The three Finest Meals Mills of 2024, Examined & Reviewed

It’s laborious to think about the times earlier than we had the comfort of digital kitchen home equipment. Mixers, meals processors, and blenders all changed tedious work accomplished by hand. (Think about making large portions of whipped cream manually! My wrist hurts simply fascinated with it.) However the meals mill is one handbook contraption that has stood the check of time.

This easy handheld machine is used to make {smooth} purees and works by gently urgent substances by means of a sieve, leading to one thing silky, however nonetheless textured. We’ve by no means formally reviewed them, so we examined 9 mills, pureeing 20 kilos of potatoes and making batch after batch of recent tomato sauce to seek out the perfect ones.

The Winners, at a Look

This mill bested all others throughout our testing; it was straightforward to make use of, reasonably priced, and produced nice outcomes. It pureed potatoes in a fraction of the time of different mills and the deal with offered good leverage.

What this mill lacked in bells and whistles, it made up for in simplicity and ease, all whereas churning out good outcomes. The sieve is mounted to the mill’s bowl, so that you don’t must fuss with difficult components and inflexible springs.

For those who’re prepared to spend additional cash, this fancy mill has a couple of options that make it very easy to make use of. We appreciated the raised holes on the sieve which have been extra environment friendly at separating the tomato’s flesh from the pores and skin, pulp, and seeds. The silicone-coated deal with was additionally one of the crucial comfy to carry and use.

The Exams

• Creamy Mashed Potatoes Take a look at: We made a batch of pommes puree, the French cousin of mashed potatoes, in every mill. We timed how lengthy it took and famous ease of use, then tasted the ultimate product to see if it was lumpy or if the processing created a gummy texture.
• Tomato Passata Take a look at (Winners-Solely): We used our favourite mills to make batches of tomato passata. This cooked tomato puree is a staple of Italian cooking and is free from skins and seeds. We evaluated how effectively the mill processed the combination, separating the flesh from the remainder, and the way rapidly it did so.

What We Realized

Fluted Sides Helped Funnel Elements

Among the mills we examined had straight sides, whereas others have been fluted, like the OXO. Not solely do fluted sides help you begin with extra meals from the start (eliminating needing to cease and refill), however the slope additionally encourages meals to maneuver towards the perforated base. Straight-sided mills require you to make use of a spatula to encourage issues downward.

Evenly Spaced, Raised Holes Made for Faster Work

Gap measurement instantly impacts the feel of the ultimate product, with smaller holes producing finer purees and bigger ones permitting for a coarser texture. Moreover, the spacing between holes performs a vital position within the effectivity of the milling course of; nearer spacing results in a extra uniform puree, whereas wider spacing can course of bigger portions of meals sooner. Whatever the measurement or form of the holes, we discovered that meals mills with raised holes, like on the Williams Sonoma, processed meals a lot sooner, probably as a result of the raised design helps to forestall clogging and ensures a smoother, extra constant movement by means of the sieve.

The Finest Meals Mills Had been Straightforward to Assemble

For those who’ve by no means used a meals mill, you may not concentrate on a few of the finer factors of setup. When you’ve got, then you realize {that a} mannequin that’s straightforward to place collectively is essential. For mills with changeable sieve plates, you first have to suit the sieve into the mill, which may be fairly a job. Then, you need to take the crank lever and match the submit into the opening within the middle of the sieve plate. Up the crank arm lies a spring topped by a crossbar. The crossbar must be pushed down towards the spring, swiveled barely, and match underneath two hooks that maintain the crossbar in place. Some meals mills, just like the OXO, have a lock mechanism to make sure appropriate placement. Overcoming a stiff spring could make arrange a problem, however too little and the blade received’t push meals into the mill effectively. 

Handles and Stability Had been Essential, Too

Along with straightforward meeting, different issues make an enormous distinction in the case of the usability of a meals mill, like its handles. Not solely ought to they be comfy to seize, however they need to supply some leverage. Keep away from wire handles, which give little in the way in which of consolation. 

Stability is one other issue. Our winner, from OXO, has flat ft that relaxation on prime of a bowl or pot and offer you a better vary of choices throughout use. Some mills use hooks to hold on the facet of a pot, however, usually, this may be limiting. For instance, in case your meals mill has hooks, an 8-inch bowl, and a 5-inch deal with, you’re going to want to discover a pot that’s just about precisely 9 inches throughout to make use of with it.

Among the mills we examined had hooks that have been made from steel and others had ones coated with silicone or plastic. If we have been going to go together with hooks, we most popular the silicone-coated ones, which have been higher at gripping and slid round much less. 

The Standards: What to Search for in a Meals Mill

Take into account the scale and capability of the meals mill. You will need one which’s large enough to deal with the quantity of meals you propose to course of however not so massive that it is tough to retailer. Subsequent, have a look at the supplies: sturdy stainless-steel is a superb selection as a result of it is easy to wash and will not rust. Some meals mills include interchangeable discs for various textures, from tremendous to coarse, which is useful for numerous recipes. That stated, you desire a mill that may rapidly and simply puree; we appreciated mills with small raised holes, which produced the smoothest outcomes. A cushty deal with and a secure base are a should, or else milling potatoes will really feel such as you’re wrangling a greased watermelon, with the mill slipping and sliding round. Ease of cleansing can be vital; fashions which are dishwasher-safe or straightforward to disassemble will prevent effort and time.

