Weekly thyme or rosemary
You strip woody herbs every week and want a plate under £6 with the hole diameters printed. The listing names a cover. It does not say the plate is dishwasher safe.
Leaf separator comparison 2026
The best leaf separators, compared.
Top pick: Duminyu wooden leaf separator Best value: FooYee 2-piece wooden herb stripper – Best value at about £1.89: the lowest price here, a UK review of a clean thyme pull, and 3.7 from five reviews. Updated October 2026.
This leaf separator comparison decides which of eleven amazon.co.uk herb strippers is worth buying when you want printed hole sizes, a material line that matches the title, and a UK review you can read. A leaf separator here is a manual plate, wood or stainless steel, with several holes. You pull a stem through a hole so the leaves come off. UK shoppers meet it as a kitchen gadget, usually under & and, not as a rake or a leaf blower. The other star lines are five reviews or fewer, or missing. What to check before you buy is in the [leaf separator buying guide](/hub/garden-tools/leaf-separator/sub/leaf-separator-buying-guide). They are not rakes, leaf blowers, or tools for clearing fallen leaves, even though the comparison sits under garden tools.
This leaf separator comparison decides which of eleven amazon.co.uk herb strippers is worth buying when you want printed hole sizes, a material line that matches the title, and a UK review you can read.
38 products checked · 62 hrs invested · +24,100 readers
11 of 11: Best leaf separators compared
Swipe for more
1-2 of 11Best overall
Best value
3.3/10
7.5/10
5.6/10
5.6/10
4.0/10
3.5/10
1.7/10
1.5/10
1.5/10
1.3/10
1.2/10
∼ £6
∼ £5
∼ £2
∼ £4
∼ £5
∼ £4
∼ £4
∼ £6
∼ £3
∼ £6
∼ £5
5.0(1)
4.2(55)
3.7(5)
3.7(5)
3.0(2)
2.6(2)
–
–
–
–
–
Personal buying guide
Which leaf separator fits?
Question 1 of 2
What are you stripping?
The best leaf separators in detail
Our view
Duminyu is one wooden item at £5.99 and 40 g, and the amazon.co.uk line is 5.0 from a single review with no written text on the listing. The title also names a herb-stripper bowl, a chopper and leaf-cleaning tongs, while the table says one item and the bullets do not list a bowl or tongs. Hole diameters are not printed. A question on the page asks whether it is dishwasher safe, and the listing does not answer it. The bullets name cilantro, mint and parsley, which is a title list rather than a tested result. A lone five-star line with no words behind it does not tell you whether a stem pulls cleanly. At this price you are paying the top of the set for a listing that stacks extra tools onto a one-item count.
Pros
- One wooden plate at 40 g
- Bullets name cilantro, mint and parsley
- The star line reads 5.0
Cons
- That 5.0 is one review and the listing has no review text
- The title names a bowl and tongs that the item count does not list
- Hole sizes are not printed, and the dishwasher question is unanswered
Best for: You want a single wooden plate and you will ignore the bowl and tongs in the title.
Less suitable: You are choosing by star count, or you expect a bowl and tongs in the parcel.
Specifications
- Model
- Duminyu wooden leaf separator
- Brand
- Duminyu
- Price
- ∼£6
- Customer rating
- 5.0/5(1)
- Material
- Wood
- Holes
- Not printed
- Pieces
- 1
- Weight
- 40 g
Common questions
Does the pack include a bowl and tongs?
The title names a herb stripper bowl and leaf cleaning tongs. The table says one item, and the bullets do not list a bowl or tongs separately.
Is it dishwasher safe?
The listing asks the question and does not answer it.
Is there a written review behind the 5.0?
The star line says 5.0 from 1. The listing has no review text.
