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There are a few kitchen items that have stuck with me since I started and finished college over the past four years. Quite a few have bit the dust \u2014 mostly, I prioritized affordability over quality \u2014 but one of the long lasting (and often used) ones that immediately comes to mind is my colander, of all things. Even though I\u2019ve used it for years and it\u2019s gone from dorm to dorm to my first apartment<\/a> to my current place, it was still easy on my student self\u2019s wallet at the time, and I don\u2019t see myself ever switching it out for a pricier option.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Long before I learned that OXO was a favorite retailer amongst Kitchn editors<\/a>, I\u2019d been using the brand\u2019s space-saving colander nearly every day, whether I was making pasta (my easy and quick meal of choice in college) or washing fruits and veggies. Now, I\u2019m totally convinced I need to stock up on all of their other tools and gadgets now that I have more time on my hands for cooking. If you\u2019re right there with me and want a gadget that takes up hardly any space at all, let me tell you more about why the first product you snag should be the Good Grips 3.5-Qt. Collapsible Colander<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Able to hold up to 3.5 quarts, this silicone colander<\/a> is my most used item in my kitchen; it\u2019s consistent and effective every time I use it. I\u2019d always been used to the bulky metal colanders that take up tons of valuable space in the few cabinets we had. This one can be pressed flat so that it\u2019s only an inch or two thick<\/strong> \u2014 so it ends up taking about as much space as a wooden cutting board would. The flexible silicone is heat resistant<\/strong>, the holes are spaced for quick draining<\/strong> (which is helped along by the tall feet on the underside), and it has handles that make for smooth transport<\/strong> between the sink and the stove.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Of course, the main draw of this tool is the space-saving aspect, an area in which it more than delivers.<\/strong> However, collapsible colanders always sound like a good idea on paper, but you run the risk of it collapsing<\/strong> when you\u2019re pouring something into it. But I\u2019ll be the first to assure you that, after years of daily use, that hasn\u2019t happened to me once with OXO\u2019s version.<\/strong> And it has handled a ton <\/em>of pasta at once, on multiple occasions. Further, the silicone feet on the bottom keeps it from budging<\/strong> when it sits in the sink<\/strong>, even during a heavy pour.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The silicone also makes the colander extremely easy to clean<\/strong>. It\u2019s dishwasher-safe, but no residue stubbornly sticks to the bottom or gets stuck in the holes or creases. The heat resistance comes in handy<\/strong> when boiling water is involved, too \u2014 I\u2019ve been known to be a bit clumsy in the kitchen and get a burn every now and then, but it\u2019s never happened when using this tool. The water drains completely in seconds<\/strong>, so once it\u2019s time to move my pasta back to the pot on the stove, there isn\u2019t any drippage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n This colander has long cemented itself as my kitchen MVP, and I don\u2019t see that changing any time soon. I\u2019ll never use a metal colander again, and I encourage everyone that has yet to make the switch to put trying the OXO Collapsible Colander<\/a> at the top of your to-do list! (It\u2019s also available on Amazon here<\/a>!) Small kitchen or not, why take up space when you don\u2019t have to?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhat is the OXO Good Grips Silicone Collapsible Colander?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Why I Love the OXO Good Grips Silicone Collapsible Colander<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n