We Tested the 5 Best Salad Spinners for Cleaning and Drying Your Greens

How We Tested

We tested each salad spinner using salad greens and herbs with varying water content levels, including romaine lettuce, green leaf lettuce, radicchio, and cilantro. We also used them on bulkier vegetables, strawberries, and blueberries to asses how they perform with delicate and firm produce. To test the strength of the baskets, we used each to drain freshly-cooked pasta.

For each test, we noted how operating the pump or knob felt and how much strength was required to start and continue spinning. After recording the responsiveness of each spinner and the level of stability the base provided, we saw how many pumps or spins it took to completely clean and dry the produce, noting any difficulty in stopping the spinner once it got going.

Along with overall construction, size, and quality, we tested the bowl's versatility with other tasks—such as mixing pancake batter. Since we love multi-function kitchen tools, we also noticed how the bowls worked as serving vessels (for example, if they retained food temperature).

Lastly, we rated each salad spinner on value and ease of cleaning, washing them by hand and in the dishwasher depending on the manufacturer's instructions. We then noted any issues with reassembling, water spots or remaining food particles, and storage limitations.

Other Options We Tested

• Westmark German Vegetable and Salad Spinner: This salad spinner previously appeared on our roundup as the best pick for a hand-crank style, but after testing, we found its bulky size and protruding crank difficult to store. The lack of a non-slip base made stabilizing the spinner more challenging, and the plastic wasn't as heavy-duty as she'd wished. After one cycle in the dishwasher, the bowl and colander were misshapen and had to be bent back into their nesting formation even though the manufacturer claims they are dishwasher safe. That said, this does have an ingenious pouring spout that makes getting rid of excess post-spin liquid a cinch with no mess running down the side of your bowl. (This would also be great for other liquids that need to be poured, such as pancake batter). With a 5-quart capacity, it comfortably fit a head of chopped romaine lettuce easily and took 30 spins to fully clean greens. It was much more efficient with a quart of strawberries, taking only 10 minutes to go from cold soak to finished.

What to Look for in Salad Spinners

Type of Spin Action

• Knob-style spinners: This model features a small knob poised atop a gear disc. As you spin the knob, the inner basket begins to spin. It can be bulky for storing because the knob sticks out.
• Handle-style spinners: Easier on the hand than the knob variety, a handle-style salad spinner is also difficult to store because of the awkward shape. The extended handle is attached to the gears, and as you manually spin the handle, the basket spins.
• Pull-cord spinners: Think of your lawnmower—that's how a pull-cord spinner operates. You pull the cord to set the basket in motion. Though it takes light effort to operate, it's vulnerable to cord damage and is most likely to break. 
• Pump spinners: This model can be operated one-handed and is often easy to use with just some pressure on the plunger. It's usually quite powerful but requires little hand or arm strength to operate. Many also have plungers that lock into place to make for easier storage. 

Appearance of the Bowl

Sometimes, you can find an outer bowl with a flow-through design with holes in the bottom to drain the water as you spin. The advantage is that the lettuce dries faster, but this has to be done over a sink to avoid messy spillage. Many types of salad spinners have an outer bowl that doesn't feature holes in the bottom, though. The upside is that you can do your spinning on the counter, but you must dump your bowl periodically to drain the water. There are some models, like the Westmark, that have pour spouts that allow for a more convenient draining experience.

As far as bowl material goes, for efficient spinning, you need to be able to see your product to know when it's dry. Clear bowls are best for this, but they're not as attractive if you want to also use them as a serving bowl. Stainless steel bowls tend to be more expensive but make attractive serving bowls.

Size

There are two considerations here: How much storage space you have and the needs based on your family size. The largest basket has a capacity for up to 6 quarts of greens, while the smallest can accommodate about 2.5 quarts. If you're feeding more than a couple of people regularly, the larger model is the way to go, but if it's just you and one other person, the smaller model can get the job done. 

