Product Description
OXO's Salad Spinner – A different "Spin" on lettuce
OXO's Salad Spinner was inspired by a children's top, illustrating how even the most basic products can influence design innovation. Before its introduction in 1998, crank or pull-tab salad spinners were considered high-end products. Some people even used the spin cycle of their washing machine to dry lettuce. The easy-to-use OXO Salad Spinner turned the tool into an everyday kitchen essential.
Fun Fact: Recently, OXO's Salad Spinner was turned into a portable centrifuge to diagnose anemia in rural parts of the world.
Problems Identified
- Difficult to Start: Pull-string and crank-style spinners require fine motor skills and strength to begin the spinning motion.
- Soggy Lettuce: Some salad spinners do not achieve high levels of RPM, leaving users with damp lettuce that has to be "towel-dried" before serving.
- Cumbersome to Operate: Spinners commonly spin out of control on countertops unless one hand is holding it down tightly while the other is pulling or cranking.
- Troublesome to Clean: It is not uncommon for lettuce to get caught in the lid of a salad spinner.
The Process
- Push of a button: During user research, the development team learned that people inherently enjoy the action of pressing down on a button. Not only is it fun and easy to do, but it gives them a sense of satisfaction that something is working.
- Use the force: Early in the development process, the designer actually calculated the surface tension of water droplets on lettuce. This helped determine the precise level of centrifugal force required dislodge the water and dry the lettuce without damaging it.
- Weeble-Wobble: The centrifugal force required to dry lettuce without bruising it was so high that the Spinner had a tendency to walk or wobble all over the countertop. Because of this, users had to use two hands – one to pump and the other to hold the Spinner steady.
- A Separate Piece: Our first attempt at a take-apart lid included pull tabs that held the lid securely together, but required too much force to separate the pieces.
OXO's Solutions
- Get Pumped: The pump-style design makes it very easy for people of all ages and abilities to use without the need for significant hand strength or fine motor skills.
- Dry Idea: Continuous turning in the same direction allows the Salad Spinner basket to achieve higher RPM than most other spinners, resulting in the driest, crispest lettuce possible.
- Won't Slip: A combination of a non-slip ring bonded to the bottom of the bowl and the downward force from the pump keep the Salad Spinner steady on the table, allowing users to operate it with just one hand.
- Easy-to-clean: The clear lid immediately signals whether there is leftover lettuce caught inside and it comes apart with a simple pull to wash thoroughly.
The OXO Story:
In 1990, OXO staged a revolution (of sorts) by offering an easy-to-use, high-performing alternative to uncomfortable and ineffective kitchen gadgets. OXO's innovative take on the traditional Swivel Peeler, complete with its pudgy black handle, raised consumers' expectations of what could be expected from household products.
Today OXO offers over 800 products, each developed with a close (some might say "obsessive") attention to detail. Our goal is to deliver products that maximize comfort AND performance, illustrating our mission to create innovative consumer products that make everyday living easier.
Ever wonder what makes an OXO product an "OXO Product"?
OXO employees believe there are two rules that should guide product development: First, every new product must deliver a significant improvement over the status quo. Second, the functionality should never be sacrificed to make the product more attractive – above all it should work well.
| Price: |
$29.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details |
| as of Tue, 12 Feb 2013 11:23:43 GMT | |
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #74 in Kitchen & Housewares
- Size: Large
- Color: Clear
- Brand: OXO
- Model: 32480
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 10.25" h x 10.25" w x 6.75" l, 2.50 pounds
Features
- Fun, simple operation requires only one hand
- Nonslip knob is soft and cushioned; brake button stops spinning with a fingertip
- Great for washing and drying lettuce, herbs, greens
- Plunge-style knob locks down for easy storage
- Dishwasher-safe on top rack
Amazon.com
Washing and drying leafy vegetables has never been simpler or more fun than with this gadget. One hand is all you need to press the soft, cushioned knob to start the spinning; when the built-in brake is applied and the job is done, the basket and bowl can be taken apart and used separately. The knob locks down for easy storage, and the spinner is dishwasher-safe. Use this tool with lettuce, raw spinach, broad-leafed herbs, and greens--they end up clean and oh-so-dry, and the drier your leaves, the better salad dressings will adhere and the less mushy your sandwich bread will become. Puddles at the bottom of your salad bowl disappear... Good Grips products are moderately priced and have won the Tylenol/Arthritis Foundation Design Award. --Laurie Notaro
From the Manufacturer
For fun and easy salad preparation, try the OXO GOOD GRIPS Salad Spinner. Simply press the soft, non-slip knob to start the basket spinning. Easy, one-handed operation makes this Spinner a pleasure to use, and a built-in brake stops the Salad Spinner so you can unload it.
- Easy, one-handed operation
- Soft, non-slip knob locks down for convenient storage
- Basket and non-slip bowl may be used separately
- Dishwasher safe
About Oxo
OXO International is dedicated to providing innovative consumer products that make everyday living easier. From cooking and cleaning to baking, barbecuing and gardening, OXO's easy-to-use products are designed with an emphasis on comfort, quality and value. From our signature Good Grips collection to our Softworks product line, consumers around the world - of all ages and abilities - delight in Oxo's award-winning and revolutionary designs.
Oxo Products
All OXO products are manufactured using the highest quality materials, measured against the most stringent standards in the business. We've taken every step to ensure that the best possible products are available to consumers in all markets. Ergonomic designs and ground-breaking innovations are based on comprehensive research and extensive interviews. Add that all together and it's simple: OXO products feel great, look great and perform with excellence.
Good Grips products feature soft, flexible handles made out of Santoprene®, a processed rubber, to ensure a comfortable grip. Embedded 'fins' on handle sides flex under pressure and conform to individual finger grips. The fins also give users control even when the handle is wet or slippery. Our large handles are proportionately designed to fit easily in the palm. And all OXO products contain over-sized holes for easy hanging.
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