Final answer:
A colander is the essential utensil for various tasks like cleaning vegetables and straining pasta.
Step-by-step explanation:
The essential utensil mentioned in the question that is used for various tasks from cleaning vegetables to straining pasta or tin contents is a colander. A colander is a bowl-shaped kitchen utensil with small holes that allow liquid to drain out while keeping the solid pieces inside. It is commonly used in cooking and preparation of food items.