Processing your garden’s bounty into shelf-stable sauces, jellies, and purees is a rewarding task, and the right food mill is an indispensable tool for the job. A quality mill efficiently separates seeds and skins from pulp, creating smooth, consistent textures for canning that are difficult to achieve with other methods. It streamlines the preparation of tomatoes for sauce, apples for applesauce, and berries for jams, saving you considerable time and effort.
Choosing the best food mill for your kitchen depends on the volume you process, the types of food you work with, and your preferred level of convenience. From manual countertop models to powerful stand mixer attachments, there is a design to suit every home canner’s workflow. This roundup highlights ten excellent options that combine durability, functionality, and ease of use to help you preserve your harvest with professional results.
The Best Food Mills for Your Canning Projects
- OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Food Mill
- Ergonomic Food Mill Stainless Steel With 3 Grinding Discs
- Mirro 50024 Foley Stainless Steel Healthy Food Mill
- OXO Tot Mash Maker Baby Food Mill
- Rösle Stainless Steel Food Mill with Handle
- RSVP International Endurance Stainless Steel Food Mill
- Cuisipro Deluxe Food Mill
- KITCHTREE Fruit & Vegetable Strainer for KitchenAid
- Weston Metal Tomato Strainer, 1 Gallon Hopper
- VICTORIO VKP250 Food Mill Stainless Steel
OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Food Mill
The OXO Good Grips Food Mill is a user-friendly favorite, designed to make processing large batches straightforward. Its stainless steel bowl is ideal for handling hot foods directly from the stove and resists staining from ingredients like tomatoes and berries. The unit includes three grinding discs, allowing you to create fine, medium, and coarse textures for everything from silky tomato sauce to chunkier applesauce.
A simple, spring-loaded lever makes swapping the discs and disassembling the mill for cleaning remarkably easy. This thoughtful design minimizes frustration during the canning process, especially when you need to change textures or clean the mill between different tasks. The comfortable non-slip handles provide a secure grip, ensuring stability and control while you turn the crank.
Ergonomic Food Mill Stainless Steel With 3 Grinding Discs
Built with heavy-duty stainless steel, this food mill is constructed to resist rust and warping, making it a durable choice for annual canning projects. Its ergonomic rotary handle features a spring-loaded lever that significantly reduces resistance, allowing for smooth and comfortable turning even during long sessions. This design helps prevent arm fatigue, which is a major benefit when processing large harvests.
The mill is designed for stability, with thoughtfully placed side hooks that rest securely on a wide range of pots and bowls. These hooks are double-welded for added strength, preventing the mill from slipping during use. Beyond its primary function, its sturdy construction also allows it to double as a colander or steamer, adding to its versatility in a busy kitchen.
Mirro 50024 Foley Stainless Steel Healthy Food Mill
The Mirro Foley Food Mill is a classic, time-tested tool known for its reliability in home kitchens. With a generous 2-quart capacity, it is well-suited for processing larger batches of sauce, soup, or fruit purees in one go, which is a significant advantage for canning. Made from durable stainless steel, it is built to last and is easy to clean after use.
This efficient tool excels at mashing, straining, and ricing a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. It is particularly effective for creating smooth applesauce and tomato sauce, efficiently removing skins and seeds with minimal effort. Its straightforward, no-frills design focuses on functionality, making it a practical and trusted choice for generations of home preservers.
OXO Tot Mash Maker Baby Food Mill
While designed for making baby food, the OXO Tot Mash Maker is a fantastic compact option for creating small batches of fine purees for canning. It allows you to easily process cooked fruits and vegetables into a smooth consistency, perfect for specialty jams or coulis. The comfortable handle is easy to turn, requiring minimal effort for smaller quantities.
The integrated stainless steel blade and grinding plate work together to provide a consistent puree every time. Its small size makes it convenient to store and quick to clean, ideal for when you don’t need to pull out a larger, more cumbersome mill. This is an excellent secondary mill or a primary tool for those who preserve in smaller volumes.
Rösle Stainless Steel Food Mill with Handle
Rösle is renowned for its high-quality kitchen tools, and this food mill lives up to that reputation. Constructed from premium 18/10 stainless steel, it is hygienic, durable, and neutral in taste, preserving the true flavor of your ingredients. The blade and sieve are aligned with almost zero space between them, facilitating a fast and highly efficient milling process.
