Lower a batch of fries into bubbling oil and you need one tool to lift them out fast, drained, and unbroken. A spider skimmer does that better than tongs, a slotted spoon, or a colander ever will.
A great spider gets a wide, well-drained catch out of hot liquid in one clean scoop, with a handle that keeps your knuckles clear of the steam and splatter. Whether you fry weekly, blanch vegetables for the freezer, or fish dumplings and noodles out of a rolling boil, the right skimmer turns a fiddly job into a single motion.
| Skimmer | Standout features | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiware 7-Inch Spider Strainer Skimmer | 7-inch bowl, 18/8 steel, double-coil wire, heat-insulating handle | Budget | |
| Anaeat Spider Skimmer Set of 3 | Three sizes in one set, sturdy frame, ergonomic long handles | Budget | |
| Dehov Spider Strainer and Mesh Set | Two-piece spider plus fine-mesh strainer, lightweight hollow handle | Mid-range | |
| ChefBee 5.3-Inch Spider Skimmer | Compact 5.3-inch bowl, thickened coil, 15-inch reach | Budget | |
| OXO Good Grips Spider Skimmer | Deep open basket, soft non-slip grip, long angled handle | Mid-range | |
The price column shows a general tier only. Prices move often, so tap a link for the live figure on Amazon.
How to choose a spider skimmer
Spiders look similar at a glance, but a few features decide whether one lifts a full batch cleanly or leaves you fishing for stragglers. Here is what actually matters.
Bowl size and depth
Match the bowl to your pots and portions. A wide 7-inch bowl clears a full batch of fries or a pot of pasta in one scoop, while a compact 5-inch bowl is easier to steer inside a wok or a small saucepan. Depth matters too: a deeper basket holds more and drains better without spilling. If you cook for a crowd, size up; if you mostly cook for one or two, a smaller bowl is quicker to handle.
Wire net versus fine mesh
Most spiders use an open wire coil that drains fast and lifts chunky foods like dumplings, fritters, and vegetables. A fine-mesh strainer, by contrast, catches tiny particles and skims fat or foam from stocks and soups. Wide wire is faster and stronger; fine mesh is more precise. If you want both jobs covered, a set that pairs a spider with a mesh strainer, like the Dehov, saves buying twice.
Handle length and heat safety
A long handle is not a luxury when you are reaching over spitting oil or a rolling boil. Look for enough length to keep your knuckles clear, and note how the handle manages heat. Solid stainless handles can warm up, so several designs insulate the grip or add a soft, non-slip coating like the OXO. A secure hold with wet or oily hands is a safety feature, not just a comfort one.
Build quality and materials
Food-grade 18/8 or 304 stainless steel resists rust and stands up to high heat and acidic foods. The frame matters as much as the net: a double-coil or thickened-coil design keeps the bowl from bending or deforming when you lift a heavy, full scoop. Smooth, polished wire also releases food more easily and cleans faster than rough edges that trap residue.
Single tool or a set
A single well-sized spider covers most cooking, but a set of graduated sizes lets you match the tool to the pot every time, and a spider-plus-mesh pairing adds the fine straining a wide-wire bowl cannot do. Weigh the extra drawer space against how varied your cooking is. Frequent fryers and stock makers get real use from the extras; occasional cooks are well served by one good spider.
Hiware 7-Inch Spider Strainer Skimmer (Best Overall)
The best seller here is a solid, do-everything spider built from food-grade 18/8 stainless steel with a generous 7-inch bowl about 2 inches deep. That size lifts a real batch of fries, wontons, or blanched greens in one pass, and the properly proportioned slots let oil and water drain away instead of pooling. A double-coil wire design resists bending under a heavy scoop, the long handle keeps your hand away from splatter and stays cool to hold, and a hanging loop makes storage easy. It is the balanced, sensibly priced pick most kitchens should start with.
Pros
- Wide 7-inch bowl lifts full batches in one scoop
- Food-grade 18/8 stainless steel resists corrosion
- Double-coil wire stays rigid under load
- Long handle keeps hands clear of oil and steam
- Hanging loop for tidy storage
Cons
- Coarse wire lets very small pieces slip through
- Large bowl can feel big in a small saucepan
- No soft grip on the handle
Best for: anyone who wants one versatile skimmer for frying, blanching, and wok cooking.
Budget tier. Check price on Amazon
Anaeat Stainless Steel Spider Skimmer Set of 3
Rather than one bowl size, the Anaeat set gives you three, so you can match the skimmer to the pot instead of forcing it. The small one suits a saucepan of blanching peas, the large one clears a wide pot of pasta or a wok of stir-fried noodles. All three use stainless wire nets on a sturdy outer framework that resists deforming, with long ergonomic handles that keep hot splashes at a distance and hanging holes for storage. For a modest price it is the flexible, whole-kitchen answer.
Pros
- Three sizes cover small pots to wide woks
- Sturdy outer frame resists deforming
- Long ergonomic handles for splash protection
- Hanging holes on each for storage
- Strong value across the set
Cons
- Three tools take more drawer or rack space
- Smaller sizes see less frequent use
- Wire net is coarse, not fine mesh
Best for: cooks who want the right bowl size for every pot without compromise.