Our view
The YOUDALIS plate is one stainless-steel piece at £4.99, weighing 80 g and measuring 12.3 by 6.9 cm, with nine holes printed from 1 mm to 15 mm. Across 55 amazon.co.uk reviews it sits at 4.2, which is the only review count in this comparison past fifty. The UK texts on the listing are short: one cook pulled herbs such as dill through the holes and also rocked the plate to cut, another bought a second for a relative, and a third says the blade has a cover. The bullets call the curve sharp enough to cut leaves and claim 2 mm metal, which the listing does not measure. This listing does not say the plate is dishwasher safe, so a cover in the drawer is the safety line you actually have. Longer complaints about torn stems or a broken cover come from reviews that are not marked as UK, so they do not count as British opinion here. In this set it is the top pick when you want hole diameters printed and a review count you can actually read.
Pros
- Nine holes listed from 1 mm to 15 mm
- 4.2 from 55 amazon.co.uk reviews
- Protective cover named in the bullets and in a UK review
- 12.3 by 6.9 cm and 80 g at £4.99
Cons
- Dishwasher safety is not stated
- The UK review texts are short and do not describe a fault in detail
- Steel grade is not stated
Best for: You strip thyme, rosemary or kale and want the hole diameters printed on the listing.
Less suitable: You need a written dishwasher claim, or you want two spare plates in the box.
Specifications
- Model
- YOUDALIS 9-hole steel herb stripper
- Brand
- YOUDALIS
- Price
- ∼£5
- Customer rating
- 4.2/5(55)
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Holes
- 9; 1-15 mm
- Pieces
- 1
- Cover
- Yes
- Edge
- Curve claimed
- Weight
- 80 g
- Size
- 12.3 x 6.9 cm
Common questions
Which hole sizes are printed?
The bullets list 1 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 7 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm, 13 mm and 15 mm.
Does this listing say dishwasher safe?
No. It mentions a protective cover and a sharp curve, and it does not mention a dishwasher.
Where is it ranked on amazon.co.uk?
The listing ranks it in Business, Industry and Science, under Food Service Tools and Utensils, not under Peelers.
Our view
FooYee sells two wooden plates for £1.89, 23 g together, and amazon.co.uk shows 3.7 from five reviews. The title says seven holes of different round sizes, but the specification table does not print the diameters. A UK review says thyme leaves came off cleanly on the first pull, and parsley and rosemary did not bruise. That same reviewer is not sure the scalloped edge cuts anything and thinks it may only be a finger grip, and they would not soak the wood or put it in the dishwasher. The plates arrived in a clear bag rather than the box in the illustrations. An Australian review on the same page says the smallest hole was still too large for thyme, and that note is not a UK review. In this comparison it is the best value pick if you want a cheap spare pair and you will wipe the wood by hand.
Pros
- £1.89 for two pieces, the lowest price in this set
- A UK review says thyme stripped on the first pull
- 3.7 from five amazon.co.uk reviews
- The title claims seven hole sizes
Cons
- Diameters are not in the specification table
- A UK reviewer would not put the wood in the dishwasher
- The scalloped edge may be a grip rather than a cutter
Best for: You want a spare wooden pair under £2 and you will wipe it rather than machine-wash it.
Less suitable: You need millimetre hole sizes on the listing, or a steel plate with a dishwasher sentence.
Specifications
- Model
- FooYee 2-piece wooden herb stripper
- Brand
- FooYee
- Price
- ∼£2
- Customer rating
- 3.7/5(5)
- Material
- Wood
- Holes
- 7 claimed
- Pieces
- 2
- Cleaning
- Hand wash
- Edge
- May be a grip
- Weight
- 23 g
Common questions
How many holes does the title claim?
The title says 7 holes with different round sizes. Diameters are not in the specification table.
Did a UK reviewer put it in the dishwasher?
No. One UK review says they would not soak or dishwasher the wood.
Did UK reviews say thyme works?
One UK review says thyme came off cleanly on the first pull. An Australian review on the same page says the smallest hole was still too large for thyme.
