6 Best Salad Spinners of 2026, Tested and Reviewed
Clean and dry greens quickly with a top-notch salad spinner.
Taylor Murray
Tested by Taylor Murray
With recalls and announcements of outbreaks of greens popping up left and right, it's crucial to always wash your lettuce before making a salad. Drier greens also hold on to dressings better, leaving you with a more flavorful bite. While salad spinners can often be thought of as bulky, single-use contraptions, these devices are the best way to get clean and dry greens without damage or risk of wilting and an essential tool for making better salads.
Beyond greens, salad spinners can be used to clean and dry a variety of foods, from delicate herbs to tender berries. There's a wide range of these gadgets on the market, with various methods and strategies for operating the spinning mechanism. We got our hands wet and started washing greens to determine which salad spinners were the ones worth buying.
Our Top Salad Spinner Picks
Taylor Murray
How We Tested
To find the best salad spinners on the market, we started by thoroughly researching well-reviewed brands and products available to purchase online from retailers such as Amazon, Williams Sonoma, Walmart and Target. We read reviews from real customers and purchased 12 top-rated salad spinners to put to the test.
Mixed Greens Test: We began our testing by washing and drying tender mixed greens. We timed how fast we were able to dry the greens in each, noting the specific amount of water that remained on the greens.
Herbs Test: After testing mixed greens, we also tested a more delicate herb: cilantro. We thoroughly washed this notoriously sandy herb and dried a handful in the spinner to determine if the spinner caused any bruising.
Functionality Test: We observed each salad spinner's overall functionality by making note of the mechanism the model used to spin the colander, how easy or challenging the mechanism was to use, as well as whether the spinner featured a brake stop or not. We also observed whether each spinner was comfortable to use and if we thought it would hold up well over time.
Cleaning Test: After testing, we cleaned each spinner to see if the holes of the colander held onto tiny leaves and if the lid had any spots that trapped water. We also noted if there were any design flaws and if the product lived up to its claims.
The Best Salad-Making Tools and Gadgets on Amazon
Step your salad game up a notch with these top-rated spinners, choppers and tossers.
- Lightweight
- Large capacity
- Easy to clean
- Thinner plastic pieces may be prone to cracking
With over 30,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, the OXO Good Grips Large 6.22-Quart Salad Spinner is, hands down, the one to pick. It's affordable at less than $30 and has a large enough capacity to dry a full container of greens. The wide, stout shape is sturdy enough that you can operate the pump top with one hand without worrying that the bowl will tip and fall over.
During testing, this spinner dried our greens quickly and efficiently, requiring only a few pumps and minimal physical effort to spin all the water off. Tiny cilantro leaves didn't get stuck in the holes of the basket and there are no weird spots in the lid for water to get trapped. The spinner is lightweight due to some thinner plastic pieces, which could translate to less durability over time.
- Material BPA-free plastic
- Weight 2.5 pounds
- Bowl Capacity 6.22 quarts
- Spinner Type Push botton
- Dishwasher-Safe? Yes
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
- Affordable
- Large capacity
- Simple-to-use pump
- Tricky to clean
While salad spinners aren't necessarily pricey gadgets, we are always looking for ways to save a buck. The Farberware Pro 6.6-Quart Salad Spinner utilizes the same mechanism for drying as our winner, which is an easy-to-use pump, or push button, but in a much more affordable package. Farberware achieves this by making the spinner out of thinner, less durable plastic pieces, but that might not matter if you only plan to use this gadget sporadically.
The main thing we didn't like about this spinner is that the particular design of the lid makes it a bit tricky to clean. There are some spots where water or debris can be trapped, potentially leading to mold or damage over time. It's also a bit top-heavy compared to our winner, so stacking things on top during storage isn't as easy.
- Material BPA-free plastic
- Weight 3 pounds
- Bowl Capacity 6.6 quarts
- Spinner Type Push botton
- Dishwasher-Safe? No, hand wash only
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Taylor Murray
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Taylor Murray
- Collapsible
- Compact for storage
- Multi-use basket
- Slower to dry greens
- Can be tricky to spin
The primary draw of the Progressive Prepworks Collapsible 4-Quart Salad Spinner is that it can collapse down to a compact three-inch height. That puts it in a class of its own compared to other spinners, which often stand at least twice as tall. In an effort to keep the spinner low profile, the design opts for an inset pinch-style spinner that you rotate around the lid manually.
