A colander is a kitchen utensil used to strain foods such as pasta or to rinse vegetables. It is a bowl-shaped dish with holes in the sides and bottom to drain liquid out of foods. Colanders come in different sizes, but the most common size is a 5-quart colander. They usually have two handles on the sides, but they sometimes have one large handle. The size of holes in the colander can vary. Some colanders have holes spread evenly over the surface while others have circular or other shapes for the holes. Colanders are mostly made of metal like light stainless steel or aluminum, but they’re also made out of plastic, silicone, and ceramic.

Colanders are used for a few different reasons and they are almost always used over a sink or a large bowl. A colander is frequently used to drain liquid out of foods like cooked pasta or rice. They are also used to wash fruits and vegetables. A colander is sometimes used to drain the fat out of cooked meats. Ultimately, colanders are an essential tool in any kitchen and are used for a variety of tasks such as draining water from pasta, rinsing fruits and vegetables, and draining the fat from cooked meats.