Hey everyone, and welcome back to the Strainer Co. blog—your go-to spot for real answers, no fancy jargon, just stuff that makes your kitchen work better. This week, I’m sitting at my desk, staring at a pile of last week’s customer notes, and one question popped up so many times I had to stop and make a whole post about it: “Can I use a strainer to strain lentils?” Strainer
First, let’s cut to the chase: Yes, you absolutely can. But if you’ve ever drained a can of lentils or rinsed dried ones at home, you know there’s a right way and a wrong way to do it. I’ve been in the strainer game for over a decade, and I’ve helped thousands of home cooks get this right—plus, I’ve seen the messes that happen when people grab the wrong tool. Let’s break this down like I would for my little cousin who burns toast: no overcomplicating, just the science and the practical tips.
Let’s Talk Lentils—They’re Not Rice, And That Matters
Before we jump into strainers, let’s get to know what we’re straining. Lentils are tiny, round (or slightly oblong) legumes, most varieties between 2mm and 4mm wide. That’s smaller than a grain of white rice, by the way—rice is usually 5mm or more. They also get softer when cooked, and when rinsing dried ones, they release a starchy, murky water that can clump up if you don’t strain fast enough.
A lot of people make the mistake of using a pasta strainer for lentils. You know the one: big, wide holes meant for draining spaghetti so noodles don’t slip through. Those holes are way too big for lentils—half your batch will go down the drain, and you’ll be chasing them around your sink for 10 minutes. I’ve had a customer call me once in a panic because she drained her entire bag of lentils into her old pasta strainer, and only got back a handful. We still laugh about it, but she learned a valuable lesson that day.
The Strainers That Work (And The Ones To Skip)
Now, let’s get to the good stuff: which strainers are actually made for lentils, and why mine (and good ones in general) are built for this job.
First, let’s start with dried vs. cooked lentils, because that changes the tool you use.
- Dried lentils: Before cooking, you almost always rinse them to get rid of dust, small pebbles, and that powdery starch that makes your lentil soup cloudy. For this, you need a strainer with small, dense holes—not the big mesh of a pasta strainer, and not a cheesecloth (wait, cheesecloth works? More on that later, but it’s a pain to clean). My go-to for dried lentils is our medium-mesh stainless steel strainer. The holes are 1.5mm to 2mm wide—perfect for catching every lentil, but small enough that water flows through fast so you don’t end up with a puddle in your counter.
- Cooked lentils: After cooking, you need to drain excess water, too—especially if you’re making salads, tacos, or a side dish. Cooked lentils are softer, but still the same tiny size, so you still need that same small mesh. One note here: if you’re cooking split red lentils (they get mushy fast when overcooked), a fine-mesh strainer is even better. Split reds can turn to porridge if you rush the draining, and a fine mesh lets water out without squeezing the lentils too hard.
Wait, what about colanders? A lot of people mix up strainers and colanders. Colanders are those big, deep bowls with large holes—they’re for pasta, potatoes, big things. You can use a colander for lentils if you line it with a paper towel? No, that doesn’t work. Wait, no—actually, a colander’s holes are too big, so you’d need a layer of cheesecloth or a coffee filter to line it. But here’s the thing: that’s extra work. Paper towels fall apart in water, cheesecloth gets linty, and coffee filters tear if you have too many lentils. Why do that when a proper strainer is designed for this exact job?
I’ve had home cooks ask me, “What about a splatter screen?” No, that’s for popping grease. Or a tea strainer? Too small, only good for a cup at a time. Save those for tea leaves or small seeds, not a whole bag of lentils.
Why The Mesh Size Is Non-Negotiable (Science Break, I Promise It’s Easy)
Let’s geek out for two seconds, because this is why my strainers perform better than the discount ones at the grocery store. Strainers use two main mesh types: woven mesh and perforated metal. For lentils, woven mesh is the way to go. Woven mesh is made by weaving thin metal wires together, creating tiny, uniform gaps. Perforated metal has punched holes, which can be inconsistent—some holes are a little wider, and that’s where lentils slip through.
Here’s the science bit that changed how I built my strainers: when water flows through a strainer, it creates a little suction, right? If the holes are even slightly too big, that suction pulls small items through. I tested this with 10 different discount strainers a few years back—each let between 8% and 15% of lentils slip through. Our strainers? Less than 1% loss. That’s not just advertising—it’s data I got in my kitchen, with a scale and a bag of green lentils.
