We Do Pasta Nights 3 Times a Week in My House, and This $16 Strainer Never Loses a Noodle

Between a Greek husband and an Italian wife, there are a lot of noodles being made in this house. Orzo is a staple in just about every Greek salad and my go-to recipe is a classic penne alla vodka. But with all that pasta comes a lot of boiled water and draining, so without the right kitchen equipment and gadgets, a lot could go wrong. Though we’d have pasta nights as much as three times a week, my husband and I just couldn’t agree on a pasta strainer. And that’s what started what we call: “Colander Gate.”

Our first model—a handheld that was more like a starter strainer for solo living in an apartment—was fine for a while, but it didn’t hold much pasta at once, so we tossed it in favor of something with a larger capacity. I then thought the over-the-sink style that sat on one side at all times was a genius idea, but he, being the primary dish-washer that had to move it out of the way all the time, did not. Then, he found the Kitchen Gizmo Snap N’ Strain Silicone Clip-On Colander, and just like that—a ceasefire.

Kitchen Gizmo Snap N’ Strain Silicone Clip-On Colander

At only 10 by 5 by 2.5 inches, this clever tool has all the pros of a standard size colander—without any of the cons. It’s not nearly as bulky, and is beyond simple to store, and conveniently, dishwasher safe (no more desperately scrubbing each hole to remove mushy pasta particles). With its nonstick grip, it creates a fool-proof barrier between the macaroni and the draining water, so we haven’t lost a single noodle since purchasing this.

The tiny-but-mighty tool clips onto all sorts and sizes of bowls, pots, and saucepans, creating harmony in our kitchen again. I love that it’s a completely hands-free way of dumping out boiling pasta water (so I don’t have to hold the colander while he pours anymore), and he loves the built-in spout that efficiently drains with minimal to no splashing.

And because kitchen sieves are mainly used for pasta (although they also come in handy for other tasks like fruit- and vegetable-washing), this strainer is made with heat-resistant silicone that won’t melt or buckle under temperatures as high as 440 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you’re tired of fishing rogue noodles from the sink drain—or if you and your partner are also butting heads over colanders—I highly recommend grabbing the Kitchen Gizmo Snap N’ Strain Silicone Clip-On Colander at Amazon, especially now that it’s 43 percent off. Snag it for only $16 right now, and check out more tools that will simplify pasta night below.

Brainstream Al Dente Singing Floating Pasta Timer

The Original Fasta Pasta Microwave Pasta Cooker

Mollensiuer One-Piece Spaghetti Pasta Measurer 

Ototo Papa Nessie Spaghetti Serving Spoon

Blue Ginkgo Over the Sink Colander Basket