Colander
A colander is a large perforated bowl used for straining foods such as noodles. The perforated feature allows the liquid to drain through while maintaining the solid food in the container. Sometimes, colanders are also called kitchen sieve or strainers. But unlike to a typical strainer that contains a long handle, colanders are designed with a base so the user can conveniently sit the bowl in the sink while straining. They also have two handles on either side used for lifting or moving the bowl when necessary. Most colanders are made of a light metal such as aluminum or stainless steel surrounded by small holes. But today, some of them are made of plastics or silicone.
A colander is useful in number of ways. It is a necessity when preparing pasta as it is impossible to prepare one without draining the hot water. However, you should carefully pour the hot water with pasta in the bowl to avoid scalding. Instead of holding it on both hands, just simply sit it in the sink and allow the liquid to drain. You might also want to run cold water to one side of the bowl to reduce the steam as you pour the hot water. After pouring all the hot water and pasta into the container, you can wait at least for a few seconds to fully drain the water, or just shake the bowl to drain any remaining liquid. After that, you can then transfer the noodles in the serving plate and start finishing the meal.
Aside from draining pasta, colanders can also be used in washing fresh fruits and vegetables for preparing salads or cooking other dishes. Before using the vegetables and fruits for meals, they should be properly washed first to remove the dirt or unwanted solid particles attached to them. To do this, just simply place them to the bowl, run tap water through and gently rinse them. After, you can then leave them for a while to fully drain the residual liquid, and prepare the rest of the ingredients.
There are different types and sizes of colanders offered in the market. The most popular are the ones made from stainless steel. Stainless steel colander is one of the best types you can have in your kitchen. They give a touch of elegance to your kitchen because of their classy appearance. Stainless steel is also a good conductor of heat and therefore, can be the most efficient tool for draining hot water as they can retain heat much longer.
However, there are also collapsible colanders you can purchase in the market. The great advantage of collapsible colanders is they are space-savers. You can fold them into a flat panel and keep them easily in drawers or simply hang them neatly to the wall.
No matter what type you may use, this tool is a great thing to have in any kitchen. It is important to drain water when cooking pasta and noodles, wash vegetables and fruits for preparing salads, and rinse legumes and canned vegetables before cooking. With a colander, you can make the draining task easily and quickly and make your meal preparation without hassle.
