Colanders might seem like simple kitchen tools, but they're far from indispensable. Used for much more than simple draining pasta noodles, plastic and stainless steel colanders are ideal for washing vegetables, rinsing grains, and even used with cheesecloths to strain stock. Consider if you'll use your colander separately or in conjunction with your existing cookware—you'll want to make sure it's the appropriate size.
Types of Commercial Colanders
When shopping for the perfect colander for your commercial kitchen, first consider your needs. Plastic colanders are lightweight and very inexpensive, but you get what you pay for. If your plastic colander comes into contact with something hot (which is quite likely in a restaurant kitchen) then it could melt. You should also think twice about steaming vegetables in plastic colanders.
A stainless steel colander on the other hand gives chefs the long lasting durability they want. Stainless steel is a favorite in commercial kitchens, used in everything from work tables to refrigerators. That's because stainless steel performs well in hot and humid environments—you won't find any rust on a stainless steel colander. And since stainless steel colanders are easy to clean you'll also score some points with your health inspector. Still, these added perks do come at a higher cost.
For those who want more durability than a plastic colander but don't like the price point of a stainless steel colander, we present
aluminum colanders. More lightweight and cheaper than its stainless steel counterpart, aluminum colanders are also rust resistant. As a material, aluminum can become soft above 400 degrees Fahrenheit, so keep that in mind when working at high temperatures.
