The humble salad spinner may seem like an unnecessary kitchen tool, but we beg to differ: It's revolutionary when it comes to yielding crispy, fresh greens. The centrifugal force created by spinning pulls out dirt particles hidden in the ribs and crevices of your lettuce, spinach, arugula, and more while drawing out any excess liquid. Warding off that lingering moisture helps keep your salad from getting soggy or moldy, but also maintains the consistency and flavor of your salad dressing. Apart from helping to achieve the perfect salad, these handy gadgets are also useful in washing large batches of herbs, cleaning cruciferous vegetables like broccoli or brussel sprouts, and washing berries. Salad spinners are a game changer when it comes to meal prep. Fill them with greens and water to wash your lettuce, and then spin to drain and remove excess water. You can also use your salad spinner to drain veggies after washing. Salad spinners are essential since clean, dry leaves are better-prepped for dressing on salad (and they stay fresh longer). You can even store your greens in the colander – the vents help with air circulation, which slows down the rate of spoilage. We tested each salad spinner using salad greens and herbs with varying water content levels, including romaine lettuce, green leaf lettuce, radicchio, and cilantro. We also used them on bulkier vegetables, strawberries, and blueberries to asses how they perform with delicate and firm produce. To test the strength of the baskets, we used each to drain freshly-cooked pasta.

Anyone who has grown their own vegetables knows that sometimes things can get a little dirty during the harvesting process. Though greens from the store or your local farmers' market would most likely never be this dirty, our lead reviewer saw it necessary to put the spinners through a more extreme test. Manual Spinners: These may be in the form of a hand crank or a knob, but all manual spinners are going to require a little effort on your part. Most spinners on the lower end of the price range tend to be manual. Just like the larger model, this one has an easy pump-action spinner and patented brake to stop with ease. In our test with the radicchio, we found the plunger was comfortable to grip, and it only took 10 pumps to completely clean and dry the greens. We appreciated that the clear bowl made it easy to see when the greens were dry, and the brake was instantly responsive when pushed. We also loved the non-slip base for stability and the sturdy construction of the plastic bowl.You're not limited to spinning with this model. After using the colander to rinse an entire box of tagliatelle, we segued it to the table in the brushed stainless steel bowl for family dinner. We also used it to mix pancake batter and lauded its versatility for more than salad spinning. Our one negative comment was after following the manufacturer’s instructions to wash it in the dishwasher, we found water spots all over the stainless steel bowl that took some vigorous rubbing with a clean, dry hand towel to remove. As such, we recommend not washing the bowl in the dishwasher to preserve its beauty and longevity. If you are looking for a spinner with a small footprint, then the Prepworks Collapsible 3-Quart Spinner is a good choice. Though it underperformed in many of our tests, it still functioned adequately in most situations. This spinner was very easy to clean. The silicone walls of the colander may have contributed to inferior scores in the water removal and dirt removal metrics, but they did prove easy to clean. Those same silicone walls are also what allow this product to collapse and nest very efficiently. This updated version of Zyliss' classic salad spinner has a redesigned spin basket that's designed differently from other spinners. Instead of being perfectly round, it has wide ribs, and is designed to "fluff" the salad when you hit the brakes on the spinner. We're not sure if this design is any more effective than a traditional round bowl, but overall the spinner performed well, yielding greens that were fairly dry.

