The Best Collapsible Colander – New Ideas

A colander is one of those awkward kitchen items that never has a good storage spot. A collapsible colander is an essential addition to any kitchen. It just so happens that most of the best strainers are collapsible silicone colanders, which are easy to store in a cabinet or drawer without taking up too much space.

It’s about time to switch to a collapsible colander. The frustration of looking at a messy cupboard is gone since most of the best collapsible colanders have many options for storage. Hang them on a hook or place them underneath your pots and pans.

Best Collapsible Colander!

Don’t have time to read the entire article? Here are our picks for:

You can use this silicone colander to rinse and strain different foods such as pasta, fruits, vegetables, rice, grains, etc. In addition to storing away quickly, they are also dishwasher safe, making cleaning up quick and easy.

Our main silicone colander did last for eight years; eventually, the bottom came off; however, having it last that long was quite a pleasant surprise. It makes sense that I bought another replacement silicone colander. Not finding the same one I had before was disappointing at first, but my new one is just as good.

Top 5 Ideas for Best Collapsible Colander

#1 Squish Silicone Colander – 4 Quart

The Squish brand of colanders is what I use, and they are what  I can get the best deals on. Their silicone colanders are good quality and always last me a long time. However, I would like to see them make some with different-sized holes in the colander. Being able to choose between bigger or smaller ones would be great!

The Squish silicone colander is sturdy enough for hot things when draining them quickly. I would recommend this colander because it works well, lasts long, and is cheap! It is easy to store for places with limited space.

Over the years, I tried plastic colanders but would not recommend them because pouring hot liquids into plastic is not safe. Silicone is a safe, non-toxic material that is great for someone who wants to switch to non-toxic cookware sets.

Pros

• There is a hole for hanging it on a wall if you don’t want to store it in a cupboard.
• Having feet on the bottom which raise it is an essential feature for a colander.
• The non-slip base is a nice touch.
• It’s a collapsible silicone colander.
• The Squish brand comes in a wide variety of colors. My first one was red and now my second one is blue.
• BPA free

Cons

• You can’t wash the rice in it, as some of the grains will slip through. (however, arborio rice is larger, and you can get away with rinsing that type)
• Eventually, it will crack and separate along the fold line. However, mine did not until eight years.
• It takes a longer time to dry off after washing. (I manually shake all of the water off of mine, and then I allow it to air dry)

#2 Squish 3 Quart Square Collapsible Silicone Colander

Making the switch to a collapsible colander many years ago, I have never regretted it. I hate looking at a disorganized cabinet with kitchen items that don’t have anywhere to go.

No more! My collection of Squish silicone colanders is the perfect solution to my problem. You can easily store them, stack them, slide them on the side of your kitchen cabinet, or hang them. The choice is yours.

The Squish brand of silicone collapsible colanders is what I use, and they last for years.

The Squish silicone colander is sturdy enough for hot things when draining them quickly. It is easy to store for places with limited space. I use mine to drain the pasta when I am not using my pasta pot with a strainer lid.

Initially, the smaller size was a disappointment when I got this one. However, now that I’ve been using it for six months, I am happy with the smaller size.

Pros

• Non-slip base
• Small size (but not too small to drain an entire bag of pasta)
• Easy to clean
• Dishwasher safe
• BPA free
• It will last 5-10 years.
• The colander has feet on the bottom that raise it a tiny bit.

Cons

• It will crack along the fold line after five years.
• It does not dry as quickly as other collapsible colanders; you need to give it time. You can manually shake the bulk of the water off to speed up the drying process.
• Sometimes, you have to shake it around to drain all of the water.

#3 OXO Good Grips Silicone Collapsible Colander

Over half of our kitchen tools are by the OXO brand. It’s a brand you can trust, since they make quality products in every kitchen cooking area, whether it be for baking or cooking you can be sure that they have a product to help.

Collapsible colanders are an essential tool in any kitchen. They allow you to strain pasta, wash vegetables, rinse beans, or anything else without needing a lot of space!

The silicone design folds up when not used, so it’s easy for storage, too- perfect if your cabinets aren’t as deep. If you don’t have a lot of counter space also consider getting a mini toaster, they make them with 2-slice options and plenty of features.

Pros

• Easy to hold it with one hand.
• It has a hole for hanging if you want to hang it on a hook.
• Easy to clean
• Dishwasher safe
• BPA free
• Deeper than some of the other models.
• Since the holes on the bottom are small, you can even rinse the rice in this one.

Cons

• You have to pick it up and shake it to drain the water. It does not sit upon a ridge; therefore, some water remains in the colander until you shake it around.
• It has small holes, so the water does not drain fast.
• The holes have a space that’s a little too far apart; an easy fix is to pick it and swirl it around.

