Buying guide
Salad Spinner Buying Guide (2026)
How to choose a salad spinner: pump, crank, or pull cord, capacity, bowl against basket size, storage, and cleaning.
Pick the mechanism first: pump, crank, or pull cord
There are three ways to drive a basket, and each suits a different cook. A pump, as on the OXO, Zyliss, KitchenAid, Farberware, and Brieftons models, is pressed with one hand and is the easiest on wrists, which makes it the best default. A crank knob, as on the Cuisinart and Amazon Basics models, is the simplest and hardest to break, which suits buyers who value durability over speed. A pull cord, as on the Zyliss Easy Spin line, spins fastest and dries hardest, but the cord lid needs careful cleaning, since the cord channel can hold moisture. Choose the mechanism that fits your hands before you compare capacity.
Capacity: read the basket, not the bowl
Leaves sit in the basket, so the basket size decides how much you can spin at once. The OXO Large bowl holds 6.22 quarts but its basket holds 4.4 quarts, and the Farberware bowl holds 6.65 quarts with a 5.25-quart basket. For a family, buy 5 quarts or more of basket capacity; for one or two people, 3 to 4 quarts is enough; for herbs and berries alone, a small spinner like the OXO Little is the right tool. A basket that is too big for the load dries unevenly, since small loads rattle around.
The brake is worth paying for
A brake stops the basket at once so you can check the leaves and spin again, while a spinner without one coasts to a stop and wastes time. The OXO, Zyliss, KitchenAid, Farberware, and Brieftons models all have a brake; the Cuisinart and Amazon Basics models do not. If you spin daily, the brake is the feature you will notice most, and it is worth the step up from the cheapest crank spinners.
Storage: measure before you buy
A spinner is a bulky item, and a spinner that does not fit its cupboard ends up on top of the fridge, where it collects dust and stops being used. Measure the shelf before ordering: the OXO Large is 10.25 inches across, the KitchenAid is 10.63 inches across and 8.86 inches high. If space is tight, buy a collapsible model like the Prepworks 4-quart, which folds to a third of its height, or the Brieftons 6.2-quart, which collapses flat while holding a family-size load.
Cleaning and care
Every spinner here is dishwasher safe in whole or in part, but the lid is the part that needs attention. Pump lids have moving parts that hold water, pull-cord lids have a cord channel that can hold moisture, and collapsible bowls have seams where water sits. Dry the lid by hand after washing, shake the bowl out, and let the parts air dry before stacking them away. A spinner that is put away damp grows smells, and a smelly spinner is a spinner that gets thrown away.
Questions, answered
How do I use a salad spinner properly?
Wash the leaves in the basket, lift the basket out, tip the water away, put the basket back in the bowl, and spin. Check the leaves after the first spin, tip any water out of the bowl, and spin again if they are still damp. Do not pack the basket tight, since packed leaves trap water and dry unevenly.
Can I wash fruit in a salad spinner?
Yes. Berries, grapes, and small fruit wash well in the basket, and a gentle spin dries them without bruising. Use a small spinner for berries, since a large basket leaves them rattling around, and spin gently rather than at full speed.
Why are my greens still wet after spinning?
Either the basket was packed too tight, the bowl still held water from the wash, or the spin was too short. Tear the leaves, spin in two smaller loads, tip the water out of the bowl between spins, and spin a second time. Hearty leaves like kale hold more water than soft lettuce and may need an extra spin.