The mill features three supports on its base that provide a secure and tight grip over a bowl, minimizing any wobbling during use for a stable experience. Its one-piece construction with a turning knob eliminates welding seams, which not only gives it a sleek appearance but also enhances its durability and makes it easier to clean thoroughly.
RSVP International Endurance Stainless Steel Food Mill
The RSVP Endurance Food Mill is a robust and straightforward tool built from nonreactive 18/8 stainless steel. Its 7.75-inch diameter provides a good working capacity for processing moderate batches of food. The simple, effective design is focused purely on performance, making it a reliable workhorse for your canning needs.
This mill is perfectly capable of handling all the classic canning tasks, from creating smooth applesauce and tomato sauce to mashing potatoes and straining carrots. Its hygienic material ensures that flavors won’t transfer between batches, and its sturdy build promises years of dependable service in a home kitchen.
Cuisipro Deluxe Food Mill
The Cuisipro Deluxe Food Mill stands out with its extra-large 18/10 stainless steel bowl, which is perfect for handling bigger quantities and reducing the number of batches you need to process. The bowl is equipped with non-slip handles, providing a secure and comfortable grip during use, which is especially important when working with hot foods.
It comes with three interchangeable disks in fine 2mm, 3mm, and 4mm sizes, giving you precise control over the texture of your purees. The large knob is designed for easy turning, efficiently pressing fruits and vegetables through the sieve for a smooth, consistent result every time. This mill combines capacity with precision for serious canning projects.
KITCHTREE Fruit & Vegetable Strainer for KitchenAid
For owners of a KitchenAid stand mixer, this attachment set offers a powerful and hands-free milling solution. The fruit and vegetable strainer attachment is ideal for processing large volumes of cooked tomatoes, apples, and other soft fruits, effortlessly separating the desired pulp from seeds, stems, and skins. This can dramatically speed up your canning workflow.
The set also includes a food grinder attachment with multiple plates and sausage stuffer tubes, adding tremendous versatility to your kitchen toolkit. By utilizing the power of your stand mixer, this attachment minimizes physical effort, allowing you to process much larger quantities than with a manual mill without any arm fatigue.
Weston Metal Tomato Strainer, 1 Gallon Hopper
The Weston Tomato Strainer is a heavy-duty machine designed for serious volume. Its large one-gallon hopper allows you to process massive batches of tomatoes and other soft fruits without frequent stopping to reload. This is the ideal tool for gardeners and homesteaders who need to put up dozens of jars of sauce each season.
It features a dual-mount system with a suction-cup base and a C-clamp, securing it firmly to countertops or tables for stable, safe operation. A significant benefit is that it requires no peeling or coring beforehand; you simply wash, quarter, and cook the tomatoes before feeding them through the hopper. The handle turns smoothly to quickly separate the puree from the waste.
VICTORIO VKP250 Food Mill Stainless Steel
The VICTORIO VKP250 is another workhorse model built for high-volume food processing. It is constructed with a sturdy stainless steel body, ensuring longevity and resistance to rust. This mill is designed to clamp securely to your table or countertop, providing a stable base for cranking through large quantities of food with ease.
It typically comes with multiple screens, allowing you to achieve different textures for various canning projects, from fine seedless tomato sauce to chunkier fruit butter. Its efficient design maximizes yield and minimizes effort, making it a popular choice for those who regularly preserve their garden harvest on a larger scale.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Food Mill for Canning
When I’m getting ready for a big canning season, choosing the right tools is half the battle. A food mill is one of those pieces of equipment that can make or break your efficiency and the quality of your final product. It’s not just about buying any mill; it’s about finding the one that fits your specific canning projects. Over the years, I’ve learned what separates a good mill from a great one, especially when you’re processing large quantities of tomatoes for sauce or turning apples into smooth applesauce.
First, consider the material. Food mills come in stainless steel or various plastics. For me, durability and ease of cleaning are top priorities, so I lean heavily towards stainless steel models. They resist rust and staining from tomato acids and berry pigments far better than plastic, and they’re just more robust for heavy-duty use. However, a high-quality, food-safe plastic mill can be a lighter and more budget-friendly option if you’re not canning on an industrial scale.
