I have the same OXO spinner as you, and like it. Have had others and gone through the soaking in a strainer/bowl method and towel drying. I still do that for large romaine leaves. It's a little big for me to use as storage in the frig., but have done that in a pinch. To use the OXO, I just have to remember to leave a little space in the center when I fill it up so it can spin. I tend to over-fill it. But who doesn't???
Jun 28, 2023·edited Jun 29, 2023Liked by Alexandra Stafford
Got married almost 40 years ago. Received an ugly brown and tan plastic salad spinner, definitely not on the registry (the affront!) as a wedding present. Said spinner is still in almost daily use! I soak the greens in the bowl, then lift them out and drop them in the sieve part, replace that in the bowl and spin it. Keep thinking I should replace it -- at this point only one of the two clamps remain -- but with what? Right, don't like the idea of how heavy the OXO one is, and wouldn't use the bowl to serve the salad as it seems too large for my dishwasher, which I don't run daily anyway.
-- edit-- Just checked; it's HOAN -- and you can buy "Vintage" ones on eBay! --
I use a reusable mesh produce bag as a salad spinner. Wash greens, load produce bag, and go outside and spin a few times in each direction. The bag dries quickly, is machine washable, and fits nicely in the dish towel drawer. A pillow case also works. Only down side is you need to do it outdoors so not to soak your kitchen.
I hate salad spinners for all the stated reasons and because it has to be rinsed and dried well to prevent any mold developing in the interior... and yet I have almost always owned one because they work (ownership gaps for similar reasons.) The most tragic thing about owning one is when I decide against eating a fresh leafy salad because I don't want to use it.
we are the same person - hahah! i had an old one years ago, with the string pulley - i never used it & found it to be a hassle. fast forward to last year, we spent a month at a friends house in mexico with s & i was shocked to see she had a small oxxo one in her very small, but well appointed kitchen. well - i used it EVERYday!! we love greens + eggs for breakfast and the chard bundles are about 30cents at the main grocer, so i was able to buy to my hearts content and spun them clean! when we returned I bought one at target, its much bigger than the one i used in mexico - its the same one you have! i also never use it to serve a salad - but i use it much more than i thought, even though greens cost a bit more here!
I use a plastic oxo spinner. Works well but sometimes I also just rinse hardier greens like romaine, roll them in a kitchen towel and spread them out on a rack to dry. Also the big drawback of the spinner is the size and storage. I’ve never checked but I wonder if anyone’s made a useful collapsible one. I do use the bowl for serving sometimes (summer salads etc).
such a good topic! I really do wish someone could solve the salad spinner issue. Most my greens come from my garden and when clean, a rinse does it. But after a heavy rain or when bugs take over, the deep wash and spin is essential. Yet, salad spinners break easily, and as you said--take up way too much room. In France, they taught us how to spin our lettuce in thin dish towels, which worked fairly well; sometimes when I'm making salad for a crowd, I wash and air-dry on a rack set over a baking tray while I prep everything else. Still, no system seems streamlined enough...
I was visiting a friend in the late 1990s, she made a gorgeous green salad with a spinner from France. It had a ribbon cord, a hole in the top, and small openings all along the bottom. The spinner goes in the sink with the top hole under the running water. As the water runs in you gently spin it, the dirt and bugs get sent out the bottom. I got one and am still using it. It spins my garden produce so clean and dry. I put the basket through the dishwasher every so often, it has not ever gotten moldy. It has the word EMSA on the bowl.
Until a few months ago, I had had my salad spinner since 1977 — the year I got married! I recently moved to a much smaller home though, and alas, my salad spinner did not make the down-sizing cut. Do I miss it? Nope. But those mesh bags sound like a good substitute!
I have a 15 year old Zyliss spinner that works great for me. The greens do crisp up when stored in the spinner in the fridge. I prefer not to waste paper towels but find they sometimes work better with delicate herbs.
We have an old plastic OXO spinner that we use regularly and works great, but definitely takes up more than its fair share of cabinet space. I also agree that it is a bit of a pain to clean. :/ We've found that turning the colander upside down and banging it (not too hard) against the side of the sink works pretty well to shake loose the tiny bits of greens that invariably get stuck.
I usually clean my greens right in the spinner. I put the colander in the spinner bowl, add my greens, then fill part way with water. I give the greens a good swish and then let them sit for a minute for dirt to settle out. I lift the colander out to remove the greens, dump the water in the garden, then put the colander back in the bowl to spin the greens.
We are careful to let all the pieces fully dry before putting it away, but reading all the comments here, I'm now worried that the top could be harboring mold! Yikes. I see the new ones allow you to take the top apart for cleaning, but mine does not. For the people who experienced mold...how did you know? Were you able to take the top apart? Was it visible without taking the top apart? Odor? One more thing to worry about!
