What are the different types of food strainers?

Food strainers are much more versatile kitchen utensils than you think. They come in many different forms, and each one has its own specific uses. The key to getting the most out of your strainer is knowing what it can do. This article will explain many of the different types and what they are designed for.

The normal food strainer is the colander. These are usually made of metal and rest at the bottom of your sink to drain water from pasta, blanched vegetables, and boiled potatoes. Almost every kitchen will have this style of strainer, but there are other types that are even more useful.

Metal strainers are generally conical with very small perforations. These will do the same thing as strainers, but also work to mash fruits and vegetables inside to separate their pulp from the juice. Small batches of tomato sauce work great in this style, as do berries for jam.

Food mills are another style of strainer. These have a gear mechanism at the top that grinds soft foods to get the pulp and juice out of the fruit. They are very inconvenient to use, but they are indispensable for medium batches of sauces and jams. Most food mills will cost around $40 or $50 online or at your local kitchen supply store.

If the food mill is John Henry, the electric food strainer is the locomotive. These are too much for most home kitchens, but are regularly used in restaurants. They do the same job as food mills, but they use a motor to process whatever you put into them.

Generally, there is a kind of wooden plunger that keeps your fingers out of the mill, while you put everything inside. Large batches of salsa, gravy, and jam are best for this. If you’re not doing a lot of these, stick with the manual grinder to save time on cleanup. Food strainers are one of the most versatile kitchen utensils. Use the one that suits your needs to make sure you actually use it!