Purpose of a Salad Spinner

• A salad spinner is merely a device used to remove excess water from salad greens after washing, according to PracticallyEdible.com.
  After rinsing greens and spinning the water off, salad dressing will stick to the leaves better and the excess moisture will not dilute the flavors of the salad's dressing or contents. These devices usually look like a bowl with a mesh basket insert, a lid and a spinning handle of some type. Using centrifugal force, the greens are spun inside the bowl, and the basket can be removed with greens that are ready for serving. The process is very quick and easy, hence the rise in popularity.

Bag or Pillowcase Method

• If you choose to make your own homemade device for spinning greens, it is certainly inexpensive and easy. You probably already have what you need in the house, meaning you won't need to spend any money.
  Wash and dry a pillowcase and be sure to remove any lint that may be on the inside. Pour your rinsed greens into the pillowcase and take them outside. Twist the open end of the pillowcase to seal it off and create a handle, and then whirl it around in big circles for about 30 seconds. You may want to whirl it overhead like a helicopter so any water coming through the case will not splatter on you, according to PracticallyEdible.com. Place the greens back in a bowl and you are ready to make salad.
  A plastic grocery bag with handles like the ones used in many stores will work well too. Line these types of bags with paper towels and place the greens inside. This version has the added advantage of not leaking out, so you could use it indoors.

Towel Method

• If all of this spinning is just too much for you, you can always rely on the old-fashioned way. Back before anyone thought of spinning salad, this procedure was simply done by hand.
  Lay clean dishtowels or a couple of layers of paper towels on the counter and spread your rinsed greens on the towel. Place another towel or layer of paper towels on top of the greens and press down. You may even choose to roll the greens up in the towel and squeeze them for extra dry greens. This takes longer than spinning, but it works just as well.