We all have one. That big, clunky pasta strainer that usually only gets pulled out when spaghetti night rolls around. But here’s the secret: chefs don’t just use a strainer for draining noodles. Nope—they treat it like a multi-purpose tool, almost a sidekick in the kitchen. Want to get in on the secret? Here’s how to use your pasta strainer like a chef.

1. Flip the Drain Game

Instead of setting your strainer in the sink and dumping the pot (hello, steam facial and dirty sink), try this chef-approved method:

• Place the strainer directly on top of your pot.

• Grip the strainer handles together with the pot handles, then tilt carefully to pour out the hot water in your sink.
  Your pasta stays in the pot, and you stay in control—no mess, no noodles lost to the sink.

Pro tip: Before you drain, dip a ladle into the pot and save a scoop of that starchy pasta water. Chefs use it like liquid gold to thicken sauces and help them cling perfectly to every noodle.

2. Steam Smarter

Don’t have a fancy steamer basket? No problem. Pop your strainer over a pot of simmering water, toss in your veggies, and cover with a lid. Instant steamer! It’s healthier, cleaner, and makes your broccoli taste like you actually meant it to, of course after you sprinkle it with Veggie Heaven.

3. Sift Without a Sifter

Need powdered sugar snow on your brownies? Or a quick sift for flour? Your pasta strainer can double as a giant sifter. Just shake gently over your bowl or baked goods and voilà—snow-level dusting.

4. Fry Like a Pro

Here’s a crispy trick: when deep-frying small items (like shrimp, Brussels sprouts, or donut holes), place them in the strainer first, then carefully lower it into the hot oil. It keeps things together and makes fishing them out a breeze. (Bonus: fewer burns and runaway fries!)

5. Rinse & Repeat

Yes, rinsing berries or beans in the strainer is obvious—but here’s the chef move: line your strainer with a clean kitchen towel and pour in yogurt to make creamy homemade labneh (a tangy, spreadable cheese). Place in fridge overnight on plate and let it drain. Overnight magic with zero extra tools and time.

6. Catch-All Hero

Need to drain canned beans, wash herbs, rinse lettuce? A pasta strainer’s wide net makes it a chef’s unsung safety net.

The Takeaway

Your pasta strainer is more than a one-trick pony—it’s a secret Swiss Army knife of the kitchen. So next time you boil spaghetti, remember: chefs look at a strainer and see ten different tools in one. And now, so do you. What other kitchen tools have you been missing multi use on?