With storage, the plunger models usually lock down and can be stacked, but they're still a little bulky and awkwardly shaped. Knob or handle models are not stackable and present even more storage challenges. If space is a consideration, the smaller models or even the collapsible types may be a better choice.

Stability

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. 

Ease of Use and Feel

While searching for the perfect salad spinner, it's important to consider the ease of use and type of spin action required. For example, someone with mobility restrictions in their hands or wrists will likely benefit from a model with a push button or pump rather than a pull cord or knob.

Care

If you're a big fan of leafy greens and eat salads regularly, it may make more sense to opt for a salad spinner that's dishwasher safe and requires less effort to clean. If you don't have a dishwasher or don't plan on using your salad spinner often, the perk of hand washing means your salad spinner will probably resist warping and last longer.

FAQs

How do you use a salad spinner? 

The answer to this will depend on the type of spinner you purchase, but as far as basics go, prepare your ingredients by chopping up vegetables, greens, fruits, or whatever you plan to wash and dry in the spinner. Place those ingredients in the basket (greens first and then other salad accouterments) and run cold water over the basket to thoroughly flush the dirt and debris. Place the basket in the work bowl and affix the lid. Start spinning via crank, plunge, pull-cord, or twist-knob, depending on your style of spinner. Stop once you see water in the bottom of the bowl with dirt or debris in it. Remove your ingredients and move to the next one.

How do you clean a salad spinner?

Many salad spinners are dishwasher safe, at least on the top rack, but you can also clean them by hand. To clean by hand, pour dish soap into the salad spinner, and then put warm water about halfway up. Replace the lid. Activate the spinner via plunger, cord, hand-crank, or knob, and make sure you get a good spin going to push all the bits of leftover food out of the holes. Stop the spinner and drain it. If your top comes apart, separate the lid pieces and place them in your drying rack. Clean the bowl and basket with a damp sponge to get any last bits of food debris, rinse the basket and bowl, and either dry by hand or place in the rack with lid pieces to dry.

If you choose to wash in the dishwasher (be sure to check the manufacturer's instructions to ensure this option is safe for your spinner), separate the lid pieces if they come apart. Place the basket, bowl, and lid pieces in the dishwasher (probably on the top rack). Run on a normal cycle. Once complete, make sure all parts are dry, or hand dry any still-wet parts. Reassemble and store.

Is a salad spinner necessary? 

A salad spinner is not a necessity, but it does make meal prep a lot easier—and not just for greens. You can wash and dry a multitude of lettuces and other greens, like kale or collards, but you can also efficiently wash and dry fresh herbs, berries, and bulky vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, potatoes. You can even wash and dry your hand-wash-only laundry. It's an efficient way to complete the task, but you may want a separate spinner.

Can you leave the rinsed lettuce in a salad spinner?

Contrary to how most of our loose greens come packaged from the grocery store, lettuce requires airflow to remain fresh and crisp. Once you've washed your lettuce, place some slightly-damp paper towels directly on top or in between layers of the leaves and put the spinner straight into the fridge. They'll store this way for about three to five days, especially if you rewet the paper towels when they dry out. You can also roll the cleaned lettuce in paper towels and place them in reusable storage bags or containers to last longer.

Do salad spinners fully dry lettuce?

Salad spinners will get lettuce almost completely dry–about 90% of the way with a good quality model. Freshly-cleaned lettuce will last longer and experience less wilting if they're rolled up in towels after spinning since the towels will absorb the remaining moisture while keeping the leaves from drying out.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Carrie Honaker is a food writer who has prepped a lot of salads over the years. As a restaurateur and avid home cook, she knows the importance of thoroughly washing and drying your vegetables. She loves her Oxo Good Grips Salad Spinner for its durability and functionality. It helps that it can be used for rinsing beans, washing and drying herbs, and lots of other tasks, as well. Carrie's work has appeared in many publications, including Bon Appetit, Allrecipes, and Wine Enthusiast. She personally tested all salad spinners on this roundup.