A spider strainer (漏勺, lòu sháo) is a wide, shallow wire-mesh basket on a long handle, used for scooping food from hot oil or boiling water. The mesh basket allows liquid to drain quickly while retaining solids.
Chinese kitchen use
The spider is the primary tool for wok cooking operations involving hot liquid: scooping blanched vegetables from a water wok, removing deep-fried items from oil, skimming impurities from broth. The shallow basket profile allows precise depth control in the wok.
Tempura retrieval
For tempura: lower food gently with tongs, retrieve with the spider. The wide basket supports large tempura pieces without breakage. Drain excess oil over the wok for 3–4 seconds before plating.