Our view
The VZU stripper is stainless steel, 17 g, 11 by 8 cm, at £3.72, with nine holes, a protective cover, and a bullet that says you can rinse it or put it in the dishwasher. amazon.co.uk shows 3.7 from five reviews, and the listing contains one written UK review. That review, from 9 September 2024, says the holes are useful for stripping thyme and that the plate was worth keeping for that job. The same review says the blade is not fine enough to chop herbs, which undercuts the bullets that also claim cutting vegetables, fruit and dough. Hole diameters are not printed, so you cannot check a stem against a millimetre before it arrives. At 17 g it is much lighter than the 80 g YOUDALIS plate, which is handy in a drawer and less reassuring if you wanted a thick edge. Buy it when you want a light steel plate with a cover and a dishwasher sentence, and you will strip rather than chop.
Pros
- Nine holes, a cover, and a dishwasher claim in the bullets
- £3.72, and lighter than the 80 g steel plate
- The UK review kept it for stripping thyme
Cons
- Only one written review, and it says the edge will not chop
- Hole diameters are not printed
- 3.7 from five is a thin sample
Best for: You want a light steel plate with a cover and a dishwasher line, and you will strip rather than chop.
Less suitable: You need printed millimetre sizes, or a chopping edge the UK review did not find.
Specifications
- Model
- VZU 9-hole steel herb stripper
- Brand
- VZU
- Price
- ∼£4
- Customer rating
- 3.7/5(5)
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Holes
- 9; sizes n/a
- Pieces
- 1
- Cover
- Yes
- Cleaning
- Dishwasher claimed
- Edge
- Review: no chop
- Weight
- 17 g
- Size
- 11 x 8 cm
Common questions
Does the listing say it is dishwasher safe?
Yes. The bullets say you can rinse it with soap and water or put it in the dishwasher.
Does it include a cover?
The bullets say a protective cover is included to help prevent accidental cuts.
What did the UK review say about the edge?
The only written review says the blade is not fine enough to chop herbs, and that the holes are useful for thyme.
Our view
Xiciki's set is two wooden separators at £4.99, 50 g together, and amazon.co.uk shows 3.0 from two reviews, both written in the UK. One reviewer measured about seven holes from roughly 3 mm to 14 mm on the oval piece and about eight holes from 4 mm to 16 mm on the teardrop, and found the oval piece useful for coriander. The teardrop back is untreated plywood, and that reviewer would not use it on food because the glue is not sealed. Rosemary was inconsistent on the same plate: leaves stayed in clumps or the stem broke part way through the pull. The listing mentioned ceramic as well as wood, and both pieces that arrived were wood. There is no cleaning advice in the reviews, and the holes you can quote were measured by a buyer, not printed in the table.
Pros
- A UK review measured a spread of holes on both pieces
- The oval piece was described as polished wood about 0.6 cm thick
- One reviewer used the oval piece for coriander
Cons
- The teardrop back is untreated plywood, rejected for food in a UK review
- Rosemary left clumps or the stem broke
- The description mentioned ceramic; both pieces received were wood
- 3.0 from two reviews, and no cleaning advice
Best for: You will use only the polished oval piece for coriander and you accept a measured hole range that is not in the table.
Less suitable: You need both pieces to be solid wood with a sealed surface, or a reliable rosemary pull.
Specifications
- Model
- Xiciki 2-piece wooden leaf separator
- Brand
- Xiciki
- Price
- ∼£5
- Customer rating
- 3.0/5(2)
- Material
- Wood
- Holes
- Review 3-16 mm
- Pieces
- 2
- Weight
- 50 g
Common questions
Are both pieces solid wood?
A UK review says the oval piece is polished wood and the teardrop piece has an untreated plywood back.
Does the listing include ceramic?
A UK review says the description mentioned ceramic, and that both pieces received were wood. The material line says wood.
Are hole diameters in the specification table?
No. A UK review counted 7 holes about 3-14 mm and 8 holes about 4-16 mm.
