Did you know just 1 in 10 adult Americans are meeting the daily recommended intake of fruits and veggies? Now and then, we’re reminded of the tremendous benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables.
Well, if you’re serious about taking more fruits and veggies, you might as well want to take them in various forms.
For instance, instead of consuming them whole, you could extract the juice, which is a lot healthier than the processed juice from the store.
All you need is the best food strainer and sauce maker. With it, you’ll effectively separate the juice from the seeds and pulp, without having to peel or core your fruits like apple or other fruits and vegetables. The gadget can handle all sorts of items from grapes and tomatoes to apples and oranges.
In the review below, I will introduce to you some of the top models in the market, both manual and electric.
Let’s jump in.
Image | Name | Editor's Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roots & Branches VKP250 Johnny Apple Sauce Maker | 5 out of 5 | |
| KitchenAid Fruit & Vegetable Strainer with Food Grinder | 5 out of 5 | |
| 3.Weston Metal Tomato Strainer, 1 Gallon | 4.5 out of 5 | |
| CusinaPro Tomato Food Strainer and Sauce Maker | 4 out of 5 |
Our Top 4 Best Food Strainer and Sauce Maker On The Market
1. Roots & Branches VKP250 Johnny Apple Sauce Maker
Roots & Branches is a brand of the Everything Kitchens company, which was founded by Emily Church in 2002, then a new mother working from home. For high-quality kitchen appliances, Everything Kitchens and Roots & Branches won’t let you down.
If you’re looking for a good unit to make natural juice or salsa, the Roots & Branches VKP250 Johnny Apple Sauce Maker is a great consideration.
First and foremost, the design is really simple but thoughtful. It is a complete unit that comes with everything, including a hopper, a crank, a screen, a cone, a funnel, a shield, and a spout.
Imagine having to process only a few bits of food at a time. It’s not very convenient, right? Roots & Branches now offers an affordable unit that you can use to process food faster.
The hopper is large enough to fit lots of food at once. As a matter of fact, you can process up to 4 quarts of food at a time. In just five to ten minutes, you’ll be able to complete a 16-quart pot of tomatoes.
Pushing food into the processing unit no longer needs to be a hassle. That’s because a sturdy plastic food pusher is included, which is comfortable to use and works great.
The reason why so many folks like the strainer is that it is so easy to use and doesn’t increase your electricity bill. A hand crank is located at the side for manual operation.
The handle is covered with a comfortable and non-slip plastic for ease of operation. What’s more, you don’t need much effort to spin it.
When you purchase the unit, you get the apple and tomato screen. If you like, you can get other screens including the salsa, pumpkin, and berry screens separately from the same brand. Also, you can secure the motor for hands-free operation.
Highlighted features:
2. KitchenAid Fruit & Vegetable Strainer with Food Grinder
KitchenAid is a well-known kitchen tools brand in the US, a household name in some places. The quality that this brand offers is truly legendary, and that’s why I had to have something from them in this review.
The KitchenAid Fruit & Vegetable Strainer is one versatile tool you will be happy to have in your kitchen.
First of all, it is electric. If for any reason you don't want to deal with a hand crank, this is a great model to consider.
A heavy-duty motor does all the work for you, and all you have to do is push the food and collect the juice under the spout.
This electric food strainer and sauce maker is actually two units in one. It has a unit for straining or pureeing fruits and veggies, and an attachment that folks use to grind meat and other foods.
The grinder unit not only minces but allows you to do a range of things with it. You can use it to create salsa, make chutney and bread crumbs, and even grate cheese.
There are 2 plates in the grinder unit – a coarse one and a fine one. You'd ideally use the coarse one for chutneys, salsas, etc. The fine one comes in handy for things like sausages, meat, etc.
The blade inside the grinder is super sharp and really strong as it is stainless steel.
The most convenient thing about it is that it is dual-sided, and therefore there's no wrong way to install it.
The entire auger compartment comes apart really easily. This makes the cleanup a piece of cake.
