Kitchen tools
Colander
A bowl- or basket-shaped vessel with drainage holes for washing and draining food.
- 繁體中文
- 筲箕
- English
- Colander
- Bahasa Indonesia
- Saringan / Colander (筲箕)
- Tagalog
- Salaan / Colander (筲箕)
What is it?
A colander has many holes in its base or sides. It drains water while holding food, but small ingredients may pass through the holes.
How to identify it
Look for a vessel that can hold food and for openings clearly larger than the mesh of a fine strainer.
- Bowl or basket shape
- Many visible drainage holes
- Holds food while water drains
Common confusion
A colander is a holding vessel with larger drainage holes; a fine-mesh strainer catches much smaller particles.
Common Hong Kong household uses
Washing vegetables and draining noodles or other food larger than the holes.
Preparation or handling
Check that the hole size suits the food and place the colander securely.
Storage
Wash and dry upside down so food does not remain in holes or seams.
Helper tip
Use a fine-mesh strainer for small ingredients. When unsure, compare the openings: a colander usually has larger holes.
What Ma’am or Sir may say
洗完菜放落筲箕瀝水。The employer wants the washed vegetables placed in the colander to drain.
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Last reviewed
Sources
- Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department — Public Market Items - Daily Necessities
- OXO — 5 Qt Stainless Steel Colander
- OXO — Good Grips 3 Piece Strainer Set
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong Humanum Research Centre — Cantonese Pronunciation Dictionary
- The Linguistic Society of Hong Kong — Jyutping Romanization Scheme
- Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department — Daily necessities Cantonese pinyin