Budget tier. Check price on Amazon
Dehov Spider Strainer with Fine Mesh Fat Skimmer
The Dehov is really a two-in-one: a coarse spider strainer for lifting fried and blanched foods, plus a fine-mesh strainer that skims fat, foam, and tiny particles from soups and stocks. That mesh piece is the difference maker for anyone who clarifies broth or wants to catch small aromatics the wide-wire spiders let slip. Both are food-grade stainless with a double-coil reinforced frame, and a lightweight hollow handle keeps them comfortable to hold even when lifting heavy food from boiling water. Both pieces are dishwasher safe.
Pros
- Includes a fine-mesh strainer for fat and foam
- Coarse spider handles frying and blanching
- Double-coil frame resists warping
- Lightweight hollow handle with storage hook
- Both pieces are dishwasher safe
Cons
- Fine mesh needs careful cleaning to clear residue
- Smaller bowl than the largest single spiders
- Two pieces to keep track of
Best for: soup and stock makers who also want a fry-and-blanch spider in the same purchase.
Mid-range tier. Check price on Amazon
ChefBee 5.3-Inch Spider Strainer Skimmer
The ChefBee is the nimble everyday spider, with a 5.3-inch bowl that sits comfortably in a wok or standard frying pan without crowding it. The concave net catches food while releasing grease and residue, and a thickened coil keeps the frame from bending when you lift a full scoop. At about 15 inches overall the handle gives enough reach to keep your hand out of the splatter zone while staying easy to maneuver. It is a low-cost, well-judged size for solo cooks and smaller pots.
Pros
- Compact 5.3-inch bowl suits woks and pans
- Thickened coil resists bending
- Concave net drains grease well
- 15-inch handle keeps hands clear
- Budget-friendly single skimmer
Cons
- Smaller batches than a 7-inch bowl
- Coarse net misses very fine pieces
- Basic handle without a grip coating
Best for: solo cooks and wok users who want a maneuverable, well-sized everyday spider.
Budget tier. Check price on Amazon
OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Spider Skimmer
OXO’s version leans on the comfort and build quality the brand is known for. A deep, open basket is shaped for efficient straining of blanched, boiled, or fried foods, and the wire coil design cradles delicate items so they come out intact. The standout is the long, angled handle capped with a soft, non-slip grip that stays secure even with wet or oily hands, a genuine safety plus over bare-metal handles when you are working near hot oil. It is the pick for anyone who values a sure, comfortable hold.
Pros
- Deep basket strains efficiently in one lift
- Wire coil cradles delicate foods
- Soft non-slip grip stays secure when wet
- Long angled handle for a comfortable reach
- Trusted, well-built kitchen brand
Cons
- Costs more than the plain stainless spiders
- One size only
- Soft grip is hand-wash friendlier than dishwasher
Best for: cooks who prioritize a comfortable, secure grip while frying and straining.
Mid-range tier. Check price on Amazon
The verdict
Best overall
The Hiware 7-inch spider is the best seller and the smart default. Its wide, well-drained bowl lifts full batches in one scoop, the double-coil frame stays rigid under load, and the long, cool-to-hold handle keeps you clear of splatter, all at a budget price that is easy to say yes to. Check price on Amazon
Best value
The Anaeat set of three turns one purchase into a skimmer for every pot, from a small saucepan of peas to a wide wok of noodles. Sturdy frames and long handles across all three sizes make it the flexible, whole-kitchen pick for very little money. Check price on Amazon
Best premium
The OXO Good Grips spider justifies its higher price with a deep, efficient basket and, above all, a soft non-slip grip that stays secure with wet or oily hands. For cooks who want the most comfortable, confident hold near hot oil, it is the standout. Check price on Amazon
Frequently asked questions
What is a spider skimmer used for?
A spider is a wide, shallow wire basket on a long handle, built to scoop food out of hot oil or boiling water quickly and with good drainage. It excels at deep-frying, blanching vegetables, and lifting dumplings, wontons, or noodles from a rolling boil. Compared with tongs it grabs a whole batch at once, and compared with a slotted spoon it drains far better because the open net sheds liquid instantly.
What size spider should I buy?
Pick the size around your usual pots and portions. A 7-inch bowl suits big batches, a wide pot of pasta, or frying for a family, while a 5-inch bowl is easier to control in a wok or a small pan and better for cooking for one or two. If you cannot decide, a graduated set gives you both, and there is little downside beyond a bit more storage space.
Can a spider skimmer handle hot oil safely?
Yes, that is its core job. Food-grade stainless steel tolerates deep-fry temperatures without trouble, and the open design drains oil fast so food comes out crisp rather than greasy. The safety detail to check is the handle: a long handle keeps your hand out of the splatter zone, and an insulated or non-slip grip helps you keep a firm hold. Always lift slowly to avoid flicking hot oil.
Wire net or fine mesh, which is better?
They do different jobs. Open wire drains fastest and is strong enough for chunky foods and heavy scoops, which covers most frying and blanching. Fine mesh catches small particles and skims fat or foam, which matters for clear soups and stocks. Neither is strictly better; if you regularly do both kinds of cooking, a set that includes a mesh strainer alongside the spider is the tidiest solution.
How do I clean and store a spider skimmer?
Most stainless spiders are dishwasher safe, though a quick hand wash with hot, soapy water and a brush clears oil from the wire net fastest and preserves the finish. Make sure it dries fully to avoid water spots, and hang it by its loop or lay it flat. Fine-mesh strainers need a little more attention to clear trapped residue, so rinse them promptly before anything dries on.
This article may contain affiliate links; see our Affiliate Disclosure.