Ina Garten, better known as the Barefoot Contessa, is one of America's most trusted figures in all things culinary, and for a good reason. The TV host has shaped our kitchen cabinets for decades – and her influence spans everything from weeknight dinner recipes to those slightly overlooked appliances that every home should have. The latter is the case with her salad spinner, formerly known as the OXO Good Grips Large Salad Spinner – but in true Garten style, she puts hers to use in the most unconventional (yet ingenious) way we've observed to date.
According to her Barefoot Contessa FAQ page (the same place in which she shared her favorite salad spinner), Garten revealed that she likes to wash her fresh herbs and dry them in a salad spinner (most likely the OXO Good Grips model, since it's the one she recommends). From there, she places them 'in a plastic storage bag with a slightly damp paper towel,' for herbs last for between two and three weeks.
This Garten-approved spinner has a one-handed pump for maximum drying with minimum effort. We love that it has a patented brake that immediately stops the basket with a simple press.
A quick look at the salad spinner's specs makes it understandable why Garten swears by this model in her kitchen. It features a clever lid that's great for stacking and storing (perfect for meal prepping), while its non-skid base keeps the bowl stable during use. We also love how the durable clear bowl simultaneously doubles as a storage or serving bowl because hosting season is upon us, after all.
With all that said, however, if you'd rather dry your lettuce without a spinner, Garten has a trick for that, too. During an appearance on the Today Show, she demonstrated how to dry wet greens by placing damp lettuce inside a large kitchen towel before gathering the ends (so that the greens are held in the middle) and spinning the towel in the air. This force moves the water clinging to the leaves outwards, where it's consequently absorbed by a towel. This is where specially designed, super-absorbent products, such as this lettuce wrapper [also available on Amazon], work perfectly.
Made from ultra-soft microfiber with a terry weave design, absorbs more moisture than traditional cotton towels, ensures your leafy greens stay crisp and fresh longer.
Since we're in the mood for expertly washed salad, we can't help but also browse these picks from OXO – the same manufactures behind Garten's salad spinner. We expect they're just as useful, and deserve a place on even the most compact of kitchen countertops.
This airtight, space-efficient design keeps dry foods fresh and your pantry organized.
With its swiveling twin blades, this tool has a flexible action to easily peel potatoes, apples, and other tough-skinned food.
This scraper is great for cutting dough, sectioning crusts, scraping baking sheets, chopping veggies, and more.
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