Stew)
Porto-style tripe stew with pork, chorizo and white beans
Air Fryer Roast Potatoes
Crisp air fryer roast potatoes with rosemary and garlic.
Citrus Octopus Salad
Chilled octopus salad with orange, lemon and parsley
Pappardelle al Cinghiale (Pappardelle with Wild Boar Ragù)
Pappardelle with slow-simmered wild boar ragù and pecorino
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
Melitzanosalata (Greek Smoky Aubergine Dip)
Smoky Greek aubergine dip with garlic, lemon and parsley
Pierogi Ruskie (Potato and Cheese Dumplings)
Polish dumplings filled with potato, cheese and onion
Vlaamse Asperges (Flemish White Asparagus with Butter and Eggs)
White asparagus with melted butter, chopped eggs and parsley
Isterband with Dill Potatoes (Smoked Sausage with Potatoes)
Smoked sausage served with dill potatoes and mustard
Karelian Stew (Karjalanpaisti)
Slow-cooked beef and pork stew with allspice
Portuguese Chickpea Bowl with Chouriço and Greens
Warm chickpea bowl with chouriço, greens and smoked paprika
Bacalhau Bowl (Salt Cod with Potatoes and Kale)
Poached salt cod bowl with potatoes, kale and lemon
Bacalhau de Consoada (Salt Cod with Potatoes and Eggs)
Salt cod with potatoes, eggs, olive oil, garlic and onion
Dutch Pearl Barley Bowl with Seasonal Vegetables, Egg and Gouda
Pearl barley bowl with roasted veg, egg and Gouda
Stamppot Hutspot (Dutch Potato, Carrot and Onion Mash)
Dutch potato mash with carrots and onions
Stamppot Boerenkool (Dutch Kale and Potato Mash)
Dutch kale and potato mash with smoked sausage
Tagliatelle al Ragù (Tagliatelle with Bolognese Sauce)
Tagliatelle with slow-simmered beef and pancetta ragù
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.
Bake
Skillet Cornbread with Jalapeño and Cheddar
Golden skillet cornbread with jalapeño and cheddar
Bake
Cocadas (Mexican Coconut Macaroons)
Chewy coconut macaroons baked into small golden mounds
Simmer
Vegetarian Paella with Artichokes and Peppers
Vegetarian paella with saffron rice, artichokes, peppers and peas
Sauté
Methi Chicken (Fenugreek Leaf Chicken Curry)
Chicken curry with fresh fenugreek leaves and yoghurt
Easy
Tereré (Cold Yerba Mate Infusion)
Cold yerba mate infusion served over ice with lime
Medium
Tacos al Pastor (Marinated Pork Tacos)
Marinated pork tacos with pineapple, onion, coriander and lime
Advanced
Luk Chup (Thai Fruit-Shaped Mung Bean Sweets)
Fruit-shaped Thai mung bean sweets glazed with a clear agar coating
Medium
Ramadan Pide (Turkish Iftar Flatbread)
Soft Turkish flatbread topped with sesame and nigella
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.
