Cookware 6 Slotted Spoons for Draining While You Serve
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By the Pickpedia Team
·6 picks compared
·Last verified September 2026
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Quick answer
For most kitchens a sturdy stainless steel slotted spoon with a comfortable grip drains vegetables and pasta while you serve. Owners who fry, blanch, or lift dumplings prefer a long-handled spider strainer for reach, while silicone-tipped heads suit nonstick cookware that scratches easily.
6 Slotted Spoons for Draining While You Serve at a glance
Why you can trust this guide
We compared these picks using verified manufacturer specifications, available manuals and documentation, current retailer listings, and patterns in owner feedback, alongside editorial research. We focus on measurable differences such as performance, capacity, usability, and build quality. Pickpedia does not present editorial research as laboratory testing, and we do not claim hands-on testing unless it was actually performed.
How we chose: Across six slotted spoons we weighed drainage, handle reach, grip comfort, and cookware safety based on specifications and owner reports.
A slotted spoon earns its spot by letting liquid fall away while food stays put on the head. Choosing one means matching slot size, handle length, and head material to how you actually cook. Reviewers note that pasta, blanched vegetables, and fried snacks each ask slightly different things of a draining spoon.
This roundup lines up single spoons and two-piece sets, plus a wide spider strainer built for boiling water and hot oil. Some heads are polished steel for kitchen-to-table serving, while others use silicone tips to guard nonstick surfaces. Each pick below is grounded in its listed features, with one honest limitation called out.
Our top picks
OXO keeps things simple with a single stainless steel spoon that stirs, strains, and serves. Its head is sized for straining vegetables and pasta, and the sturdy build is meant to last through daily use. What reviewers tend to praise most is the soft, non-slip grip that stays secure even when hands and handle get wet. A polished finish gives it kitchen-to-table appeal, and it drops straight into the dishwasher. One tradeoff worth noting: this is a single spoon rather than a set, so anyone wanting a matching solid spoon will need to buy separately.
MaterialStainless steel head
GripSoft non-slip, wet-safe
CleaningDishwasher safe
SetSingle spoon
Pros
- Comfortable grip holds firm even when wet
- Polished look suits serving at the table
- Sturdy steel head built for daily use
Cons
- Sold as one spoon, not a matched set
- Slot width is fixed and may pass very small foods
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Berglander pairs a slotted spoon with a wide spider strainer skimmer, covering pasta, veggies, dumplings, fries, and tempura from one set. Both pieces use mirror-polished, one-piece stainless steel with no rivets or joints, which owners report keeps them hygienic and simple to rinse clean. Long 13 inch handles add reach so hands sit farther from steam and splatter over deep pots or fryers. Precision slots and a broad basket cut carry-over water and oil, and a hanging loop tucks them onto a rack. One caveat: those long handles need more drawer or wall space than a compact spoon.
PiecesSlotted spoon plus spider strainer
Handle length13 inches
ConstructionOne-piece, no rivets
StorageHanging loop
Pros
- Long reach keeps hands clear of steam and oil
- Seamless build rinses clean with no joints to trap food
- Wide basket drains large batches quickly
Cons
- Long handles take up more storage room
- Larger than needed for small stovetop jobs
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HOTEC bundles a solid spoon and a slotted spoon, so one stirs thick sauces and batters while the other drains liquid and lifts delicate items. Heads are food-grade, BPA-free silicone paired with stainless steel handles, a combination reviewers like for guarding pans while staying easy to grip. Silicone resists heat up to 446F and the 13.3 inch handles add distance from hot surfaces. Non-stick, stain-resistant heads rinse quickly or go in the dishwasher. The slotted head drains vegetables, pasta, and fried items well. Keep in mind silicone heads can hold onto strong food colors and odors more than bare steel over time.
PiecesSolid plus slotted spoon
Head materialFood-grade silicone
Heat resistanceUp to 446F
Handle length13.3 inches
Pros
- Silicone heads spare nonstick surfaces from scratches
- Two spoons cover both stirring and draining
- Stain-resistant heads wipe clean easily
Cons
- Silicone can pick up strong colors and odors over time
- Softer head flexes more than solid steel
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Kirecoo delivers two large stainless steel spoons, a solid one that doubles as a soup ladle and a slotted one for draining oil or liquid off vegetables, pasta, and fried foods. Each measures about 12.72 inches long by 2.83 inches wide, giving good control for serving and stirring alike. Handles carry a heat-proof section and an ergonomic non-slip grip, and reviewers note the smooth edges will not scratch cookware or crush food. Both wipe clean and go in the dishwasher, with a hanging hole for storage. Worth noting: the wide heads scoop generous portions, which can feel large for small pots or gentle jobs.
