11 handy colander uses you’ve never thought of before
<p><strong>Use colanders to prevent grease splatters</strong></p>
<p>Sick of cleaning grease splatters off the stovetop after cooking? Prevent them by inverting a large metal colander over the frying pan. The holes will let heat escape but the colander will trap the splatters. Exercise caution, as the metal colander will be hot – use an oven mitt or tea towel to remove it.</p>
<p><strong>Use colanders to heat pasta</strong></p>
<p>Does your pasta get cold too fast after it’s been served up? To keep it warmer longer, heat the serving bowl first. Place a colander in the bowl, pour the pasta and water into the colander and let the hot water stand in the bowl for a few seconds to heat it. Pour out the water, add the pasta and sauce, and you’re ready to serve.</p>
<p><strong>Organise bathtub toys with colanders</strong></p>
<p>Don’t let the bathtub look like another messy toy box. After each bath, collect your child’s small bath toys in a large colander and store it on the edge of the tub. The water will drain from the toys, and they’ll be neatly stowed away for next time.</p>
<p><strong>Use colanders as sand toys</strong></p>
<p>Forget spending money on expensive sand toys for your budding archaeologist. A simple, inexpensive plastic colander is perfect for digging at the beach or in the sandpit.</p>
<p><strong>Use colanders to keep berries and grapes fresh</strong></p>
<p>Do your berries and grapes get mouldy before you’ve had the chance to enjoy them? To keep them fresh for longer, store them in a colander – not a closed plastic container – in the refrigerator. The cold air will circulate through the holes in the colander, keeping them fresh for days.</p>
<p><strong>Steam rice with a colander</strong></p>
<p>For perfect fluffy rice every time, use a colander. Rinse the rice in a metal colander until the water runs clear, then boil the rice in a pot of salted water for five minutes. Next, put the rice back in the colander to drain. Refill the pot with an inch of water and bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and then place the colander full of rice on top of the simmering pot. Cover the colander with foil and let steam for 10 minutes.</p>
<p><strong>Sift flour with a colander</strong></p>
<p>Sifting helps break up clumps and aerate the flour, resulting in a smoother dough. A flour sifter or a fine mesh strainer work best, but if you’re in a pinch, you can use a colander. Hold the handle with one hand, then gently tap the colander full of flour with the other.</p>
<p><strong>Use a colander to rice potatoes</strong></p>
<p>A potato ricer makes the creamiest mashed potatoes; but if you don’t have a ricer, use a colander. It’s a little more labour-intensive, but will get the job done. Press cooked potatoes through the holes of the colander using a spatula.</p>
<p><strong>Wash produce in a colander</strong></p>
<p>This one is a no-brainer, but in case you haven’t tried it – our favourite way to wash produce is in a colander. Place your fruits or vegetables in the colander and hold it under running water; gently shake the colander so each piece gets fully rinsed.</p>
<p><strong>Strip herbs with a colander</strong></p>
<p>Removing the leaves of fresh parsley, thyme or coriander can be a tedious task. To make the job easier, thread the stems of the herbs through the colander’s holes and pull. Done! The leaves will stay inside the colander, and the stem will neatly tear away.</p>
<p><strong>Keep flies away</strong></p>
<p>Going on a picnic or eating on the patio? Bring a colander or two. Invert a colander and place it over each dish to keep flies and other bugs away.</p>
<p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>
<p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/11-handy-colander-uses-youve-never-thought-of-before?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p>
