One of my all-time best kitchen buys was the $1.99 plastic Reda colander from IKEA. I love cooking pasta, and I find myself using this colander more frequently than I would have imagined.

Eight years ago, my friend Bong kindly agreed to do an IKEA run with my sister and me. I will always remember that when I picked up a Reda and asked if I should get it, Bong asked, mocking, “Are you sure that it’s not going to melt?” I must say that I had my doubts, too. For two bucks, who knew how long the little colander would last? But here I am eight years later admiring one of my favorite kitchen tools for being light, sturdy and easy to use.

Even though I no longer need to rely on IKEA to furnish my entire household, I still enjoy sourcing goods there that are simple, well-designed and inexpensive.