Cocktail and beverage strainers are a must-have kitchen item. With this one inexpensive kitchen appliance, you can whip up a martini, pull together one of your award-winning smoothies, and remove pulp and seeds from juice. Confused about what type you need? Read on to learn about the best cocktail and beverage strainers.
Homestia fine mesh strainer
Sifts out seeds and pulp like a champ
The Homestia fine mesh sieve strains loose tea and coffee, separates pulp from juice, and keeps lemon and lime seeds out of your mixed drinks.
Pros:
- Separates pulp from juice
- Keeps seeds out of cocktails
- Strains loose tea and ground coffee
- Stands on its own over cups and glasses
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons:
- Takes work to clean
An all-purpose strainer is one of those things you never think of buying, but once you own one, you use it all the time. Am I right? The Homestia fine mesh strainer is stainless steel, well-balanced, and has an extra-long handle that hangs over glasses and cups. It's great to use on shaved ice and fruits for cocktails, tea leaves, coffee grounds, and even sifting flour over desserts.
OXO steel cocktail strainer
Make the smoothest cocktails in town
It's durable enough to strain ice, fruit, pits, and seeds and makes an insanely smooth drink.
Pros:
- Durable stainless steel
- Soft, non-slip finger rest
- Comfortable handle
- Dishwasher-safe
- Excellent ergonomics
Cons:
- Lets small ice shards escape
You can use the OXO steel cocktail strainer one-handed, and that's a plus! The soft, non-slip finger rest at the center offers the right amount of balance and comfort. In short, the ergonomics are excellent. The stout handle on the OXO makes it easy to tuck this in a drawer or behind the bar. If you're trying to up your cocktail game, this is a must-buy!
Barfly Hawthorne classic spring bar strainer
A beautiful classic
This heavy-duty Hawthorne spring bar strainer prevents ice and seeds from making their way to drinks and has a shallow learning curve.
Pros:
- Filters ice and solids well
- Heavy-duty stainless steel build
- Resists pitting and corrosion
- Offers efficient pouring
- Gorgeous
Cons:
- Hand wash only
Hawthorne strainers are classic and still one of the most-used bar tools. This pro model from Barfly has a heavy-duty spring that catches bits of ice and other solids, and it fits over the top of all standard shakers and mixing glasses. Made from heavy-gauge stainless steel and centered with a perforation pattern that allows for smooth pouring, this is a classic-looking piece of bar equipment that's fun to use.
A Bar Above julep strainer
Shaped to fit any oval glass
The popular julep strainer never goes out of style. This professional-level stainless steel model has an ergonomic handle and an oval shape that fits any size mixing glass or shaker.
Pros:
- Fits all oval glasses
- Filters ice
- Pours quickly
- Easy to clean
- Built to last
Cons:
- Hand wash only
A julep strainer is one of the simplest, most effective strainers for any professional bartender or home bar owner. This stainless steel model from A Bar Above is heavy, durable, and fits over all oval-shaped glasses. It filters ice well, allows liquids to rush through quickly, and it's easy to clean. What more could you want?
TheBarsentials cocktail strainer set
Everything you need to make any drink on the menu
Craft any drink you can imagine with this cocktail strainer kit. For your money, you'll get three strainers and a mixing spoon.
Pros:
- Includes three strainers and mixing spoon
- High-quality
- Easy to clean
- Great gift idea
Cons:
- Requires hand washing
If you're stocking a bar for the first time, put your money on TheBarsentials cocktail strainer set. You'll get everything you need to perfect your skills, including a mixing spoon, a Hawthorne strainer, a julep strainer, and a conical fine mesh strainer. It's a great gift idea, too!
Bottom line
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So, what's the best cocktail and beverage strainer for you?
If you'd prefer an all-purpose tool that can handle ice, pulp, tea, coffee, and even flour, we're sweet on the Homestia fine mesh strainer. It catches seeds before they end up in cocktails and has so many other uses in the kitchen.
If you prefer to keep every tool on hand or you're looking for a great gift idea, grab TheBarsentials cocktail strainer set. It comes with three strainers and a long-handled spoon.