The High Meals Mills

What we appreciated: This has been a Severe Eats employees favourite for some time, and through our testing, we came upon why. In contrast to all the opposite meals mills we examined, the OXO has silicone-covered ft that splay out flat and stage, which makes it versatile by way of what bowls or pots you’ll be able to set it over. You possibly can even set it on a flat floor and use it that method, whereas lots of the others can’t relaxation flat on their backside. The collapsible ft make it straightforward to retailer, as effectively.

The OXO created silky potato puree with out gumminess and a {smooth} tomato passata that was neither too chunky nor too watery. It comes together with your selection of three sieve discs so you’ll be able to choose the fitting one for the ingredient you wish to course of.

What we didn’t like: It did take a smidge longer to course of the potatoes on this mill. Nonetheless, when it got here to issues just like the tomato passata, the feel of the ultimate product was far superior (learn: luscious and {smooth}). 

Key Specs

• Materials: Chrome steel
• Said capability: 2.3 quarts
• Discs included: 3
• Weight: 2 lbs, 5 ounces
• Deal with size: 5 inches
• Opening diameter: 8 inches
• Care directions: Dishwasher-safe

What we appreciated: It’s laborious to not like a meals mill that comes at such a terrific value, nevertheless it has extra going for it than saving you a couple of dollars. In contrast to many others, this mill has a set sieve, which means it solely has one possibility for the scale and form of the holes on the backside. Fortunately, that one measurement is all you want for almost all of recipes. One other bonus of the mounted sieve is that you simply don’t must fuss and fiddle with a stiff spring or wonky crossbar. 

Just like the Williams Sonoma, the Mirro additionally has a small steel stick that turns across the backside of the sieve to scrape off processed meals and stop clogs, which was a useful function that helped meals move by means of sooner.

What we did not like: The opposite facet of the coin with a set sieve is that you haven’t any choices in the case of adjusting the quantity of puree or seeds you wish to move by means of; what comes commonplace is simply what you get. The straight sides meant we had to assist push the meals down periodically as effectively.

Key Specs

• Materials: Chrome steel
• Said capability: 2 or 3.5 quarts
• Discs included: 1, mounted
• Weight: 1 lb, 5 ounces
• Deal with size: 6 inches
• Opening diameter: 7 1/4 inches
• Care directions: Hand-wash

What we appreciated: The silicone-coated handles have been very comfy to carry (despite the fact that they have been shorter than others), which provided extra leverage when working the mill. Plus, the knob that spins the crank is oval as a substitute of spherical, which was simpler to get a agency grip on. The mill pureed meals rapidly and simply, and it was a breeze to arrange.

It comes with a particular clip that attaches to the bottom and rotates with the blade to scoop off processed meals into your bowl of pot, stopping clogs and making issues run easily. Among the different higher-end meals mills carried out equally effectively, however this was probably the most reasonably priced of that group.

What we did not like: This mill is unquestionably on the pricier facet. 

Key Specs

• Materials: Chrome steel, silicone-coated handles
• Said capability: NA
• Discs included: 3
• Weight: 2 lbs, 10 ounces
• Deal with size: 4 1/2 inches
• Opening diameter: 8 1/4 inches
• Care directions: Dishwasher-safe

The Competitors

FAQs

What’s a meals mill good for?

A meals mill is a superb instrument for any recipe or cooking mission the place it is advisable puree and pressure concurrently. With a meals mill, you’ll be able to effortlessly make silky-smooth tomato sauce freed from seeds and skins, good for pasta dishes or pizza. It is also incredible for creating lump-free mashed potatoes, velvety applesauce, and {smooth} purees, reminiscent of pumpkin or squash. A meals mill may help in making home made jams, jellies, and fruit preserves by eradicating undesirable seeds and fibers, guaranteeing a {smooth} consistency. Its potential to separate solids from liquids with out incorporating air makes it higher suited than blenders or meals processors for sure duties.

What’s one of the simplest ways to wash a meals mill?

Cleansing your meals mill immediately will make the method simpler. Most meals mills are dishwasher-safe, however test the producer’s directions first. If washing by hand, disassemble the mill and wash every half with heat, soapy water. Use a brush to take away any meals particles caught within the sieve holes. Dry the components totally earlier than reassembling them to forestall rust, particularly if the mill is made from steel.

How is a meals mill completely different from a ricer?

A meals mill and a ricer each have steel sieves with holes—however they differ in how they course of meals. A ricer makes use of a steel tamper to crush meals by means of the holes in a single swift movement, whereas a meals mill has a deal with and spinning steel piece that slowly pushes meals by means of the sieve. Meals mills are sometimes used for purees and silky {smooth} mashed potatoes, whereas ricers are primarily used for crushing starchy meals, yielding a fluffier texture.  

How do you employ a meals mill for tomatoes? 

Individuals typically use meals mills to make passata, a tomato puree that’s skinny and recent. In our recipe for passata, we have now you rapidly cook dinner chopped recent tomatoes to eliminate some water, then place them within the meals mill and begin turning. The meals mill pushes the tomatoes by means of the steel sieve, capturing seeds and tomato pores and skin. 

Why We’re the Consultants

• Taylor Murray has been working in meals and meals media for over 10 years, together with in award-winning eating places.
• She has written extensively for Severe Eats, together with items on paella pans, carving boards, and extra.
• She examined 10 stainless-steel meals mills through the use of them to puree 20 kilos of potatoes and make batches of passata. All through testing, she evaluated every mannequin’s efficiency, usability, and design.