When you want to strain fruits and veggies, you just remove the grinder auger and install the straining auger with the strainer attached. And then you install the splash guard.
Made of stainless steel, the conical strainer screen is really strong and durable. Also, it does the job effectively.
With its heavy-duty construction and all its functions, the KitchenAid makes the best food strainer and sauce maker. It is an extremely versatile machine for grinding, pureeing, and straining. It even has an attachment where you can hook stand mixer.
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3. Weston Metal Tomato Strainer, 1 Gallon Hopper
Coming in third is a strainer from a reputed brand known as Weston. What sets the Weston Metal Tomato Strainer is the robust construction and the functionality it offers.
A good majority of strainers and sauce makers are made of plastic. Even though the plastic used in some units is high-grade and durable, it cannot beat stainless steel.
What makes the Weston unit superior is that from the hopper to the crank and stand, it is made of stainless steel. Even the strainer assembly is made of the same powerful material.
You never have to worry about broken or rusted parts. This is the sort of strainer to last you a lifetime.
With some strainers, you are forced to process small bits of food at a time. That’s because the hopper is too small.
Weston, recognizing this issue, brings you one of the largest hoppers I have come across. It is an extremely wide unit that allows you to process lots of food at once and harvest up to a gallon of juice per round.
Say goodbye to warping plastic hoppers. The stainless-steel hopper of this unit is strong and it efficiently stands up to abuse.
Splashing juice can create quite a mess when operating a strainer. But this will not be an issue when using this machine. Its stainless-steel splash guard does a wonderful job. The chute is shaped very well to direct the juice into your bowl and prevent drip.
Support and stability are vital when working with a strainer. Truly, a shaky unit can bring lots of frustration.
Guess what? This model comes with not one but two mounting systems. Firstly, a suction cup fixes the base to the counter. Secondly, a c-clamp is included to firmly attach the appliance to the counter/table.
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4. CusinaPro Tomato Food Strainer and Sauce Maker
The last item on my list is a strainer that anyone on a tight budget needs to hear about. It is a plastic unit that comes at a fraction of the cost of the models I’ve discussed above.
Looks were the first thing that caught my eye. It is a little red appliance that looks like it’d go with any décor.
One thing about the gadget is that it is almost completely made of plastic. It will definitely not last as long as the other models, but it also comes with perks. For instance, the plastic material is lightweight. If you need a unit you can carry around the house effortlessly, this one will do.
The screen is the only part made of stainless steel. It is a sturdy part that processes fruits such as tomatoes and cooked apples with remarkable efficiency.
I, however, wouldn't recommend trying hard food items like raw apples, oranges, or hard cheese. But for tomatoes and soft fruits like berries, cooked apples, cherries, and so on, the unit will work seamlessly.
The hand crank is well-made and easy to hold, and it moves without a struggle.
However, some units happen to leak near its base. In case you encounter this unfortunate issue, install a garden hose washer at the site of the leak and add some coconut oil to help the handle move. That should resolve the problem.
Maybe you’re wondering the same question I wondered when I first saw this tool. It is made of plastic and it looks lightweight, so won’t it move a lot on the work table?
Surprisingly, the unit doesn’t shake, thanks to its powerful suction cup at the base. It holds the device solidly.
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Comparison Table of Our Recommended Product
Name | Electric/ manual | Capacity | Construction | Food grinder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Roots & Branches VKP250 Johnny Apple Sauce Maker | Manual with an optional motor | 4 quarts | Mostly stainless steel | No |
KitchenAid Fruit & Vegetable Strainer with Food Grinder | Electric | 6 quarts | Mostly stainless steel | Yes |
Weston Metal Tomato Strainer | Manual | 4 quarts | Mostly stainless steel | No |
CusinaPro Tomato Food Strainer and Sauce Maker | Manual | 4 quarts | Mostly plastic | No |
What to Consider Before Buying a Food Strainer and Sauce Maker?
There is no denying how useful a food strainer and sauce maker is. With one in your kitchen, you needn’t worry about peeling or coring fruits and vegetables again. The device does all the work, removing the pulp, skin, and seeds, and giving you smooth juice.