The collapsible feature makes it worth buying for consumers who are tight on space, but this feature does come at the cost of some efficiency when drying. In testing, the spinner took a bit longer to dry than others we tried but still did an adequate job (certainly better than not using a salad spinner at all).
- Material Plastic and silicone
- Weight 2.09 pounds
- Bowl Capacity 4 quarts
- Spinner Type Pinch-style rotary
- Dishwasher-Safe? Yes, hand wash recommended
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Taylor Murray
- Durable
- Good for serving
- Efficient drying
- Heavier
- No viewing during use
The stainless-steel version of the OXO Good Grips spinner has all of the same features we loved about the plastic version but with a durable metal bowl instead of plastic. The push button, pump-style lid is efficient and easy to use, expertly applying maximum centrifugal force with little effort.
Unlike many of our other winners, the stainless steel bowl of this version is a fair bit more attractive and would more seamlessly transfer from the kitchen to the dining table than plastic alternatives. Of course, the metal does make the bowl somewhat heavier to lift and is opaque, so you can't see how dry your greens are during operation. Overall, though, we felt that those were small issues compared to the long-lasting qualities of stainless steel.
- Material Stainless steel and BPA-free plastic
- Weight 4 pounds
- Bowl Capacity 6.34 quarts
- Spinner Type Push botton
- Dishwasher-Safe? Yes
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Taylor Murray
- Compact
- Versatile
- Spinner, spiral cutter, slicer and grater all-in-one
- Small knob is more difficult to operate
- Not dishwasher-safe
Being that the chief complaint against the salad spinner is that it is a uni-tasker, the Joseph Joseph 4-Piece Multi-Prep Salad-Making Set eliminates that concern by offering a salad spinner with many functions. The lid of the spinner can be swapped out with attachments that can slice, grate and spiralize. This multifunctionality allows you to prep an entire salad into one bowl.
Aside from the alternative functions, the spinning function was more than adequate and operated in a compact bowl. Compared to other models we tested, the Joseph Joseph takes up far less space on the counter, while still remaining large enough to dry up to six cups of greens. Unfortunately, it's not a dishwasher-safe product and the small crank knob is more challenging to use than others.
- Material Stainless steel and BPA-free plastic
- Weight 2.13 pounds
- Bowl Capacity 4.5 quarts
- Spinner Type Crank
- Dishwasher-Safe? No, hand wash only
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Taylor Murray
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Taylor Murray
- Compact
- Dishwasher-safe
- Doubles as a colander
- No outer bowl
While almost all the salad spinners we tested share a similar design, with a basket that spins inside a fixed bowl, the Dreamfarm Spina In-Sink 2-in-1 Salad Spinner takes a different approach. At first glance, this spinner looks like a colander with a stick handle or a strainer basket. In the basket, you can wash and drain your greens or other produce. The handle then pivots vertically and can be pushed down into the sink, spinning the basket and eliminating excess water.
Overall, this design saves lots of room when it comes to storage and does an excellent job at drying greens. It removed at least 85 percent of the water from our lettuce in less than 25 seconds. The Dreamfarm Spina can't double as a serving bowl or offer much in the way of storage, but it is effective at draining off moisture and can be used as a strainer basket.
- Material BPA-free polypropylene
- Weight 10.9 ounces
- Bowl Capacity 3 quarts
- Spinner Type Push top
- Dishwasher-Safe? Yes
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray
What to Consider When Buying a Salad Spinner
Size and Storage: Let's face it, salad spinners are typically large and somewhat cumbersome to store. Consider how much lettuce you plan to be washing at a time and what your storage situation looks like when choosing between a larger, five-quart spinner (think family-sized or main course salads) and a smaller, three-quart spinner (great for a single-serving, side salad or herbs).
