Strainers are those types of household items that you tend to take for granted until the last minute, when you realize that you need one in order to wash your dishes. The problem with strainers is that not all of them work equally well, and some even cause more trouble than they’re worth. Luckily, there are plenty of types of kitchen sinks strainers that actually work well, so you don’t have to worry about splashing water all over the place when you try to wash your dishes.
1) Mesh strainers
Mesh strainers are the simplest type of kitchen sink strainer. They allow water to pass through while catching food particles, and they can be rinsed in the dishwasher. However, they don’t provide much protection against large objects getting stuck in the drain.
2) Trap strainers
Trap strainers are a type of strainer that sits over the drain in your sink. These work well if you have a garbage disposal and need to keep things from clogging it. But these don’t work as well if you don’t have a garbage disposal, because there’s nowhere for food scraps to go. Plus, these types are usually circular and can’t be used for other things like washing vegetables or catching pasta water.
3) Colander strainers
Colander strainers are the most popular type of kitchen sink strainer. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit any size bowl or pot. Colanders are typically made out of stainless steel, silicone, or plastic. They are inexpensive, easy to clean and they don’t take up too much space in your dishwasher. Plus, colanders can be used for other tasks in the kitchen like drying off produce or washing dishes. The downside is that if you have hard water then you may get mineral deposits on your colander that will eventually turn it into an icky brown color.
4) Strainer multi-tool
The best kitchen sink strainer is one that you can use on all types of sinks, including garbage disposals and dishwashers. A multi-tool strainer is the best type because it can do all three with the same tool. These products are available in many different colors so you can match them to your kitchen decor. Now that you know what the best type of strainer is, find out how to clean a strainer using these five methods:
5) Plastic scrapers
The plastic strainer or spider is a common item that can be found in any kitchen. It has small, perforated legs and a central handle for easy manipulation. The spider is used to scoop food out of the sink without having to put your hand inside the water. The downside to this type of strainer is that it does not work on all types of food.