The 5 Best Salad Spinners

Spinning Mechanism: Pull-Arm | Brake Mechanism: Yes

Our favorite salad spinner of the test was the Mueller 5-Liter Vegetable Washer. This spinner performed well in the battery of tests that we threw at it. The unit was a breeze to get up to a high spin rate, and this ultra-fast spin facilitated an impressive amount of water removal. After two consecutive five-second spins, it averaged 96.5% water removal across the four types of plant matter tested. The Mueller especially excelled when spinning freshly rinsed kale and blackberries. The lid fits securely on the bowl and is easy to clean. Although its braking button was small, it still easily stopped after a fast-spinning operation.

However, we think this unit could benefit from a redesign on the colander. In both the dirt test and cleaning ability, the colander created issues that caused it to lose points. Despite this, the Mueller more than made up for lower scores after receiving perfect scores in the water removal, ease of spinning, and ease of braking tests. If you're after an excellent salad spinner, this is our top recommendation. While the Mueller is a great option, we know price is a factor for some. We also recommend checking out the Cuisinart CTG-00-SSAS below for those who would like to be more conscious of their spending.

Spinning Mechanism: Crank-Arm | Brake Mechanism: No

Considering its small size, the Cuisinart CTG-00-SSAS salad spinner was impressive. It's one of the smallest units we tested, yet it still removed water and dirt quite well. We like the hole in the top of the lid that allows you to add more water during operation; once the lid is secure, you don't need to take it off until the greens are fully cleaned. We also found the crank arm to be ergonomic. The colander securely fit within the bowl, and the non-slip pads on the bottom stabilized the bowl during high-speed spinning. The clip to secure the colander onto the bowl takes an extra second or two, but it fastens easily. All of these factors make fast-spinning easier.

The main limitation of this model is braking performance. At times, this model was harder to hold securely after high-speed spinning due to the smaller lid. It's best to avoid spinning the colander at the highest speed to prevent this issue. However, by no means is this a dealbreaker. The Cuisinart CTG-00-SSAS won't disappoint, especially if you want a compact spinner that leaves room for other appliances in your kitchen. For those who value a design with better braking capabilities, a push-style spinner with a brake mechanism may be better suited. The Brieftons BR-SS-02 scored consistently well in this category, making it a great alternative for those who want to utilize a brake function.

Spinning Mechanism: Push-Button | Brake Mechanism: Yes

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.

We would love to see anti-slip pads added to the bottom of the unit. The colander failed to stay in place at higher speeds, creating a wobble in the unit, which can scuff salad bowls. Unfortunately, our lead reviewer's favorite salad bowl fell victim to this imperfection. We also believe this OXO spinner would benefit from a redesign of how the colander fits between the bowl and lid. Though these factors are worth being aware of, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks of this model. If you find yourself making salads at a fast pace and need a spinner to be ultra-stable, take a look at the OVOS 5-Quart Salad Spinner. The OVOS did a fantastic job securing the unit in place while still keeping fragile foods intact during high speeds.

Spinning Mechanism: Push-Button | Brake Mechanism: Yes

The OXO Good Grips Little Salad and Herb spinner brings the same high-quality design of the OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner but in a much smaller package. The larger model has a 4.95-quart capacity basket, while this version's basket only has a 2.44-quart capacity. Besides the obvious reduction in volume, what this really translates to is a much smaller storage footprint. In a world full of kitchen gadgets, we appreciate this. The size is ideal for folks who often cook for one and who don't need to wash large quantities of greens all at once. As with the other OXO Good Grips spinner, this device has a comfortable and easy-to-operate push button and a highly effective brake that takes minimal effort to engage. Spinning off both water and dirt with ease, this OXO model left us with few complaints.

One of the few design flaws we found with this little spinner was a sticky storage latch. To make storage even easier, you can depress the push button and lock the button flush with the top. While this is a handy function, we found that the latch would occasionally get stuck and would need to be fiddled with to release. If you are looking for a high-quality option that won't take up large amounts of precious storage space, look no further.

