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What to use instead of a food mill


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3 replies to this topic

#1 bonkboo

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Posted 18 November 2012 - 08:51 AM

Considering making a cranberry ice for Thanksgiving (stole the idea from the Thanksgiving thread.) Recipe calls for using a food mill. Can I use a food processor instead? Some other device? Thanks.

#2 radtek

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Posted 18 November 2012 - 09:21 AM

I believe so. Also an immersion blender or regular blender would probably do the trick. You'll need to wide-mesh strainer to separate some of the solids.

#3 JAZ

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Posted 18 November 2012 - 06:13 PM

While you can use a food processor or blender to puree the fruit, a food mill also strains out the solids, so you would need to pass the puree through a strainer after blending.

#4 pbear

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Posted 18 November 2012 - 10:55 PM

In my experience, what a food mill will do that a food processor (or other puree device) will not is separate the pulp from the skins. I assume the cranberries are cooked before being passed through the mill. (It would help if the OP posted or linked the recipe.) Not saying the puree approach won't work, but it'll be more gritty. Whereas straining will capture the juice, but not the pulp. (And if you're going to do that, you might as well just buy the juice, being sure to get juice and not cocktail.) Again, might work, but it'll have less body and flavor. Or, better, go ahead and get the food mill. Not expensive and useful for all sorts of things. A great way, for example, to make mashed potatoes and other vegetable purees.