It doesn’t exist yet, but it could with your help. The Ventu Strainer Bowl, a Quirky project is a mash-up between a colander and a serving bowl. For whatever reason, colanders have always enjoyed a reputation as something to avoid in the kitchen–it is just too tempting to try to strain pasta and whatnot with either the lid or a fork. Capitalizing (maybe) on this idea is a project that needs your support.

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Steamed veggies are great, but the one problem they have is that they require steam. The fastest, simplest way to achieve this is to boil water. In a pot with a steam basket. In a pot that happens to be dirty. Oh well, leftover pizza sounds good too.

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Kitchen gadgets and gizmos come and go, but there a few that are present in every kitchen and never get a second thought. The colander is a good example of this. After all, it’s basically just a big ol’ stainless steel bowl with holes in it. But for draining pasta and cleaning veggies it can’t be beat. However, be that as it may, sometimes the darn thing is just the wrong shape. Draining pasta is one thing, but when it comes time to scrub leafy greens, more often than not, some escape over the side. As ubiquitous as colanders are, this minor inconvenience rarely gets a second thought. Unless you’re thinking deep.

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We all know that any fruit or vegetables we purchase should be washed first. It’s just basic common sense. No matter how far your food has traveled, it still needs a good rinse to wash off (at least) the particulate matter that it unavoidably accumulates. Usually the best tool for the job is a colander; just hold it under the faucet and let the water do all the work. Sometimes, however, we just want a small snack and digging out the colander (which tends to be large and cumbersome) can be an easily overlooked step. For these times, I use a folding steamer basket (you know, the one that looks like a UFO), but without any sides, food can escape and roll away (and quite often does).

These Mini Colanders are perfectly suited for small-sized rinsing. Measuring just six-inches by 3-inches, the small size allows for easy storage when not in use. The colanders are available in a variety of colors to match any kitchen décor: white, turquoise, kiwi, green, red or yellow. Best of all, the sturdy melamine construction comes with easy to grasp handles, so it’s not only easy to store but convenient to use. My steamer basket will just have to go back to being just a steamer basket (and occasionally a UFO).