Colanders, strainers, sieves

Colanders, strainers and sieves are essential kitchen items.

These tools come in many shapes and materials, the trcick is to find the bet ones for your cooking style and your kitchen environment.

When using a colander or a sieve, you probably will need a bowl or other type of container, as well.

What to look for when buying a sieve

One of the basic utensils that no kitchen should be without is the sieve. Most cooks are forever draining, straining, and sifting, ingredients so you’ll probably need several different types of sieves at your disposal. To make sure you have the right utensil for the job, you’ll need to know what to look for when buying a sieve.

Here are few questions to ask yourself to help you choose the right sieve.

• Will I need a wide range of mesh sizes or just one?
• Will I use the sieve mainly for dry ingredients?
• Will I use the sieve mainly to drain liquids?
• Will I use the sieve to mash fruits and vegetables?
• Will I use the sieve to sift flours and grains or make pastry and crusts?
• Will the sieve be used for making soups, or sauces?
• Will the sieve need a stand or need to fit with a cooking pot?

Below is a comparison chart of features and consumer performance ratings

Brand	RSVP Endurance Stainless Steel Food Mill	Fox Run 3-Piece Stainless-Steel Chinois Set	Paderno World Cuisine Strainer
Construction	Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel
Diameter Size	8 inch	8 inch	8 inch
Accessories	3 interchangeable stainless steel disks (fine, medium, coarse)	Includes an 18/8 stainless-steel chinois, a wooden pestle, and a chrome stand	None – must purchase the wooden pestle separately
Dishwasher Safe	Yes	Yes	Yes

To get the right sieve for your kitchen, you must have a good understanding of how and where you will use it. Knowing what to look for when buying a sieve helps you save money while getting the sieve that is best for your needs so ask yourself these questions to help you choose your sieve.