Review of Norpro Stainless Steel 9-1/2-Inch Colander

Norpro Stainless Steel 9-1/2-Inch Colander

Manufacturer: Norpro
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List Price: $45.00
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Premium quality stainless steel deep colander. Heavy gauge with tubular handles. Extra deep with wide base. 5 Quart - 9.5"

Holds 5 quarts/4.8 liters and diameter of 9.5 inches/24cm
Premium quality stainless steel
Satiny, brushed steel exterior finish and polished, high luster interior finish
Heavy gauge tubular handles and tripod feet
Hand washing recommended

Beautiful, and should last a lifetime

Review Date: June 25, 2000

Reviewer: J. Seifert, Indianapolis, IN USA

You don't need anything fancy to drain pasta, but this colander is a beaut, and its steel construction means it'll last forever. It's also quite large; if I had known how large it was, I probably would have opted to buy a smaller (and slightly less expensive) one. If you're looking for a nice "splurge" kitchen item without setting you back too much dough, this would make a nice choice.

Great product

Review Date: November 29, 2005

Reviewer: Maxim Vengerov, Lafayette, CA

Great product. Works very well, and easier to clean than those ones that look like wire mesh. Works perfectly for pasta, if a little large. Very durable, should last for quite some time.

Colander comparisons: Norpro 9-1/2", Norpro 8-5/8", MIU France 6 Quart

Review Date: August 11, 2009

Reviewer: Elizabeth,

I could not decide between the Norpro Stainless Steel 9-1/2-Inch Colander, the Norpro Stainless Steel 8-5/8-Inch Colander, and the MIU France 6-Quart Brushed Stainless Steel-Colander . So I ordered all three to compare and to pick my favorite.

PROS

* Storage takes virtually no more room than a 4-quart -- compact size
* Easily fits into my standard stainless steel sink
* Beautiful construction
* Holds 6 quarts

CONS

* Slightly smaller handles are not quite as large and easy to grasp as the MIU France (but they are still very good handles)
* Mirror finish not as highly polished as the MIU France
(Also it will not fit inside my pasta stockpot due to handles, but none of the three did.)

My favorite is the MIU France. I'll get to why in a moment. First, let's explore the differences and similarities between these three colanders. All are very fine colanders, and you will be happy with any of them, in my opinion.

The differences in them are as follows:

The Norpro Stainless Steel 9-1/2-Inch Colander:

MEASUREMENTS

I'm providing measurements here, as many shoppers want to feel like they can reach out and touch the colander. For those not into measurements, skip this section.

The Norpro Stainless Steel 9-1/2-Inch Colander is a high-quality colander that, like its smaller cousin, the Norpro 8 5/8-Inch Colander, easily fits into my stainless steel double sink. The colander is approximately 1/8" to slightly less than 1/4" higher than the side of my sink, so it is roughly even with the side of my sink. My house was built in the 1980s and the sink is typical for kitchens of that decade. The sink has a depth of 5 1/2 inches and inside sink width of 14 inches wide by 15 3/4 inches deep.

See attached photos which show this colander, the other Norpro, and the MIU France in my sink.

Colander dimensions are: 9 1/2" inside bowl diameter, just the bowl, not including the handles; 10" outside bowl diameter, just the bowl, not including the handles; approximately 12 5/8" with handles included. The handles are 1 1/4" deep at their deepest point and approximately 3 1/4" at their widest point inside the handle, not including the handle hardware. The handles are 1 5/8" deep by slightly more than 3 3/4" at their widest point outside the handle, including the handle hardware.

Colander height is 6 1/16" including the feet. Without the feet, just the colander from the center of the inside to the top is approximately 5 1/2". I had to eyeball this measurement, so I did the best I could. The feet are approximately 1 inch long, but because they jut out of the colander at an angle, they only raise the colander up about 1/2" from the surface on which the colander is placed. However, there was a defect in the Norpro Stainless Steel 9-1/2-Inch Colander I received, and it tilted at a lopsided angle as one of the three feet was improperly attached at the wrong angle.

Drainage holes on the side of the colander are bigger than those on the bottom of the colander. Drainage holes on the side are just shy of 3/16" in diameter while those on the bottom are just over 1/8" in diameter. There are 300 holes along the side and 126 holes on the bottom, plenty for drainage. The bottom is 4 3/4" in diameter, a full half-inch narrower along the bottom than the MIU France 6-quart colander.

DURABILITY

The handle is welded on. Each side of the handle appears to be welded at only two points. These points are barely visible, via a slight indentation, on the inside of the colander.

