Colanders

A colander is a kitchen essential for draining pasta, rinsing vegetables, berries and grains, or straining stock. This section brings together colanders from the Italian brand Barazzoni and the Czech brand Tescoma — from compact handled models 14–16 cm across to large 22–28 cm bowls and a 36 cm mesh colander.

Types of colanders

• With feet or a stand: stable in the sink, water drains freely and both hands stay free.
• With a long handle: handy for small portions — hold the colander over a pot or bowl with one hand.
• For the sink: some models are designed to sit in the sink and take up no worktop space.
• Collapsible and with a bowl: a collapsible colander fits easily in a drawer, while a colander with a bowl lets you rinse food and keep it in the same container.

How to choose a colander

Go by the amount you usually cook: for pasta for 4–6 people, choose 22 cm or more; for berries and herbs, 14–18 cm is enough. Stainless steel does not absorb odours, handles hot water and keeps its look for years. Check the perforation too: small holes or mesh hold back rice, quinoa and small berries.

Colanders that match your cookware

Barazzoni makes colanders in the same lines as its pots and saucepans — MY LADY, MY POT, CARATI, DOLCE VITA, TUMMY, CHEF LINE — so it is easy to match a colander to your cookware set. Tescoma offers practical everyday ranges: PRESTO, GrandCHEF and VITAMINO.