Our view
totnwrooye lists three wooden plates at £3.99, 100 g, 16 by 4.6 cm, and amazon.co.uk shows 2.6 from two reviews. The bullets claim seven graduated holes and place dishwasher safe in a feature list even though the material line says wood. One UK review says the pieces separate herbs from stalks, clean well, and helped someone with fragile skin avoid cuts from stripping by hand. The other left all three pieces outside in London rain and wind, then reported a smell like smoked wood or garage oil and would not let them touch food. Diameters are not given in millimetres, so you cannot match a thyme stem to a printed hole. A reviewer also says three copies are more than they need. Treat the dishwasher tick as a conflict with the wood, not as care instructions.
Pros
- Three pieces at £3.99, 16 by 4.6 cm
- One UK review says herbs separated from the stalks
- The same review says it helped avoid cuts for fragile skin
Cons
- A UK review reports a strong smell after rain and would not use the pieces on food
- Dishwasher safe is ticked on a wooden tool
- 2.6 from two reviews, and hole sizes are not in millimetres
Best for: You want a decorative wooden plate, you will smell it before it touches food, and you will hand-wash it.
Less suitable: You want one plate with printed hole sizes, or wood you can leave out in the rain.
Specifications
- Model
- totnwrooye 3-piece wooden leaf separator
- Brand
- totnwrooye
- Price
- ∼£4
- Customer rating
- 2.6/5(2)
- Material
- Wood
- Holes
- 7 claimed
- Pieces
- 3
- Cleaning
- Tick on wood
- Weight
- 100 g
- Size
- 16 x 4.6 cm
Common questions
Does the listing tick dishwasher safe?
Yes. Dishwasher safe is in the special-features list. The material line says wood.
What did the UK reviews say?
One review says it separates herbs from stalks and cleans well. The other says the pieces smelled strongly after days in London rain, and the reviewer would not use them on food.
How many holes are claimed?
The bullets say seven graduated holes. Diameters in millimetres are not given.
Our view
ToqoGeri sells two wooden plates at £3.99, and the weight line says 10 g, which is very light for something you will pull a rosemary stem through. A bullet claims 16 by 4.6 cm and sustainable black walnut, while the material line only says wood, and a question about oak is unanswered. The title uses the word pottery, and the specification does not. Cleaning is a damp cloth in the bullets, not a dishwasher. Kale, parsley and mint are named, and hole diameters are not printed. There is no amazon.co.uk rating line and no review text, so the walnut claim and the size have not been checked by a UK buyer on this listing. Wipe-clean wood at that weight is a different object from an 80 g steel plate, and you should buy it only if that light pair is what you wanted.
Pros
- Two pieces, with a bullet size of 16 by 4.6 cm
- The bullets say wipe with a damp cloth
- £3.99, under the £5.99 wooden pairs
Cons
- No amazon.co.uk rating line and no review text
- Walnut is a bullet; the material line says wood
- The title says pottery, and the weight line says 10 g
Best for: You want two light wooden plates and you will wipe them with a damp cloth.
Less suitable: You need a confirmed wood species, a star line, or a plate heavy enough to feel solid in the hand.
Specifications
- Model
- ToqoGeri 2-piece wooden leaf separator
- Brand
- ToqoGeri
- Price
- ∼£4
- Material
- Wood
- Holes
- Not printed
- Pieces
- 2
- Cleaning
- Damp cloth
- Weight
- 10 g
- Size
- 16 x 4.6 cm
Common questions
Does the specification table say walnut?
The material line says wooden. A bullet says black walnut. Oak is asked and not answered.
How does the listing say to clean it?
The bullets say wipe the surface with a damp cloth. They do not say dishwasher.
What size is claimed?
A bullet says 16 x 4.6 cm. The weight line says 10 g. There is no separate dimension row.
Our view
Noenaeni lists two wooden separators at £5.99, 75 g, with a dimension line of 19 by 15 cm, which is the largest stated footprint among the wooden plates here. A bullet says brown walnut, and the material line says wood. The title says pottery herb stripper, which the specification does not repeat. Hole diameters are not printed. Cilantro, mint and coriander are named, and there is no dishwasher sentence. The listing has no star line and no review text, so nobody in this capture has said whether the walnut looks like walnut or whether a stem pulls. At the same £5.99 as the single Duminyu item you get two plates and a printed size, and you still get no UK reviews to read.
