This $1.25 Dollar Tree Kitchen Tool I Use Multiple Times a Week

There are certain kitchen tools I constantly reach for, some of which include my citrus squeezer, a comfortable and sharp rasp, a 15-year-old vegetable peeler, my vegetable scrub brush, a well-worn garlic press, and a few good silicone spatulas. They're the items that have top priority in my drawer, and the ones I'd miss most if they were to disappear.

Nestled right alongside is an inexpensive little mesh strainer I grab at least three times a week. It cost me $1.25 at Dollar Tree years ago, and it's earned an equally prestigious spot in my go-to tool lineup. The small, fine-mesh Cooking Concepts strainer is the definition of low-cost, high-value; it's truly worth way more than the five quarters I paid for it.

Why I Love Dollar Tree's Mesh Strainer

This strainer ends up in my dish rack multiple times a week. I use it to strain my homemade flavored simple syrup for iced coffee, catch seeds when I'm squeezing lemons over fresh greens, rinse the brine off capers before tossing them into pasta, and dust powdered sugar over weekend waffles.

One of my favorite (and probably surprising) ways I use it is for my tea. I drink loose-leaf on occasion, and instead of investing in a proper teapot or one of those tea ball infusers, I steep my tea in a Pyrex measuring cup, then pour it through this strainer into my cup. It's become my unofficial tea ritual—simpler than fussing with specialty equipment, and it works perfectly every time.

Its size is a big part of what makes this strainer so perfect. At 3 1/2 inches in diameter, it's compact, and it's the ideal size for routine tasks—making single servings, completing quick jobs, and adding little finishing touches to make my family's meal feel special. In addition, the handle is long-ish, light, and easy to hold, and the fine mesh filters exceptionally well, without clumps or small bits slipping through.

To clean it, I either give it a quick rinse or toss it in the dishwasher. Honestly, I prefer to hand-wash it most of the time since I know it'll be ready to go when I need it. Like my other top tools, it's one of the things I'd immediately replace if broken. In fact, I thought I lost it at one point (it had just fallen behind my drawer), and I did buy another. So, now I own two (and I'm not complaining).

At the risk of stating the obvious, the best kitchen gear isn't always the result of weeks of research. Sometimes it's a lucky find in a discount store that never lets you down.

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