The best salad spinner for most kitchens is the OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner ↗, the one model recommended by every major test kitchen we compared. Its one-hand pump dries greens with little effort, the brake stops the basket on demand, and the wide base does not wander on the counter. For a small kitchen the compact Chef’n chops and dries in one tool, and if you want the lowest price the Cambom is the cheapest here at about $15.
We compared each spinner on what six independent test kitchens reported, including America’s Test Kitchen, Serious Eats, Epicurious, and Wirecutter, alongside current specs and prices.
Salad Spinners Compared at a Glance
| Rank | Spinner | Price (July 22, 2026)* | Mechanism | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 · Our pick | OXO Good Grips ↗ Best overall | $32.95 | Pump button | ~6.2 qt |
| #2 | Chef’s Salad Chopper + Spinner ↗ Best for small kitchens | $39.95 | Pull-cord | 4 qt bowl |
| #3 | Zyliss Easy Spin ↗ Best pull-cord | $45.89 | Pull-cord | 4 to 6 portions |
| #4 | Cambom Salad Spinner ↗ Cheapest and most compact | ~$14.99 (June 2026) | Crank knob | 3 qt |
| n/a | Cuisinart The one to skip | $17.99 | Crank knob | 3 qt |
Each pick links to Amazon in the table above. The sections below explain why each one ranks where it does.
*Prices checked July 22, 2026 and change often; check the live listing.
How Well Do They Actually Dry?
Serious Eats ran the only fully quantified test we found, spinning 5 ounces of mixed greens and weighing the water left behind. Lower means drier greens.
| Spinner | Water remaining | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Chef’n | 3.33% | Driest of all 14 tested |
| OXO Good Grips | 3.38% | Essentially tied for driest |
| Zyliss (pump model) | 4.05% | Fast and dry |
| Cuisinart | 11.90% | Among the wettest |
| Worst crank model tested | 24.31% | Barely dried at all |
Two patterns stand out. Faster, free-spinning mechanisms beat fixed cranks, which is why the pump and pull-cord models cluster at the dry end and the cheap cranks trail badly. And price did not predict drying: the budget OXO matched pricier spinners, while a rock-bottom crank left greens soaking. Our Cambom pick was not part of this independent test, so we can speak to its price and size, not its drying numbers.
The Best Salad Spinners
1. OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner: Best Overall
OXO invented the one-touch salad spinner, and its Good Grips model is still the one the test kitchens reach for, recommended in all six roundups we compared. You push a soft pump button with one hand and a brake stops the basket instantly. The wide, rubber-ringed base is the most stable of the bunch, the clear bowl lets you see the water, and it dried greens among the best in lab testing without bruising delicate herbs. The lid comes apart for cleaning and the bowl doubles as a serving bowl.
Pros: Easiest one-hand pump. Best brake. Very stable base. Roughly 6 qt, enough for a family. Bowl serves double duty.
Cons: The pump stem takes up basket space. Plastic can cloud over years of dishwashing.
2. Chef’s Salad Chopper and Spinner: Best for Small Kitchens
This compact pull-cord model does three jobs: chop, rinse, and spin dry. It posted the single driest result in the Serious Eats lab, even though its basket is smaller, and the removable colander makes rinsing easy. The chopping blade handles soft greens well, though it struggles with hardy romaine. If counter and cabinet space are tight, or you want one tool for prep and drying, this is the pick.
Pros: Driest result in lab testing. Compact 3 to 4 qt size. Chops, rinses, and dries in one tool. Removable colander.
Cons: Chopping blade does not handle hardy greens. Lid is hand-wash only. Pull-cord needs two hands.
3. Zyliss Easy Spin: Best Pull-Cord
The Zyliss Easy Spin uses a pull-cord that delivers maximum power for minimum work, with a large 4 to 6 portion basket and a brake. Bon Appetit named it their top pick for the quick, dry spin. The honest caveat: pull-cord mechanisms spin fast but are fussier to keep clean than a pump, and not every reviewer loves them, so it suits cooks who want power and capacity over the simplest possible cleanup.