Spinning Mechanism: Crank-Arm | Brake Mechanism: No

The OVOS 5-Quart Salad Spinner was very similar to the Cuisinart CTG-00-SSAS in many ways. The anti-slip pads on the bottom of the bowl and the hinges that attach the lid to the bowl make for very secure operation at speed. These high speeds undoubtedly contributed to its higher marks for water and dirt removal. This product did exceptionally well in our blackberry water removal test; it kept the fragile berries intact while still managing to remove over 95% of the water weight. The braking on this unit was above average and did not take as much effort as some of the other crank-arm style units. We also found it easy to add more water during the spinning process, thanks to a hole in the lid.

The colander on the OVOS has several sharp edges, which means you need to take care when cleaning. The lid, with its two latches, also proved to be a bit challenging to clean quickly. Fortunately, a full-scale clean is of average difficulty because the entire unit can be disassembled. The hinges are sometimes difficult to secure. We struggled several times throughout the test process to get the latches to fit correctly. Once the hinges are on, it does operate well, especially at higher speeds. Even with its small design flaws, the OVOS shows itself to be a good contender that would work well enough in any kitchen. If efficient cleaning is a must, check out the Prepworks by Progressive Collapsible Spinner 3-Quart. A smaller footprint and silicone walls proved to be the easiest cleaning out of the bunch.

Spinning Mechanism: Push-Button | Brake Mechanism: Yes

The OXO Steel Salad Spinner did a few things quite well. The large, rubber bottom of the bowl, coupled with a securely-fit lid and colander, meant spinning was extremely user-friendly. The most notable attribute of the product is its above-average performance in our water removal tests. One of the most positive notes is that this spinner could remove water and dirt at an above-average level.

We had high hopes for the OXO Steel Salad Spinner. The more expensive price tag and classic stainless steel construction would lead one to believe that this unit would perform at a higher level; unfortunately, this was not the case. Like its sister spinner, the OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner, clean-up was easy for the most part. However, there is a glaring difference between the two. The OXO Steel has a flimsy colander with sharper edges that can complicate the clean-up process. The brake button on this unit was the most difficult to operate due to the force required to use the button. All of these factors lead to a subpar showing for this product. It still does its job, just not as elegantly as some of the other models in this review. If you don't mind a plastic-constructed spinner take another look at the Mueller 5-Liter Vegetable Washer. With impressive performance characteristics at half the price, we wouldn't hesitate to recommend this spinner to a friend.

Spinning Mechanism: Crank-Arm | Brake Mechanism: No

If you are looking for a spinner with a small footprint, then the Prepworks Collapsible 3-Quart Spinner is a good choice. Though it underperformed in many of our tests, it still functioned adequately in most situations. This spinner was very easy to clean. The silicone walls of the colander may have contributed to inferior scores in the water removal and dirt removal metrics, but they did prove easy to clean. Those same silicone walls are also what allow this product to collapse and nest very efficiently.

In many of the other categories, the Prepworks Collapsible 3-Quart Spinner seemed to be plagued by issues related to the fragile and cheap feeling crank arm mechanism. The inadequacies of the crank arm led to slower spinning and harder-to-brake operation. This collapsible spinner might be your best bet to add to a camping or RV setup, but it fails to stack up well against the competition.

Spinning Mechanism: Push-Button | Brake Mechanism: Yes

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 spinning mechanism's large button was easy enough to push and similar to the two OXO models tested in this review; however, the colander tended to slip often. We believe this is partly due to the questionably designed “anti-slip” ring on the bottom of the bowl. This anti-slip ring failed to stay on the bottom of the bowl after one spin. After cleaning the unit, our lead reviewer was unable to reattach the non-slip ring in a way that prevented it from falling off again in later tests. These factors contributed to a disappointing showing in its ability to remove dirt and water because anytime the unit slipped, it meant less water or dirt was being removed. We would imagine working out some of the design kinks would help the Brieftons BR-SS-02 place much better in future reviews.

Spinning Mechanism: Push-Button | Brake Mechanism: Yes

The Farberware Pro Pump Spinner is a push-powered and brake-equipped option, with an internal basket with a 5.25-quart capacity. With more than adequate functionality, this spinner is a mid-level performer in removing both water and dirt. It isn't the absolute best performer in either metric but, for the most part, left our greens plenty dry and clean. The rubberized bottom keeps the device from wiggling across the counter while in use, and the brake, while not instantaneous, works well enough.

