The dollar store can be a great source of useful (and cheap!) gear, especially for teardrop trailer kitchens. Here’s a multi-functional strainer that takes up virtually no space and set me back all of $2.

There’s been a few occasions I’ve thought it would be nice to have a colander… like to rinse fresh fruits or veggies bought on road trips… but hesitated because such an item is a bulky addition to the galley of my tiny 4′ width Teardrop camper. A couple weeks ago I stumbled upon this silicone “straining net” at our local Looney Tooney store.

It essentially accomplishes what a colander does but stores flat so takes up virtually no space. And, in true minimalist Teardropping form, this one item performs multiple functions! It has hand holds so it can be used on its own for rinsing. But, since it is silcone, it can also be placed against a pot for draining cooked vegetables, pasta and such. Plus it can also be used like a rack for thawing, such that any fluids drain down from whatever frozen food you are thawing.

I store the straining net wrapped around my mini-kettle (another great galley gadget – click for blog about that), which gives it a bit of shock padding… which is I guess yet another function for it!

So, that’s how I do things with my Teardrop Trailer but by no means the full story or the best way. What about you? Add your own methods, ideas and experiences using the comment box below for the benefit of all readers.