Canning season is a rewarding but demanding time in the kitchen. The key to perfect jams, jellies, sauces, and preserves lies not just in the recipe, but in the tools you use. A high-quality food strainer is essential for creating smooth, seed-free, and pulp-free textures, ensuring your homemade goods are both beautiful and safe for long-term storage. The right equipment can turn a messy, time-consuming chore into an efficient and enjoyable process.
With so many strainers, colanders, and food mills on the market, choosing the best one for your canning projects can be overwhelming. This roundup simplifies your search by highlighting nine top-performing products suited for various tasks and batch sizes. From simple hand-held sieves to powerful electric machines, you’re sure to find the perfect tool to help you preserve your harvest with professional results.
Our Top Picks for Canning Strainers
- Cuisinart Mesh Strainers, 3 Count Set
- YEVIOR Clip on Strainer for Pots Pan Pasta
- LiveFresh Large Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Strainer
- Makerstep Over the Sink Colander Strainer Basket
- Norpro 1951 “The Original” Sauce Master
- Ergonomic Food Mill Stainless Steel With 3 Grinding Discs
- Happybuy 110V Electric Tomato Strainer 370W
- Victorio Food Strainer and Sauce Maker
- OXO Good Grips Food Mill
Cuisinart Mesh Strainers, 3 Count Set
This three-piece set from Cuisinart offers exceptional versatility for the home canner. The durable stainless steel mesh construction is perfect for sifting dry ingredients like canning salt or spices, and for straining finer liquids. The set includes three sizes—3-⅛-inch, 5-½-inch, and 7-⅞-inch—making it easy to handle tasks from dusting powdered pectin over jam to straining small batches of herb-infused vinegar.
Having multiple sizes on hand means you always have the right tool for the job. The smaller strainers are ideal for detailed work, while the largest can handle rinsing berries or straining citrus juice. Their sturdy build ensures they will last for many canning seasons, providing reliable performance for a variety of kitchen tasks beyond preserving.
YEVIOR Clip on Strainer for Pots Pan Pasta
For those who value efficiency and minimal cleanup, the YEVIOR Clip on Strainer is a game-changer. Its innovative design features two sturdy clips that securely attach to nearly any round pot, pan, or bowl. This allows you to drain pasta water, blanch vegetables, or strain ground meat directly from the cooking vessel, eliminating the need for a separate colander and reducing mess.
This hands-free strainer is made from flexible, heat-resistant silicone, making it safe and easy to clean. It’s particularly useful during large canning projects when you need to blanch tomatoes or peaches in large quantities. By keeping the food in the pot, it simplifies the process and helps you work more quickly and neatly.
LiveFresh Large Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Strainer
Built for heavy-duty use, the LiveFresh Fine Mesh Strainer is a commercial-grade tool that is perfect for serious canning. Its reinforced frame is guaranteed to be unbreakable, promising a lifetime of dependable use. The extremely fine mesh is ideal for straining the smallest seeds from berry purees or creating perfectly smooth fruit juices and sauces without any waste.
A key feature for busy canners is its hands-free design. The resting hooks on the rim allow the strainer to sit securely on the edge of a pot or bowl, freeing up your hands for other tasks while liquids drain. This 9-inch diameter strainer is a workhorse in the kitchen, capable of handling large batches with ease and durability.
Makerstep Over the Sink Colander Strainer Basket
The Makerstep Over the Sink Colander maximizes your workspace by fitting directly over the sink. Its expandable design stretches from 14 to 19 inches, making it compatible with most standard kitchen sinks. This large, oval strainer basket is perfect for washing and draining large quantities of fruits and vegetables before you begin the canning process.
Constructed from rust-proof stainless steel with a fine mesh, it efficiently drains water while its stable feet prevent slipping. This colander is not just for washing; it’s also excellent for draining pasta for canning relishes or for giving freshly washed jars a quick dry. It’s a versatile and space-saving addition to any canning kitchen.
Norpro 1951 “The Original” Sauce Master
The Norpro Sauce Master is a dedicated tool designed specifically for creating smooth sauces and purees. This manual strainer forces cooked fruits and vegetables through a fine, chrome-plated steel screen, effectively separating the skins and seeds from the usable pulp and juice in one simple operation. It’s an efficient solution for making tomato sauce, applesauce, or fruit purees for canning.
With a generous 3-quart capacity, it allows you to process a substantial amount of food at once. Its straightforward, no-frills design is easy to use and clean, making it a reliable choice for home canners who frequently process tomatoes and other soft fruits. It’s a classic tool that focuses on doing one job very well.
Ergonomic Food Mill Stainless Steel With 3 Grinding Discs
This heavy-duty stainless steel food mill is a versatile tool for creating perfectly textured purees, sauces, and mashes. It comes with three interchangeable grinding discs for fine, medium, and coarse milling, giving you complete control over the consistency of your applesauce, mashed potatoes, or tomato sauce. The rust-resistant construction is safe for use with hot foods.
An ergonomic, spring-loaded handle makes the turning motion smooth and requires less effort, which is a significant advantage during large canning sessions. The stable side hooks securely fasten the mill to most pots and bowls, keeping it steady while you work. This mill is a robust and user-friendly option for achieving professional results.
Happybuy 110V Electric Tomato Strainer 370W
For the serious home canner or someone with a large harvest to process, the Happybuy Electric Tomato Strainer is a powerhouse. Its 370W pure copper motor provides high-speed performance, allowing you to process between 90-160 kg of tomatoes per hour. This machine effortlessly separates pulp from skins and seeds with a single operation, delivering a smooth puree ready for canning.
