Slim Strainer
This collapsible strainer opens up like a colander, then folds down to a tenth of its original size to store.
Maker Ran Merkazy’s fascination with origami and geometry really shines through in RMDLO’s inventive, minimalist design.
Its flexible metal panels transform into a rounded strainer with BPA-free, heat-resistant handles and a built-in antibacterial drainage system. It also doubles as a steamer that fits snugly in most pots.
Like the armadillo it was modeled after, this strainer is tough. When you’re done, its metal armor collapses into a sheet that fits in a drawer.
Ran
Hello everyone! I am proud to introduce the RMDLO collapsible strainer and steamer to the Grommet. I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have!
Thomas
10/17/2016 11:05 AMHi - Looks like a great design. Not seeing exactly how it works as a steamer, though. Does it fit down into a pot, so that a lid can be place on top? If so, what keeps it suspended above the water? Thanks.
Ran – Special Guest
10/17/2016 11:17 AM@Thomas Hey, thanks for the feedback on the design Thomas. It took 10 years to perfect it :-) Regarding your question, the strainer/steamer is very flexible when open and can be squeezed or stretched to fit varying sizes of pots. Generally speaking I recommend that you use just a standard saucepan and simply cradle/wedge the utensil on top. It should sit nicely and you can simply place the lid of the saucepan on top, resting between the handles. Regarding the water, it depends how much you put in the pot but generally when steaming, you use just a little water and thus the utensil will be suspended above, catching just the steam. Another great design feature is the fact that the heat proof plastic handles don't get burning hot - although we do always advise caution when handling the utensil around open flames.
Bettina
10/17/2016 11:17 AMI like this design, but not with the huge, toxic plastic bits on it. For one thing those handles are going to prevent this fitting down far enough into the pots I commonly use for steaming. For another, and more important, BPA-free means nothing. If they're not using Bisphenol-A, they're going to be using some other momomer that does the same thing and that you also don't want leaching into your food. So, lose the plastic and make the handles less obtrusive and I'd actually consider buying this one. Function over form, always. If you put function first you can always find a good form to follow.
Ran – Special Guest
10/17/2016 12:08 PM@Bettina Thank you for the feedback. I respect all comments from the community, good and bad. However, I do please ask that you take a little time to consider how this product came to be. This was not developed by a large profit driven corporation in timed conditions, it was developed over 10 years by myself, a solo product designer who had a vision for a space saving kitchen utensil. I have worked tirelessly for 10 years to develop the RMDLO, working in my spare time, spending a lot of my savings to bring the project to life. There have been highs and lows but I stuck to the project and I truly believe in the final product I am delivering here. On that basis I think the price tag is fair especially when considering the innovative and design led features. Regarding concerns over toxicity I can reassure that all materials and components of the RMDLO are 100% safe and have been tested (+ approved) in a certified US food/hygiene safety standards laboratory.
Cathy
10/17/2016 1:02 PM@Ran I think this is a great design! Colanders/strainers are a pain to find storage space for. And I think it should be noted here that the handles appear to be sized for comfortable/safe handling of hot foods, and they also do not come in contact with the food, so there would be no leaching of unsafe chemicals (if there were any...)
Ran – Special Guest
10/17/2016 1:53 PM@Cathy Thanks for the warm feedback and support :-)
Bettina
10/17/2016 11:19 AMActually, I just saw the price. No way would I pay this much for what should cost maybe $5.00. But my other comments still apply.
Mike – Grommet Team
10/17/2016 11:25 AMHi Bettina, thanks for the comment. I think it's a bit of a stretch to imagine a product like RMDLO costing $5. We totally understand price is subjective and everyone's personal budget is different. But the years of design, which have made it flexible to fit into the pots you describe above, and the sheer innovation of the product certainly price it well above a Subway sandwich.
Craig
10/17/2016 11:21 AMIs this dishwasher safe? Appears that it would be.
Mike – Grommet Team
10/17/2016 11:29 AMIt is indeed, Craig.
And good luck to your Cubbies. We in Boston know a thing or two about decade-long World Series droughts and a solid portion of your organization are filled with ex-Red Sox.
Ran – Special Guest
10/17/2016 11:33 AM@Mike Thanks for the question Mike. It is 100% dishwasher safe. We have tested it using multiple branded machines and the plastics are fully heat proof. We have actually found that the utensil cleans just as well closed as it does open in the dishwasher - so you can even save space in there. Good luck to the Cubbies (apologies but I have limited knowledge on that one!).
Karen
10/17/2016 11:37 AMIs it made of stainless steel? Will it rust??
Ran – Special Guest
10/17/2016 11:48 AM@Karen Thanks for the question Karen. It is made of high grade stainless steel (actually spring steel so it is flexible) and no it will 100% not rust :-)
Guest
10/17/2016 11:38 AMLove, Love, LOVE this design! Dimensions please? (diam. when open?)
Gretchen
10/17/2016 11:44 AM@Guest I would like to know the dimensions too. Specifically if it would fit in my Instant Pot 6 quart.
Ran – Special Guest
10/17/2016 11:54 AM@Gretchen @Guest - thanks for the question Gretchen/Guest. Dimensions as follows:
OPEN: 10.2" (Length) x 7.5" (Width) x 5.9" (Height)
CLOSED: 15" (Length) x 3" (Width) x 1.8" (Height)
DIAMETER: 7.5"
We have tested the colander and it can hold approx 1.14 lbs of pasta maximum.
Adriana
10/17/2016 11:48 AMBecause of the rounded bottom it looks like it would be wobbly when being used as a colander. I have visions of a pound of elbow macaroni dumped out into the sink...
