Reviews you can trust.
See why.The Best Sponge Holders
A device that keeps kitchen sponges handy—and off the sink bottom—means easier, safer cleanup every day.
Top Picks
What You Need To Know
We tested kitchen sponge holders made in a variety of designs, seeking models that were simple to attach to the sink and could easily fit a typical kitchen sponge. They should take up minimal space and stay anchored even if struck by pans or hands while the sink is in use. Plus, they should allow excellent air circulation to help sponges dry out as much as possible between uses, whi...
Everything We Tested
Highly Recommended
- Performance: 3 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 3 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup/Durability: 3 stars out of 3.
Spacious, airy, and solidly constructed, with a firm attachment to the sink, this sponge holder looked good and performed perfectly in our testing. Two oversize suction cups (2½ inches across), set far apart, helped it keep a better grip. (It was the only model where the suction cups sat on the edges of the holder and extended well beyond the basket, providing support to the lightweight aluminum cage.) We loved being able to toss the sponge and see it drop right into the wide-open basket. One of the top performers in our drainage test, it helped sponges stay dry between uses. It’s also available in a range of finishes.
Recommended with reservations
- Performance: 3 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 2 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup/Durability: 2.5 stars out of 3.
With its minimal design, this lightweight, simple holder did one of the best jobs helping sponges air-dry between uses. It needs an upright item to attach to, such as the faucet or a soap dispenser. Rubber-covered “arms” hold it in place, and rubber bumpers keep it from sagging against the side of the sink, so sponges get plenty of air circulation. Its sponge-holding slot is narrower than we’d prefer, meaning that we had to take an extra second to insert or remove the sponge. When we struck the holder during the abuse test, a rubber foot fell off. (It was very easy to pop back on but small enough to get lost, which would make the device hang unevenly.)
- Performance: 3 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup/Durability: 2 stars out of 3.
This wide, airy, shiny stainless-steel basket, held in place by two suction cups measuring 1⅞ inches across, did a fairly good job of letting sponges drip-dry between uses. Its large opening is an easy access point for inserting and retrieving a sponge, which fit with room to spare. When we struck this holder in our abuse tests, one of the suction cups slid, so the basket sat askew, but it was easy to reposition. The steel rim showed spots from soap residue.
Not Recommended
- Performance: 2 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 1 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup/Durability: 3 stars out of 3.
This bouncy, bendable silicone holder has a long loop that allows it to be hung from a vertical sink part such as a faucet or soap dispenser. The loop can also be bent so that the holder stands alone or drapes across a sink divider. The slot can be shaped to fit most sponges, but the sponge bounced out if it wasn’t carefully placed. The perforated holder drained very well, and the device looked brand-new at the end of testing; however, it took effort to get this model to hold a shape, and it protruded into the sink area and got in the way. When struck, it bounced around and dropped the sponge. “Very annoying,” griped one tester.
- Performance: 2 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup/Durability: 2 stars out of 3.
Despite this device’s big, 2½-inch suction cup plus an impressively firm clamp to hold it on the sink wall, twice we found it lying in the bottom of the sink when the attachment spontaneously failed. (The holder can also stand alone, but we found it tippy.) The sponge-holding slot is a bit narrow for our favorite sponge, so we had to take care when inserting and removing it. The holder’s hard plastic is perforated by oval holes, but these didn’t drain well, coming in second to worst in our air-drying test.
- Performance: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Ease of Use: 1 stars out of 3.
- Cleanup/Durability: 2.5 stars out of 3.
This model’s four smallish suction cups (1¾ inches across) and big, bent metal bar to support its weight firmly anchored the caddy in the sink, but its tall, unventilated steel walls; fairly narrow, deep box; and poorly placed drip holes (located only on the plastic bottom) trapped moisture and bits of food, making it the weakest performer in our air-drying test. A bit large, it can hold two sponges inserted vertically. The brushed finish showed fingerprints, and it was spotted with soap film by the end of testing.
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.
Lisa McManus
Lisa is an executive editor for ATK Reviews, cohost of Gear Heads on YouTube, and gadget expert on TV's America's Test Kitchen.
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Start Free TrialAbsolutely the best chicken ever, even the breast meat was moist! It's the only way I'll cook a whole chicken again. Simple, easy, quick, no mess - perfect every time. I've used both stainless steel and cast iron pans. great and easy technique for “roasted” chicken. I will say there were no pan juices, just fat in the skillet. Will add to the recipe rotation. Good for family and company dinners too. I've done this using a rimmed sheet pan instead of a skillet and put veggies and potatoes around the chicken for a one-pan meal. Broccoli gets nicely browned and yummy!
Absolutely the best chicken ever, even the breast meat was moist! It's the only way I'll cook a whole chicken again. Simple, easy, quick, no mess - perfect every time. I've used both stainless steel and cast iron pans. great and easy technique for “roasted” chicken. I will say there were no pan juices, just fat in the skillet. Will add to the recipe rotation. Good for family and company dinners too.
Amazed this recipe works out as well as it does. Would not have thought that the amount of time under the broiler would have produced a very juicy and favorable chicken with a very crispy crust. Used my 12" Lodge Cast Iron skillet (which can withstand 1000 degree temps to respond to those who wondered if it would work) and it turned out great. A "make again" as my family rates things. This is a great recipe, and I will definitely make it again. My butcher gladly butterflied the chicken for me, therefore I found it to be a fast and easy prep. I used my cast iron skillet- marvellous!
John, wasn't it just amazing chicken? So much better than your typical oven baked chicken and on par if not better than gas or even charcoal grilled. It gets that smokey charcoal tasted and overnight koshering definitely helps, something I do when time permits. First-time I've pierced a whole chicken minus the times I make jerk chicken on the grill. Yup, the cast iron was not an issue.