I have a large capacity Zyliss spinner that I’ve used for over 20 years. It’s fitted with an interior basket, flexible but not flimsy as it still is in great shape, that sits on a peak in the center of the main storage basket and comes with a manual rip cord that when pulled creates enough centrifugal force to fling off most water with three pulls of the cord (when you reach the end of the cord the spinner manually bounces back and reverses to pull in the cord). The main storage basket also comes with a separate storage lid which can be used to cover and seal the main bowl. It was an essential tool in my smaller apartment in Hoboken and remains one today. The rip cord surprisingly is still in great shape and the spinner effective. I use it for all big leafy greens including collards when I blanch them. The main bowl is made solid (bounced off the floor a few times) but thin plastic not fancy enough for the dinner table but plenty big to prep the salad with all the ingredients after the spinning is done. Recently I looked online and Zyliss no longer makes this model. My vote is Yay!
I miss my zyliss. I accidentally put the colander on a hot burner. I bought an oxo to replace it, but find it a pain to wash, and agree it is too huge to store greens in the fridge.
Yes I am a salad spinner user. I have always disliked drying greens, I only have so many tea towels hence the spinner. Cheap ones cause more aggro than they are worth so shell out for better quality. I see using the spinner as upper body work - good for “bye bye arms”! 🤣. As for taking up too much space - have a look in your kitchen cupboards and possibly there are a lot of unitaskers you use less than a salad spinner! To prevent mould if not fully dry when you put the spinner away - put the top askew so air circulates.
I dislike washing salad greens, always have probably always will. It’s not the washing the greens but the drying. I only have so many tea towels hence I have used a salad spinner for years. Cheap ones are a horror and cause more aggro than it’s worth so invest in a better one. I have spun dry vermicelli noodles and it worked fine. Yes they take up space but I bet there’s a bunch of stuff in your kitchen cupboards you use less than a salad spinner especially in the summer with the abundance of fresh greens. When I put it away after using I always make sure the top is askew so air circulates through to prevent mould should it not be fully dry.
I have the same OXO spinner as you, and like it. Have had others and gone through the soaking in a strainer/bowl method and towel drying. I still do that for large romaine leaves. It's a little big for me to use as storage in the frig., but have done that in a pinch. To use the OXO, I just have to remember to leave a little space in the center when I fill it up so it can spin. I tend to over-fill it. But who doesn't???
Right?! I always over-fill. For as large as the bowl appears, it doesn't fit that many greens.
Got married almost 40 years ago. Received an ugly brown and tan plastic salad spinner, definitely not on the registry (the affront!) as a wedding present. Said spinner is still in almost daily use! I soak the greens in the bowl, then lift them out and drop them in the sieve part, replace that in the bowl and spin it. Keep thinking I should replace it -- at this point only one of the two clamps remain -- but with what? Right, don't like the idea of how heavy the OXO one is, and wouldn't use the bowl to serve the salad as it seems too large for my dishwasher, which I don't run daily anyway.
-- edit-- Just checked; it's HOAN -- and you can buy "Vintage" ones on eBay! --
They don't make them how they used to! My mother has been saying this for as long as I can remember, and I'm finally understanding :)
Just checked -- it's HOAN -- and you can buy "Vintage" ones on eBay!
Just checked -- it's HOAN -- and you can buy "Vintage" ones on eBay!
I use a reusable mesh produce bag as a salad spinner. Wash greens, load produce bag, and go outside and spin a few times in each direction. The bag dries quickly, is machine washable, and fits nicely in the dish towel drawer. A pillow case also works. Only down side is you need to do it outdoors so not to soak your kitchen.
Smart! I have a few of those bags. Will try!
I hate salad spinners for all the stated reasons and because it has to be rinsed and dried well to prevent any mold developing in the interior... and yet I have almost always owned one because they work (ownership gaps for similar reasons.) The most tragic thing about owning one is when I decide against eating a fresh leafy salad because I don't want to use it.
🤣 I hear you!
we are the same person - hahah! i had an old one years ago, with the string pulley - i never used it & found it to be a hassle. fast forward to last year, we spent a month at a friends house in mexico with s & i was shocked to see she had a small oxxo one in her very small, but well appointed kitchen. well - i used it EVERYday!! we love greens + eggs for breakfast and the chard bundles are about 30cents at the main grocer, so i was able to buy to my hearts content and spun them clean! when we returned I bought one at target, its much bigger than the one i used in mexico - its the same one you have! i also never use it to serve a salad - but i use it much more than i thought, even though greens cost a bit more here!
Gotta love a small but thoughtfully curated kitchen collection! Great to read all of this :)
I use a plastic oxo spinner. Works well but sometimes I also just rinse hardier greens like romaine, roll them in a kitchen towel and spread them out on a rack to dry. Also the big drawback of the spinner is the size and storage. I’ve never checked but I wonder if anyone’s made a useful collapsible one. I do use the bowl for serving sometimes (summer salads etc).
