Buying guide for best salad spinners
Nobody wants a soggy salad, but it can be tough to get your greens completely dry. Unless you have a salad spinner, that is. But how, exactly, do you find the best salad spinner out there?
With hundreds available, it's a challenge sorting the good from the bad, especially if you're new to the world of salad spinners. You'll want to consider how often you plan to use your salad spinner, how the spinner is constructed, and how large a salad spinner is right for your household.
How salad spinners work
Salad spinners are kitchen gadgets specifically designed to dry salad leaves such as lettuce, arugula, and fresh spinach after they've been washed.
A salad spinner is comprised of an outer bowl, an inner basket perforated with holes (like a colander), and a lid that contains a spinning mechanism.
To use a salad spinner, you place the salad in the basket and put it in the bowl (half filled with water) to clean it. Once the salad is clean, you empty the water, put the basket back in the bowl, replace the lid, and operate the spinning mechanism, usually by pressing a button or turning a crank. The spinning motion flings the water from the leaves inside, thus drying them.
We appreciate salad spinners that are durable, effective, and easy to clean.
We research the amount of effort required to assemble and maintain a salad spinner. The less effort required, the better.
We consider salad spinners that use a rotating arm as well as those that require a simple downward push to spin the basket.
We note the size and weight of each salad spinner we recommend, sharing relevant information in our reviews so consumers can find the right one for their kitchen.
We consider compact salad spinners suitable for small servings as well as those large enough for commercial use.
When investigating salad spinners, we start with the most trusted brands, but we also consider novel options from lesser-known manufacturers.
Once your salad is dry, disposing of excess water should be as simple as possible. We give high marks to spinners with well-engineered pour spouts.
Precise build quality and durable construction are two important factors we consider when showing our readers the best salad spinners on the market.
We look for salad spinners made from long-lasting food-safe materials that won’t break down or introduce any off flavors.
We make it a point to check how good salad spinners are at alternate tasks, such as drying pasta and removing seeds from canned tomatoes.
Considerations for selecting a salad spinner
Before you select a salad spinner, try to obtain enough information about the product to answer the following questions.
How well does the salad spinner work?
First and foremost, you want a salad spinner that actually works. If it's not efficient enough to make your salad come out completely dry, it's not worth having.
All our top picks will get the job done, but if you ultimately opt for a different model, be sure to check customer reviews, which should give you a good idea of its drying efficiency.
Did you know?
Salad spinners use centrifugal force to dry the produce inside.
STAFF
BestReviews
How does the salad spinner spin?
Different salad spinners operate in different ways.
The majority of models have either a button you press or a hand crank you turn to set them spinning. However, you can also find salad spinners that operate via pull-string or pump handle.
Most people will find any spinning mechanism easy enough to use, but consumers with arthritis or difficulties gripping may find some types of salad spinners – such as those with pull-strings – a challenge to operate.
"If storage space is an issue, you can find collapsible salad spinners that flatten down, thus taking up less room when not in use. However, be aware that collapsible salad spinners aren't usually as durable as non-collapsible salad spinners."
STAFF
BestReviews
How much salad will the salad spinner hold?
Not all salad spinners have the same capacity. Some have larger baskets than others and can therefore dry larger quantities of salad in one go.
Basket capacity is generally measured in quarts.
Smaller salad spinners have a capacity of two to three quarts, which is enough to feed just one or two people. Larger salad spinners can hold over six quarts, drying enough salad to feed four or five.
Expert Tip
Even "dishwasher-safe" salad spinners have been known to warp in the dishwasher. Washing your salad spinner by hand is always the safer bet.
STAFF
BestReviews
What does the salad spinner look like?
While all salad spinners look fairly similar, they can vary in design somewhat.
The basket may come in a range of colors. The bowl may have an angular or rounded appearance, and it may be transparent, colored, or opaque.
While performance should be your number-one concern, if you're debating between a few models that perform equally well, you might as well consider the look of the salad spinner when shopping.
"The vast majority of salad spinners are manually operated. The market offers a small handful of electric salad spinners, but manual salad spinners are so efficient and easy to use that they render electric models all but redundant."
STAFF
BestReviews
What are the external dimensions of the salad spinner?
Internal basket capacity is one thing; the external dimensions of your chosen salad spinner are another.
If you have a small kitchen or tight storage space, consider a compact model. Granted, the capacity will be smaller, but you could always spin your salad in batches.
We advise potential buyers to check the product specifications of any salad spinner they’re considering.
EXPERT CONSULTANT
Currently Executive Chef at Bon Appétit Management Company, Steve began his tenure with Bon Apetit as Chef de Partie. He has over ten years of experience, including tenures at two- and three-Michelin star restaurants. Steve is passionate about all things cooking – products, supply chain, management, menu design, and budgeting.
Steve
Executive Chef
Salad spinner prices
Basic salad spinners
These cost between $10 and $20. These are likely to come from unknown or little-known brands and may have smaller capacities.
Mid-range salad spinners
These cost $20 to $30. You can find some excellent salad spinners in this price range, with large capacities and from trusted brands.
High-end salad spinners
These cost roughly $30 to $50. In this price range, expect a more durable spinner with a bowl made of glass or stainless steel.
Expert Tip
Think about how many people you regularly cook for, and select a salad spinner with an appropriate capacity.
STAFF
BestReviews
Salad spinner tips
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Some salad spinners can also be used as storage containers. If you’re not using your greens right away, consider using your salad spinner container as storage to keep your food fresh.
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Look for a salad spinner with a tightly fitting and locking lid. A tight lid helps prevent the salad from flying out of the bowl due to centrifugal force.
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Consider a salad spinner with a weighted bowl. The weight of the bowl can help prevent the spinner from moving around while in use.
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Don't pack your salad spinner too full. If you do, it won’t dry efficiently. If you have lots of salad to dry, you'd be better off doing a couple of separate loads rather than jamming it all in at once.
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There is such a thing as a salad spinner that's too powerful. If a salad spinner spins too quickly, it could damage herbs or delicate salad leaves.
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Salad spinners with clear bowls are perfect for proofing dough since the tight-fitting lid stops the dough from drying out – no plastic wrap necessary. Just make sure you remove the basket from inside first.
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Some salad spinners have a vented bowl. This allows you to easily drain the water without having to remove the basket.
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Fed up with gritty leeks? Salad spinners are the ideal gadget to wash them in, as the centrifugal force of the spinning helps remove all that hidden dirt.
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Look for a salad spinner bowl with a non-slip bottom. This will help prevent it from sliding around while you use it.
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If you're concerned about the potential health risks of BPA exposure, make sure your chosen salad spinner has BPA-free plastic parts.
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Some salad spinners have a braking mechanism on the lid, allowing you to quickly stop the unit mid-spin.
FAQ
Q. What material is the bowl of a salad spinner made from?
A. The bowl of a salad spinner might be made of plastic, glass, or stainless steel. Plastic is perhaps the most common and affordable choice, but glass and stainless steel are arguably more durable.
Q. Can the bowl of a salad spinner be used for serving?
A. Yes, with most salad spinner models, you can remove the lid and the basket and use the bowl to serve your salad. If this feature is important to you, you might choose to be about the appearance of the salad spinner bowl.
Q. Are salad spinners easy to clean?
A. Some salad spinners are easier to clean than others. We recommend getting a model with a basket that's easy to remove from the outer bowl. A salad spinner without any awkward-to-clean nooks and crannies is also ideal.