Pros
- Printed size of 19 by 15 cm and a weight of 75 g
- Two pieces in the box
- Bullets name cilantro, mint and coriander
Cons
- No amazon.co.uk rating line and no review text
- Walnut is a bullet; the material line says wood
- £5.99 with no dishwasher sentence and no printed hole sizes
Best for: You want the largest stated wooden pair in this set and you do not need reviews before you buy.
Less suitable: You want a star line, printed hole diameters, or a species the specification table confirms.
Specifications
- Model
- Noenaeni 2-piece wooden leaf separator
- Brand
- Noenaeni
- Price
- ∼£6
- Material
- Wood
- Holes
- Not printed
- Pieces
- 2
- Weight
- 75 g
- Size
- 19 x 15 cm
Common questions
What size does the table give?
19 cm by 15 cm, and 75 g.
Does the material line say walnut?
The material line says wood. A bullet says brown walnut.
Is there an amazon.co.uk rating line?
No. The listing has no star line and no review text.
Our view
The Cateye separator is one wooden plate at £3.39 and 35 g, and the listing has no amazon.co.uk star line and no review text. The bullets say you insert a stem into a hole and pull, and they name cilantro, mint, parsley and other leafy vegetables. Several hole sizes are mentioned, but none of the diameters are printed, so you cannot tell whether thyme will fit before it arrives. The material line says wood. A question asks whether it is oak, and the listing has no answer. Nothing on the page says how to wash it. You are buying a single unreviewed plate, so a second piece is not in the box if the first hole pattern is wrong.
Pros
- One wooden plate at £3.39 and 35 g
- Bullets describe a stem-through-hole pull
- Cilantro, mint and parsley are named
Cons
- No amazon.co.uk rating line and no review text
- Hole diameters are not printed
- Oak is asked and not answered, and washing is not stated
Best for: You want one cheap wooden plate and you will judge the holes when it arrives.
Less suitable: You need a spare plate, printed millimetres, or any UK review before you order.
Specifications
- Model
- Cateye wooden leaf separator
- Brand
- Cateye
- Price
- ∼£3
- Material
- Wood
- Holes
- Not printed
- Pieces
- 1
- Weight
- 35 g
Common questions
Does the listing say this is oak?
No. The material line says wood. A question on the page asks about oak and the listing has no answer.
How many pieces are in the pack?
The table says one item and one pack.
Is a dishwasher claim written down?
No. The listing does not say how to wash it.
Our view
Bisienya is a stainless-steel stripper at £5.99 with a weight line of 10 g, and the listing has no star line and no review text. The title calls it handleless pottery at 11.8 by 10 cm, while the material line says stainless steel and the dimension line says 11.8 by 11.8 cm. The bullets say you can rinse it or put it in the dishwasher, and they name kale, rosemary, basil, thyme and parsley. A hole count is not stated; the listing describes a mouth hole rather than nine sized holes. No protective cover is mentioned. You are looking at a dishwasher sentence on a page whose title and table disagree about material and size, with no UK review to settle either conflict.
Pros
- The bullets say rinse it or put it in the dishwasher
- The material line says stainless steel
- Kale, rosemary, basil, thyme and parsley are named
Cons
- No amazon.co.uk rating line and no review text
- Title and table disagree on pottery versus steel, and on 11.8 by 10 cm versus 11.8 by 11.8 cm
- Hole count is not stated, and no cover is mentioned
Best for: You want a steel plate with a dishwasher sentence and you will check the size in the parcel.
Less suitable: You need nine printed holes, a cover, or a listing whose title and table agree.
Specifications
- Model
- Bisienya stainless herb stripper
- Brand
- Bisienya
- Price
- ∼£6
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Holes
- Count n/a
- Pieces
- 1
- Cleaning
- Dishwasher claimed
- Edge
- Cut claimed
- Weight
- 10 g
- Size
- 11.8 cm; clash
Common questions
Does the listing say it is dishwasher safe?
