a stainer, with hundreds of little shutters in the drain holes. if you want to keep the pasta a little moist so you can add some parmesan cheese to make a quick creamy sauce, or if you want your zuccini to retain a little water so you can throw it in the blender and make a puréé, all you have to do is twist a dial close to the top to set how much water you want to release. there would be a button cell battery by the knob to power the shutters, and in the intrest of not rusting, everything would be stainless steel, with a teflon coating for the shutters. handle with care!
-- neo_, Dec 13 2009

weber grill vent http://ladue.files....mokey-joe-grill.jpg
best picture I could find quick [oxen crossing, Dec 13 2009]

less is Moiré http://en.wikipedia.../Moir%C3%A9_pattern
[oxen...]'s better way of doing this [4whom, Dec 13 2009]

Hey, does it really need batteries? Couldn't you just have 2 sets of screens with equal sized spaces v. holes, one set is fixed (the bowl itself) and the other pivots in the center, opening and closing the holes? Might have other uses as well, like deciding how fine the pulp removal in your orange juice (a hot topic in my house).

It sounds familiar, like I've seen something similar in another setting. OH OH OH, like the vent mechanism on the standard weber grill, but high precision, and much smaller holes.
-- oxen crossing, Dec 13 2009


[oxen crossing] You could have penned an arrow or identifying circle.
-- wjt, Dec 13 2009


Yeah, but then I'd have to copy the picture, draw on it, host it somewhere, too much work...

The little silver disk on the lid just under the handle. It spins. The holes line up with holes in the lid, or they don't.
-- oxen crossing, Dec 13 2009


//Stainer or strainer, make your mind up? If it's a stainer, as you clearly state,// Gee, and I thought it was simply a typo.Duh!
-- outloud, Dec 13 2009


//I thought it was simply a typo//

a "stainer" used to dye fabric; variable sized holes allows the contact period between the dyed water and the fabric to be changed, resulting in a lighter or darker colouration. The, granted misleading, food references refer to colour, saturation and "texture".
-- FlyingToaster, Dec 13 2009


Is that from toasterpedia? //a "stainer" used to dye fabric; variable sized holes allows the contact period between the dyed water and the fabric to be changed, resulting in a lighter or darker colouration. The, granted misleading, food references refer to colour, saturation and "texture"//
-- outloud, Dec 13 2009


variable collander, useful for setting consistent background colours while producing batches of tie-dye t-shirts/kerchiefs. The alternative to using an external timer for each item.

like Wikipedia but slightly more cowbell. Okay, actually cowbell based.
-- FlyingToaster, Dec 13 2009


As in Bullshitapedia?
-- outloud, Dec 13 2009


mmm... maybe halfbullshitopedia: an adjustable collander *would* work as described, and free one's mind from the capitalistic oppression induced by using a clock to measure dyeing times.

The actual post you'd want a "fully closed" setting to avoid drizzling water on the way from the sink to the bowl, and it'd be a pain to clean despite the interesting addition of a battery... almost a [+]
-- FlyingToaster, Dec 13 2009


sorry. we cant all be perfect. it's ^^^strainer^^^
-- neo_, Dec 13 2009


unless you're feeding your dolls, it's a "collander".

A, strainer (collander), If, zucchini, puree(one or no "acute"s), There, interest, Handle.

[-] arse, do you have so little respect for the people here that you can't even be bothered to spellcheck your little "masterpieces", even when notified ?

(and the spirit of [UnaBubba] lives on...)
-- FlyingToaster, Dec 13 2009


I can think of a least ten ways to build an adjustable strainer better than this.
-- WcW, Dec 13 2009



random, halfbakery