Stainless Steel Colander and Mixing Bowl Set Review
A stainless steel colander and bowl set that nests, drains from a raised bottom, and doubles as a produce-washing station. Here's how it held up in my kitchen.
Reviewed by
Seb and Michelle
We've tested over 6,500 products in the last 5 years – collaborating with over 4,000 brands and bringing our style of reviews to multiple platforms. More about me →
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
My plastic strainer was stained, slightly warped, and still leaving a puddle on the counter every time I drained anything. I put up with that for years. This stainless steel colander set fixed all three problems in the first week, the raised base drains fully, the 18/8 steel won’t stain or warp, and the strainer nests inside the bowl for a soak-and-lift produce wash I now use almost every day.
Quick Verdict
The raised bottom sold me in about two seconds. Water drips fully out instead of pooling in the holes, and the strainer nests right inside the bowl so washing produce turns into a one-lift, no-mess job. Once I switched to stainless steel, I’m not going back to plastic.
Buy if you:
- Wash berries and veggies in big batches and want a soak-and-strain setup
- Still use a flimsy plastic strainer and are ready to upgrade
- Want one piece that mixes, drains, and washes without buying three gadgets
- Meal prep and hate water pooling on your counter after draining
Skip if you:
- Wanted a snap-on storage lid, this set is a bowl and strainer, no lid in the box
- Have zero cabinet space, stainless nests but doesn’t crush flat
- Prefer a super-fine mesh for flour or tiny grains, the holes are colander-sized
| Material | 18/8 stainless steel |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 3.5-quart bowl |
| Design | Raised-bottom strainer, nesting bowl |
| Handles | Side grip handles |
| Care | Dishwasher safe |
Why I Finally Upgraded to a Stainless Steel Colander Set
The pitch behind this thing is that it’s the last colander you’ll ever need to buy. Big claim. But after seeing how the two pieces work together, I kind of get it.
What’s In the Set
Two pieces: an 18/8 stainless steel strainer and a large stainless steel bowl that nest together. The bowl is a 3.5-quart capacity, large enough for bulk produce washing or serious mixing jobs. Both pieces have little handles on the side, which makes lifting and pouring easier when it’s full and heavy.
The detail that actually changes how you use it: the strainer base is raised off the counter. Small gap, big difference, water drips all the way out instead of getting trapped under the holes. I’ve owned colanders for years and none of them did this.
The Raised Bottom Is Smarter Than It Sounds
Here’s why that raised bottom matters. Normally you strain something and set it down to drip dry, and the water can’t escape through the holes on the bottom because they’re pressed flat against the counter. So it just sits there in a little puddle.
Because this one is slightly lifted, the water fully drips out. No pooling, no soggy base sitting in its own runoff. I don’t think I’ve had a strainer like this before, and it’s a design choice you don’t notice until you’ve lived without it. I think that’s super smart.
Washing Produce Is Where It Clicks
My favorite thing is how the two pieces work together for washing fruits and veggies. Say you just got home from groceries with some fruit and some veggies, and you want to rinse them before they go in the fridge. You put everything in the strainer, drop it inside the bowl, and fill the bowl with water.
Now your produce is soaking. When it’s clean, you literally just pick up the top piece and it strains out right there. Everything’s rinsed, the dirty water stays in the bowl below, and you set the strainer on the side to drip dry before popping it all in the fridge.
A lot of people like to soak fruits and veggies in a baking soda bath to get them extra clean. Some people just fill up their sink. This is way more hygienic than a sink, you drop everything in the bowl, let it soak, then lift and drain. One tool, whole job done.
The One Thing to Know Going In
This is a bowl and strainer, not a sealed storage container. The marketing around “last colander you’ll need” leans on wash-drain-store, but what I have in front of me is the two stainless pieces that nest, not a locking lid you snap on before the fridge. So if you were picturing rinse-and-seal in one motion, that’s the part to double-check on the listing before you buy.
For me it wasn’t a dealbreaker, I lift the strainer, let it drip on the side, and pop the produce in a container I already own. But it’s worth knowing you’re getting a wash-and-drain workhorse, not a food-storage set with a seal.
Get it now
Stainless Steel Colander Set
Get the best price on Amazon →This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Who This Is Actually For
The soak-then-lift routine is what separates this from every other colander I’ve used. Fill the 3.5-quart bowl, drop in the strainer loaded with produce, let it soak, then lift the whole strainer out in one move, dirty water stays below, clean fruit stays above. If you’re currently doing this in your sink, you’re washing produce in whatever was in the sink drain before it.