While this spinner, without a doubt, can get the job done, the design isn't as polished as some of the more premium options. The top seriously rattles when in use, and the thin plastic bowl has a concerning amount of flex to it. Given the large capacity, average performance, and low price, this salad spinner is a good choice for someone looking to wash large amounts of greens without spending too much money in the process. If funds allow, the OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner is a great option for folks who value durability and simple operation.

Why Trust GearLab

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.

Our salad spinning expert team is lead by Adam Minich with assistance from Buck Yedor. Adam is an avid home gardener that uses each product daily. For years, he has been using a salad spinner to clean and dry his store-bought and garden greens. Every spring, he and his partner set up raised beds of arugula, kale, lettuce, collard greens, and all sorts of herbs. Sometimes, however, a home garden can bring with it spider webs, aphids, and dirt. Using one for this clean-up of his homegrown veggies proves to be a daily occurrence. Buck has expertise in various commercial kitchens, and his input has helped assess each product.

Analysis and Test Results

Our lead tester identified five categories of importance to contrast performance and features between the ten spinners. The five metrics used were water removal, dirt removal, ease of spinning, ease of braking, and ease of cleaning. These factors helped to create a holistic appraisal and understanding of each product.

Water Removal

Each unit was tested on its ability to remove water from kale, arugula, romaine, and blackberries. The process was quite similar for all of the greens. One hundred grams of greens were carefully measured on a scale. The greens were then rinsed with cold water for 15 seconds, with a five-second delay to allow excess water to drain from the colander over the sink. The weight of the just-rinsed greens was then measured and recorded. This was followed by a five-second spin and then a weight measurement, followed by another five-second spin and weight measurement. The process was almost identical for the blackberries. The only difference was the blackberries received a five-second rinse.

The OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner and the Brieftons BR-SS-02 fell short of averaging 90% water removal. For this reason, they each received lower marks. Certain models struggled to operate smoothly, which is more thoroughly covered in the Ease of Spinning metric. This likely contributed to a subpar showing for some of these models.

In the kale test and the arugula test, the Mueller 5-Liter Vegetable Washer, Cuisinart CTG-00-SSAS, and OVOS 5-Quart all excelled. The romaine test saw strong showings from the Cuisinart, OVOS, and the OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner. Finally, the blackberry test yielded very positive results for the Mueller 5-Liter Vegetable Washer, OVOS 5-Quart, and OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner. As you can see, it's very clear that four of the ten models were consistently the best at removing water.

The Mueller 5-Liter Vegetable Washer gave a remarkable performance averaging about 93.2% water removal after one five-second spin and almost 96.5% water removal on average after two five-second spins. This spinner removed 100% of the water weight from kale and the blackberries after two spins. For this reason, it is the overall winner in the water removal category.

Dirt Removal

Anyone who has grown their own vegetables knows that sometimes things can get a little dirty during the harvesting process. Though greens from the store or your local farmers' market would most likely never be this dirty, our lead reviewer saw it necessary to put the spinners through a more extreme test.

For the dirt removal test, 100 grams of romaine lettuce was combined with a “dirty water” mixture made up of 95 grams of water and five grams of carefully sifted dirt to ensure evenness over samples. Each unit was measured before an initial five-second spin, weighed, and then measured again after an additional five-second spin.

The OXO Steel Salad Spinner was victorious in this metric category, followed closely by the Cuisinart CTG-00-SSAS and OVOS 5-Quart Salad Spinner models. It's worth noting, however, that we did not find any particular spinner to be perfect on this test. The highest percentage of dirty water removal came from the OXO Steel, which removed 76.67% of the dirty water after one five-second spin, and 83.33% of the dirty water after an added five-second spin.

Certain units performed poorly in this category, specifically the Brieftons BR-SS-02, which only removed 67% of the dirt water, and the Mueller 5-Liter Vegetable Washer, which only removed 70% of the dirt water.

Ease of Spinning

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.

Models with a push-button don't suffer from staying in place; however, the colander will sometimes slip, especially at higher spinning speeds. The one model with a pull arm in this review seemed to not suffer either of these limitations. However, it is worth saying that the pull arm is made out of plastic, which could result in durability issues, though we didn't have any issues during the duration of our test period.

