This Simple $7 Gadget Will Take the Hassle Out of Meal Prep
In the kitchen, the tiniest tools can often be the mightiest. Just a few of the small kitchen gadgets we’ve sung the praises of recently include a garlic press rocker for easy mincing and a corn peeler for enjoying your favorite summer veg without needing to break out the floss afterwards! Well, we have yet another quirky gadget that will actually make a surprisingly big impact on your food prep needs — and even make cleanup much easier!
The Prepworks by Progressive Can Colander is essentially a mini strainer designed for cans so you don’t have to haul out your full-sized colander every time you open a can of chickpeas. Just put this handy tool on the top of your open can, turn it over, and let it strain. It’s so simple that we can’t believe we hadn’t thought of getting something like this before! With over 7,800 five-star ratings on Amazon, it’s clear we’re not the only people who think this is a genius item to add to your kitchen.
Unlike a regular colander, this can strainer allows you to drain the liquid from cans and jars without dumping the contents out. It snaps onto cans, too, so you won’t have to worry about it falling off and losing your food to the sink. It’s perfect for someone who eats a lot of beans or canned veggies, and will be a game changer if you’re draining a few cans of diced tomatoes to use in a homemade sauce. For canned tuna or salmon (or any of our other favorite canned fish!), you can actually put the bottom of the strainer in the can and press the liquid out and into the sink.
Cleanup is easy, too — at just 4.5 inches by 3.5 inches, you can easily sponge off this tiny tool and toss it in a drawer with minimal amounts of fuss. For anyone who also gets frustrated having to break out their huge colander for a single can of beans, this strainer is your solution. No matter how you wash dishes, you’ll be thankful for not having a full-sized strainer taking up space in the drying rack or dishwasher.
Of the thousands of happy reviews on Amazon, many consist of people wondering where this little gadget has been all their lives! “I’m so thankful that I saw it on TikTok and ordered it,” one person raved. “I actually ordered another one for my parents and I might even order a back up just in case this one breaks because I don’t know how I would ever go back.”
“So listen … this is brilliant. It’s cheap. It works well. It’s easy to clean. So just buy it. I work with a lot of canned goods. Beans, beans, and more beans. Tomatoes. Hearts of Palm. Just lots of things that have stuff and water in them. This removes the water. Yes there are other ways. No, none this convenient,” another person added, highlighting the simple genius of this gadget.
Clearly, this mini strainer is a no-brainer whether you use cans all the time or just every now and then. For just $7, it’s hard to find a reason not to buy it!
Buy: Prepworks by Progressive Can Colander, $6.80 (normally $7.48)