PiecesSolid plus slotted spoon
LengthAbout 12.72 inches
Head widthAbout 2.83 inches
CleaningDishwasher safe
Pros
- Two-in-one set serves and drains from one purchase
- Smooth edges leave food and cookware unscratched
- Heat-proof handle section adds serving safety
Cons
- Wide heads feel large for small pots
- No silicone tip, so extra care needed on nonstick
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This two-piece set uses thickened 18/0 stainless steel that owners describe as corrosion-resistant and built for long stretches of daily cooking. A solid spoon scoops soup, stew, rice, and sauces, while the slotted one drains oil, skims foam, and serves pasta or vegetables. Reviewers highlight a slotted head thin enough to slide under food without damage yet stiff enough to hold shape. Handles include a heat-proof design and an ergonomic grip, and each spoon measures about 13.19 inches long by 2.7 inches wide with a hanging hole. Cleanup is a simple rinse or dishwasher run. One limitation: 18/0 steel is less rust-resistant than higher grades in very humid storage.
Material18/0 thickened stainless steel
PiecesSolid plus slotted spoon
LengthAbout 13.19 inches
Head widthAbout 2.7 inches
Pros
- Thickened steel feels sturdy under heavy use
- Slotted head slides under food without crushing it
- Heat-proof handle and hanging hole add convenience
Cons
- 18/0 grade resists rust less than higher grades
- No nonstick-safe tip on the heads
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Calphalon pairs a heavy-gauge stainless steel handle with a slotted silicone head, a design meant to drain pasta and vegetables while shielding nonstick and enameled cookware from scratches. Perforations in the silicone tip let liquid fall as you scoop, so food lands on the plate rather than in a puddle. Reviewers point to the heavy-gauge steel as reason it resists rust and warping across years of stovetop, oven, and prep work. It rinses clean and is dishwasher safe for low-fuss upkeep. This is a single spoon rather than a set, so cooks wanting a matching solid server will look elsewhere.
HeadSlotted silicone tip
HandleHeavy-gauge stainless steel
Surface safeNonstick and enameled
CleaningDishwasher safe
Pros
- Silicone tip protects delicate cookware surfaces
- Heavy-gauge handle resists rust and warping
- Perforated head drains as you scoop
Cons
- Single spoon, no matching solid server
- Silicone head can stain from strong sauces
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What to look for
Head material and your cookware
Match the head to your pans first. Bare stainless steel drains fast and serves handsomely, but it can mark nonstick or enameled surfaces. Silicone tips, like those on the HOTEC and Calphalon picks, guard delicate coatings while still letting liquid fall through the slots.
Handle length and reach
Longer handles keep hands away from steam, splatter, and hot oil. A 13 inch reach suits deep pots and fryers, while a shorter handle feels nimbler for small stovetop tasks. Reviewers weigh reach against how much drawer or rack space they can spare.
Slot size and drainage
Wider or more numerous slots shed water and oil quickly, which helps with pasta and fried foods. Finer slots hold smaller items like peas or diced vegetables. A wide spider basket, as on the Berglander set, lifts big batches in one pass.
Single spoon or a set
Decide whether you want one draining spoon or a solid-and-slotted pair. Sets cover serving soups and draining sides from a single purchase, while a standalone spoon keeps things focused. Hanging loops and dishwasher safety make either option easy to store and clean.
Frequently asked questions
What is a slotted spoon best used for?
It lifts and serves food while letting liquid drain away through its openings. Owners reach for one to plate pasta, blanched vegetables, poached eggs, and fried snacks without carrying over water or oil.
Are stainless steel or silicone heads better?
It depends on your cookware. Stainless steel drains fast and serves cleanly but can scratch coatings. Silicone tips protect nonstick and enameled pans, though reviewers note they can hold onto strong colors and odors over time.
Can these spoons go in the dishwasher?
Yes, every pick here is listed as dishwasher safe. Smooth, seamless surfaces on the steel models release residue easily, and a quick rinse with warm water and soap also restores their shine.
Why choose a long handle?
Longer handles keep your hands farther from steam, splatter, and hot oil. Reviewers find 13 inch handles especially useful over deep pots and fryers, though they need more storage space than compact spoons.
What is the benefit of a two-piece set?
A solid spoon and a slotted spoon together cover serving soups or stews and draining vegetables or fried foods. Owners like handling both stirring and straining without switching between separate tools.
Do slotted spoons scratch nonstick pans?
Bare steel heads can mark nonstick or enameled surfaces if used roughly. Silicone-tipped options, such as the HOTEC and Calphalon spoons, are designed to protect those coatings while still draining well.
How wide should the slots be?
Wider slots drain pasta and fried foods quickly, while finer slots keep small items like peas from slipping through. Think about the foods you drain most before choosing.
Will these rust over time?
Higher-grade stainless steel resists rust and warping well. Owners of 18/0 sets should dry them and avoid long damp storage, since that grade resists corrosion less than premium grades.
The verdict
OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Slotted Spo...
9.2/10
For most kitchens the OXO Good Grips slotted spoon is our top pick, thanks to its secure wet grip and sturdy steel head. Cooks who fry or blanch will get more from the long-handled Berglander spider set, while the HOTEC and Calphalon silicone heads suit anyone guarding nonstick pans. Choose the Kirecoo or heavy-duty steel set when you want both serving and draining spoons from one purchase. Match head material and handle reach to how you cook.
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Our top pick, secure checkout via Amazon
Note: Availability and specifications change often. Always confirm the current details on Amazon before buying.
