The food mill is a handy kitchen tool for making sauces, purees, soups and baby food. It can grind and strain soft foods, such as cooked fruits and vegetables. Although it may not be suitable for highly processed foods such as processed cheese, a food mill can be a great time-saver when you need to quickly whip up something homemade. But what if you don’t have a food mill? Don’t worry! There are several alternatives that can help you achieve the same result without the need for this special item. Here are some of the most common items you can use instead of a food mill to help you create nutritious dishes with ease.
Alternatives to a Food Mill
A food mill is a kitchen tool that is used to mash and sieve soft foods. It is often used to make sauces and baby food, but can also be used to make purees and soups. If you don’t have a food mill, there are alternative options available for you. In this article, let’s explore some of the alternatives to a food mill that can help you achieve the same results.
Blender or Food Processor
Blenders or food processors are great tools to use in place of a food mill. They offer a lot of versatility when it comes to preparing food, and they can quickly puree and smooth out ingredients like potatoes, carrots, squash, applesauce (and more). You will get a smoother texture if you process your ingredients prior to using a blender or food processor.
If using a blender or food processor:
– Start by processing the ingredients for about 1 minute. It’s important not to over-process any foods at this stage as it could turn your mixture into an unappetizing soup.
– Then pour the processed ingredients into the blender or food processor and blend until desired consistency is reached.
– If necessary, add more liquid such as stock or milk while blending. This will help make sure that everything processes evenly and smoothly without needing any extra agitation from you.
– Once the desired consistency is obtained, serve immediately in soups, sauces and other dishes. Alternatively, you can transfer the pureed mixture into an airtight container for storage in the refrigerator for up to three days or in the freezer for up to six months.
Potato Ricer
Potato ricers are excellent alternatives to food mills. They are best used for making mashed potatoes, but they can also be used to purée a variety of cooked vegetables and fruits. Potato ricers come in various shapes, sizes, and materials. Certain models are powered by electricity, while others have a manual lever; both allow you to squeeze out the desired amount of puréed food very quickly.
When using a potato ricer, you will have to be sure to remove any large pieces of food (such as chunks of potatoes or apples), before passing the mixture through the device. The combination of heat and pressure will create creamy mashed potatoes that even food mills can’t replicate! However, this is not an ideal choice if you want an ultra-smooth puree—ricers produce larger particles than mills do.
Hand Masher
A hand masher is a convenient tool for pureeing soft fruits and vegetables and is often used instead of a food mill. This device has a flat base where the food is placed, and then the user smashes it with a metal grid or rod that resembles a rolling pin. The force of the mash will break down soft fruits, such as bananas, applesauce, cooked sweet potatoes and cooked squash.
The grid can be shaped in various ways to create different textures depending on the desired goal. For instance, with mashed potatoes, using small holes in the grid will create an especially creamy texture while larger holes will yield chunky potatoes. Hand mashers are also great for mashing or pureeing cooked beans like chickpeas to make hummus or refried beans. They are easy to use and take up very little space in the kitchen cupboard!
Cheese Grater
A cheese grater can be a great alternative to a food mill when you need something that can quickly and easily grate or shred food ingredients or soft solids. Cheese graters come in different sizes with varying shapes for the holes of the grater. A larger cheese grater will usually be better for softer solids such as potatoes, carrots, and turnips. A smaller cheese grater is ideal for hard ingredients like cheese, chocolate, or nuts. You should also be careful when using this tool because some of the materials may not be safe to eat after they have been put through a cheese grater. When possible, wrap the food in plastic wrap before placing it in the cheese grater to avoid possible injury. To ensure your ingredients are evenly shredded or minced, try using a hand held rotary vegetable slicer as an alternative to a food mill.
Fork or Knife
Using a fork or a knife is one of the simplest methods for mashing potatoes. To achieve the desired, silky smooth texture, start by boiling and draining potatoes until soft. Out of the pot, break them apart with either a knife or a fork if doing so with your fingers isn’t an option. Then,. using the back of the knife, gently press down on each potato chunk to mash it against the sides and bottom of the pot. You can also use two forks and do the same motion — one to hold each potato in place while you mash them together with both forks. Continue to mash potatoes until they reach your desired level of consistency before adding butter, salt or other flavorings as desired.