Apparently they exist! Someone above mentioned the brand Starfrit, and while searching for it, I came across this one: https://shop.progressiveintl.com/4-quart-collapsible-salad-spinner/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwtO-kBhDIARIsAL6LorfnwQZ_s_pIMlsohVvAj1DiOm-TF7j1qqeyx_G5X9-Ix-NwKLuwrDMaAqEOEALw_wcB
I had a collapsible one and it broke quite easily. The silicone wouldn’t stay on the hard plastic part.
such a good topic! I really do wish someone could solve the salad spinner issue. Most my greens come from my garden and when clean, a rinse does it. But after a heavy rain or when bugs take over, the deep wash and spin is essential. Yet, salad spinners break easily, and as you said--take up way too much room. In France, they taught us how to spin our lettuce in thin dish towels, which worked fairly well; sometimes when I'm making salad for a crowd, I wash and air-dry on a rack set over a baking tray while I prep everything else. Still, no system seems streamlined enough...
I was visiting a friend in the late 1990s, she made a gorgeous green salad with a spinner from France. It had a ribbon cord, a hole in the top, and small openings all along the bottom. The spinner goes in the sink with the top hole under the running water. As the water runs in you gently spin it, the dirt and bugs get sent out the bottom. I got one and am still using it. It spins my garden produce so clean and dry. I put the basket through the dishwasher every so often, it has not ever gotten moldy. It has the word EMSA on the bowl.
That sounds brilliant! I've never seen anything like it — with the openings on the bottom... so cool!
Until a few months ago, I had had my salad spinner since 1977 — the year I got married! I recently moved to a much smaller home though, and alas, my salad spinner did not make the down-sizing cut. Do I miss it? Nope. But those mesh bags sound like a good substitute!
I have a 15 year old Zyliss spinner that works great for me. The greens do crisp up when stored in the spinner in the fridge. I prefer not to waste paper towels but find they sometimes work better with delicate herbs.
I use an old pillowcase with a couple paper towels (I air dry them to reuse) veggies dry without any incident!
Love this :)
We have an old plastic OXO spinner that we use regularly and works great, but definitely takes up more than its fair share of cabinet space. I also agree that it is a bit of a pain to clean. :/ We've found that turning the colander upside down and banging it (not too hard) against the side of the sink works pretty well to shake loose the tiny bits of greens that invariably get stuck.
I usually clean my greens right in the spinner. I put the colander in the spinner bowl, add my greens, then fill part way with water. I give the greens a good swish and then let them sit for a minute for dirt to settle out. I lift the colander out to remove the greens, dump the water in the garden, then put the colander back in the bowl to spin the greens.
We are careful to let all the pieces fully dry before putting it away, but reading all the comments here, I'm now worried that the top could be harboring mold! Yikes. I see the new ones allow you to take the top apart for cleaning, but mine does not. For the people who experienced mold...how did you know? Were you able to take the top apart? Was it visible without taking the top apart? Odor? One more thing to worry about!
I have a large capacity Zyliss spinner that I’ve used for over 20 years. It’s fitted with an interior basket, flexible but not flimsy as it still is in great shape, that sits on a peak in the center of the main storage basket and comes with a manual rip cord that when pulled creates enough centrifugal force to fling off most water with three pulls of the cord (when you reach the end of the cord the spinner manually bounces back and reverses to pull in the cord). The main storage basket also comes with a separate storage lid which can be used to cover and seal the main bowl. It was an essential tool in my smaller apartment in Hoboken and remains one today. The rip cord surprisingly is still in great shape and the spinner effective. I use it for all big leafy greens including collards when I blanch them. The main bowl is made solid (bounced off the floor a few times) but thin plastic not fancy enough for the dinner table but plenty big to prep the salad with all the ingredients after the spinning is done. Recently I looked online and Zyliss no longer makes this model. My vote is Yay!
Yay! Great to read all of this, Frank. Yours sounds fantastic. I would honestly prefer if mine were made of strong plastic. Thanks for sharing!
I miss my zyliss. I accidentally put the colander on a hot burner. I bought an oxo to replace it, but find it a pain to wash, and agree it is too huge to store greens in the fridge.
Maybe a bucket spinner is in your future 😊
🤣 I think it is!
Yes I am a salad spinner user. I have always disliked drying greens, I only have so many tea towels hence the spinner. Cheap ones cause more aggro than they are worth so shell out for better quality. I see using the spinner as upper body work - good for “bye bye arms”! 🤣. As for taking up too much space - have a look in your kitchen cupboards and possibly there are a lot of unitaskers you use less than a salad spinner! To prevent mould if not fully dry when you put the spinner away - put the top askew so air circulates.
I dislike washing salad greens, always have probably always will. It’s not the washing the greens but the drying. I only have so many tea towels hence I have used a salad spinner for years. Cheap ones are a horror and cause more aggro than it’s worth so invest in a better one. I have spun dry vermicelli noodles and it worked fine. Yes they take up space but I bet there’s a bunch of stuff in your kitchen cupboards you use less than a salad spinner especially in the summer with the abundance of fresh greens. When I put it away after using I always make sure the top is askew so air circulates through to prevent mould should it not be fully dry.
I leave my lid askew as well to prevent mold growth... so far so good!