An excellent tool in the kitchen for grinding or puréeing food…
…a food mill is versatile and can handle several tasks.
Despite not having a food mill in my kitchen…
…I am still able to accomplish the same task.
I am going to show you some awesome food mill substitutes…
…that you probably already have in your kitchen. This is wonderful news.
You might need to peel and seed the fruits…
…and vegetables before the milling step…
…but rest assured they produce results similar to those from a food mill.
So, what’s a food mill?
A food mill is a kitchen device used for grinding or puréeing foods such as soups, sauces, or mashed potatoes. It may be used during canning or making preserves to produce a smooth puree without seeds, skins, or stems. It can be used with hot or cold food. It may also be called a rotary food mill.
According to Danilo Alfaro, a professional culinary arts writer from The Spruce Eats.
Are food mills and food processors the same thing?
Generally speaking, food processors and food mills are quite different in nature.
Food mills are more of a mechanical than an electrical device.
It’s easy to take them apart and clean, and unlike food processors…
…you don’t have to worry about them getting wet.
You can strain debris from your sauce…
…while you are making it using a food mill.
When you use a food processor, everything is combined at the same time.
Consider whether you want the skin, seeds, etc. in your mixture…
…or if you want to strain them out.
Before we jump into next section, let us hear Sofia’s story!
Hi, I’m sofia!
In the recipe for roasted tomato soup I made yesterday,
I supposed to run the soup through a food mill on the coarsest setting.
Being a young cook with only the supplies handed down by my mother,
I am not in a position to get one of these.
I was wondering what is a good substitute for this..
The soup is sitting in my fridge chunky right now,
so I thought about whirring it in a food processor.
Now, let’s jump right in!
Table of Contents
5 Best Food Mill Substitutes

You probably have food mill substitutes in your kitchen right now.
The following food mill substitutes may be considered:
a food processor and sieve combination, a blender…
…a strainer and spoon combination, a cheese grater…
…and hand mixer combination, or a potato ricer!
Find out more in the following paragraphs.
Combination Food Processor-Sieve

- Bowl scraper attachment: Special attachment scrapes the sides of the bowl to keep ingredients close to the blades for more even results and to save you time when chopping or pureeing — no need to stop and remove the lid to use a spatula
- 10 cup capacity: The generous 10 cup bowl can handle large volumes of foods without having to stop to empty it
- Large feed chute: Can fit large foods like a whole block of cheese for quick, easy processing and less prep time
- Versatility of a food processor, food chopper and vegetable chopper: Reversible stainless steel disc slices and shreds, while the stainless steel s-blade chops, mixes and purees
- 2 speeds plus pulse and 450 watts of power: Food processors low and high speeds plus pulse gives you the control you need for a variety of recipes
- Included Components: S-Blade for Chopping
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The food processor and sieve combination is first on my list.
With this pair, you can puree any food…
…and achieve a texture that’s very close to that of a food mill.
The food is grated in a fast pulsating motion…
…by the food processor’s blade, which is sharp.
The sieve provides uniform texture to your puree…
…as it screens the products from your food processor.
When using this option, make sure that seeds and fruit…
…and vegetable peelings are not included in the food processing.
To prepare this alternative, you might need to separate the seeds…
…and peels first with a fine-mesh strainer.
As opposed to the usual food mill, which works mechanically…
…this alternative would require electricity to work.
If you don’t have the time or energy to move a lever back…
…and forth in a food mill, this alternative might be ideal for you.
The combo lacks flexibility in that department…
…because you have limited control over the resulting texture…
…in a food processor if you want to process food very finely.
Pros
- Easy to handle
- Time-saving and fast
- It’s versatile
Cons
- Electricity is needed, not mechanical
- Seeds and peels must be separated manually
- Fine-tuning texture is not possible
Keep reading…
Blender
- 11 piece blender set: Includes blender, additional blender cups, blades, recipe book & more
- The magic bullet chops, mixes, blends, whips, grinds and more. Cups are made out of high-impact plastic
- Effortlessly create your favorite meals and snacks like smoothies, omelets, sauces and dips. 250 watts high-torque power base
- Included recipe book gets you started making quick, easy, and delicious dishes from appetizers to desserts. Add 1/2 cup water for smooth blend for vegetab
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
If a food processor is not at your disposal…
…then you can certainly use a blender instead.
In your blender, you can use the pulse option to mash or puree your food.
Blenders are actually faster than food mills…
…for the purpose of grinding food.
The peelings from both the vegetables and fruit will have to be removed first…
…before the food is pulverized on high speed…
…just like our first combo option.
By using a peeler, knife, or simply using a fork, you can easily achieve this.
You can use the high-speed options on most modern blenders today…
…to turn vegetables and fruits into fine liquids.
My friend once blended unpeeled seeded tomatoes…
…in her high-speed blender, and it resulted in a smooth and fine puree;
however, the peel was still visible.
You should peel and remove the seeds first…
…when using this substitute to achieve the desired texture.
Pros
- Easy to handle
- Time-saving and faster
- Produces finer puree (almost liquid in form)
- Minimal effort required
Cons
- Electricity is needed, not mechanical
- Seeds and peels must be separated manually
Go on…
A Wooden Spoon and Strainer Pair

