Reviews you can trust.
See why.Funnels
One simple tool can prevent so many messes.
Top Picks
See Everything We Tested
What You Need To Know
When you need to transfer a lot of food or liquid from one container to another, you reach for a funnel—or else you're likely to slosh oil or spill peppercorns all over your counter. You pour food or liquid into the funnel's wider opening, which then narrows into a spout, directing the goods into the intended receptacle. This small tool has a major payoff: It eliminates spills and minimizes waste—but only if you have a good funnel.
Since we last tested, our winner, the Progressive Collapsible Funnel, has been discontinued, and new models are now on the market. We selected seven funnels priced from $4.41 to $14.19, using each one to transfer foods and liquids with different textures into containers of varying sizes, including peppercorns into a pepper mill, herbs and spices from bulk containers to spice jars, thick barbecue sauce from a saucepan to a squeeze bottle, and olive oil from a gallon-size jug to a smaller bottle. We also tested how easy the funnels were to store, how durable they were, and how well they suited a range of testers. Three models came in sets, so we tested any funnel in each set that was 1 cup or larger; we've found in previous testings that funnels with a smaller capacity are less versatile, as thicker liquids and peppercorns easily overwhelm them.
Our testing proved that two characteristics are essential to a great funnel: stability (the degree to which a funnel wobbles during use) and flow (how easily liquids and foods move through the funnel).
Longer Spout, Less Wobbling
Funnels with longer spouts, at least 1½ inches long, were more stable. These spouts served as an anchor in vessels to prevent wobbling, making them feel secure enough to use hands-free. Funnels with shorter spouts felt unsteady, like they might tip over at any second, and they were harder to use because we always had to stabilize them with one hand.
For Good Flow, Focus on Nozzle Diameter
A funnel's chief purpose, however, is to promote flow and keep everything moving with no backups or spills. The key to this was the size of the spout's opening. The narrowest acceptable opening was ⅜ inch in diameter; any smaller and we had to whack, vigorously shake, or for one silicone model, milk it like a cow to get things moving. Still, oversize openings were also a problem. Two models had nozzles that measured more than 1 inch wide; this was too large to fit neatly inside all the containers we tested, and we often had to perch these models atop containers or place them outside the containers' rims. This led to more messes.
The shape of the spout's opening mattered, too. One funnel's nozzle wasn't just oversize—it was also slanted. When we perche...
Everything We Tested
Recommended
- Flow: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Stability: 3 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 3 stars out of 3.
Our winner had a nice long spout for good stability and a medium-wide nozzle that allowed the tidy transfer of foods and liquids with relative ease. Peppercorns, dried rosemary, and chili powder were slightly challenging for most of the funnels, but this product allowed for fairly easy flow—just a few taps required. We also liked that the funnel collapsed for easy storage.
- Flow: 2 stars out of 3.
- Stability: 3 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 3 stars out of 3.
This funnel had the longest spout in the lineup, nearly 2 inches, which made it feel securely anchored during use. Its spout was a tad narrower than ideal, but it still allowed foods and liquids to flow reasonably well—though the viscous barbecue sauce proved challenging. As with some other models, we learned that we could address flow issues by either slowing down our pour or tapping or shaking the funnel.
Recommended with reservations
- Flow: 2 stars out of 3.
- Stability: 2 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 3 stars out of 3.
This flexible silicone model was great for transferring peppercorns, dried rosemary, and chili powder into spice jars because the wide nozzle allowed everything to flow through without backing up. But the nozzle didn't work well on receptacles with narrower openings; it didn't fit inside the olive oil container or squeeze bottle, and we had to stretch it to fit it outside the rims. Some users also tried to angle it in an attempt to direct the flow or use their fingers to create a seal between the nozzle and the container, but none of these tricks worked well.
- Flow: 2 stars out of 3.
- Stability: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 3 stars out of 3.
This set consisted of two different-size funnels, which could be used separately or nested. (We did not test the smaller one individually because it didn't meet our 1-cup minimum capacity.) The larger funnel, which had a wider spout diameter, didn't fit inside any containers on its own, but we could still perch it on top to transfer peppercorns and rosemary. However, the gap created by its slanted nozzle meant that chili powder spilled out. And when we used the set together to transfer liquids, the short, narrow spout of the smaller funnel made it feel top-heavy and inhibited flow. We also had to be careful where we held the funnel: If we squeezed in certain spots, the two funnels began to separate.
Not Recommended
- Flow: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Stability: 2 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 1.5 stars out of 3.
We tested both funnels in this set, as each held at least 1 cup of liquid (we did not test the included strainer). We preferred the larger of the two funnels, which held more than 2 cups of liquid. It felt less wobbly and allowed for fairly good flow, but it was still “tippy” and off-balance due to its larger bowl and relatively short spout. It also had vertical silicone strips on the exterior, presumably to help anchor the funnel; however, during testing, these began flaking at the spout tip, making us question this funnel's durability. This was also the only product that was too bulky to fit in our 4-inch-tall kitchen drawer.
- Flow: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Stability: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 3 stars out of 3.
We focused on the largest funnel in the set (the other two didn't meet our 1-cup minimum capacity requirement). Its narrow opening—one of the smallest in the lineup—and short spout made for a one-two punch of poor flow and instability. We frequently had to shake the funnel to move items through it, and testers felt anxious using it hands-free because it seemed unstable.
- Flow: 1 stars out of 3.
- Stability: 1 stars out of 3.
- Durability: 3 stars out of 3.
This model's spout was both too short and too narrow, and its handle was heavy—which meant we constantly had to keep a hand on the funnel to make sure it didn't fall over during use. We often found ourselves vigorously shaking this model to move foods through, and flow occasionally stopped altogether—so we sometimes resorted to “milking” this funnel as if it were a cow, squeezing the silicone sides to force foods and liquids through.
Reviews you can trust
Reviews you can trust
The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing. We stand behind our winners so much that we even put our seal of approval on them.
0 Comments