If you’re looking for the best food strainer and sauce maker, be sure to consider the following factors. It will increase your chances of choosing the right model.
Is it manual or automatic?
The first thing to think about is how the device is powered. Looking in this direction, there are both manual and electric food strainers.
A manual model typically comes with a hand crank, which you have to spin to process the food. If you’re on a budget, getting a manual unit will work great as it is usually cheaper than an electric one.
Note, some manual models are compatible with a motor. The Roots & Branches VKP250 Johnny Apple Sauce Maker (in the review) is a good example. It is manual but you can disconnect the crank and attach a motor, which the same brand sells separately.
An electric strainer, on the other hand, comes with a motor in place of a hand crank. The motor does all the work for you, so you won’t spend your elbow grease.
Electric food strainers and sauce makers not only simplify the work but also help you process more food faster. However, you’ll spend more on it than you would on a manual strainer.
Material
Just like when purchasing any other tool, the durability is a factor you cannot ignore. When looking to know how long your strainer will last, check the material.
Usually, strainers are made of either metal, plastic, or a combination of these materials.
Metal, and particularly stainless steel, is strong and durable. A strainer made of stainless steel is a lot less likely to break and it will not rust. It can even last a lifetime.
The only issue with steel strainers is that they’re costlier. Nonetheless, for their performance and longevity, their price is worth it. I’d recommend looking for a unit that has at least the major parts made of steel. That means the crank/motor assembly, the strainer screens, and the stand/support.
Plastic is lightweight and easy to carry. Moreover, models made of plastic are less expensive. Unfortunately, they don’t last.
Capacity
Have you used a food strainer before? How big was the hopper and how much food could you put in there? It is so inconvenient to have to put in and process a piece or two at a time. But that’s what you get with a small hopper.
Look for a hopper that allows you to process a reasonable amount of food at a time. A wide unit works best. Still, don’t get something that will be too large for your space.
Ease of cleaning
Food processors deal with lots of debris. Left in the device, the debris will not only ruin the taste of future preparations but also pose health risks. Not to mention the damage to the strainer.
Thus, it is recommended that you clean the gadget from time to time.
When shopping for the right strainer, be sure to consider the ease of cleaning. Ask whether the unit can be disassembled. The parts that need disassembly, usually, include the auger and the straining unit. You should be able to take out the screen, cone, spring, and chute/spout with ease.
Also, you may want to check if the parts are dishwasher-safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you use a food strainer for?
A food strainer is a machine that works like both a blender and a juicer. It crushes fruits and vegetables and separates the juice from the skin and fiber. Depending on the screen size, you can allow a little to no pulp to get into the juice.
Can you use a food strainer to grind meat?
Some food strainers can grind meat and cheese while others cannot. Usually, the model that can do this is the one that comes with a food grinder attachment. The KitchenAid Fruit & Vegetable Strainer with Food Grinder is a good example from the reviews above.
What can I process in a food strainer?
You can use a food strainer to process any sorts of fruits and vegetables from pineapples, apples, and oranges to grapes, berries, and tomatoes. Basically, you can process anything that processes juice.
Will I have to core my tomatoes before putting them in the strainer?
With a food strainer, you don’t have to do any peeling or coring. The machine does everything for you. Be sure to use the screen size that is appropriate for small seeds to prevent them from getting into the sauce. That means a screen with a finer mesh.
Final Word
If you’re serious about adopting a healthier lifestyle, it is time to reduce your intake of processed juice and taking more natural juice. By getting the best food strainer and sauce maker, you’ll enjoy natural fruit juice at any time.
As illustrated in the food strainer reviews above, there are both electric and manual models.
Electric food strainers are a great choice for anyone who wants to process more food faster and effortlessly. In contrast, manual models are perfect when you’re on a budget. Additionally, they help you exercise your hands.
Before choosing a unit, be sure to check the other factors I talked about, including the construction, capacity, ease of cleaning, and so on.
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