Yes. The bullets say rinse it or put it in the dishwasher.
Why are there two sizes?
The title says 11.8 by 10 cm. The dimension line says 11.8 by 11.8 cm.
Is the material ceramic?
The title says pottery. The material line says stainless steel.
Our view
QLHNGUZ lists two wooden separators at £4.99 and 20 g, and the listing has no star line and no review text. The title says herb strippers bowl, but the bullets describe two plates and do not itemise a separate bowl. Hole sizes are called varied and are not given in millimetres. The herbs named are cilantro, mint, parsley and other small-leaf herbs, which is the same claim as several other wooden rows. The manufacturer warranty description says no. Cleaning is not stated, so you do not have a wash method to follow from the listing. Two pieces at this price, with no reviews and a bowl that is not in the contents line, is a title you should read past before you order.
Pros
- Two wooden separators in the bullets
- £4.99, in the middle of this set
- Cilantro, mint and parsley are named
Cons
- No amazon.co.uk rating line and no review text
- The title says bowl and the bullets do not list one
- The warranty description says no, and hole sizes are not printed
Best for: You want two wooden plates and you have already ignored the word bowl in the title.
Less suitable: You expect a bowl in the box, a star line, or a stated way to wash the wood.
Specifications
- Model
- QLHNGUZ 2-piece wooden leaf separator
- Brand
- QLHNGUZ
- Price
- ∼£5
- Material
- Wood
- Holes
- Not printed
- Pieces
- 2
- Weight
- 20 g
Common questions
Does the pack include a bowl?
The title says herb strippers bowl. The bullets say two wooden separators and do not list a separate bowl.
What warranty does the listing state?
The manufacturer warranty description says no.
Is there an amazon.co.uk rating line?
No. The listing has no star line and no review text.
How we compared
Scores compare the eleven amazon.co.uk listings kept in this category. Prices, stars, and review counts are the figures saved on 19 October 2026. There is no laboratory test. The scores do not name the best leaf separator in Britain. Each score is out of 100 in four blocks, and the weights below sum to 100. A 5.0 from one review with no written text is deducted by 20.
1
Stars
40%The amazon.co.uk star rating divided by 5, multiplied by 40, and rounded. No star line scores 0.
2
Sample
25%Review-count bands out of 25: 50 or more scores 12, 10 to 49 scores 6, 1 to 9 scores 2, and none scores 0.
3
Fit as a leaf separator
25%Stainless steel with nine holes printed in millimetres and a named cover scores highest. Unprinted holes, a title that disagrees with the table, plywood a UK review rejected for food, or a smell report on wood score lower.
4
Value in this set
10%About £1.89 with a star line scores 10. About £5.99 scores 3. The bands in between follow the price and the evidence on that listing.
Independent review
Last updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Leaf separator buying guide
Buy a stripper for repeated woody herbs or for kale ribs that fit the largest hole. One sprig does not need a gadget. Check printed hole sizes, then the material line against the title, then how you will wash it. Prices are amazon.co.uk shelf prices on 19 October 2026. Wood against stainless steel, including plywood and a dishwasher tick, is set out in [wood or stainless steel](/hub/garden-tools/leaf-separator/sub/leaf-separator-wood-or-steel).
What is a leaf separator?
A leaf separator in this category is a manual herb stripper. It is a small wooden or stainless-steel plate with several holes. You push a stem through a hole and pull, so the leaves come off the stalk. UK shoppers meet these listings as kitchen gadgets, usually under Home & Kitchen and Peelers. They are not rakes, leaf blowers, or tools for clearing fallen leaves, even though the comparison sits under garden tools.