- ECO-FRIENDLY NATURAL MATERIAL- Made by Phoebe Nanmu Wood. Each wooden soup spoon is grinded by hand and well-finished with a type of natural plant oil glaze that does not come off. No odor! No BPA & toxic!
- BEAUTIFUL DESIGN & UNIQUE GRAIN – Comfortable design with exquisite grain patterns. Wood Grain varies by years and the grow conditions made these handmade table spoons Unique.
- EXQUISITE WORKMANSHIP & DURABLE - 9 INCH LENGTH with 15g for each dinner spoons. Very Smoothly, Lightweight but sturdy, No crack! Will last long time even everyday used!
- MULTI-FUNCTION - The Tablespoon are the just right & perfect size (not Huge & not small) for Eating, Stirring hot soups, coffee, making your Nasi goreng (fried rice), curries, and other dishes. Eating cereal, rice, Korean or Japanese meals. These wooden kitchen eating utensils are the best when using non-stick cookware, will not scratch up your pots and pans.
- What You Get - 6 pieces Wooden Table Spoons are as a set. Giftbox Packaging, perfect household gifts for your family or friends . Friendly Customer Service for this cooking spoon will be count as soon as you boug
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
- Strainers come in 3-1/8-inch, 5-1/2-inch and 7-7/8-inch sizes
- Excellent for sifting Dry ingredients
- Made from durable, Stainless Steel mesh
- Dishwasher safe
- Lifetime Limi
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
You can use this feed mill substitute…
…if you don’t like using electricity to process food…
…and would rather do it manually.
The wooden spoon does most of the work…
…instead of a mechanical contraption…
…that pushes food into the mill for crushing.
This mesh strainer ensures that you achieve a uniform texture…
…by separating the pureed food from the raw food
To make your own homemade tomato sauce…
…press your fresh tomatoes through a fine mesh strainer…
…using a wooden spoon.
Then continue pressing until the desired texture is achieved.
The finer the mesh strainer you choose…
…the creamier and finer the end result will be.
All the work has to be done manually…
…without the aid of a mechanical device, so it takes longer to complete.
The peeling of fruits and vegetables is required…
…as a pre-processing step as well.
Moreover, the results are quite inconsistent…
…since their quality greatly depends…
…on the way you press them into the strainer.
Furthermore, its applicability is limited…
…and it works best with tomato sauce recipes.
If you want to ensure your puree is free of tomato peelings…
…you should blanch your fresh tomatoes in boiling water…
…for a minute before immediately transferring them to cold water.
A sudden change in temperature in its environment…
…makes tomato peels easier to remove.
Pros
- Cheap
- Produces fine puree (depending on how far it is pressed)
Cons
- Peeling must be done manually
- Fine-tuning texture is not possible
- Applicability limited
- Time-consuming and energy-consuming
Combination Cheese Grater and Hand Mixer

- Fantastic Results Without The Fatigue - With minimal effort you can perfectly shred and slice cheese and vegetables. Get creative and make dinner exciting again by grating, slicing and making fresh zest to take your meals to another level. Best of all, its dishwasher safe and backed by a Lifetime Warranty.
- Food Prep Done Fast With Our New Extra Wide Size: Shred a block of cheese in no time with this wonderful product that is effective and durable. This professional version has a contoured shape that is wider than our original grater and makes grating cheese and soft foods easy and also allows for a greater holding capacity.
- Take Pride In Your Mastery Of The Culinary Arts: One simple kitchen tool that will completely improve the taste and texture of what you prepare. Skip the food processor which is a hassle to clean and gives subpar results. Trust us, you want this.
- Incredible Versatility With The 4 Sided Design: Consider getting rid of all the other graters and slicers you may own to make room for this. Coarse grating, Medium grating, Fine grating/Zester and even a Slicer - all in one convenient tool. Quickly prep an array of foods like cheese, potato, squash, zucchini, carrots, lemons and cucumbers. Multi-functional with a comfortable handle that gives you total control.
- Kitchen Must-Have: Sharp Stainless Steel blades get the job done quickly and result in cleanly sliced and grated food. Removable rubber bottom keeps you safer and prevents slipping and sliding on your counter, cutting board or plate. It also prevents food from escaping out the bottom of the grater so youll have less to clean
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
- COMFORTABLE TO USE & BUILT TO LAST : The Cheese Grater has a razor-sharp stainless steel blade that wont rust and a comfortable, non-slip handle. Its unique curved sides make it extremely rigid and allow you to apply more force when its needed.
- SAVE SPACE IN THE KITCHEN : Replace your bulky, unsafe, and hard-to-clean box grater or heavy electric food processor with a single Deiss Cheese Grater. The metal graters teeth wont clog up the way other graters do, so its a snap to clean. Just pass it under running water.
- IMPROVE YOUR COOKING : Amaze your friends with new, restaurant-like recipes. Add strong new flavours with freshly zested ingredients without any bitter pith taste. When using the grater with hard cheeses such as parmesan, youll get a nice pile of grated cheese that melts almost instantly on hot pasta.
- ZESTING & GRATING HAVE NEVER BEEN SO SIMPLE : Shear the hardest cheese into grated fluff using almost no pressure. Simply zip the cutter-knife across the rinds of oranges, lemons and limes. In seconds, you can have finely grated garlic or ginger or treat yourself to a favorite dessert topped with fluffy chocolate flakes.
- LIFETIME WARRANTY : Deiss Kitchenware lifetime warranty is a guarantee to ensure our customers have a hassle-free experience and unbeatable product lifesp
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
We have discussed only substitutes for food mills …
…that can be used to produce different textures of processed food up to now.
We have actually listed a fourth alternative…
…which is more specific in terms of its application.
Cheese graters and hand mixers are the perfect substitute…
…to a food mill when using potatoes…
…and tomatoes as they are softer foods.
You can use your cheese grater to scrape down your potatoes and tomatoes.
In order to make this work, you might want to boil your ingredients first…
before grating so that it will become softer…
…and more cheese-like in consistency.
To achieve the desired texture…
…you will need to whisk down the grated vegetables…
…with a hand mixer. When you work with potatoes…
…it is important not to crush them too much.
I would recommend purchasing a commercial grade cheese grater…
…if you are considering this alternative…
…but don’t yet have one because these types are less likely to rust.
Pros
- Easy operation
- Texture can be fine-tuned
Cons
- Limited applicability
- Partially not mechanical and requires electricity (for the hand mixer to operate)
- It takes more time and energy
Here’s the kicker!
Potato Ricer