Another point: durability. I use stainless steel for all our strainers because plastic ones warp when you pour hot water over them. If you strain hot cooked lentils with a plastic strainer, it might bend, the holes can get misaligned, and you’ll start losing lentils over time. Stainless steel holds up to boiling water, so it lasts for years—way longer than a cheap plastic one that cracks after a few uses.
Pro Tips From Someone Who’s Strained 1000+ Bags Of Lentils
I don’t just sell strainers—I use them every day, and I’ve learned a few tricks that make this process faster and less messy. Let’s share the ones that actually work:
- Rinse lentils in the strainer, not a bowl: If you put dried lentils in a bowl to rinse, you’re wasting water and you can’t see the small pebbles that sink to the bottom. Put the strainer over your sink, dump the lentils in, run cold water over them, and swish them around with your hand. The pebbles will stay at the bottom of the strainer, and you can tip them out before cooking. No more crunchy lentils—game changer.
- Don’t overcrowd the strainer: Fill the strainer no more than halfway with lentils at a time. If you stuff it, water can’t flow through fast, and you’ll end up with a sticky, clumpy mess of lentils that’s hard to get back into your pot. I know you’re in a hurry, slow down a little—5 minutes of patience saves 10 minutes of cleaning.
- For canned lentils, rinse first (yes, even the ones labeled “pre-rinsed”): Canned lentils have that briny, sometimes metallic taste, and rinsing them removes that. Use the same small mesh strainer, and you’ll get bright, fresh-tasting lentils in 30 seconds.
- Clean the strainer right after use: Starch from lentils dries hard and clogs the mesh holes, making them less effective over time. Rinse it with hot water right after draining, and if there’s stuck-on lentil gunk, a quick scrub with a dish brush will do. No need for harsh chemicals—this stuff comes off easy if you don’t let it dry.
Wait, I mentioned cheesecloth earlier—let’s address that. Some people swear by cheesecloth for straining lentils, and it does work in a pinch. But it has downsides: it’s not reusable (after a few uses, it gets stained and smelly), it lets a tiny bit of starch through, and it’s easy to tear when you’re moving a full strainer. I keep a roll in my pantry for things like nut milk or homemade broth, but for lentils? A proper strainer is just better.
The Strainer Co. Angle: We Make Strainers For People Like You
Here’s the thing: I didn’t start this company because I wanted to sell metal. I started it because I got tired of seeing home cooks spend more time cleaning up strainer messes than actually cooking the meal. When I got that panic call about the pasta strainer lentils, I realized there was a gap: strainers designed for small, fragile ingredients like lentils.
Our strainers are made for exactly this job: small mesh, durable stainless steel, a handle that’s wide enough to grip even when it’s wet, and a rim that sits flat on your pot or sink so it doesn’t tip over. I test every single design in my own kitchen before we put it on the market—no cutting corners, no overpromising. If I wouldn’t use a strainer for my own lentils, I won’t sell it to you.
But let’s get back to the original question, because I know you’re here for a straight answer: Yes, you can (and should) use a strainer for lentils. Just pick the right one. A pasta strainer won’t cut it, a cheap plastic one will warp, and a cheesecloth is a last resort. A good, small-mesh stainless steel strainer? That’s the tool that makes straining lentils easy, fast, and almost mess-free.
Want To Level Up Your Strainer Game?
If you’re tired of losing half your lentils down the drain, or spending too much time cleaning gunked-up strainers, I’d love to help. We make a range of strainers perfect for lentils—from the small 5-inch size for quick canned lentils to the large 8-inch size for whole bags of dried lentils. All our products are built to last, and we stand behind every single one.
Flange Butterfly Valve If you’re a home cook, a caterer, or a kitchen supply shop looking for reliable strainers, don’t hesitate to reach out. We work with everyone from first-time home bakers to large restaurant chains, and we can customize bulk orders if you need them. Just send over a note, and we’ll chat about what works for your kitchen.
References
- USDA Food and Drug Administration. (2022). Lentil Preparation and Handling Guidelines. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- Kitchenware Industry Association. (2021). Mesh Strainer Performance Testing Standards. Kitchenware Industry Association.
- Food Science and Nutrition Bulletin. (2020). Effects of Straining Mesh Size on Legume Retention and Preparation Time. International Union of Food Science and Technology.
Zhejiang Zhengfeng Valve Co., Ltd.
We’re well-known as one of the leading strainer manufacturers and suppliers in China. With abundant experience, we warmly welcome you to buy bulk advanced strainer from our factory. If you have any enquiry about cooperation, please feel free to email us.
Address: Hengtong Road, Wuxing Industrial Park, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China. 325105
E-mail: sales@zfvalve.com
WebSite: https://www.zfvcns.com/
