A salad spinner is an essential investment if you offer salad on your menu. These handy kitchen tools remove excess water from different types of leafy greens, allowing you to prevent soggy salads, keep your greens fresh, and ensure the best possible dish for your guests. With a wide variety of salad spinners available, it can be challenging to find one that best fits your needs. To help you make an informed decision, we'll outline the best types of salad spinners based on different criteria.
Shop All Commercial Salad Spinners
Check out our top choices for the best commercial salad spinners:
Best Salad Spinner Overall: OXO 32480 Good Grips
Best Electric Salad Spinner: Delfield SALD-1 20
Best Stainless Steel Salad Spinner: OXO 1071497
Best Plastic Salad Spinner: Garde 181BSD5GL
Best Budget Salad Spinner: Choice 176DRYER5GL
Note: All prices are current to time of publication. See product page for updated pricing.
The OXO 32480 Good Grips salad spinner features a 5 qt. spinner basket, which is the optimal size for entree-sized and shared salads. It also comes with a 6 qt. plastic bowl base for tossing toppings and dressings before serving, as well as a non-skid bottom that holds everything securely in place. The basket can be removed to function as a colander, allowing you to rinse your produce before spinning it dry. After use, the lid, basket, and bowl can be easily disassembled for thorough cleaning and sanitizing. Each spinner has a storage lock that holds the pump flush with the lid, saving space and keeping all components together.
Shop the OXO 32480 Good Grips | $29.99Read customer reviews for the OXO 32480 Good Grips.
- One-handed pump efficiently dries greens with minimal effort
- Patented spinner brake immediately stops basket with a single press
- Spinner basket separates from bowl to function as a colander for rinsing greens
- Clear bowl base can be used for serving or storage
- Not ideal for preparing bulk salad
- Plastic material isn't as durable as others
The Delfield SALD-1 20 is designed with easy operation in mind. All you have to do is place lettuce in the unit, set the timer, and continue working on other tasks while your lettuce and salad greens are dried. Constructed with an 18-gauge stainless steel exterior, the unit is durable, rust-resistant, and easy to clean. For added safety, its completely enclosed, water-tight motor is mounted underneath the unit, preventing any potential accidents. The inner liner is made from one-piece polyethylene plastic with 3/8" diameter holes to ensure greens are dried evenly, and the timer features selectable drying cycles of up to 5 minutes, giving you control over the drying process.
Shop the Delfield SALD-1 20 | $4,075.00Runner Up: Sammic ES-200
Read customer reviews for the Delfield SALD-1 20.
- 20 gallon capacity holds up to 18 chopped lettuce heads
- Water-tight motor and controls mounted to unit's bottom
- Adjustable on/off timer with drying times up to 5 minutes
- Includes lid and cover storing hooks
- Not suited for smaller batches of salad
- Harder to wash than countertop units
The OXO 1071497 features a durable stainless steel construction built to withstand the demands of busy kitchens. Its design ensures quick and efficient operation, which is perfect for hectic prep hours. The spinner basket can be easily removed to function as a colander, and the one-handed pump mechanism spins greens effortlessly. This salad spinner can also be stored in tight spaces, making it an excellent choice for establishments with limited kitchen space.
Shop the OXO 1071497 | $64.99Read customer reviews for the OXO 1071497.
- One-handed pump efficiently dries greens with minimal effort
- Patented spinner brake immediately stops basket with a single press
- Spinner basket separates from bowl to function as a colander for rinsing greens
- Clear bowl base can be used for serving or storage
- Stainless steel material is prone to rust
- May leave a metallic taste if not properly cleaned
The Garde 181BSD5GL quickly removes excess water with each spin of the handle, ensuring that your salad greens are dry and ready for dressing. The integrated brake system allows you to easily stop the unit with a simple press of the button, preventing any damage to the gear system. The spinner's bottom features an attached hose that efficiently drains the water, preventing re-soaking. With a generous 5-gallon capacity, this salad spinner can effortlessly handle 5-6 heads of lettuce at once. For added convenience and stability, it is equipped with suction cup feet that provide optimal stability on prep or sink bowl surfaces.
Shop the Garde 181BSD5GL | $139.99Read customer reviews for the Garde 181BSD5GL.
- Integrated brake system
- Attached drain ensures produce stays dry while using
- Manual design for easy, quick use
- Suction-cup feet secure unit to a wide variety of work surfaces
- Small drain hole
- Plastic construction is less durable than others
The Choice 176DRYER5GL efficiently dries salad greens without breaking your budget. Ideal for creating side salads or a few large signature salads, it provides a surface for salad dressing to cling, enhancing the overall taste and presentation of your dishes. The unit is designed for easy operation, and all you need to do is load chopped greens, place the lid on the body, and use the easy-to-grip handle. The bottom of the spinner features an attached hose, allowing for easy drainage of excess water without the need to tip the entire unit.
Shop the Choice 176DRYER5GL | $109.99Read customer reviews for the Choice 176DRYER5GL.
- Holds 5-6 heads of lettuce at once
- Easy-to-use operation
- Removes excess water for better portion control and savings
- Easy-to-grip handle
- Will wear down over time
- Drainage tube isn't sealed to the bottom of the spinner
How to Choose Salad Spinners
When selecting a salad spinner for your commercial kitchen, several purchasing considerations can impact which will work best for you. Carefully evaluate the needs of your menu and the types of salads you will be serving before making a decision.
1. Capacity
The capacity of a salad spinner determines how much salad you can prepare at one time. If you operate a restaurant where you serve large quantities of salad regularly, opting for a larger capacity salad spinner would be a wise choice. On the other hand, if you only offer salad on the side or it doesn't get ordered as frequently, choosing a smaller salad spinner might be more suitable for your needs.
2. Power Type
Salad spinners come in two main types: electric and manual. Consider your kitchen's volume of salad production and the level of convenience you require when selecting between them.
- Electric: Electric salad spinners are typically reserved for larger capacities and commercial settings. These units allow you to spin salads in bulk effortlessly, saving time and labor.
- Manual: Manual salad spinners require hand cranking to operate. While they may not offer the same level of convenience as electric models, manual spinners can be more efficient and cost-effective for smaller quantities of salad.
3. Material
Commercial salad spinners are available in a variety of materials. Each material offers a different level of durability, efficiency, and ease of maintenance.
- Plastic: These spinners are easy to handle and are typically dishwasher safe, making them convenient for busy kitchen environments. However, plastic salad spinners may be more prone to wear and tear over time.
- Polycarbonate: Polycarbonate salad spinners offer a durable and impact-resistant option for commercial use. They withstand heavy use in a busy kitchen without compromising on performance.
- Polyethylene: Polyethylene salad spinners are known for their excellent chemical resistance and durability. These spinners can withstand exposure to various ingredients and cleaning agents commonly used in commercial kitchens.
- Stainless steel: Stainless steel spinners are corrosion-resistant, hygienic, and easy to clean, making them ideal for high-volume salad preparation. They offer a sleek appearance and professional look in any kitchen setting.
4. Cleaning
Salad spinners can accumulate debris from salad ingredients, including stems and small bits of leaves. Being able to easily remove these remnants before you put your next batch of salad in is essential to prevent cross-contamination and ensure the freshness of your ingredients. Look for salad spinners with removable parts, or that can easily be disassembled, for thorough cleaning. Dishwasher-safe components can also make the cleaning process more convenient in a busy commercial kitchen environment.
Salad spinners help you prepare consistently great-tasting salads. With the right one, you can make sure salad greens are fresh, clean, and ready to serve. Evaluate the needs of your menu, the demand you expect from customers, and the types of salad you want to serve before making a purchase.
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