colander n : bowl-shaped strainer; used to wash or drain foods [syn: cullender]

English

Etymology

Colander derives from the Middle English colyndore and Old Provençal colador (meaning a strainer).

Pronunciation

Noun

1. A bowl-shaped kitchen utensil with holes in it used for draining food such as pasta

Translations

• Italian: colino
• Swedish: durkslag

See also

• strainer

A colander is a type of sieve used in cooking for separating liquids and solids. It is much like a strainer. It is conventionally made of a light metal, such as aluminium or thinly rolled stainless steel, although it is not uncommon for it to be made of plastic. A colander is pierced with a pattern of small holes for the liquid to drain through, but allowing the solids to remain inside the sieve itself. Colanders often take the form of a large bowl with a built-in stand to allow water to drain out the bottom as well as the sides.

See also

• Filter
• Sieve

bolter, clarifier, cradle, cribble, cribriformity, cribrosity, filter, grate, grating, honeycomb, lixiviator, net, percolator, porosity, porousness, purifier, refiner, refinery, riddle, rocker, screen, sieve, sievelikeness, sifter, sorter, sponge, strainer, winnow, winnowing basket, winnowing fan, winnowing machine