Pros: Fast, powerful spin. Large 4 to 6 portion capacity. Non-slip base and brake. Bowl serves double duty.
Cons: Pull-cord is fussier to clean than a pump. The priciest pick here. Two-handed operation.
4. Cambom Salad Spinner: Cheapest and Most Compact
At about $15, the Cambom is the lowest-priced spinner here and roughly half the price of the OXO. It is a compact 3 qt crank model with a transparent bowl, a non-slip base, a lockable lid, and a separate colander, and it is top-rack dishwasher safe. Its small size suits one or two people, RVs, and camping. Being straight about it: no independent test kitchen has measured its drying, and a crank is the slowest-drying mechanism as a category, so we can vouch for its price and footprint rather than a tested drying number. If you want proven budget performance, the OXO Good Grips is the safer buy; if minimal spend and a small footprint come first, the Cambom delivers those.
Pros: Lowest price. Compact 3 qt size for small spaces and travel. Colander included. Dishwasher safe.
Cons: Crank is slower-drying than a pump or pull-cord. No independent drying test. Small capacity.
One to skip, and two we did not compare
The Cuisinart crank spinner is cheap at $17.99, but it was the weakest performer in lab testing, leaving more than three times as much water on the greens as the OXO, so spend a little more. Two models the test kitchens also rate highly are not in our lineup: the OXO Steel (the same pump in a serving-bowl-grade stainless body) and the Rösle Stainless Steel (a premium crank splurge).
Which Salad Spinner Should You Buy?
- Most people: the OXO Good Grips, for the easiest pump and proven drying.
- Small kitchens or one tool for prep: the Chef’s chopper and spinner.
- Power and capacity: the Zyliss Easy Spin pull-cord.
- Lowest price and a compact size: the Cambom.
A salad spinner’s worst enemy is trapped moisture, so take the lid apart, dry the pieces, and avoid leaving standing water in the bowl. Spun-dry greens also hold dressing better, which is what makes a crisp cucumber salad work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best salad spinner?
The OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner is the best for most people. It is the only model recommended across all six major test kitchens we compared, including America’s Test Kitchen, Serious Eats, and Wirecutter. Its one-hand pump dries greens with minimal effort, the brake stops the basket instantly, and the wide base stays put on the counter.
Are salad spinners worth it?
Yes, if you eat salad or cook with herbs often. Dry greens hold dressing instead of diluting it, and they keep longer in the fridge. A spinner removes far more water than shaking or paper towels, and the bowl doubles as a wash basin and serving bowl. If you rarely wash greens, a clean dish towel will do.
Which is better, a pump, pull-cord, or crank salad spinner?
A pump button (like the OXO) is the easiest to use one-handed and the testers’ favorite. A pull-cord (like the Zyliss or Chef’s) spins fast and feels powerful, but the cord can be fussier to clean. A crank knob is usually the cheapest and the slowest to dry, and it needs two hands. Test kitchens found that faster, free-spinning mechanisms left greens drier than fixed cranks.
What is the best budget salad spinner?
For tested budget performance, the OXO Good Grips (around $33) is the value pick the test kitchens point to. If you want the lowest price and a compact size, the Cambom Salad Spinner is the cheapest here at about $15 with a 3 qt bowl, though no independent test kitchen has measured its drying. Skip the rock-bottom crank models: in lab testing the cheapest cranks left several times more water on the greens.
How do you dry greens without a salad spinner?
Lay the washed greens on a clean, dry kitchen towel or paper towels, roll them up loosely, and pat or gently shake. For a faster version, put the greens in a clean pillowcase or mesh bag and swing it outside or over a sink. Neither gets greens as dry as a spinner, so dress salads right before serving if you skip one.
Can you store greens in a salad spinner?
Yes. After spinning, lift out the basket, pour off the water, line the bowl with a paper towel, return the greens, and refrigerate with the lid on. The dry environment keeps washed greens crisp for several days. Just avoid leaving standing water in the bottom, which speeds spoilage.
Reviewed by the Cambom Kitchen Team. Updated July 22, 2026.
