Keeping the spinner secure while operating is a concern. Look for a wide base to ensure stability and features like non-slip coating or feet that make them even more balanced and steady. At 6.2 quarts, the Brieftons BR-SS-02 had the most capacity for greens. This is extremely handy when entertaining for a larger dinner party. Our tester found you could fit 6-8 large servings of salad in this spinner. The braking button worked exceptionally well, despite having the largest capacity. This is where this model shined, but on other functions and features, it failed to impress our reviewer.

The OXO Steel Salad Spinner, however, underperformed in this category. Despite having a very similar design theme to the OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner, which worked fine here, the OXO Steel's brake button consistently failed to "bite." Even after pressing the button with considerable pressure, the colander would still struggle to come to a complete stop. Ease of Cleaning Oftentimes salad spinners can double as serving bowls. Much of this comes down to personal preference, but stainless steel bowls are generally considered more attractive for serving, while clear, plastic bowls are more convenient because they allow you to see the greens as they spin. Consider whether or not you want your spinner to double as a stylish serving bowl (that means less dishes!). For this metric, the first thing to note is that the mechanism to spin the colander varies across models. Five spinners use a crank arm, four use a push button, and one uses a pull handle/arm. These types of mechanisms can work effectively and ergonomically, but there were certain limitations to each type. Models with a crank arm can struggle to stay in place during the spinning action because the force is not applied in a downward fashion.During our tests, we evaluated several products that are designed to dry and clean veggies. We chose options ranging from small and compact to large and voluminous. In addition to evaluating the functionality of each, we designed objective tests to look at how well each cleans fine particulates and dries. We also look at the capacity and ease of use. After hours of spinning veggies, we gather our data for a well-rounded look at what the best salad spinners on the market have to offer. Operation is easy with the pump-action plunger and stopper. Across two tests—one featuring lettuce and the other berries—we noted the pump was easy to operate with minimal strength required. We also appreciated the non-slip base, which kept everything stable during spinning. Lettuce came out clean, just glistening with moisture, and berries were unbruised and ready to be eaten. If you host larger family meals, the Farberware Professional Pump will make salad, fruit, and vegetable prep stress-free.

We'll forever have a soft spot for how OXO designs products that are easy and comfortable to operate. The company's Good Grips salad spinner uses a similar design as its Steel spinner, but the bowl is clear plastic and can double as an attractive serving bowl. Oxo is a widely recognized and trusted brand for durable, intuitive, and efficient kitchen tools. This salad spinner is no exception. With this model you can easily prep, wash, and dry a large amount of lettuce, strawberries, bulky root vegetables, canned beans, and so much more. With a 4.95-quart capacity, the basket was able to handle enough food for a family meal when we put it through washing and spinning a large head of romaine lettuce, a pint of blueberries, a quart of strawberries, and a pound of cooked pasta. The OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner is one of the best push-button style models in our fleet. The push button fits nicely into the palm of our hand, and the downward force made the spinning operation very simple. Cleaning is quite simple, simply requiring you to pull apart the lid — unlike other units that require you to remove a screw. The included brake button worked well and did not need excessive force to stop. In our water and dirt removal tests, this unit performed above average. The colander did not have sharp edges, making it easier to clean. The 4.95-quart basket capacity was ample to clean and dry a large head of romaine lettuce in one of our tests. After a soak in cold water for five minutes, it took only 10 easy pumps to completely remove dirt and thoroughly dry chopped romaine. In another test, we cleaned and spun a pint of blueberries but found the steel bowl caused bruising on the berries. We repeated the test with a quart of strawberries and were pleased with the thorough cleaning without any bruising. With that in mind, this model may not be a wise choice for more delicate berries. Small kitchen owners, this one's for you. The Prepworks Collapsible salad spinner is designed to flatten down to half its size (only three inches) while not compromising capacity or performance. A wide band of flexible, silicone-like plastic spans the middle of the bowl as well as the colander insert, folding on itself for storage.The lever takes some force to push it down, but once the bowl gets spinning the lever is easier and easier to push, and it can be done with one hand. The brake stops the spinning immediately, which the company says will help "fluff" the greens. We did feel like the rapid momentum that the lever motion was able to achieve, coupled with the sudden braking, helped shake every bit of water off the leaves, making this a very effective salad spinner. And the flat design of the lid makes it ideal for storing the greens right in the spinner. The humble salad spinner may seem like an unnecessary kitchen tool, but we beg to differ: It's revolutionary when it comes to yielding crispy, fresh greens. The centrifugal force created by spinning pulls out dirt particles hidden in the ribs and crevices of your lettuce, spinach, arugula, and more while drawing out any excess liquid. Warding off that lingering moisture helps keep your salad from getting soggy or moldy, but also maintains the consistency and flavor of your salad dressing. Apart from helping to achieve the perfect salad, these handy gadgets are also useful in washing large batches of herbs, cleaning cruciferous vegetables like broccoli or brussel sprouts, and washing berries. Sometimes you only need a petite spinner that stores compactly but has the oomph of larger models. The Oxo Good Grips Little Salad and Herb Spinner is just right for small portions of lettuce, berries, and especially bunches of fresh herbswith its 2.5-quart basket. We found that it easily accommodated two heads of radicchio for one test, two bunches of cilantro for another, and one pint of blueberries for a third.