#4 Rosle Stainless Steel Collapsible Colander, 4 Quart

We love the look of this stainless steel collapsible colander; it has all of the qualities of a traditional colander.  The silicone provides excellent drainage and cleans easily (no ” food bits” or pasta stick). It’s BPA-free, too! As a result, you can use this for your meals without worrying that you are ingesting harmful chemicals from other plastic brands.

One more thing: though it’s compact and collapsible which will provide easy storage solutions for a small kitchen. On the other hand, it does not raise enough for some people, so the bottom of the colander will tough the sink.

Pros

• You can collapse it before putting it in the dishwasher; therefore, it takes less room than a traditional colander.
• Multi-purpose – you can steam items with it as well.
• This colander is excellent for people who like the look of stainless steel but want the convenience of silicone.

Cons

• It might not last as long as the Squish brand.
• It is a German company; however, they outsource the manufacturing to China.
• The collapsible colander does not have feet that raise it; therefore, you have to pick it up and shake it around to drain all of the water.

#5 Qimh Colander Collapsible, Over the Sink Collapsible Colander – 6 Quart

We love how well thought out this over the collapsible sink colander is.  QIMH designed this colander specifically for people who want to wash their produce or rinse pasta directly in the sink. It’s great for someone with a large house or a small apartment, tiny home, or RV.

This collapsible over the sink colander has arms that extend and will drain over your sink. It drains perfectly without having to move or shake it around. There is a perfect amount of drainage holes along the bottom.

Not having a colander sit on the bottom of the sink is essential if you don’t scrub your sink daily. When you place a colander on the floor of the sink you risk contaminating your food. With this over-the-sink colander, you don’t have to worry about putting it on your dirty sink.

Pros

• It doesn’t move around; you can pour any hot liquids into it without the fear of the colander shifting.
• It can easily stretch across a large sink, and it works well with a small sink (like in a tiny home or RV)
• Dishwasher safe

Cons

• When you dump your pasta back into the pot, you have to do it carefully so some don’t end up on the counter.
• Hard to clean the telescoping handles since there are nooks and crannies.
• It is more significant than our other models, so you will still need a larger cabinet to store the colander if it collapses.
• Like our Squish model, it may only last 1-2 years and not 8+ years.

What Is The Best Collapsible Colander And Why You Need One

The best collapsible colander will have the following features:

• BPA-free, so you don’t get any contaminants in your food.
• A well thought out design and great for people with limited kitchen space (such as a tiny home).
• Easy to store, lightweight and easy enough to clean.
• The colander should drain without having to move it or shake it around.
• Strong material is essential; It must last you for years without breaking.
• It’s easy enough to clean so that you can use it daily.

Why Do You Need A Collapsible Colander?

A colander is an awkward kitchen tool that never has a good place, so if you can collapse it, then you instantly add more room to your tiny kitchen. Whether you live in a small NYC apartment or an RV, a collapsible colander will store away somewhere without creating clutter on your counters. Even if you have a large kitchen, they are still lovely because they add a pop of color and slide into most cabinets without hassle.

The Different Types of Collapsible Silicone Colanders

• 3 Quart silicone colander is my favorite. A great size that Whether you live in a tiny NYC apartment or an RV, a collapsible colander will store away somewhere without creating clutter on your counters. Can handle an entire bag of pasta without issue.
• Another type is a large 6 Quart over the sink collapsible colander.
• A third type is a collapsible colander with stainless steel handles. These sometimes break down quicker than the solid silicone colanders.
• A fourth type is an over-the-sink collapsible colander.

 5 Benefits Of Using The Best Silicone Colander

• It will save you space.
• They are easy to clean.
• BPA-free and non-toxic.
• Versatile – you can use them as a steamer or as a strainer.
• A silicone colander is colorful to brighten up a drab kitchen.

4 Things To Look For In An Awesome Silicone Collapsible Colander

• Size
• Color
• Does it have feet on the bottom that raise it off the bottom of the sink?
• How big are the drainage holes?

How to use a silicone colander

A silicone colander is easy to use; just open it up, place it inside your sink and drain your pasta. Easily avoid undercooked pasta by having the colander set up and ready to go while using a timer. You can also use it for washing fruits and veggies and rinsing beans. After using your silicone colander, just use a sponge with soap to clean it.

FAQ’s about Silicone Colanders

Final Thoughts on the Best Silicone Collapsible Colander

A collapsible colander is an excellent tool for people with limited kitchen space.  If you live in a tiny home, RV, or apartment, these are perfect because they can fit into small spaces and store away without getting lost amongst other items on your countertop. What’s more, the best silicone colanders will collapse to save even more room while also being BPA-free and easy enough to clean that you don’t need to worry about running it through the dishwasher each day.