7 Collapsible Colanders Under $20 for Tiny Apartment Kitchens

If your cabinet drawer won't close because your colander takes up half of it, you already know the problem. Rigid colanders are the single worst-designed item in a small kitchen. They take up the space of a small crockpot, they never nest with anything, and you only use them for 90 seconds at a time.

Collapsible silicone colanders solve all of that. They fold down to the thickness of a phone, they drain just as well, and you can get a decent one for under $20. I've been testing the popular ones in a 400-square-foot studio for the last year. Here are the seven that are actually worth buying, and a few notes on the ones that fall apart after two dishwasher cycles.

1. The One With the Handle That Locks in Place

This is the one I reach for most. It holds about 4 quarts when expanded, folds down to under 2 inches tall, and the silicone handle locks open so the colander doesn't collapse on you mid-drain. That last part matters more than you'd think because the cheaper ones will literally flop shut when you pour hot pasta water through them.

The stainless steel rim is the other detail to look for. Cheaper models have an all-silicone rim that warps after a few months of hot water contact. The metal rim keeps the shape true for years. At $16 this is one of the only kitchen tools where the premium version is actually worth the extra five bucks.

2. The 3-Piece Set for People Who Cook Different Things

If you strain pasta, rinse berries, and wash rice in the same week, a set of three different sizes is better value than a single large colander. This set has a 1-quart, 2-quart, and 4-quart and they nest inside each other when collapsed. Total storage footprint: about the size of a paperback book.

The smallest one is surprisingly useful. It fits inside a measuring cup for rinsing rice or grains, and you can use it as a mini steamer insert over a pot. The largest handles a full box of spaghetti easily. The only thing I'd note is that the color dyes in the cheaper versions can leach slightly if you leave tomato sauce sitting in them, so rinse right after use.

3. The Over-Sink Expandable One

If your sink is small enough that you can't set a colander inside it without it tipping, an expandable over-sink colander is the fix. It has extendable handles that rest on the sink's edges, so you can dump a pot into it without holding anything. It's a game-changer for anyone with a shallow basin or pedestal-style sink.

The silicone-padded handles are important. The first over-sink colander I bought had bare metal edges that scratched the finish on my apartment's porcelain sink. The padded version grips the sink without leaving marks and the silicone doesn't heat up when you pour boiling water through the mesh.

4. The Mini Pair for Produce and Rice

These little 1-quart silicone strainers are the ones you didn't know you needed until you had them. They're about the size of a cereal bowl, fold down to the thickness of a coaster, and they're perfect for rinsing a serving of blueberries, draining a can of chickpeas, or rinsing a single cup of rice. They cost less than $15 for a pair.

I keep one by the coffee station to rinse espresso portafilter baskets and one near the stove for draining canned beans or rinsing grains. At this size, the storage cost is basically zero. They hang on a utility hook or slide into a drawer with utensils.

5. The Clip-On Pot Strainer

Not technically a colander, but it solves the same problem. A clip-on strainer attaches to the edge of your pot so you can drain pasta water directly over the sink without using a separate colander at all. It eliminates the transfer step and saves you from washing a second item.

Honest downside: this works best for pasta and blanched vegetables. It's not great for rinsing rice or washing berries since the clips get in the way. Think of it as a supplement, not a replacement, for a traditional colander. At $11 it's an easy add-on for a tiny kitchen.

6. The 2-Quart Silicone Cousin

If you only cook for one or two people, a full 5-quart colander is overkill. This 2-quart version is sized for single-serving pasta, draining a can of tuna, or rinsing greens for a salad. It collapses to about half an inch thick and hangs on a hook on the inside of a cabinet door.

This is the one I'd recommend for dorm rooms and studios where every inch matters. It lives on a command hook inside my cabinet door and takes up zero drawer or shelf space. The hanging loop is reinforced with a metal grommet, so it doesn't tear after a year of use like the all-silicone loops do.

7. The Pop-Up Over-Sink Strainer

A different take on the over-sink idea. This one sits flat when stored and pops up into a deep basket that spans your sink. It's the best option if you need to wash large amounts of produce at once (think a whole head of lettuce or a few pounds of potatoes) because the deep basket keeps everything contained.

The pop-up mechanism is the one thing to watch for. The cheaper imitations use a spring that wears out in six months. The better version (this one) uses reinforced silicone ribs that hold their shape indefinitely. If you see a sub-$10 version of this style, skip it. The savings aren't worth replacing it twice a year.

What to Skip

Avoid the all-plastic collapsible colanders that don't use silicone. They crack at the fold points within a few months, especially if you put them through the dishwasher. Also avoid any collapsible colander with suction-cup feet. They look useful in the photos but they never stick properly to a wet countertop and they trap water underneath.

Quick Tips

• Measure your largest pot's diameter before buying an over-sink colander so the handles actually reach
• Look for stainless steel or metal rims, not all-silicone rims, for longer life
• Dishwasher-safe matters less than you'd think because these rinse clean in ten seconds
• Food-grade silicone is rated to 450°F, so you can pour boiling water through any of these without warping
• The silicone ones can double as steamer inserts over a pot (pick ones without plastic handles)

Collapsible colanders are one of the few kitchen upgrades where you get 90 percent of the function of a traditional version for about 5 percent of the storage footprint. If you live in a tiny apartment, replacing your rigid colander with a silicone one is probably the single highest-impact swap you can make today.

Found something you love? Pin this for later so you don't lose it!