The OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Skimmer is the best spider strainer for most kitchens because its fine wire basket lifts everything from wontons to blanched greens without dropping food, and the handle stays cool over a hot pot. A good spider is one of those tools you do not appreciate until you deep fry once with it. It scoops, drains, and rescues food faster than tongs or a slotted spoon, and there is no basket of hot oil to wrestle with.
The OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Skimmer is the best spider strainer overall thanks to its sturdy welded basket and comfortable non-slip handle. The Hiware Solid Stainless Steel Spider Strainer is the best value if you want an all-metal tool you can leave resting on a stockpot.
- Best overall: OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Skimmer
- Best value: Hiware Solid Stainless Steel Spider Strainer
- Best budget: Winco Spider Strainer
- Avoid: Skimmers with thin soldered joints where the basket meets the handle, they loosen and trap grease
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Quick Picks
- Best overall: OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Skimmer, Welded stainless basket with a grippy handle that stays cool over boiling oil.. Check price on Amazon
- Best value: Hiware Solid Stainless Steel Spider Strainer, All-metal one-piece build that goes in the dishwasher without worry..
- Best budget: Winco Spider Strainer, Restaurant-supply workhorse with a classic wide mesh basket..
Comparison Table
| Strainer | Build | Best for | Handle | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Skimmer | Welded fine wire, stainless | Everyday frying and blanching | Non-slip grip | Check Price |
| Hiware Solid Stainless Steel Spider Strainer | One-piece stainless | Dishwasher-first households | Hooked metal | Check Price |
| Winco Spider Strainer | Wide mesh, wood handle | Big-batch frying | Bamboo-style wood | Check Price |
| Helen’s Asian Kitchen Spider Strainer | Traditional brass-tone wire | Wok cooking and noodles | Natural bamboo | Check Price |
How We Chose These Kitchen Gadgets Picks
We researched the most widely available spider strainers and compared basket construction, handle materials, and how the wire is joined to the frame. We then read through aggregated owner feedback to flag recurring problems like rusting welds, loose handles, and mesh that traps batter.
Key Takeaway: A spider strainer with a welded one-piece basket outlasts anything with soldered or twisted-wire joints, and that single detail separates the tools that last a decade from the ones that wobble apart in a year.
Best Overall: OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Skimmer
Best for: Home cooks who fry, blanch, or boil regularly and want one durable tool that handles all of it. Why it made the list: The basket wire is fine enough to catch small fried bits, the joints are welded rather than wrapped, and the soft handle gives you real control when you are lifting food out of hot oil.
- Key specs: Stainless steel basket and frame, fine welded wire mesh, soft non-slip handle, hanging loop, dishwasher safe.
- What we like: The mesh catches small items like garlic chips and tempura crumbs that fall straight through wide-wire spiders, and the handle stays comfortable over steam.
- What we do not like: The fine mesh takes more scrubbing than open-wire designs when batter cooks onto it, and the head is smaller than restaurant-style spiders.
- Who should buy it: Anyone who deep fries at home, blanches vegetables, or wants a safer way to pull pasta and dumplings out of boiling water.
- Who should avoid it: Cooks who fry in very large batches; a wider restaurant-style spider like the Winco moves more food per scoop.
- Common complaints: Owners mention that stuck-on batter needs a soak, and a few wish the handle were a couple of inches longer for deep stockpots.
- Size note: The head is sized for home Dutch ovens and saucepans, so it fits pots where an oversized wok spider would not.
- Cleaning note: It is dishwasher safe, but soaking it right after frying keeps batter from hardening in the mesh.
- Alternative: The Hiware Solid Stainless Steel Spider Strainer if you prefer an all-metal tool with no plastic on the handle.
Skimmer and Spider Strainer Buying Guide
Mesh style matters more than size
Fine woven mesh catches small food and skims foam from stocks, while open spiral wire drains faster and sheds batter more easily. If you mostly fry battered food, open wire is easier to live with. If you skim stocks or blanch small vegetables, fine mesh does more.
Check how the basket joins the handle
This is where cheap skimmers fail. Look for welded stainless joints or a one-piece design. Twisted wire and soldered joints loosen with heat cycles and give grease a place to hide.
Handle length and material
A handle around ten to fourteen inches keeps your hand away from spitting oil. Bare metal handles get hot if left resting on the pot, wood stays cool but should not go in the dishwasher, and coated handles split the difference.
Safety Notes
- Never leave a metal-handled skimmer resting in hot oil; the handle can reach burn temperatures in under a minute.
- Lower food into oil with the spider instead of dropping it to prevent splashes.
- Dry the basket completely before it touches hot oil, since water causes violent spatter.
- Keep wood-handled skimmers out of the dishwasher so the handle does not crack and loosen.
What to Avoid
- Skimmers with soldered or twisted-wire joints that loosen over high heat.
- Nylon or silicone skimmer heads for deep frying; they are fine for pasta but can deform in very hot oil.
- Oversized wok spiders if you cook in a narrow Dutch oven, since they will not sit flat in the pot.
- No-name sets that bundle three flimsy sizes instead of one solid tool.
FAQ
What is the difference between a skimmer and a spider strainer?
A skimmer usually has a flat fine-mesh head made for skimming foam and fat from the surface of stocks. A spider strainer has a deeper basket, usually of open wire, made for lifting food out of oil or water. Many modern tools like the OXO blend the two jobs.
Can I use a spider strainer for deep frying?
Yes, that is its main job. A stainless spider lets you lower food into oil gently, move it around, and lift it out to drain in one motion. Choose all-metal construction rated for high heat.
How do I clean batter out of the mesh?
Soak the head in hot soapy water right after cooking, then brush it with a stiff dish brush. If batter has hardened, a baking soda paste and a few minutes of soaking loosens it without bending the wires.
Final Verdict
The OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Skimmer is the best spider strainer for most home kitchens, with the Hiware Solid Stainless Steel Spider Strainer as the all-metal value pick and the Winco Spider Strainer as the budget choice for big-batch frying.
