Collapsible Colanders

Does anyone else hate these!

A few weeks ago my little, one-quart, yellow, plastic tupperware hand strainer (about 15 yrs old) finally gave up the ghost. The center cracked and fell out. I figured it was time to get a new one, but I couldn't find it at any store. So I ended purchasing one of these collapsible strainers. They are made of silcone and boast "easy storage" and more room in the dishwasher. The only problem is they have no base so you have to let them strain over the pot. This is a problem for me because most of the time I use the same pot to build a quick sauce while my pasta strains over the sink. If you put the strainer down on the counter, it collapses and all the pasta comes rolling out. What a nightmare.

I ended up finding some tupperware strainers on E-bay. I hate when they stop making useful items! Anyone else have any experiences with these new colanders? What do you think?

[Robin Garr]

Maria, I haven't seen or tried such a thing, but thanks for the warning. I won't be trying one now!

This is the one I have Robin:

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=13912319

It looks like only the hand strainers are an issue...I see the bigger ones come with bases or side stands (not sure that they would save on space with side stands though).

We've been using a stacking set of three free standing stainless steel strainers as colinders for decades. Can't be be beat. They are widely available.

Find a Tupperware Lady and turn it in! They have a lifetime warranty.

we replaced an old colander with two of the collapsible ones. One is a handheld, the big one has arms that extend to over sink, like this one:
http://www.chefcentral.com/product1.asp ... ct_ID=4283

I've generally found them useful, and the storage helps in our small kitchen (and since they fold up so all surfaces are exposed, you can also put them in dishwasher without crowding). My one complaint would be that the ones we have seem to have a little less hole to solid ratio than our old plastic ones (we stll have one), so maybe drains a touch slower.

Find a Tupperware Lady and turn it in! They have a lifetime warranty.

Howie, I am not sure that if it were me that I would even want to deal with the Tupperware lady. Aren't they the ones that are always wanting you to throw a Tupperware party and invite all your soon to be former friends?

This is the one I have Robin:

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=13912319

It looks like only the hand strainers are an issue...I see the bigger ones come with bases or side stands (not sure that they would save on space with side stands though).

Maria, is the one in the link the kind you would like to have?

http://order.tupperware.com/pls/htprod_ ... 0055961000

No Bob...the one in the link above is the one I bought as the replacement. Tupperware no longer makes their plastic yellow hand strainers...only these collapsible thing-a-mijighies.

Here a pic of my old beloved...which I have replaced with the same one I bought on E-bay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Tupperware-Small-Yellow-Strainer-Colander_W0QQitemZ350075765610QQihZ022QQcategoryZ13935QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I've got one of those. I also have one of these: http://raleigh.craigslist.org/hsh/746705185.html. Alton Brown recommends it.