Additionally, some units had a colander that was more difficult to clean for one reason or another. We attempted to take apart, clean, and prepare to dry each unit in under five minutes. All of the contenders were cleaned within this timeframe, but some were easier than others. Five of the models impressed us throughout the cleaning process; these were the Cuisinart CTG-00-SSAS, OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner, OXO Steel, Mueller 5-Liter Vegetable Washer, and Prepworks Collapsible 3-Quart Spinner.The OXO Steel Salad Spinner did a few things quite well. The large, rubber bottom of the bowl, coupled with a securely-fit lid and colander, meant spinning was extremely user-friendly. The most notable attribute of the product is its above-average performance in our water removal tests. One of the most positive notes is that this spinner could remove water and dirt at an above-average level. Only one model offered the ability to collapse into a smaller footprint. This was the Prepworks Collapsible 3-Quart Spinner. This option presented itself as a potentially great choice for folks with less cabinet space in their kitchens or those who may want to bring this kitchen appliance in their RV or camping setup. Both the bowl and colander on the Prepworks Collapsible 3-Quart Spinner proved to be sturdier than expected. The Oxo Good Grips Salad Spinner is our top choice because of its large capacity, patented brake, and easy-to-use patented plunger. Equally as impressive is the Oxo Good Grips Little Salad & Herb Spinner, which comes in handy for smaller produce items. How We Tested Two sturdy clamps keep the lid in place for storage and while you're pouring water out. The spinning action is initiated by a knob that you turn, which is comfortable to hold and can be turned in either direction — nice for lefties. Along with overall construction, size, and quality, we tested the bowl's versatility with other tasks—such as mixing pancake batter. Since we love multi-function kitchen tools, we also noticed how the bowls worked as serving vessels (for example, if they retained food temperature).

If you're a big fan of leafy greens and eat salads regularly, it may make more sense to opt for a salad spinner that's dishwasher safe and requires less effort to clean. If you don't have a dishwasher or don't plan on using your salad spinner often, the perk of hand washing means your salad spinner will probably resist warping and last longer.

Sometimes you only need a petite spinner that stores compactly but has the oomph of larger models. The Oxo Good Grips Little Salad and Herb Spinner is just right for small portions of lettuce, berries, and especially bunches of fresh herbswith its 2.5-quart basket. We found that it easily accommodated two heads of radicchio for one test, two bunches of cilantro for another, and one pint of blueberries for a third.

If you need something that won't break but can handle washing and drying smaller batches of lettuce, this 3-quart Progressive Collapsible Salad Spinner with a silicone construction and collapsible design is a wonderful option. It's ideal for traveling and use in smaller kitchens or dorm rooms. In testing, we found it actually reduces to just 3 inches when fully collapsed, so storage could not be more convenient. We'll forever have a soft spot for how OXO designs products that are easy and comfortable to operate. The company's Good Grips salad spinner uses a similar design as its Steel spinner, but the bowl is clear plastic and can double as an attractive serving bowl. A salad spinner is not a necessity, but it does make meal prep a lot easier—and not just for greens. You can wash and dry a multitude of lettuces and other greens, like kale or collards, but you can also efficiently wash and dry fresh herbs, berries, and bulky vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, potatoes. You can even wash and dry your hand-wash-only laundry. It's an efficient way to complete the task, but you may want a separate spinner. Considering its small size, the Cuisinart CTG-00-SSAS salad spinner was impressive. It's one of the smallest units we tested, yet it stil removed water and dirt quite well. We like the hole in the top of the lid that allows you to add more water during operation; once the lid is secure, you don't need to take it off until the greens are fully cleaned. We also found the crank arm to be ergonomic. The colander securely fit within the bowl, and the non-slip pads on the bottom stabilized the bowl during high-speed spinning. The clip to secure the colander onto the bowl takes an extra second or two, but it fastens easily. All of these factors make fast-spinning easier.

Salad spinners can range in capacity from less than three quarts to over six quarts, with most falling somewhere in the middle. Consider the amount of storage space you have to spare relative to the number of people you have to feed. For a family, or the entertainer who is always hosting dinner parties, the larger the option the better. Some spinners even have a collapsible design to help you save on storage space without sacrificing capacity. Our Salad Spinner eliminates excess moisture from lettuce, spinach, herbs, vegetables and berries. The side handle gives you more power with less effort, while the easy-access brake button allows you to stop the spinner in an instant. The bowl has a non-slip base to ensure it stays securely on your kitchen surface. This great tool also doubles as colander and serving bowl. A plethora of great features make this all-plastic salad spinner a winner. The lid has a hole and a strainer, so you can fill the whole thing with water, use the spinner to agitate the greens, then pour the water out through the hole, while the strainer keeps everything inside. This is especially helpful for very dirty or sandy greens, such as spinach, and it's the only spinner we tested that had this feature.