Most of the models we tested did what a salad spinner is supposed to do — spin easily and spin quickly. The colanders and bowls on the Brieftons BR-SS-02 and OVOS 5-Quart slipped during operation, resulting in lower scores.

The top spinners for this metric were the Mueller 5-Liter Vegetable Washer, OXO Steel, and Cuisinart's CTG-00-SSAS. The standard features for these three spinners were anti-slip bowls, secure colanders and lids, and easy-to-use spinning mechanisms. Out of this group, the Mueller 5-Liter Vegetable Washer separated itself to win this category, as the pull-arm mechanism for spinning was extremely easy to use and could quickly get the colander moving at a high rate of speed.

Ease of Braking

Spinning should be a fluid process since that's the purpose of these products. However, not all of these models stop well when it comes time to hit the brakes. Some of the salad spinners come with a brake button. Other models with a crank arm spinning mechanism do not include this feature. There are certain advantages and disadvantages to each braking system. Crank arms rely solely on the arm for braking, and we found this style can be challenging to stop when functioning at higher speeds in comparison to the button-style brakes, which were more effective at braking.

The units with a brake button were hit or miss. The Brieftons BR-SS-02 and OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner both had brake buttons that worked well. The Mueller 5-Liter Vegetable Washer had the best functioning break.

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

The cleaning metric involved a few components. In most cases, one would not need to take the unit apart completely; however, this was remarkably difficult on certain spinners, while others showed themselves to be better designed.

Additionally, some units had a colander that was more difficult to clean for one reason or another. We attempted to take apart, clean, and prepare to dry each unit in under five minutes. All of the contenders were cleaned within this timeframe, but some were easier than others. Five of the models impressed us throughout the cleaning process; these were the Cuisinart CTG-00-SSAS, OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner, OXO Steel, Mueller 5-Liter Vegetable Washer, and Prepworks Collapsible 3-Quart Spinner.

The OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner and the Cuisinart CTG-00-SSAS received high marks for their easy-to-clean colanders, as our sponge didn't get caught up on sharp edges. The progressive collapsible's colander was also easy to clean because solid silicone comprises a large part of the colander's wall. Certain colanders had sharp edges or flimsy construction, which made them tougher to clean. One particular note here is that the OXO models are quite similar in many ways, but our reviewer found the OXO Steel's colander was flimsier, which resulted in a slightly lower score.

The OXO models ultimately came out on top here for their similar easy-to-disassemble lids. Nothing to unscrew; just pull away the lid pieces to clean underneath. The OVOS 5-Quart Salad Spinner and Mueller 5-Liter Vegetable Washer spinners had similar plastic screws holding their lids together, which were almost as easy to take apart as the OXO models. The Brieftons BR-SS-02 had a lid that our reviewer decided not to remove due to how involved the process would have been.

Noteworthy Features

Only one model offered the ability to collapse into a smaller footprint. This was the Prepworks Collapsible 3-Quart Spinner. This option presented itself as a potentially great choice for folks with less cabinet space in their kitchens or those who may want to bring this kitchen appliance in their RV or camping setup. Both the bowl and colander on the Prepworks Collapsible 3-Quart Spinner proved to be sturdier than expected.

The Cuisinart CTG-00-SSAS and the OVOS 5-Quart both had a hole in the top of their lids. This is a nice feature that allows for more water to be added while spinning. The OVOS 5-Quart Salad Spinner has two clips/buckles, while the Cuisinart CTG-00-SSAS has one clip/buckle that secures the lid to the bowl; this made for both desirable and negative outcomes. It's desirable because it means the lid is very secure, making for easy spinning without any wobbling, but other models could accomplish this without any clips. Conversely, it's a negative because it means you have to take extra time to secure the buckles.

The singular model to have a bowl made out of material other than plastic is the OXO Steel Salad Spinner. As the name implies, it's constructed out of durable and classy stainless steel. Although it's somewhat subjective, our reviewer found the bowl to be the most attractive for serving purposes.

Conclusion

There could be only one winner in this shootout when the lettuce settled, but several models impressed our team. We hope that by putting these ten models through an array of tests, we were able to help guide you toward a clear choice. No matter what you ultimately choose, pat yourself on the back for eating healthy and clean.