There are certain kitchen tools that I find myself constantly reaching for, including my citrus press, a handy and sharp grater, a 15-year-old vegetable peeler, my vegetable brush, a well-worn garlic press, and a few good silicone spatulas. They are the items that are top priority in my drawer and that I would miss the most if they disappeared.
Right next to it is an inexpensive little colander that I grab at least three times a week. It cost me $1.25 at Dollar Tree years ago, and it has earned an equally prestigious spot in my tool kit. The small, fine-mesh sieve from Cooking Concepts is the definition of cost effective and high quality; it’s really worth it Away more than the five quarters I paid for it.
Dollar Tree Cooking Concepts Mesh Strainer
• Price: $1.25
• Why I love it: I reach for it several times a week because it’s multifunctional—perfect for straining sauces, catching lemon seeds, and steeping tea.
Why I love the Dollar Tree Mesh Strainer
This strainer ends up in my dish basket several times a week. I use it to strain my homemade flavored simple syrup for iced coffee, catch seeds when I squeeze lemons over fresh vegetables, rinse the brine from capers before adding them to pasta, and dust weekend waffles with powdered sugar.
One of my favorite (and probably surprising) uses is to make my tea. Occasionally I drink loose tea, and instead of investing in a proper teapot or one of those tea beads, I steep my tea in a Pyrex measuring cup and then pour it through this strainer into my cup. It’s become my unofficial tea ritual – easier than messing with specialized equipment, and it works perfectly every time.
Easy Recipes / Dollar Tree
A large part of what makes this strainer so perfect is its size. At 3 1/2 inches in diameter, it’s compact and the ideal size for routine tasks – making individual portions, doing quick jobs, and adding little touches to make my family’s meal special. In addition, the handle is elongated, light and easy to hold, and the fine mesh filters exceptionally well without any lumps or small pieces slipping through.
To clean it, I either give it a quick rinse or throw it in the dishwasher. Honestly, I mostly prefer to hand wash it because I know it will be ready to use when I need it. Like my other top tools, it’s one of the things I would replace immediately if it broke. In fact, I thought I had lost it at some point (it had just fallen behind my drawer), and I did buy another one. So now I own two (and I’m not complaining).
At the risk of stating the obvious, the best kitchen equipment isn’t always the result of weeks of research. Sometimes it’s a lucky find in a discount store that never lets you down.
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