Best for
- Home cooks who strip thyme or rosemary every week and want a plate under £6
- Kale cooks who will return the tool if the ribs are thicker than the largest hole
Not ideal for
- Anyone clearing fallen leaves, or expecting a rake or a leaf blower
- A single sprig of parsley or coriander, where fingers or a knife are enough
Mistakes to avoid
- 1
Trusting oak, walnut, ceramic, or bowl wording
Those words often sit in the title or a bullet and not in the specification line. A UK review found untreated plywood on one wooden piece. Read the contents line before you expect a bowl or tongs.
- 2
Soaking wood or trusting a dishwasher tick
Which? says heat splits wooden utensils. A feature tick that says dishwasher safe does not override a material line that says wood. Wipe wood, or follow a steel listing that actually says dishwasher.
- 3
Using the biggest hole on thyme
Thyme needs a small hole. Kale needs a hole the rib can enter. Three plates with the same unprinted holes are still one pattern, not three sizes you can check.
What to weigh up
Hole sizes in writing
HighPrinted millimetres are the difference between a plate you can match to a stem and a plate you judge on arrival. YOUDALIS lists nine holes from 1 mm to 15 mm. VZU says nine holes and does not print the diameters. FooYee's title says seven holes, and the table does not give sizes. A UK review of Xiciki measured about 3-14 mm and about 4-16 mm. That measurement is a buyer's ruler, not a line in the specification table. Most wooden titles only say multiple holes.
Material, edge, and washing
HighTrust the specification line when the title says oak, walnut, ceramic, pottery, or bowl. ToqoGeri and Noenaeni put walnut in a bullet while the material line says wood. Bisienya's title says pottery and 11.8 by 10 cm, while the table says stainless steel and 11.8 by 11.8 cm. A UK review of Xiciki found an untreated plywood back and would not use it on food. A steel curve is a cutter only if a review agrees.
Which option suits you?
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
A wooden pair to hand-wash
You want a cheap spare pair and you will wipe the wood. A UK review says thyme stripped on the first pull, and the same reviewer would not put the wood in the dishwasher.
Kale ribs that fit a hole
You will return the tool if the bunch has ribs thicker than the largest hole. The printed range runs to 15 mm. A knife is the fallback when the stem will not enter.
Common questions about leaf separators
What is a leaf separator in this comparison?
A leaf separator here is a manual herb stripper: a small wooden or stainless-steel plate with holes you pull a stem through. UK shoppers meet it under Home & Kitchen and Peelers, not as a rake or a leaf blower. You tell a usable plate from a toy by printed hole sizes, a cover on a steel edge, and a material line that matches the title. These eleven plates are not for fallen leaves. For that job, see the leaf broom comparison.
Which leaf separator is the top pick in this set?
In this set the top pick is the YOUDALIS nine-hole steel plate at about £4.99. The bullets list holes from 1 mm to 15 mm, and they name a protective cover, which a UK review also mentions. amazon.co.uk shows 4.2 from 55 reviews, the only count here past fifty. The score is 75 out of 100. The listing does not say the plate is dishwasher safe, and the steel grade is not stated. It is one piece, not a spare pair.
Which listing is the best value?
Best value is the FooYee wooden pair at about £1.89, the lowest price in this set. The value block is 10 out of 10. amazon.co.uk shows 3.7 from five reviews. A UK review says thyme came off on the first pull, and that reviewer would not soak the wood or put it in the dishwasher. The title claims seven holes, and the table does not print the diameters. VZU also scores 56 and takes no badge, because its value block is 8.
How much does a leaf separator cost?
On 19 October 2026 the eleven amazon.co.uk shelf prices run from about £1.89 to £5.99. About £1.89 to £3.99 covers FooYee, Cateye, VZU, ToqoGeri, and totnwrooye. About £4.99 covers Xiciki, QLHNGUZ, and YOUDALIS. About £5.99 covers Duminyu, Noenaeni, and Bisienya. A rule of thumb: this set is an under-£6 category. Outside it, one nine-hole steel listing was about £3.99 and one 11-hole steel listing was about £14.48. No market size is stated.
Can you put a wooden leaf separator in the dishwasher?
