A straining aid is a kitchen tool used to separate liquids from solids. The two crossword solutions for this term are 'MESH' (4 letters) and 'COLANDER' (8 letters). A MESH is a type of fabric made from interwoven strands of metal, plastic, or other materials. It is often used as a strainer to separate solids from liquids. A COLANDER is a bowl-shaped kitchen utensil with holes in it. It is also used to strain liquids from solids.