Every now and again, a kitchen gadget emerges, seemingly out of nowhere, to become the must-have tool for your home cooks. This year’s hottest device is the food mill.
What is a Food Mill?
Simply put, a food mill is a device used to grind or puree foods for sauces, soups, or even mashing potatoes. It can also be used during the process of making preserves or canning to make a smooth texture. The Mill can hold both hot or cold food without concern.
History of the Food Mill
Does a food mill sound a lot like a food processor or a blender? Well, that’s cause it is one. The food mill is the precursor to those modern appliances. Originally made in the 1920s by the Foley Manufacturing Company out of Minnesota, the first food mills were made for mashing and pureeing foods with ease. Foley’s models were originally made from steel with a tin coating to help reduce rust and corrosion.
How does a Food Mill work?
A food mill works by placing the unit on top of an existing pot and placing the food you’d like to grind into the top. From there, a crank handle is used to deliver varying degrees of puree. Most food mills also come with various disks that can be swapped in and out to deliver different kinds of cuts (whether fine, medium, or coarse.) The grinding plates have perforations that allow the food to drop into the bowl underneath. Plus, a food mill is effective at making sure your food doesn’t have seeds or bits of skin leftover.
The biggest difference between a food mill and a blender or food processor is that food from a mill doesn’t have as much air incorporated into it during the process, which means the resulting puree is thicker and heavier. That’s great news for those who want to make soup, applesauce, jams, jellies and sauces. Oh, and since it’s all hand-powered, it’s an eco-friendly solution as well.
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Now that you know a bit more about food mills, here are four of our favorites for you to shop right now.
1. OXO Good Grips Food Mill
BEST OVERALL
As evidenced by its namesake, the OXO Good Grips Food Mill has an extremely soft, non-slip knob and handle to ensure you can make quick and effective work of any food that needs to be puréed. Three different stainless steel grinding disks allow you to have more control over your food, while the 2.3-quart capacity allows for plenty of room. The legs are also non-slip to ensure the mill itself stays safe and secure on top of your device.
2. GEFU Food Mill
BEST LOOKING
Some kitchen appliances are functional but don’t look too attractive on your countertop. That’s certainly not an issue with the GEFU Food Mill, as its completely stainless steel construction looks elegant while also managing to accomplish the job. The handle is thin yet still supportive enough to rest comfortably in your hand, while the grinder on top feels equally as nice. The only downside to this mill is that it only comes with two different sized-disk instead of three or four.
3. RSVP International Endurance Food Mill
AMAZON’S CHOICE
Looking for a food mill but want the backing of Amazon to inform your decision-making process? This food mill from RSVP International is an Amazon’s Choice selection, which means you don’t have to take our word for it when it comes to a good recommendation. With three interchangeable steel disks, a comfortable and sturdy wooden handle, and stainless steel construction, you’ll be grinding your food away with ease in no time flat.