Ginger and Spring Onion Noodle Bowl
Wheat noodles with ginger spring onion oil and soy
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
Pasta al Limone (Creamy Lemon Pasta)
Spaghetti with creamy lemon sauce, Parmesan and black pepper
Neua Pad Nam Man Hoi (Beef in Oyster Sauce)
Thai beef stir-fry coated in oyster sauce and light soy
Latin-Style Rice Meal Prep with Black Beans, Sweetcorn and Lime
One-pot rice with black beans, sweetcorn and lime
Eintopf (German One-Pot Stew with Sausage and Beans)
German one-pot stew with smoked sausage, beans and potatoes
Quick Thai Curry Ramen
Thai curry ramen with coconut milk, pak choi and lime
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
Latin-Style Quinoa Power Bowl with Black Beans and Sweet Potato
Quinoa bowl with black beans, sweet potato and avocado
Latin Tomato Rice Bowl
Tomato-simmered rice topped with black beans, lime and coriander
Meatballs Bowl with Spiced Tomato Sauce and Rice
Beef meatballs in spiced tomato sauce with rice
Lomo Saltado Bowl (Stir-Fried Beef with Rice and Chips)
Lomo saltado bowl with beef, rice and chips
New Year Black-Eyed Peas (Smoked Pork and Tomato Stew)
Black-eyed pea stew with smoked ham hock and tomatoes
Thai Coconut Prawn Bowl
Coconut prawn curry served over jasmine rice with crisp vegetables
Chipotle Chicken Salad Bowl
Chipotle chicken salad with black beans, sweetcorn and lime yoghurt
Gomae Spinach Grain Bowl with Sesame Dressing and Rice
Spinach gomae over rice with cucumber and spring onion
Japanese-Korean Fusion Rice Bowl with Gochujang Chicken and Egg
Rice bowl with gochujang chicken, cucumber, spinach and egg
Poha (Flattened Rice Breakfast)
Flattened rice poha with peas, lemon and peanuts
Modern Briam with Quinoa
Roasted aubergine, courgette and potato served over quinoa
Modern Pierogi Bowl (Potato, Quark and Bacon)
Pierogi-inspired potato and quark bowl topped with crisp bacon
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.
Boil
Gammon Steak with Parsley Sauce and Mash
Pan-fried gammon with creamy mash and parsley white sauce
Pan fry
Memelas with Black Beans, Queso Fresco and Salsa Verde
Griddled masa memelas topped with black beans and salsa verde
Pan fry
Surf and Turf (Steak and Prawns)
Seared sirloin steak with garlic butter prawns and lemon
Pan fry
Bavarian Pork Schnitzel with Mushroom Cream Sauce
Crisp pork schnitzel with a creamy mushroom mustard sauce
Easy
Quick Moroccan Vegetable Tagine-Style Stew
Vegetable tagine-style stew with chickpeas, tomatoes, carrots and apricots
Medium
Seafood Stew with Coconut Milk and Tomato
Tomato and coconut seafood stew with white fish and prawns
Easy
Ajad (Thai Cucumber Relish)
Thai cucumber relish with red onion and chilli in sweet-sour dressing
Easy
Unagi Don (Grilled Eel Rice Bowl)
Grilled eel glazed with soy and mirin over rice
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.
