A colander (or cullender) is a kitchen utensil perforated with holes used to strain foods such as

pasta Pasta (, ; ) is a type of food typically made from an Leavening agent, unleavened dough of wheat flour mixed with water or Eggs as food, eggs, and formed into sheets or other shapes, then cooked by boiling or baking. Pasta was originally on ...

or to rinse vegetables. The perforations of the colander allow liquid to drain through while retaining the solids inside. It is sometimes called a pasta strainer. A sieve, with much finer mesh, is also used for straining.

Description and history

Traditionally, colanders are made of a light

metal A metal () is a material that, when polished or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electrical resistivity and conductivity, electricity and thermal conductivity, heat relatively well. These properties are all associated wit ...

, such as

aluminium Aluminium (or aluminum in North American English) is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol Al and atomic number 13. It has a density lower than that of other common metals, about one-third that of steel. Aluminium has ...

or thinly rolled

stainless steel Stainless steel, also known as inox, corrosion-resistant steel (CRES), or rustless steel, is an iron-based alloy that contains chromium, making it resistant to rust and corrosion. Stainless steel's resistance to corrosion comes from its chromi ...

. Colanders are also made of plastic, silicone, ceramic, and enamelware. The word ''colander'' comes from the Latin , meaning sieve.

Types

* Bowl- or cone-shaped – the usual colander * Mated colander pot – a colander inside a cooking pot, allowing the food to drain as it is lifted out

References

External links

* Filters Food preparation utensils Religious headgear {{Cooking-tool-stub

Description and history

Types

See also

References

External links