How To Use A Food Mill (And Do You Need One?)

The food mill dates back a century and is used to puree things like fruits and vegetables. But does this simple tool still have a place in the modern kitchen? Chef and food writer Matt Degen explains what you need to know.

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[debrashaw]

I’m slowly cleaning my mom’s house out after her passing and came across a Foley Food Mill. Your video on how to use was exactly what I was looking for! Thank you SO much!

[happycamper]

I have fond memories helping my mom make applesauce and mashed potatoes with this. The apple peels were always fed to the livestock when we were done.

[thigson]

Though I am/was aware of what a food mill is and does, I had yet to purchase one. Well, yesterday I was stalking the cooking equipment at the local Goodwill and *boom!*, look what I see! - It was a complete Flotte Lotte Stainless Steel food mill (2 discs), in great shape and priced at $34.99 - yellow sticker, btw. While cruising around the store, a cashier came over the PA system and stated today's color was yellow. Not being _exactly_ sure what that meant, I nonetheless took note. Upon check out, I learned the color of the tag meant if your item had that colored tag, it was half off the marked price. Cool.

I bought the Flotte Lotte food mill for $19.06. *_Totally cool!_*

Enjoyed the video, Chef. Thank you for sharing!

[KevinHammer-dh]

My mom used a food mill to prepare Concord Grapes for pie filling. It's a little tedious but worth the effort, and gets the seeds out. First, squeeze out the insides of the grapes into a bowl, keeping the skins in another bowl. Simmer the "insides" in a pot until the seeds become loose from the rest of the grape. Then run them through the food mill. TIP: Mom would reverse how the spring screw on the bottom was put on, so that there was a slightly wider space between the blade and the sieve part -- since grape seeds are larger than most of the other seeds strained with the food mill. Once the seeds are all removed, the strained grape liquid is re-combined with the skins and cooked for a bit. Then it is ready to use in a pie recipe (basically adding sugar, some form of thickener, and lemon juice to the grapes for the filling).

[KissyKat]

Boy does that bring back memories! My aunt had one, and me being the youngest of the family I was always designated to be the one to turn it while the ladies sat around the table chit chatting with their coffee and cookies😂. It was fun making applesauce I have to admit it❤ now we had something that did the same thing at our home but it wasn't as fancy. It was like a conical sieve with wood stick that you would swirl around within that conical sieve and it would also squish the food and make it fine like applesauce. It always made me think of a mortar and pestle BUT BIG 🤭

[philipwalsh]

I do so admire the avocado pot the potatoes were cooked in. Yes, avocado -- that companion to Harvest Gold from the early 1970s. Thrifting forever!

[bohemiansusan]

I first saw one make applesauce when I was 12 and forgot about. In my early 20's I started gardening and home canning in order to avoid commercial processed food and better flavor that went with it. I spent a couple years working in the labs of food processing plants and 30 years later still fear food poisoning.

I bake pumpkin and then run it through the food mill, potaoes, and other things rather using a blender.

[watthaile]

I have been wanting a food mill for a while. Well today I did my monthly grocery shopping, and afterwards I stopped in the thrift store. Lo and behold, there on the shelf was a foley food mill for $7. It is now sitting in my kitchen cabinet ready to be used very soon. What a great combination of memory and function. Interesting to see your video today since I just bought the food mill 3 hrs ago. I will be watching your other videos. Best Wishes.

[PamaliciousBailey]

Thanks for the video, the word sieve is pronounced “SIV” (sounds like give) happy cooking 🙂

[maryflynn]

I'm enjoying this channel- learning that cooking doesn't have to be complicated or intimidating. Thank you

[TimDyck]

Our garden has been pretty good this year and we have one of these processors that was in my parents house while we were cleaning it out to sell it. So I appreciate this video showing me how to use it and will give it a try this weekend.

[adfjasjhf]

Found this after Adam Ragusea mentioned Food Mill in his video "Tiny tomatoes = instant sauce packets" :)
Thanks for this

[rymhidour]

We make fish soup with it, as the flesh goes through, you have all the bones fine or big on top that won't mix in your soup ( Mediterranean fish can have really fine bones)

[juliuscaesar]

6:40 wins my thumbs up!

Luv applesauce and honey. Never used a food mill. Now I will get one and enjoy homemade applesauce. Thank you!

[lesliemcclure]

I remember my Mom using one when canning tomatoes. I say I am going to get one every time I do tomatoes. I'm going to start looking at the local thrift stores. Thanks!

[KarenDow-erie]

Thank you so much for this video! My mother used to use a food mill all the time when I grew up. She used to make our baby food with it as well as many other things. I always remembered that. She was really into healthy foods when it wasn’t that popular back then. Now that I have a granddaughter six months old, I bought a food mill and have been going to town with it making lovely purées for her! Just love the simplicity of it! And now, after watching your video, I definitely will try all sorts of new things with it, including that delicious looking applesauce!! by the way, the one I purchased has interchangeable bottoms, which makes it much easier to clean. Love it!

[watthaile]

First time watching you today. You're quite pleasant to watch. I grew up with the Foley food mill. We used it for everything .... applesauce, pumpkin, muscadines. Plums. Etc

[iiialex]

I just picked one up at a garage sale...never used. The owner received it as a birthday gift. Brand spanking new...Now it's mine for $5...woo-hoo. Now thanks to you...I know what it's for.

[dougfairburn]

Awesome! Getting back to basics. Thanks for the demo.

[juliannapatterson]

Thank you so much for this great and informative video it is just what I was looking for.