Built with durable 304 stainless steel, it is built to last and resists corrosion. The electric operation eliminates manual cranking, saving time and physical effort. If you process bushels of tomatoes annually for sauce or juice, this electric strainer can dramatically reduce your kitchen labor and increase your output.
Victorio Food Strainer and Sauce Maker
The Victorio Food Strainer is a popular manual model known for its reliability and effectiveness. It clamps securely to a counter or table, providing stability while you crank fruits and vegetables through its system. This design is excellent for processing large quantities of tomatoes, apples, and berries, efficiently separating the desirable pulp from the unwanted seeds and skins.
Its straightforward operation and easy-to-clean parts have made it a favorite among home canners for generations. It is a cost-effective and efficient tool that does not require electricity, making it a dependable option for anyone looking to streamline their sauce-making and fruit pureeing process during canning season.
OXO Good Grips Food Mill
The OXO Good Grips Food Mill combines effective straining with the brand’s signature comfort-focused design. Its soft, non-slip handles provide a secure grip and make the milling process more comfortable, which is especially welcome during long canning sessions. The mill is designed to be stable on various pot sizes, and the stainless steel disks are effective at creating smooth purees.
This mill is a great all-around choice for making silky smooth applesauce, tomato sauce, or mashed potatoes. The thoughtful design extends to its easy assembly and cleaning. For those who value ergonomics and user-friendly kitchen tools, the OXO Good Grips Food Mill is a reliable and comfortable option for home food preservation.
Buying Guide: What to Look For in the Best Food Strainers for Canning
When I’m getting ready for canning season, my food strainer is one of the first tools I pull out. It saves so much time and effort compared to old-fashioned methods. But not all strainers are created equal, and picking the right one can make or break your preserving day. Here’s what I always consider when I’m looking for the best food strainers for canning.
First, think about the material. I prefer models with a food-grade plastic body and a stainless steel milling shaft and screen. Plastic is lightweight and won’t react with acidic fruits like tomatoes, while stainless steel parts are durable, rust-resistant, and easy to clean. Some all-metal models exist, but they can be heavier and more expensive. The key is to avoid any parts that might corrode or hold onto flavors.
Next, consider the motor. For occasional, small-batch canning, a model that attaches to a stand mixer is a fantastic space-saver. But if you process bushels of tomatoes or make large quantities of apple sauce every year, a dedicated, countertop electric strainer is the way to go. These have their own powerful motor, which means you can work for longer periods without worrying about overheating a mixer motor. Look for one with a stable base to prevent walking or shaking across your counter.
The real workhorse is the screen or sieve. What are you planning to strain most often? For tomatoes, seeds, and skins, a fine screen is perfect. For applesauce or pumpkin puree, a slightly coarser screen might be preferable. Some of the best food strainers for canning come with multiple screens, which is a huge advantage if your garden produces a variety of fruits. Also, check how the screen attaches. A secure, easy-to-lock mechanism prevents messy leaks.
Finally, don’t forget about ease of cleaning. Canning is already a big job; you don’t want to spend an hour scrubbing dried pulp out of tiny holes. Look for screens that are dishwasher safe or have a design that makes hand-washing simple. Many models have a reverse function that helps to clear clogs, which is a small feature that makes a big difference in cleanup time. Assembly should be straightforward, with intuitive parts that fit together without forcing them. A machine that’s difficult to put together or take apart will quickly become a source of frustration.
FAQ
What is the difference between a food mill and a food strainer?
This is a common point of confusion. A food mill is a manual tool you turn by hand with a crank, forcing food through a perforated disk. A food strainer, often called a “sauce maker,” is typically electric. It uses a rotating paddle to push food through a screen, separating seeds and skins automatically. For large batches, I find an electric food strainer is much faster and less tiring.
Can I use a food strainer for things other than tomatoes?
Absolutely! While they are champions for tomato sauce, these machines are incredibly versatile. I use mine to make smooth applesauce without coring, seedless berry coulis, pumpkin puree from roasted squash, and even to remove seeds from cooked peppers for hot sauce. Just make sure whatever you’re putting in is cooked until soft.
Are the parts of a food strainer dishwasher safe?
It completely depends on the model, so you must check the manufacturer’s instructions. The plastic hopper and lid are often dishwasher safe on the top rack. However, the screen with its tiny holes is usually recommended for hand washing to prevent clogging and potential damage from dishwasher detergent and high heat. I always hand-wash my screen immediately after use for the best results.
Why is my food strainer not separating the skins and seeds properly?
A few things could be happening. First, ensure the food is cooked thoroughly until it’s very soft. Hard, undercooked pieces won’t break down. Second, check that you are using the correct screen for the job; a coarse screen might let too much material through. Finally, you might be overloading the hopper. Feed the food in slowly and steadily for the most efficient separation.
Is it worth investing in an electric food strainer if I only can occasionally?
If you only process a few pounds of food a year, a good quality manual food mill might be a more economical choice. However, if the thought of cranking by hand for even a small batch makes you tired, or if you have any issues with wrist or hand strength, a compact electric model can be a wonderful investment that encourages you to preserve your own food more often.
How do I clean the screen without damaging it?
The best method is to rinse it under warm running water immediately after use, using a soft brush to dislodge any pulp from the holes. For stubborn bits, I let the screen soak in warm, soapy water. Some models have a handy “reverse” function that spins the paddle backward, which can help push clogged material out. Avoid using metal scouring pads or sharp objects that could scratch or warp the screen.