295783 Sun Jan 18 11:21:46 -0800 2004 21 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1626942 I've never had good luck with salad spinners--the ones I've tried over the years don't really do a very good job. But, I haven't bought a new one in over 5 years and am wondering if they're are any out there that actually dry lettuce.... Sun Jan 18 11:21:46 -0800 2004 0 bigface 1 1626944 I use a cheap no name spinner purchased well over 10 years ago from a local variety store. It works like a dream. I think the key is to get one with a crank and to make sure the water drains out when you spin it. Sun Jan 18 11:31:49 -0800 2004 1626942 0 Dipsy 1 1626949 I like the OXO. I've heard from a couple of heavy users though that the mechanism wears out. I've had mine for a couple of years and it is still fine, but I eat out often so it doesn't really get a workout... Sun Jan 18 12:56:51 -0800 2004 1626942 0 smiles 1 1626955 I love the OXO; threw away my other ones. Has worked for years. Sun Jan 18 14:32:57 -0800 2004 1626942 0 Karl S. 1 1626959 I've never heard a bad thing about either the Zyliss or the Oxo (and I used to work in a cookware store. Those were actually the only two we eventually carried due to complaints about other brands). I would personally stay away from the crank models, which another poster recommended. I have the Zyliss and it works perfectly. Sun Jan 18 14:55:32 -0800 2004 1626942 0 kiliki 2 1626976 I owned (note: past tense) a crank-type model spinner that I'd picked up at Crate & Barrel some years ago. It looked pretty damn cool! Only problem was that the mechanism broke down after only a couple months, soooo....now I just eat meat!! ;) I've tried the OXO spinner a number of times -- seems good. Can't speak to its long-term durability, tho. Sun Jan 18 18:23:45 -0800 2004 1626959 0 Mark Lee 1 1626975 Some cheap, plastic, no name brand, I bought for a couple of dollars twenty years ago, still works like a charm. Sun Jan 18 18:12:06 -0800 2004 1626942 0 2chez mike 1 1626982 For years I made salads only once in a blue moon, because I hated my salad spinner. Then I bought the OXO. Spins like a charm, doesn't require any elbow grease, and you can push down on the pump with one hand while you hold a glass of wine in the other hand (because the bottom of the salad spinner has non-slip thingies). Even has a nifty brake button to stop the spinning. How cool is that. Yeah, I hear the Zyliss is good too. But the string may eventually break. And call me neurotic, but I'd have hygiene issues with the string, which you can't just remove and wash. Sun Jan 18 19:07:07 -0800 2004 1626942 0 bobsyeruncle 2 1627000 AMEN!!!! Sun Jan 18 23:03:59 -0800 2004 1626982 0 Sweet Pea 2 1627004 Megadittos on the OXO! Mon Jan 19 00:11:25 -0800 2004 1626982 0 Bob W. 2 1627009 I agree, I never liked the string on some of the spinners, IMHO they were too high maintenance. My other issue was bulk, they are always too big for my needs or storage space. I recommend looking at the smaller of the two sizes if you have storage issues or if you make smaller salads. I bought the smaller one and I am very happy with my purchase. The pump part even locks down for easier storage. If you have ample storage I'm sure the larger one is great too. Mon Jan 19 03:24:05 -0800 2004 1626982 0 Tracy L. 2 1627106 OXO dries the leaves better than anything else I've used. Period. Tue Jan 20 10:35:35 -0800 2004 1626982 0 Sant 1 1626998 Well, I guess that I have one of the dreaded crank-type of salad spinner. It has performed fine for me, but I don't use it every day. I'm looking at it now. It is all plastic. I can't find any maker's marks. I bought it for a little bit of nothing - maybe $5.00 five years ago at TJMaxx or Marshall’s, or maybe even BigLots/MacFrugals. I find that the greens need to be washed in a BIG basin so that any gritty stuff can fall out prior to spinning. These days, I use a VERY dilute bleach solution. After a minute or so, I purge the bleach water with new tap water. If the spinner is overloaded, all of the greens won't dry adequately. Sun Jan 18 21:05:21 -0800 2004 1626942 0 BeaN 1 1627005 Embarassing to admit, but when forced to attend & purchase something at a Tupperware party, I bought one of theirs & it's great - round knob instead of a handle that whirs around & around - no drain tho, but you can use that bowl for other things. I'm sounding really frightening & nothing like myself - think I'd better stop now. Mon Jan 19 00:23:55 -0800 2004 1626942 0 torta basilica 1 1627029 I purchased an electric salad spinner in November. Can't think of the name of it. I'll check when I get home, but I love it. I do enough lettuce on Monday for salads for two people every day through Saturday. Has the water opening so I can wash the greens in the basket while it spins under running water. I still do a cold water soak before doing the wash & spin in basket. Dries the lettuce well enough. I use paper towels to grab the lettuce from the basket to take off more water, then put it in a plastic zip storage bag with paper towel in bottom and layer it up, lettuce, paper towel, lettuce, paper towel and so on. Hard to get around greens being a chore, but with a book on tape running while I'm in the kitchen, most of my work seems less tedious. Mon Jan 19 12:25:04 -0800 2004 1626942 0 Lily 2 1627091 The brand of my electric salad spinner in BonJour. It has the option to drain from bottom (or keep it closed) and comes with large salad basket, a smaller basket for herbs and berries, and the outer bowl can be used to serve your salad. Tue Jan 20 00:12:52 -0800 2004 1627029 0 Lily 1 1627074 I don't like the OXO because there is no drain. it's a pain to spin,have to drain, spin, have to drain... but the pump is very easy to use on it. I like the kinds that have a drain in the bottom, and they are hard to find. Mon Jan 19 19:19:20 -0800 2004 1626942 0 steakandeggs 2 1627094 Good point! Me, I like the OXO precisely because it doesn't have a drain. You could use the nice-looking clear bowl to store your salad greens or whatever else, or you could invert the container over a cake/tart you've baked. Spin, drain, spin, drain? I've never had that problem, but then, I only make tiny amounts of salad. Once I get off my lard-ass and start the Atkins/South Beach diet, I'll have to spin humongous amounts, I'm sure... Tue Jan 20 01:00:19 -0800 2004 1627074 0 bobsyeruncle 3 1627194 I have an OXO - and its rather clumsy. I regret that its so big, and i don't have the space to put it away properly...so it sits on my draining rack most of the time. The worst part, is that the top (with the spinning mechanism) is really getting dirty -- is it possible to take it appart and clean it... I've tried,,,and I can't get it appart! Tue Jan 20 18:13:29 -0800 2004 1627094 0 Cheesehead-in-Recovery 4 1627210 Don't take it apart. I put ours through the dish washer. Eventually it will dissolve the glue that holds two parts together so don't do it often. It is washable. Tue Jan 20 19:09:05 -0800 2004 1627194 0 wally 1 1627126 I want to focus on my salad. Tue Jan 20 13:45:16 -0800 2004 1626942 0 Ralph 2 1627156 Hahahahahah! Classic! Too funny -- thanks for my first laugh-out-loud response to a CH post today. Free Martha! Tue Jan 20 15:58:29 -0800 2004 1627126 0 Mrs. Smith