Salad Spinner Specs Explained
A salad spinner looks simple, but its listing still carries salad spinner specs worth reading: a bowl size in quarts, a basket size, a drive type such as pump, crank or pull-cord, a brake, a non-slip base and a dishwasher line. This explainer reads each one in plain terms, using the OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner, 6.22 Qt as the worked example.
How we wrote this: the OXO product page returned an access error when we checked in October 2026, so the measured specs below come from the Wasserstrom listing for OXO model 32480, a restaurant supply store, read in October 2026. Three features (the brake button, the lid that comes apart for cleaning and the basket used as a colander) are attributed to OXO as recorded on our product page from OXO’s salad spinner page. The rinse step follows the FDA’s page on selecting and serving produce safely. Where a source does not state a spec, we say so. Conversions marked as ours are simple arithmetic. We did not test the spinner.
The short answer
Read the bowl size as the outer container and the basket size as the room for your greens, and do not expect to fill the basket to the top. Pick a drive by how you like to work: a pump is pressed, a crank is turned and a pull-cord is pulled. Then check three smaller lines: whether there is a brake, whether the base is non-slip, and which parts the maker says can go in the dishwasher.
Step 1: Bowl capacity vs basket capacity
Spinner sizes are usually given in quarts, and many listings give only one number. Wasserstrom lists the OXO at a bowl capacity of 6.22 qt and a basket capacity of 4.95 qt. By our arithmetic, that is about 5.9 liters for the bowl and about 4.7 liters for the basket, so the basket is roughly 80% of the bowl’s volume.
That gap matters when you compare listings. The “6.22 Qt” in the product name is the bowl. Your greens go in the basket, so the basket figure is the one that tells you how much fits. The space between the basket and the bowl is where the spun-off water collects.
Even the basket figure is not how much lettuce you can dry in one load:
- The center stem: America’s Test Kitchen notes that the OXO’s center stem takes up some basket space and can bruise delicate greens if the basket is overfilled.
- No stated load: neither source we read gives a usable volume or a recommended load of greens, so we do not give one.
- Batches: if you wash a large head of lettuce or several bunches of herbs, plan to spin in more than one round rather than packing the basket.
Check the outside size too. Wasserstrom lists the OXO at 7.2 inches tall and 10 inches across, with a shipping weight of 3.12 lbs. A 10 inch bowl needs a wide shelf or a deep drawer, so measure the cupboard before you buy.
Step 2: Pump vs crank vs pull-cord
The drive is the part you work with your hand. Listings use three main names:
- Pump: a knob on the lid that you press down. Each press turns the basket.
- Crank: a handle on the lid that you turn in a circle.
- Pull-cord: a cord that you pull out of the lid and let wind back in.
The OXO uses a pump. Wasserstrom describes it as a pump-style design with a soft, non-slip grip for one-handed operation, and says the basket keeps turning in the same direction, which the listing credits for a higher spin speed. Neither source gives a spin speed figure, so treat that as the listing’s description rather than a number you can compare.
America’s Test Kitchen named the OXO its winning salad spinner, reporting that it removed more water from greens than the other models it tested and that the pump works with one hand.
Step 3: The brake button
A brake stops the basket so you can lift it out straight away. Without one, you wait for the basket to slow down by itself. OXO lists a brake button on this spinner. Neither source we read says how quickly it stops the basket, so we do not add a figure.
Step 4: The non-slip base
Pressing or turning a spinner pushes on the bowl, so the base needs to stay put on the counter. Wasserstrom lists a non-slip ring bonded to the bottom of the OXO’s bowl. If a listing does not mention the base, look at product photos for a rubber ring or feet, or ask the seller.
Step 5: Basket drainage and the rinse step
The basket is perforated so water can leave it as it spins. OXO says the basket can also be used on its own as a colander. Neither source gives the size or number of the holes, so we cannot say how fine they are. If you plan to rinse something small in the basket, check the slots in person first.
A spinner removes water after rinsing; it does not replace the rinse. The FDA says to wash all produce thoroughly under running water before preparing or eating it. It also says that washing fruits and vegetables with soap, detergent or commercial produce wash is not recommended. In practice, that means you can set the basket in the sink, rinse the greens under the tap, put the basket back in the bowl and spin.
The FDA page does not mention salad spinners, so we make no claim about what spinning does beyond removing water.
Step 6: Bowl as a serving bowl
Some spinners are sold with a bowl meant to go on the table. The sources we read for the OXO do not say whether its bowl is meant for serving, so we do not claim it. Wasserstrom lists the material as plastic, the color as white and the lid as clear, and describes the spinner as BPA free. Our insulated water bottle specs explainer covers what “BPA-free” does and does not tell you on a label.
Step 7: Dishwasher-safe parts
“Dishwasher safe” on a spinner can mean every part or only some. Wasserstrom lists the OXO as dishwasher safe without splitting it by part, and OXO says the lid comes apart for cleaning. Neither source we read says which rack to use or how the pump parts should be loaded, so check the care sheet that comes in the box.
Plastic parts also need some care. Food Network picked the OXO as its best overall spinner but noted that its thinner plastic parts could crack over time. Whatever spinner you choose, follow the maker’s care instructions and let the parts dry before you put the lid back together. For how glass and plastic storage containers word their oven, freezer and dishwasher limits, see our glass vs plastic food storage guide.
A quick checklist
- Compare basket sizes, not only the bowl size in the name.
- Leave room in the basket, and spin large amounts in batches.
- Measure your cupboard against the bowl’s diameter and height.
- Pick a pump, crank or pull-cord by feel.
- Look for a brake and a non-slip base if you want them.
- Read which parts the maker lists as dishwasher safe.
FAQ
Is a 6.22 quart spinner the same as 6.22 quarts of greens?
No. 6.22 qt is the OXO’s bowl. Wasserstrom lists the basket at 4.95 qt, and a basket packed full can bruise delicate greens, according to America’s Test Kitchen.
Do I still need to rinse greens if I use a spinner?
Yes. The FDA says to wash produce under running water before preparing or eating it. The spinner only removes the water afterwards.
Can the basket be used as a colander?
OXO says it can. Check the hole size before rinsing small items in it.
Can I put the whole spinner in the dishwasher?
Wasserstrom lists the OXO as dishwasher safe, and OXO says the lid comes apart. Check the care sheet for which rack to use.
Where to go next
For the spinner alongside knives, pans and appliances, see our kitchen tools buying guide. For another tool read spec by spec, see our chef knife specs explainer, or browse all kitchen tools.