Holesome

Ever tried washing daal or rice in a bowl? While seasoned hands may be able to do this with minimum wastage, most first-timers land up spilling half the daal into the kitchen sink.

Ever tried washing daal or rice in a bowl? While seasoned hands may be able to do this with minimum wastage, most first-timers land up spilling half the daal into the kitchen sink. A sure-fire way to save your pulses from being washed into the drain is to get yourself a colander.

A deep-based dish with sieve-like perforations on the sides and bottom, the colander is usually made of stainless steel or aluminum, even plastic. This ensures that it won't rust from the constant contact with water. A multi-utility tool, it can also be used to sift rice. The holes allow small bits of sand and broken rice particles to pass through, keeping the rice intact.

Sieve time
Placing your pulses in the colander and dunking them under a running tap allows you the freedom of using your hands to wash the grains without having to perform a difficult balancing act.

Most people also use the colander to collect stock which they can use in soups or stews. Boiled mushrooms, vegetables or chicken when placed in the colander releases the excess liquid which can be collected in a pot. This is done without damaging the vegetables.. especially in the case of mushrooms.

For washing leafy vegetables without bruising them, set them into a colander and douse them with water. You save on nutrients and freshness which would be lost in soaking the leaves.

Just leaf it
Colanders can even be used to steam idlis and dosas that need to be reheated. It helps retain the moisture content. Colanders don't require any special treatment as far as maintenance is concerned. But if you are using them to clean dry rice or sieve out dirt from vegetables, make sure the unwanted particles are dislodged from the holes. It even functions as a kitchen fruit bowl for the practical-minded.

Available at: all kitchen stores.