- Mashing Potatoes Made Easy - Don’t you wish you can create perfectly smooth and fluffy mash potato with less effort? With our PriorityChef ricer masher kitchen tool, you can achieve a creamy, heavenly dish quickly and conveniently. Simply squeeze on the long hanldes of our potato press for perfect mash.
- Large Deep Basket For Quicker Ricing - Holding a max capacity of 15oz, you will have your mashed potatoes prepared quicker than using other brands. You can also use it for other veggies like soft carrots, turnips, yams and even use a baby food masher
- Anti-Slip, Cushioned Long Handles For Easy Leverage - Our potato ricers long easy-grip silicone handles allows comfortable leverage while you mash, rice, and mill. No more sore or tired arms just perfect results, everytime.
- Easy Clean Up - Top Rack Dishwasher Safe - Crafted from 100% rust-proof, high-quality materials, the PriorityChef potato ricer is resistant to stains, corrosion, and deformation. And with its non-stick material, the spuds will simply slide off. Any food residue is easily rinsed off with running water. It’s easy to use and easy to clean!
- 100% CUSTOMER SATISFACTION GUARANTEE. You don’t need to be a professional chef to create five-star-quality culinary wonders. With this product, each dish you make becomes a tasty treat. It’s a must-have for your kitchen. Add this to your cart and get this today. We’re sure you’ll love them. But if you think you made a wrong purchase, we’ll send your money back. No questions ask
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
A food mill substitute can also be used…
…when dealing with a small batch of potatoes.
In addition to potato puree…
…you can also make some of your favorite vegetable purees…
…with the potato ricer.
It is surprising how simple the mechanism is for this substitute.
In order to make mashed food, simply load cut potatoes…
…or vegetables into the ricer hopper and press using the handles.
When potato or vegetable peelings are not included in the potato ricer…
…a smoother puree can be produced.
While the potato ricer’s name already implies potato-processing…
…it can also be used for cooked tubers, squash…
and dense fruits such as apples.
Tomatoes and oranges, which are naturally juicier, are not compatible.
Although this is the best substitute for producing mashed potatoes…
…it can only process small amounts at a time.
Compact and easy to use, this kitchen tool is perfect for beginners…
…with limited space on their counters.
Pros
- Easy to handle
- Compact and space-saving
- Time-saving and fast
- The machine operates without electricity, and it is manual
Cons
- Applicability limited
- Can’t handle large volumes
- Manual separation of seeds and peelings from pulp is required
Sum Up!
Among many alternatives to the good old food mill, these are just a few.
However, these five shortlisted substitutes…
…have already proven their worth in my kitchen…
…and in other kitchens around the world.
It may be necessary to manually peel and seed the fruit before processing.
However, it is a compromise compared to having a food mill…
…that could do it on its own.
The majority of those I’ve listed here are not mechanical devices…
…and require power to operate.
Conclusion
What did you think of this article?
How would you replace a food mill in your recipe?
The absence of a food mill will no longer be a problem…
…since there are different alternatives…
…that can be substituted in terms of processing ingredients…
…like the ones mentioned above.
Even though there are many other alternatives for food mills…
…the five listed in our article have already proven their worth…
Shop & Donate
For every purchase in the month of March 2022, we will donate $5 from every transaction to a selected charity every month. Place your order today by visiting our store!
…in many kitchens around the world. Try them out! It will amaze you…
Leave a Reply