Take one look at a food mill, or better yet get your hands on one, and it might think it’s a relic from a bygone era. It actually is. The food mill as we know it was created a century ago by the Foley Manufacturing Company, and back then it revolutionized the home kitchen.
Essentially a hand-cranked blade attached to a sieve, the food mill is a food processor, in that it transforms food from one form to another. In this case, soft fruits and vegetables can be loaded into the bin, cranked, and are extruded through the bottom as a puree or juice.
While the modern kitchen is now filled with electric food processors, mixers, and myriad other devices, food mills continue to be made. Mirro makes this Foley model similar to my vintage Foley, and Oxo makes this model that is improved with interchangeable grinding discs that let you choose between fine, medium, and course grinds.
Or you can just hunt for one at a thrift store, as I did. If memory serves, I scored mine for like $7 from my local thrift.
But the question you might have, and that this post so prominently asks, is: Are food mills still relevant?
The answer is a resounding maybe. Like any other kitchen device, whether you need one depends on your needs.
Here’s what makes a food mill so special, and what sets it apart from even that fancy Cuisinart food processor that might be sitting on your counter: A food mills strains as it purees. That means you can put fruits and vegetables into the bin with skins, seeds, and all. What comes out the bottom is just puree.
A food mill is commonly used to make apple sauce, and it couldn’t be easier: Put cooked apples (I quarter them, leaving on stems and skin) into the bin, crank, and what comes out is the best apple sauce you’ve ever had.
These are also handy for ricing potatoes to make mashed potatoes. Similar to a potato ricer, you can put the pieces in skin and all (no more peeling potatoes before boiling, yay!), and out comes fluffy, rice potatoes. And unlike a potato ricer, a food mill can tackle larger quantities at a time.
Food mills are also ideal for making baby food. Cooked veggies can easily be transformed into purees for those growing bundles of joy.
Do note that the food you put into a mill must be soft enough to be juiced or pureed. That most often means soft fruits and cooked vegetables.
So yes, a food mill is still definitely relevant in the modern kitchen, if those kinds of uses fit your needs. Another benefit is that they require no power (although there are electric food mills out there), which means they can be used even in places without electricity.
Now, can another device do what a food mill does? Not fully. For example, a food processor can puree food, but then you’d have to strain it, or skin/deseed/etc. beforehand.
One last potential use? Artwork. The food mill is quite an interesting piece aesthetically. Even if you don’t use one often, it might just be a great conversation piece placed on a hook or shelf.