Ran – Special Guest
10/17/2016 11:58 AM@Adriana thanks for the comment. I am pleased to say that during the many years it took me to develop the steamer/strainer this was one of the major hurdles that I had to address and overcome. I developed a very neat and un-intrusive solution, a simple arch cut out of the middle stainless steel leaf. This forms a stability arch which is incredibly makes the utensil completely stable. Don't worry your Mac' will be safe and sound! See the test we conducted here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Al4y-XJtHA
Veronica
10/17/2016 11:58 AM@Adriana - I agree. Most colanders have feet or a base to rest in the bottom of the sink. Appears to me this is more of a steamer than a strainer.
Ran – Special Guest
10/17/2016 12:12 PM@Veronica thanks for your feedback. I completely appreciate your concerns but can reassure that the RMDLO works really well whether straining, washing salad (note that it can be squeezed to form a lip so you can shake all the water out) or steaming. I have performed many hours of tests on the RMDLO and due to the design it strains safer and quicker then an average stainless steel strainer. When pouring hot food inside, you can always rest it in the corner of the sink for extra support but the stability arch works really well regardless :-)
Denise
10/17/2016 12:05 PMRan, I'd like something like this to fit in a pressure cooker.
Ran – Special Guest
10/17/2016 12:13 PM@Denise Thanks for the feedback. It would be a great idea and maybe something I can work on in the near future, would love to involve you in the development process Denise.
Thelma
10/17/2016 12:30 PM@Ran I agree wholeheartedly with Denise - would also prefer it to fit in a pressure, preferably at least a 6 quart. Great idea, by the way! Love how it "scales" down to minimum amount of space. ????????
Denise
10/17/2016 1:01 PM@Ran - Would love to help in any way I can. I would still use this as it was intended. I love the design but I'm find that good food fast takes place in my pressure cooker these days. You can make one big one or a series of shallow ones that can nest on top of each other. I sometimes use my pressure cooker to reheat Chinese food - and sometimes you want to keep the food separate. These would be perfect to do that. Just line with foil??? (: Or maybe a different product?
Mike – Grommet Team
10/17/2016 1:55 PMHi Denise and Thelma, this is all good to know. This kind of feedback is very valuable if and when our Makers head back to the drawing board for future products.
Ran – Special Guest
10/17/2016 1:56 PM@Denise - Thanks for the info, sounds like you are a real foody ;-) Maybe we can take the conversation offsite ([email protected]), really love any ideas and consumer feedback - that is why I do what I do!
@Thelma - thanks. Yes, the "foldable" nature of the product is great. Stowe it in a cutlery draw or hang it flush to the wall, it looks great in any setting.
Linda
10/17/2016 12:25 PMHi. I love the design of the product! My question is: are the holes small enough to rinse rice? If not, would you consider creating one with smaller holes: :)
Mike – Grommet Team
10/17/2016 1:55 PMThat could be a strong possibility for the future, Linda.
Ran – Special Guest
10/17/2016 1:58 PM@Linda - thanks for the question. We have tested it with rice and although it is not 100% fall proof, we have found the results to be surprisingly good. The drainage works great and the holes are cut angular so the rice does not flow through so easily. You may well be very surprised by the versatile application of the RMDLO.
Sharon
10/17/2016 12:26 PMLooks like a great gift to myself and others. Great for RV, or apartment. I love this and will add this to my Christmas list. Congratulations
Mike – Grommet Team
10/17/2016 1:56 PMAn excellent call, Sharon. You and the people in your life are sure to love it.
Ran – Special Guest
10/17/2016 1:59 PM@Sharon - Thanks for the really positive feedback, as you can store it away so easily, it fits in well in the RV or camping.
Mary
10/17/2016 12:45 PMThis looks like a wonderful idea, and I will keep it in mind for the future, when hubby and I look into one of those "Tiny Houses" or a two bedroom home when the last kids move out. I would have loved this when we had a camper, and yes, those in small apartments, tiny homes, and who have campers can truly use this. I would like to know if you're going to produce one that fits into the pot, because (this is an assumption, please correct me if I'm wrong) the handles would not go in - even to one it would actually fit into, so that I could put the lid on. Either way, I love your idea, it's actually an incredible space saver. Good job.
Mike – Grommet Team
10/17/2016 1:57 PMHi Mary, you are right, RMDLO is perfect for small spaces or those who just want more space. The RMDLO is quite flexible so you should be able to fit it in and put a lid on top.
Ran – Special Guest
10/17/2016 2:10 PM@Mary - thanks for the feedback! Just to second Mike, we have tested the RMDLO in multiple different pot sizes and you would be quite surprised at how many it fitted in due to the versatile nature of the design. Please note that the steamer is not designed to go "inside" the pot, but instead designed to sit on top and allows for the lid to be placed on top of the utensil.
elizabeth
10/17/2016 1:01 PMGood work on this design. I am in Canada and would totally purchase it if it was not for the high exchange rate. Great idea and maybe this will come to a store near me.
Looks awesome!
Liz
Mike – Grommet Team
10/17/2016 1:57 PMThanks so much, Elizabeth. We hope to be able to ship directly to Canada soon.
Heidi
10/17/2016 1:08 PMDo you have any pictures/video of this being used as a steamer? There is a short clip of you removing it from a pot, but not of it steaming.
Ran – Special Guest
10/17/2016 2:18 PM@Heidi - thanks for your request. I am working now to snap something together and will revert back shortly. Please may I kindly ask for your patience in the interim.
LUCY
10/17/2016 1:38 PMHi I really liked the video but you need to show a video on how it works with macs. Can the RMDLO stay deep in four qts. pot. And remove to strain. You can include this demo in the vidio.
Mike – Grommet Team
10/17/2016 3:54 PMHere's a demo of what you're looking for, Lucy!