Which? says wooden spoons and other wooden utensils should stay out of the dishwasher, because heat splits them. Follow that for wooden strippers even if a feature tick says dishwasher safe. totnwrooye ticks dishwasher safe on wood. A UK review of FooYee would not soak the wood or machine-wash it. ToqoGeri says wipe with a damp cloth. Steel can follow its own listing: VZU and Bisienya say rinse or dishwasher. The YOUDALIS listing does not say dishwasher safe.
What if the title says oak, bowl, ceramic, or walnut?
Trust the specification line, not the title. Oak is asked and not answered. Walnut is a bullet; the material line says wood. A UK review of Xiciki found untreated plywood on one back and would not use it on food. QLHNGUZ and Duminyu put a bowl in the title, and Duminyu names tongs, while the contents line does not. Bisienya's title says pottery and the material line says stainless steel. If goods are not as described, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 is the route.
When should you keep the plate off food?
Do not serve food on smelly wood, open plywood, or a crumbling edge. A UK review of totnwrooye left the pieces in London rain and then would not let them touch food. A UK review of Xiciki rejected an untreated plywood back because the glue was not sealed. Which? says replace cracked or smelly wooden utensils. Kitchenware is a food contact material under assimilated Regulation 1935/2004, enforced in England by SI 2012/2619. See a professional for a cut, a splinter, or a suspected reaction to glue or a coating.
Will a leaf separator strip kale and thyme?
Buy one for repeated woody herbs, or for kale ribs that fit the largest hole. One sprig does not need a gadget. YOUDALIS prints holes up to 15 mm, so you can check a kale stem against that figure. Food Republic says a pull-through works when the stem fits, and a knife is better for lacinato kale and for stems that will not enter. Epicurious found a zipper useful on rosemary and poor on tender herbs. The biggest hole is the wrong one for thyme.
Our verdict
In this set the top pick is the YOUDALIS nine-hole steel plate. It scores 75: holes printed from 1 mm to 15 mm, a cover named in the bullets and in a UK review, 4.2 from 55 reviews, and about £4.99. The listing does not say it is dishwasher safe, and the steel grade is not stated. Best value is the FooYee wooden pair at about £1.89, because its value block is 10, the highest among the rest, with 3.7 from five reviews and a UK review that thyme stripped on the first pull. Diameters are not printed, and a UK reviewer would not put the wood in the dishwasher. VZU also scores 56 and takes no badge: the holes are not printed, and the only written UK review says the edge will not chop.
Best value
View offer
FooYee 2-piece wooden herb stripper
Best value at about £1.89: the lowest price here, a UK review of a clean thyme pull, and 3.7 from five reviews.
Editorial
Editor
DIY & toolsGarden toolsamazon.co.uk listings
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Guides to leaf separators
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Leaf separator buying guideHole sizes, material, and red flags, without the product cards.Which listing has the ratingsNames the kept listings against a review count, not a how-to.How to use a leaf separatorHow to match a hole and pull, without a ranking.Wood or stainless steelWashing, the edge, plywood, and smell, not the plant list.Herbs and kaleThyme, rosemary, tender herbs, and kale, not a brand table.
Related comparisons
Sources
Public UK sources used for this comparison. Listing prices, stars, and review counts are from amazon.co.uk on 19 October 2026.
- legislation.gov.uk — SI 2012/2619, food-contact materials in England (retrieved 19.10.2026)
- Food Standards Agency — food contact materials regulations (retrieved 19.10.2026)
- Food Standards Agency — food contact materials authorisation (retrieved 19.10.2026)
- Which? — items you can and cannot put in the dishwasher (retrieved 19.10.2026)
- Which? — how to clean wooden spoons and other wooden kitchen tools (retrieved 19.10.2026)
- Epicurious — Chef'n herb zipper (retrieved 19.10.2026)
- Food Republic — how to destem kale (retrieved 19.10.2026)
- legislation.gov.uk — Consumer Rights Act 2015 (retrieved 19.10.2026)
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars, and review counts are the UK listing lines. We did not run a lab test.