A spider strainer is a wire basket on a long handle. It scoops food out of hot oil or boiling water and lets the liquid fall away through the open weave. Cooks use it for fries, dumplings, boiled eggs, blanched vegetables and noodles.
The six strainers below range from a 5 inch bamboo-handled basket to a 7.9 inch mesh skimmer. Sizes and materials come from each product’s listing page, and where figures differ we say so. We have not used these strainers ourselves. Material and warranty claims are the makers’ own.
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What to Look For
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Basket width | A wide basket lifts more; a small one suits a narrow pot |
| Weave | Open wire drains fast; fine mesh also catches crumbs |
| Handle | Bamboo, steel or plastic grips differ in feel |
| Length | A long handle keeps your hand away from hot oil |
| Cleaning | Dishwasher or hand wash |
Specs at a Glance
| Strainer | Size | Material | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiware solid steel | 15.5 in long; 5.4 in bowl; 1.6 in deep | 18/8 stainless steel | Double coil; hanging hole; dishwasher safe |
| OXO Scoop and Strain | 14.8 in high; 0.5 in mesh opening | Stainless steel | Wire coil; deep open basket; angled handle |
| Rosle 95681 | 16.5 in long per bullet; 17.5 in per dimensions | 18/10 stainless steel | 7.9 in mesh; round handle |
| KitchenAid spider | Size not listed; 6.88 oz | Stainless steel | Extra-wide opening; dishwasher safe |
| Joyce Chen | 5 in basket; 14 in high | Stainless steel and bamboo | Bamboo handle; 2.88 oz |
| Best Utensils | 7 in basket; 17.5 in long | 18/8 stainless steel | Spiral mesh; 0.18 in mesh opening |
The 6 Best Spider Strainers
1. Hiware Solid Stainless Steel Spider Strainer
A 15.5 inch all-steel strainer with a 5.4 inch bowl, 1.6 inches deep, a double coil design and a hanging hole. The maker lists French fries, doughnuts, boiled eggs and hotpot as uses.
Suits: a general frying and boiling tool. Strengths: all steel and a hanging hole. Weaknesses: a modest 5.4 inch bowl. Skip it if you need a very wide basket.
2. OXO Good Grips Scoop and Strain Skimmer
A wire-coil skimmer with a deep open basket, a long angled handle and a soft non-slip grip. The page lists a 0.5 inch mesh opening and says the coil design is meant to avoid damaging food.
Suits: blanched, boiled or fried food. Strengths: a deep basket and an angled handle. Weaknesses: a wide opening lets small bits through. Skip it if you strain crumbs.
View OXO Good Grips Scoop and Strain Skimmer on Amazon
3. Rosle 95681 Stainless Steel Wire Kitchen Skimmer
An 18/10 stainless steel wire skimmer with a round handle and a 7.9 inch diameter mesh. The listing gives 16.5 inches long in one place and 17.5 inches in another. The wide wire spacing is described as draining fat quickly.
Suits: lifting large batches. Strengths: a wide 7.9 inch mesh. Weaknesses: the length figures differ. Skip it if you use small pots.
View Rosle 95681 Stainless Steel Wire Kitchen Skimmer Ladle with Round Handle on Amazon
4. KitchenAid Spider Strainer, Empire Red
A stainless steel spider strainer with an extra-wide opening for stir-fry and woks, a well-balanced handle and a rust-resistant head. The page gives its weight as 6.88 ounces but no length.
Suits: woks and stir-fry. Strengths: a wide opening and a one-year replacement offer. Weaknesses: no size on the page. Skip it if you need exact dimensions.
View KitchenAid Spider Strainer, Stainless Steel Skimmer – Empire Red on Amazon
5. Joyce Chen 5-Inch Spider Strainer
A 5 inch stainless steel wire basket with a bamboo handle the maker says stays cool to the touch, 14 inches high and 2.88 ounces. It is aimed at dumplings, egg rolls and hotpot.
Suits: small pots and dumplings. Strengths: a bamboo handle and a light weight. Weaknesses: a small basket. Skip it if you fry large batches.
6. Best Utensils 7-Inch Spider Strainer
A 7 inch basket of 18/8 stainless steel with a spiral hand-woven mesh and a 0.18 inch mesh opening, 17.5 inches long and 5.9 ounces. The maker describes the weave as a traditional Chinese craft.
Suits: a large basket with a finer weave. Strengths: a 7 inch basket and a finer mesh. Weaknesses: a heavier tool. Skip it if you want a short handle.
Care and Setup
- Pat food dry before it goes into hot oil.
- Lower the basket slowly and lift it above the pot to drain.
- Rinse bits out of the weave soon after use.
- Keep bamboo handles out of long soaks.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Picking a basket wider than your pot.
- Choosing a wide weave for tiny items.
- Trusting one length when a listing gives two.
- Soaking a bamboo handle.
Spider Strainer FAQ
What is a spider strainer used for?
Lifting fried or boiled food out of a pot while the liquid drains through the wire.
Can it replace a colander?
For scooping small batches, yes. For draining a full pot of pasta, a colander is faster.
The Short Version
For a general steel strainer, the Hiware. For a deep basket, the OXO. For a wide mesh, the Rosle. For woks, the KitchenAid. For small pots, the Joyce Chen. For a finer weave, the Best Utensils.