It’s also for anyone still hanging onto a plastic strainer that’s stained, warped, or holding onto smells. Stainless steel doesn’t corrode, doesn’t bend under hot pasta, and cleans up in the dishwasher. And because the bowl is a legit mixing bowl on its own, it earns its cabinet spot even on days you’re not straining anything.
Stainless Steel vs the Plastic Strainer You’re Replacing
A basic plastic colander is cheaper, lighter, and fine for the occasional pasta drain. That’s the case for keeping one.
But plastic stains, holds odors, and can warp when you dump a pot of boiling water through it. This stainless set doesn’t do any of that, plus the nesting bowl and raised base give you two jobs a plain plastic strainer can’t. If you’re buying once and want it to last, metal wins. If you just need something disposable for a dorm, plastic’s fine.
My Advice Before You Buy
Use the nesting on purpose. The whole value here is the strainer-inside-bowl combo, so lean into the soak-and-lift routine for produce instead of just using it as a one-off pasta drainer. That’s where it pulls ahead of a regular colander.
Set the strainer on its raised base to drip dry rather than back in the wet bowl, and you’ll skip the puddle mess entirely. And check the listing photos so you know you’re getting the bowl-and-strainer set you expect. Grab it through the Amazon link here to see the current price and what’s in the box.
Pros
- Raised strainer base lets water fully drip out, no counter puddle
- Strainer nests inside the bowl for soak-then-lift produce washing
- Large 3.5-quart bowl doubles as a real mixing bowl
- 18/8 stainless steel won’t stain, warp, or hold odors like plastic
- Side handles on both pieces make heavy, wet loads easier to lift
Cons
- No sealing storage lid in the set, it’s a bowl and strainer only
- Colander-sized holes aren’t fine enough for flour or tiny grains
- Stainless nests but still takes up more cabinet space than collapsible plastic
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the stainless steel colander dishwasher safe?
Yes, both pieces are dishwasher safe. Stainless steel rinses clean fast, and since it doesn’t stain or absorb odors, most days a quick hand rinse does the job before it even hits the dishwasher.
Can I use it to drain hot pasta?
Yes. Unlike thin plastic that can warp under boiling water, 18/8 stainless steel handles hot pasta without bending. The side handles help you control the pour when it’s full and heavy.
Does the set come with a lid for storage?
What I reviewed is a stainless strainer and matching bowl that nest together, not a sealed storage container with a lid. If a locking lid is a must-have for you, check the exact listing before ordering since configurations can vary.
Will the holes let small foods fall through?
They’re standard colander holes, great for berries, greens, pasta, and cut veggies. They’re not fine mesh, so very small grains, quinoa, or sifting flour aren’t what this is built for.
How big is the bowl?
The bowl is a 3.5-quart stainless steel bowl, which is large enough for a full batch of produce or a real mixing job. It’s the kind of size that earns its own use even when you’re not straining anything.
Can I soak produce in baking soda in it?
Yes, that’s one of the best uses. Drop your fruit or veggies in the strainer, nest it in the bowl, fill with water and baking soda, and let it soak. When you’re done you just lift the strainer out and the dirty water stays behind. Way more hygienic than filling your sink.
Does stainless steel rust over time?
18/8 stainless steel is made to resist rust and corrosion, which is the whole reason to move off a plastic strainer that stains and warps. Dry it after washing and it should hold up for years of everyday use.
Is it worth replacing a plastic colander I already own?
If your plastic one is stained, warped, or smelly, yes. Beyond just looking better, you get the raised drip-out base and the nesting bowl for produce washing, two things a plain plastic colander can’t do.
Clicking takes you to the seller's website. We may earn a small commission if you purchase, at no extra cost to you.
Get it now
Stainless Steel Colander Set
Get the best price on Amazon →This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
🛍️ Shop everything in this video
Every product mentioned, in one place — these are affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
🛍️ Stainless Steel Strainer with Raised Bottom — check price on Amazon →
🛍️ Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl — check price on Amazon →
About the reviewer
Seb and Michelle
We've tested over 6,500 products in the last 5 years - collaborating with over 4,000 brands and bringing our style of reviews to multiple platforms.
