Normally, I’m not a huge fan of single-use kitchen gadgets. They take up space, and while claiming to make your life and cooking endeavors easier, are often overhyped and unnecessary. (Case in point: that viral banana slicer from a few years back.)
But there’s one single-use kitchen tool (actually, make that two) that I find myself reaching for time and again: my Prepworks Can Colander. And if you’re a consumer of canned foods, you need one too.
The Prepworks Can Colander fits over most standard can openings and allows you to easily drain unwanted liquids from canned goods. It's dishwasher-safe and small enough for easy storage.
How I found the Prepworks Can Colander
I love a canned good. Chickpeas, black beans, hearts of palms, those baby corns and, of course, tuna are all staples in my kitchen, and I often find myself tossing them into a salad or stew for an extra boost of protein. The only downside when it comes to a can? Straining.
So many recipes call for a can of something, strained and rinsed, and pre-Prepworks Can Colander, I accomplished this task by opening the can, pushing down on the detached lid and flipping the can upside down over the sink, letting whatever juices inside escape through the space between the lid and the can. I’d then hold the can under the faucet for a few seconds and repeat the process with the water.
There are a couple problems with this approach. First, I’m not perfect, and sometimes my lid-holding-in abilities aren’t either. I’d often go to strain out can liquid, only to spill a bunch of kidney beans in my kitchen sink, which is just a waste.
Second, and more importantly, can lids are sharp. It’s not a great idea to be sticking your fingers all over something that can slice you so easily, as I learned the hard way. After one too many cans drew blood, I turned to Amazon in hopes of finding a solution, and as always, it delivered.
Why the Prepworks Can Colander is a score
Thanks to the Prepworks Can Colander, that sharp can lid can be (carefully) tossed in the trash. The colander fits perfectly over a standard can opening — it looks almost like a little can hat! — and inverting the can to pour out the liquid is a cinch when you hold on to the two edges.
Now you might be thinking, don’t you own a full-size colander? Why not just use that to drain and rinse canned foods? It’s a valid point, and here’s my answer: A colander is probably my least favorite cookware item. Colanders are bulky; mine is usually stacked with a few bowls, so it’s not easy to get out. It’s also annoying to clean (all those holes!) and takes up way too much space in the dishwasher. If I never used a colander again in my life, it would still be too soon.
The Prepworks Can Colander, meanwhile, is small enough that it’s not a pain to store, and it’s dishwasher-safe for convenient cleanup that doesn’t warrant a whole rack to itself. For me, $7 is a small price to pay for a lifetime free from can-lid cuts and full-size colander woes.