I wonder if the welded points are strong enough to hold the handles in place over many years. I imagine the welding is quite strong, because I gave the smaller version of this colander to my brother several years ago, and he loves it. He has had no problems with it and uses it often.

OVERALL APPEARANCE

The exterior is brushed metal stainless steel, with a band of polished stainless steel approximately one inch wide at the top of the colander. The handles and feet are polished stainless.

MIRROR FINISH

The interior of this colander has a mirror finish, but it's not on the same par as the MIU France. I can see my reflection in the bottom of the MIU France colander. I am unable to do that in either of the two Norpro colanders.

MAKING PASTA

In lieu of a pasta insert, I like to place my colander with drained pasta inside my stockpot to keep it warm.

My old colander did not have handles and fit easily inside my pasta pot. Due to the handles, this one will not fit inside my stockpot. However, none of the three did.

CAPACITY

This colander holds six quarts. The Norpro 8-5/8-Inch holds 4 quarts and the MIU France holds 6 quarts.

As a comparison, let us look at the two other colanders.

NORPRO 8-5/8-INCH COLANDER

The Norpro Stainless Steel 8-5/8-Inch Colander:

I gave this exact colander as a gift to my brother several years ago. He loves it. He uses it a lot for items like boiled peanuts, pasta, and black-eyed peas.

If you do not want a 6-quart colander, the Norpro Stainless Steel 8-5/8-Inch Colander would be a fine choice for a colander. There is slightly less room in the handle area for this handle than the MIU France colander. I have somewhat long fingers and prefer the shape and size of the MIU France colander's handles. Still, my hands do fit inside these handles. Someone with bigger hands will want to consider the MIU France colander's handles.

If you are looking for a four-quart model, you can read my review about it here: Norpro Stainless Steel 8-5/8-Inch Colander

Here is the final colander as a comparison.

MIU France MIU-6-Quart-Brushed-Stainless-Steel-Colander:

This is my favorite of the three. The handles are a lovely rounded shape and larger than the Norpro handles, making it easier for my large hands to grasp them. I can hold the handles and not touch the colander, potentially hot from scalding pasta water for example, so these larger handles could prevent kitchen accidents. The MIU France's mirror finish interior is more highly polished than that of the Norpro colanders. As the old commercial goes, I can literally see my reflection in the MIU France, but not in the Norpro.

For colander dimensions and a comparison, you can read my review here: MIU-6-Quart-Brushed-Stainless-Steel-Colander

SUMMARY

In summary, all three colanders fit easily into my sink. All three take about the same kitchen cabinet space to store, with no appreciable difference, though the six-quart colanders are slightly higher than the four-quart model.

All have similarities in construction: inner polished mirrored finishes, mirrored finish on the feet and handles, and an exterior brushed stainless steel finish with a one-inch wide band of polished stainless steel at the top.

The handles are different; looking at the photos I have included of these colanders shows you that the MIU France's handles are wider and roomier, yet the Norpro handles are functional as well.

All three colanders have 300 holes around their sides. The bottom hole content varies, but not enough to make a difference in their handling of any drainage of food or liquids. The bottom width varies between the three, with the narrowest bottom on the Norpro 8-5/8-inch colander and the widest bottom on the MIU France 6-quart colander.

All are made in China, including the MIU France. This in no way detracts from their beauty or functionality. All three are excellent choices in colanders.

PHOTOS

See customer images for photos of all three colanders for comparison.

RECOMMENDATION

My personal preference is the MIU France MIU-6-Quart-Brushed-Stainless-Steel-Colander. I prefer the larger round handles, both functional and beautiful. The mirror finish is more highly polished. Also, since all three take approximately the same storage space, I would go ahead and spring for a 6-quart. That way you will be able to drain larger amounts of food should the need arise.

I highly recommend all three of these colanders, with an edge to my top pick, the MIU France 6-Quart Brushed Stainless-Steel Colander. However, if you choose this Norpro Stainless Steel 9-1/2-Inch Colander, you have purchased a high quality colander that will last you for years.

Nice Product

Review Date: March 15, 2006

Reviewer: nini890, New York, USA

I'm very happy with this colander, it's well-made, durable, easy to clean and looks great.

Just Right...

Review Date: October 21, 2008

Reviewer: J. Pulido, San Francisco Bay Area

I would never have thought a colander would inspire my first Amazon review! But this is such a nice piece of kitchen equipment--great weight, size and utility. A comment from a previous reviewer regarding the footed bottom (rather than a ring) allowing liquid to escape more easily made a lot of sense to me and proved to be a great feature. I am really enjoying this purchase...

MIU Stainless-Steel 7-Piece Measuring Cup Set