Food Mill

Every kitchen needs a food mill

Sometimes progress is not progressive.

The food mill is sort of like a prehistoric food processor, but much more effective for certain tasks.  I use it all summer long to puree tomatoes and it is essential to make a good sauce or tomato paste.  Often, I will cook pasta and then mill in fresh tomatoes right over the hot pasta, add a bit of olive oil, salt, chopped basil, garlic, and call it dinner.

The food mill is also my number one tool for the lightest and most ethereal mashed potatoes you will ever eat.  They are also great for applesauce and other pureed vegetables.  They will give you a beautiful puree without ever gumming up as a food processor can do and they are easy to clean.

Food mills range in price from $30 to $150.  They should be stainless steel for the easiest care and should include a variety of discs for different needs.

I found mine in Rome while walking through a plaza.  It was on top of a make-shift display table where a street vendor had set out a strange variety of kitchen utensils and bed coverings.  I managed to get it home in my suitcase, and it has become one of my go-to kitchen gadgets.