Next, look at the milling discs. Most mills come with two or three interchangeable discs with different hole sizes—fine, medium, and coarse. For canning, I find that having at least a fine and a medium disc is essential. The fine disc is perfect for creating silky-smooth tomato sauce, seed-free berry coulis, or velvety pumpkin puree. A coarse disc is great for chunkier applesauce or removing just the seeds and skins from tomatoes while leaving more texture. Versatility here is key.
Capacity is another huge factor. If you’re processing a bushel of tomatoes from the garden, a small 2-quart mill will have you standing at the counter for hours. For serious canning, I recommend a model with at least a 3-quart capacity. Some larger models even go up to 5 or 6 quarts, which can significantly speed up your workflow. Also, check how the mill attaches to your bowl or pot. A stable, non-slip base or a well-designed clamping system is crucial for safety and ease when you’re applying pressure to turn the crank.
Finally, don’t overlook the mechanism itself. The crank handle should feel comfortable and turn smoothly. Some modern designs even offer a crank that can be turned with one hand, which I find incredibly useful. Ease of disassembly for cleaning is non-negotiable; you don’t want to spend more time cleaning than canning. By focusing on these aspects—material, discs, capacity, and usability—you can find one of the best food mills for canning that will serve you well for many seasons to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main purpose of a food mill in canning?
The main job of a food mill in my canning kitchen is to separate the desirable, soft parts of fruits and vegetables from the undesirable bits like seeds, skins, and stems. Unlike a blender, which purees everything together, a food mill uses a rotating blade to force the food through a perforated disk. This leaves the tough, fibrous materials behind and gives me a perfectly smooth puree or sauce. It’s my go-to tool for making tomato sauce without seeds and skins, or for creating smooth applesauce and jellies without any chunks.
Can I use a food processor or blender instead of a food mill for canning?
You can, but I don’t recommend it for most canning projects if you want a smooth, seed-free result. A blender or food processor will chop up everything—seeds, skins, and all—and incorporate it into your puree. This can lead to a bitter taste, especially with tomato seeds, and a grittier texture. For jams and jellies, blended seeds can also affect the set. The food mill is specifically designed to give you that clean, refined texture that makes canned goods feel professional. It’s a unique tool that a blender can’t truly replace for this task.
How do I clean and maintain my food mill?
Cleaning a food mill can seem tricky because of all its parts, but it’s straightforward if you do it right away. I always disassemble the mill completely after use. First, I rinse all the parts under warm water to remove the bulk of the pulp. Then, I use a small brush, like a bottle brush, to scrub the perforations in the discs, as these can get clogged easily. Most models I’ve used are dishwasher safe, but I often hand-wash them to ensure all the tiny holes are clear and to protect the finish. For stainless steel, making sure it’s completely dry before storage prevents any water spots.
Are all food mills suitable for hot foods?
Most are, but you absolutely must check the manufacturer’s specifications. The majority of stainless steel mills are designed to handle hot foods straight from the cooker, which is a huge time-saver. You can cook your tomatoes or apples and then run them through the mill while they’re still hot. However, some plastic components may not be heat-resistant and could warp or melt. I always make sure the model I’m using is rated for hot ingredients to avoid any accidents and to keep my workflow efficient.
What should I look for in a food mill for large canning batches?
When I’m facing a large harvest, I look for three things: a large capacity, sturdy construction, and efficiency. A mill with a 4-quart or larger bowl means I can process more food before needing to empty the pulp bin. A solid, stable base or a strong clamping mechanism is vital so the mill doesn’t slip while I’m cranking through a tough batch. Finally, a smooth-turning, comfortable crank handle makes the big job much less tiring. Investing in a robust model designed for volume is the best way to approach finding the best food mills for canning on a bigger scale.
Is it worth buying a food mill with multiple discs?
In my opinion, yes, it is absolutely worth it. Having multiple discs dramatically increases the versatility of your food mill. A fine disc is perfect for super-smooth sauces and fruit butters, while a medium or coarse disc allows you to control the texture. I might use a coarse disc for a rustic applesauce where I want a bit more body, or for removing grape skins while leaving the fruit mostly intact. Starting with a mill that includes two or three discs means you’re prepared for any canning recipe that comes your way.