The $9.99 Aldi Find I Wish I Had Bought Sooner

I’m nothing if not loyal—even to my kitchen tools. For years, I relied on the same old handheld colander, even though draining pasta often felt like an act of bravery. (Usually, my husband had to help.) So, when I upgraded to a stainless steel version that rested in the sink, I felt like I’d won the lottery—that was until one of the handles gave out.

I thought I’d figured it all out when I picked up last year’s Aldi Find. The plastic, extendable colander was compact, handy, and a definite improvement. However, this past week, the store released a $9.99 stainless steel version, and I knew it was time for an upgrade.

I still love my plastic colander, especially for rinsing berries or draining canned beans, but I’d rather use stainless steel when working with anything involving heat, like pasta or blanched veggies. That way, I don’t have to worry about it melting or leaching chemicals. Seeing that an almost identical version sells for nearly $20 on Amazon only made this find sweeter.

Why I Love Aldi’s Stainless Steel Extendable Colander

The hands-free setup is a game-changer. The extendable handles slide out to perfectly fit my sink—going from 14 to 21 inches—and create a stable platform that won’t budge or tip. This helps prevent splashing, losing food down the drain, and even minor burns from steam.

I no longer have to call my husband for an extra hand to drain pasta. Now (laughably), I just set it over the sink and pour. I also love that the mesh is fine enough to catch tiny grains, like millet and quinoa.

A final but equally important feature is how it’s designed to keep everything elevated and sanitary. I’d always felt grossed out by my old colander, which sat directly in the sink basin. Even worse was the scramble when I’d forgotten to clear dishes from the sink before needing to urgently drain something. (No one wants mushy noodles.) This colander keeps the food safely above any sink mess, preventing cross-contamination.

I don’t know why it took me so long to buy a proper over-the-sink colander, but now that I have it, I’m never going back. For less than 10 bucks, it’s fixed every frustration I had with pasta night—and then some.

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