Head to head
Cuisinart 5-Qt vs Cuisinart 3-Qt Salad Spinner (2026)
Cuisinart 5-Qt CTG-00-SAS vs 3-Qt CTG-00-SSAS compared: capacity, household size, and which size you should buy.
#4 in our rankings · Best budget large spinner
Cuisinart Large Salad Spinner 5-Qt, CTG-00-SAS
Best for: Family cooks who want a large, cheap spinner with no pump to wear out and a lid that stays put.
#9 in our rankings · Best compact budget spinner
Cuisinart Salad Spinner 3-Qt, CTG-00-SSAS
Best for: One- or two-person households, and anyone who wants a small spinner for berries, herbs, and side salads.
Our recommendation
Buy the Cuisinart 5-Qt CTG-00-SAS if you cook for three or more, since it covers a family salad in one load. Buy the Cuisinart 3-Qt CTG-00-SSAS if you cook for one or two, since it stores easily, fits in the sink for washing, and dries small loads better. Both use the same crank, locking lid, and water opening, so the choice is size alone.
Capacity: 5 quarts against 3 quarts
The 5-quart spinner covers a family salad in one load, while the 3-quart spinner needs two loads for the same salad. The gap matters every night you cook: one load is a quick job, two loads is a chore. For one or two people, the 3-quart size is enough, and a larger bowl would leave small loads rattling around.
Storage and washing
The 3-quart spinner stores on a shelf where the 5-quart spinner needs planning, and it fits in a sink for washing, which the larger model does not. The 5-quart bowl is a better serving bowl, since it holds a finished family salad, while the 3-quart bowl suits a side salad for two.
What they share
Both use the same easy-to-turn spin knob, the same locking lid with an opening to add and drain water without removing the lid, and the same non-slip base. Neither has a brake, so both coast to a stop, and both are dishwasher safe. The mechanism, the lid, and the care are identical, so the only decision is size.
Choose Cuisinart Large Salad Spinner 5-Qt, CTG-00-SAS if…
- You cook for three or more people
- You want a family salad dried in one load
- You want the larger bowl for serving
Choose Cuisinart Salad Spinner 3-Qt, CTG-00-SSAS if…
- You cook for one or two people
- Your kitchen is small and storage is tight
- You spin herbs, berries, and side salads
Spec-by-spec comparison
| Spec | Cuisinart Large Salad Spinner 5-Qt, CTG-00-SAS | Cuisinart Salad Spinner 3-Qt, CTG-00-SSAS |
|---|---|---|
| Price tier | Budget | Budget |
| Capacity | 5 qt | 3 qt |
| Mechanism | Easy-to-turn spin knob | Easy-to-turn spin knob |
| Lid | Locking lid with opening to add and drain water | Locking lid with opening to add and drain water |
| Base | Non-slip base | Non-slip base |
| Care | Dishwasher safe | Dishwasher safe |
| Best for | Family cooks who want a large, cheap spinner with no pump to wear out and a lid that stays put. | One- or two-person households, and anyone who wants a small spinner for berries, herbs, and side salads. |
| Skip if | You have wrist trouble, since the crank knob asks for more effort than a pump, or you want a brake. | You cook for a family, since three quarts means several loads for a full salad. |
Strengths and limitations
Cuisinart Large Salad Spinner 5-Qt, CTG-00-SAS
Strengths
- The crank knob is the simplest mechanism in this list, with no pump seals or cord to wear out.
- Water can be added and drained through the lid opening, so the lid stays on through the whole wash and spin.
- The locking lid and non-slip base keep the spinner steady and sealed while the basket turns.
Limitations
- There is no brake, so the basket coasts to a stop and you wait for it rather than stopping it yourself.
- The crank takes more effort than a pump, and fast spinning needs a steady rhythm.
- The plastic bowl can crack if dropped or knocked hard, which is the most common complaint about this design.
Cuisinart Salad Spinner 3-Qt, CTG-00-SSAS
Strengths
- The small size stores easily and fits in a sink for washing, which the large spinners do not.
- It keeps the large model locking lid and the opening for adding and draining water without removing the lid.
- It is the cheapest way into a proper spinner from a known kitchen brand.
Limitations
- Three quarts is small for anything beyond a side salad, so family meals need repeat loads.
- There is no brake, so the basket coasts to a stop like the large model.
- The crank knob is small, so large hands may find it fiddly.
How they fit the wider field
- Cuisinart Large Salad Spinner 5-Qt, CTG-00-SAS: ranked #4 (Best budget large spinner) in The Best Salad Spinners.
- Cuisinart Salad Spinner 3-Qt, CTG-00-SSAS: ranked #9 (Best compact budget spinner) in The Best Salad Spinners.
Neither one quite right? The full rankings cover 10 picks matched to different buyers.
Made your call?
Questions, answered
Is the crank the same on both?
Yes. Both use the same easy-to-turn spin knob, the same locking lid, and the same non-slip base. The only difference is size.
Do either have a brake?
No. Both coast to a stop after you stop turning the knob. If a brake matters to you, look at the OXO Large or the Farberware Pro Pump instead.
Which is better for berries?
The 3-quart. A punnet of berries fits the small basket without being crushed, and the basket holes are small enough that berries do not slip through. The 5-quart bowl is too big for a small load of berries.