Premium Collapsible Silicone Colander/Strainer with Stainless Steel Base (Available Colors: Red, Blue and Green) (Blue)

I love collapsible bowls and items that save space in my kitchen, so I purchased this collander. It is very nicely built and is made from very strong silicone. The color is true to the picture. I got blue. It has silver metal trim (stainless steel) and can be used fully extended or "scrunched" smaller for lesser quantities. It has a large number of drain holes, but I do find that it doesn't drain water away from items as well as my old, plastic, full-size collander did. I think it is because the holes on this unit are smaller than the hard plastic version I had, so I am on the fence as to whether I will throw away my old one. I love the way it collapses and takes up so little room, so I will keep it and try to give things a really 'good shake" when I am draining them.

The only thing I'd change design-wise is the little plastic/rubber inserts that go inside the handles... they pop out here and there depending how you hang or clean the strainer.Functionally this is amazing, a great implementation of the idea of a strainer made out of an accordion but with the stability and multi-functionality of some of the more versatile kitchen products I've owned, such as the silicone whisk that flips flat. Having the ability to flatten this is huge in my kitchen as I have a limited amount of space for everything.

This is a really well thought out product. I like the idea of heating the water in the pot first, then filling the strainer with the spaghetti, and gently lowering it into the boiling water. Once the noodles are cooked, the strainer can be lifted back out over the sink and the water drained out of the strainer. The strainer even has little feet on it to facilitate that. My only problem is that I need a pot that will fit it better. This is a 3-quart strainer, so it needs a 4 quart pot. All I have is a 2.5 quart and an 8 quart pot so I borrowed a neighbor's pot to try it out. The choice then was to get a new pot or return the strainer, and I've decided to get a new pot.

I really like this, but I knocked it down because it an be harder that expected to collapse down and up and the stand height. But it seems well made and it cleans very easily. I'd like it more if it had a little more height on the base so you could set it in the sink when pouring the spaghetti in. We end up holding it or putting it up on another object to avoid cross-contamination with the sink.

I like the size and color. It collapses easily, however, it is often a challenge to expand it. Sometimes only one side of it expands. The top sits at a 45 degree angle and the colander is unusable. It requires coaxing and sometimes punching to get it to expand evenly. Also, when mine arrived about a third of the bottom gasket with feet had loosened from the metal base. It's held on with a thin line of adhesive. It still rests securely despite the uneven distribution of its feet so I'm using it that way. However, I am afraid to submerse it in boiling water (one of its advertised features) for fear the rest of the ring will separate from the base.

The Good: The collapsible feature makes it easy to store and size it to you needs when draining. It's dishwasher safe. No odors associated with the product.The Bad: The handles are way to small and thin making it hard to hold when draining heavy pasta with one hand (It will tip down on the opposite side). The silicone rings on the handles pop off very easily causing me to lose my grip on the handle. I had hot pasta spill onto my hand the last time this happened, OUCH!I will not be using this to drain hot items anymore and will be looking for something better for that purpose.

I did a lot of research prior to purchasing thiscolander. It's a little smaller than I was used to using but it doesn't make any difference as to it's function. It collaspses easily, is easy to clean and very well made. I decided to go with this brand because I think that the metal on the rim and bottom gives it more stability that perhaps an all flexible item might not have. The only suggestion that I have is to give it bigger feet to allow for more unobstructed drainage in the sink. It may not be the best choice for a large family because of it's size but otherwise it's just about perfect.

When we go camping we eat like kings - pasta with homemade Bolognese sauce, salads, and fresh fruit and vegetables. Packing a colander is a must. I decided to look for one that didn't take up much room in our camping bins. This is perfect! It compresses nice and thin. The holes around the sides as well as in the bottom work beautifully to drain pasta or rinse vegetables. (Some don't have holes on the sides.) It's nice and sturdy, has good handles, and won't collapse on you until you intentionally press it back into a disk. I like it so much I am considering ordering a second to replace the one I use at home.