A strainer is a kitchen tool used to separate solids from liquids. It can come in many forms, such as a FILTER, SIEVE, COLANDER, or tamis. A FILTER is a device that removes particles from a liquid or gas using a physical barrier, a SIEVE is a device for separating wanted elements from unwanted material, a COLANDER is a bowl-shaped strainer with many holes, and a tamis is a flat strainer with a handle. All of these tools are used to strain food items, such as pasta, vegetables, and fruits.