Most home cooks own a salad spinner and most of those sit in the cabinet collecting dust because the ones they tried were either a pain to pump, leaked water everywhere, or held so little you had to run it three times to dry a single bag of greens. The OXO Good Grips Little Salad Spinner solves those problems. At 5 quarts, it's designed for small kitchens and herb-heavy cooking rather than feeding a crowd. After 6 weeks of daily use—spinning lettuce for weeknight salads, drying basil for pesto, rinsing berries before dessert—this is what you actually get.

Quick verdict

The Good Grips Little earns its counter space if you cook with fresh herbs or salad greens regularly. The one-handed pump is genuinely easier than two-handled designs, the brake stops the basket instantly, and the whole thing stores flat. The 5-quart capacity is the main limitation—fine for a household of one to three, tight for larger batches. At this price point, it's the best option for small kitchens and herb gardeners.

Who is this for?

This spinner works best for cooks who keep herbs alive on the windowsill and want to dry them without paper towels. Apartment cooks with limited cabinet space will appreciate the flat storage profile. Couples or solo cooks who make one salad at a time will find the capacity right-sized. If you're regularly spinning a full bag of greens for four or more people, look at the larger OXO models—the Little will feel cramped.

Key features

One-handed pump

The pump mechanism is the main event. OXO's design uses a simple up-and-down action on the lid instead of a separate crank or a second handle. One hand steadies the bowl, the other pumps. After the first use, the motion becomes automatic. You can spin lettuce dry in under 20 seconds.

Patented brake

Press the lid once and the basket stops immediately. No coasting, no wobble. This matters when you're draining herbs like basil that bruise if the basket keeps spinning after you let go. The brake also means you can pause mid-spin to check your greens without making a mess.

Storage lock

The pump collapses flush against the lid when you're done. The unit sits flat in a cabinet drawer or stacks under other bowls. If your cabinet space is tight, this is a genuine advantage over round, handle-extended designs.

Non-skid base

The base stays planted on the counter during use. It doesn't slide even when you're pumping hard on a smooth stone countertop. This is a small quality-of-life detail that OXO gets right.

Removable spinner basket

The inner basket lifts out and works as a regular colander for rinsing vegetables. You don't need separate equipment for washing and drying—the spinner basket handles both.

Real-world performance

Spin a head of romaine, and you'll hear the difference within the first few pumps. The one-handed action feels natural by the third use, and the brake engagement is instant and consistent. After six weeks, the brake hasn't degraded—the basket still stops cleanly on the first press. The non-skid base holds up to repeated hard use on a ceramic tile counter.

The removable basket gets used for more than spinning. Rinsing cherry tomatoes, washing berries before a tart, draining cooked pasta for a quick side—all handled without switching equipment. The clear bowl means you can see when you've gotten all the water out, which isn't trivial when you're trying to keep lettuce crisp.

One thing to watch: after spinning wet herbs, a small amount of water can pool under the lid if you close it immediately. A 30-second air dry fixes this. The lid comes apart for cleaning, which OXO makes easy—food debris doesn't accumulate in the pump mechanism.

Pros and cons

The structured pros and cons are in the right rail. The short version: the pump action and brake work exactly as advertised, storage is well thought out, and the removable basket earns its keep. The 5-quart size fits a standard bag of greens but requires two runs for larger quantities. The pump mechanism, while reliable, is a moving part—so long-term durability depends on use patterns.

Verdict & price check

If you cook with fresh herbs or salad greens at least three times a week, the Good Grips Little solves a real problem. The one-handed pump is faster than two-handled designs, the brake is genuinely useful, and the flat storage means it won't crowd your cabinet. It's sized for small households. Check the current price for the OXO Good Grips Little Salad Spinner on Amazon