The 4 Best Spider Strainers, According to My Tests

My Favorite Spider Strainer

We chose the Kuhn Rikin Spider Skimmer as Best overall because it was comfortable and easy to use with a long-enough handle to ensure safety from boiling hot liquids.

How I Tested Spider Strainers

In order to evaluate spider strainers, I used them all in various applications. I scooped pasta out of boiling water to see if it fell through the holes or stuck. I also scooped fry foods like latkes and empanadas out of cast iron frying pans to see how well they extricated items from searing hot oil. I looked at the design, how comfortable they were to hold and maneuver in and out of liquids, and, really importantly, how easy they were to clean. We also evaluated the design and construction to ensure that these would be durable, because your money matters. 

Factors to Consider

Material

Spider strainers come in many materials, like silicone, nylon, and stainless steel; some have bamboo handles. We prefer stainless steel because it's the most durable when dealing with lots of liquids and the easiest to clean, mainly when used for frying things. 

Type of Basket

Baskets come in either woven or coil designs. We found that both performed equally, so it's a matter of choice. The coil designs are typically machine-made, making them more durable than hand-woven pieces. Pay attention to the depth and width of the basket since the larger ones can be more difficult to maneuver in smaller pans. You also want to ensure you can get enough ingredients from whatever you are straining it from without a tiny basket, so pay attention to the size. 

Mesh

The baskets have varying mesh sizes. Some are small, while others can be medium and large. If you're making lots of pasta, we recommend a basket made with a smaller mesh so you can use various applications.

Other Spider Strainers I Tested

Strong Contenders

OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Spider Scoop ($16 at Amazon.com)
We liked how this filter was designed and performed, but The rubber handle became too slick when oil was in play. Still, it's a good option for those who want a cushioned handle, as it was the only one in our testing.

Artyea Skimmer, Stainless Steel Spider Strainer ($9 at Amazon.com)
This strainer performed well. It was a touch too heavy, and there wasn't anything special enough to put it high on our list, yet its price makes it an excellent alternative for someone looking for a spider strainer that pops into the dishwasher.

Hiware Solid Stainless Steel Spider Strainer Skimmer ($9 at Amazon.com)
We liked this coil-style spider strainer and Lighthouse. The basket was small, but the incline of the basket to the handle was too straight for comfort when others performed better. Still, it's a great smaller coil strainer for poached eggs at a reasonable price. 

What Didn’t Make the List

We weren’t crazy about the longevity and upkeep with the bamboo-handled options Joyce Chen Stainless Steel Spider Strainer or Helen Chen’s Asian Kitchen Stainless Steel Spider. After one wash, they looked worn, and we prefer the overall durability of the stainless steel models we chose. Also, the baskets, which were woven on, were already coming undone, which can lead to the utensils getting caught on others in the drawer. The Williams Sonoma Signature Stainless Steel Spider Strainer also had a hand-woven basket already loose when it arrived. It is also the heaviest and most awkward to use. The Letschef Stainless Steel Spider Strainer was too big for most households since its basket is around seven inches long. That’s more than most people need and too big for most utensil drawers. 

Our Expertise

Jennifer Zyman is a Senior Commerce Writer for Food & Wine and a former restaurant critic with a culinary school degree and over 15 years of food writing experience. Her work has appeared in Atlanta Magazine, Bon Appetit, Eater Atlanta, The Kitchn, Local Palate, National Geographic, Simply Recipes, Southern Living, and Thrillist. She tested ten spider strainers in side-by-side testing to find the best ones for every type of home cook.