Type of Spinner: Salad spinners come in two main styles: pump and crank spinners. If you're looking for a model that will spin your lettuce clean and dry with ease, opt for a pump spinner. This style can usually be operated with one hand. If you don't mind putting in a little work, the crank spinner can be a quieter, alternative option.
Material: If you're looking for a salad spinner that offers maximum versatility, opt for one that doubles as a serving or mixing bowl. Stainless steel or glass bowls might sit at a higher price point, but you'll get double the use out of it. If aesthetics aren't top-of-mind, a plastic spinner will do just fine. Our favorite spinners had rubber rings on the bottom to help with stability during operation, as well.
Care and Maintenance: We all love a kitchen gadget we can wash in the dishwasher. If your spinner isn't dishwasher safe, you'll want to make sure you can easily take it apart to clean. In particular, the lid can be a common place for water to get trapped if not designed to prevent it.
Taylor Murray
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you use a salad spinner?
All salad spinners operate much the same way. Some kind of knob or handle exerts force on a spinning mechanism, which forces a basket inside the bowl to rotate. The centrifugal force exerted on anything inside the bowl will be forced towards the edges. Water slips off the greens (or whatever you are drying) and through the holes of the basket, dripping down to the bottom of the exterior bowl. Some spinners use a hand pump, while others use cranks, levers or even rip chords to start the spinning motion.
What can you use a salad spinner for besides drying greens?
While this device seems like a single-use item, there are actually quite a few things you can dry in a salad spinner. The obvious things — greens, herbs and small fruits — come to mind immediately, but there are other things as well. Canned beans, cooked pasta or even small washable toys can be separated from liquid in a salad spinner. In most salad spinners, the colander can be removed from the basket and used purely for straining, in situations where you don't necessarily need to dry as well.
Can you store lettuce in a salad spinner?
Depending on the spinner, you can store greens inside after drying. Some spinners even come with airtight sealing lids to prevent wilting due to air circulation. If you want to use a salad spinner for this function, make sure to choose one that has a lid that can seal out air.
Is a salad spinner necessary?
In our opinion, yes. Salad spinners are a necessary tool for drying freshly washed greens, which the FDA recommends. Alternatives to using a salad spinner would be to pat greens dry with a paper towel or let them air dry, both of which would cause wilting and bruising. If you grow your own lettuce or make salads a part of your regular diet, a salad spinner is a worthy investment.
Taylor Murray
Other Salad Spinners We Tested
While we liked that the Zulay Kitchen 5-Liter Salad Spinner quickly dried our greens and herbs during testing, we found that the light weight of the spinner paired with a top-heavy lid meant we had to put pretty firm pressure to keep it stable. It also doesn't feel like it will hold up well over time and use.
We also tested the Rosle Stainless Steel Salad Spinner and determined that the high price point of almost $90 wasn't fit for our final recommendations. The knob was hard to grasp, making it difficult to use if you have mobility issues. However, we did like that it doubles as a storage container with an airtight sealing lid.
The Zyliss Easy Spin 2 AquaVent Large Salad Spinner made quick work of drying our greens and herbs and the water drained well. However, the spinner features a pull cord mechanism that we worry will easily harbor mold as there's no way to clean it.
Taylor Murray
Why You Should Trust Our Tester
Taylor Murray is a graduate of Johnson and Wales University with a degree in Culinary Nutrition. She worked as a professional chef for over 10 years before moving into recipe and product testing and development. She has tested several hundred products for Food Network and other brands over the last six years, covering everything from carbon steel pans to food dehydrators.
Why You Should Trust Food Network Shopping Experts
Food Network Shopping Experts believe the best method for testing products is based on how our fans are going to use them in the real world. In each of our Tested and Reviewed stories, products are tested in real home kitchens that reflect real-world use cases. Our testers follow rigorous testing rubrics designed by our expert editors and take copious notes during the testing process. When choosing the best products, our testers evaluate all of the testing data and take into consideration many factors including ease of use, price, product availability and practicality. The products covered on FoodNetwork.com are chosen completely independently by our editors without any outside influence. Our editors do not accept products in exchange for a positive review or promised coverage.
