A colander (or cullender) is a kitchen utensil perforated with holes used to strain foods such as pasta or to rinse vegetables.[1] The perforations of the colander allow liquid to drain through while retaining the solids inside. It is sometimes called a pasta strainer. A sieve, with much finer mesh, is also used for straining.
Description and history
editTraditionally, colanders are made of a light metal, such as aluminium or thinly rolled stainless steel. Colanders are also made of plastic, silicone, ceramic, and enamelware.[2]
The word colander comes from the Latin colum, meaning sieve.[1]
Types
edit
- Bowl- or cone-shaped – the usual colander
- Mated colander pot – a colander inside a cooking pot, allowing the food to drain as it is lifted out[3]
Other uses
edit
The colander in the form of a pasta strainer was adopted as the religious headgear of the satirical religion Pastafarianism, which worships the Flying Spaghetti Monster.[4]
Colanders may be used during solar eclipses to project multiple small low-resolution images of a partial eclipse onto a flat surface for safe viewing.[5][6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "colander". merriam-webster.com. Merriam-Webster. 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
- ^ "Colander". CooksInfo.com. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
- ^ "Mated Colander Pot". justcooking.in. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
- ^ "Pastafarian protester carries an icon of the Flying Spaghetti Monster at Piazza XXIV Maggio square in Milan, Italy, on June 2, 2012". Wikimedia Commons.
- ^ "Annular Solar Eclipse Safety". NASA. 2023.
- ^ Pearson, Ezzy (7 April 2024). "The best, safest ways to view a solar eclipse, from low-cost, simple options to expert astronomer techniques". BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
External links
edit
Media related to Colanders at Wikimedia Commons
The dictionary definition of colander at Wiktionary- Colander vs Strainer
 | This article about kitchenware or a tool used in preparation or serving of food is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |