Over 5,600 Shoppers Love This Best-Selling Colander With a Genius Feature That Makes It Fit Any Sink

Creating extra meal prep space in an otherwise small kitchen is easier said than done, and sometimes even requires renovations. However, Amazon is teeming with nifty products that can expand the area of your countertops and beyond. And one ingenious item that will upgrade your sink for less is the popular Blue Ginkgo Over-the-Sink Colander that's on sale for $17.

Made with durable plastic, the BPA-free colander has a sturdy design that's waterproof, allowing you to wash your favorite summer fruits and vegetables like grapes and zucchini right in the container and then leave them to dry. It has little perforated holes in the bottom, which let water drain through into the sink without any mess.

To buy: $17 (was $20); amazon.com.

What sets the in-sink colander apart from traditional bulky ones is that the Blue Ginkgo strainer has an expandable design that extends from about 15 inches to just under 20 inches. It also has lips on both ends that allow it to rest on the rim of the sink, so you can use both hands while washing items—no need to hold onto any handles.

Another clever feature is when you're done rinsing items, you can scoot the compact basket over to the side while it remains in your sink. This way, the colander can be out of the way and provide enough room to tackle your next meal prepping job.

While you can use it primarily for produce, Amazon shoppers have found other ways to use the heat-resistant colander while freeing up space, including washing shrimp, holding wontons or boiled pasta, straining coffee grounds, and drying dishes and silverware, just to name a few.

Once you're done with the strainer, you can wash it by hand or even throw it in the dishwasher for an even easier clean. Shoppers also confirm that it fits nicely in the appliance, saving time and energy trying to finagle it inside.

The collapsible strainer can certainly be stored in a cabinet thanks to its small build, however, several reviewers admit to leaving it on their sink because of how stylish it looks. And since the colander comes in nine colors and styles, including pastel and neutral options like pink, gray, and blue, it really can fit in with any kitchen decor aesthetic.

One person who called it a "kitchen must have" constantly leaves it in their sink. "I'm obsessed with this," they said. "It makes washing fruits or draining pasta so much easier, and such a simple cleanup. Also adds a nice pop of color to my kitchen."

The Amazon best-seller is extremely popular among shoppers, which is why it has more than 5,600 five-star ratings so far.

"This is something you don't know that you need until you get one," wrote another reviewer who called it a "great discovery." "It gives me more space to cook in my small kitchen, just to place ingredients while cutting other things."

Create extra space in your kitchen with the Blue Ginkgo colander while it's just $17 at Amazon.