Food Mill vs Juicer: Understanding the Differences
When it comes to processing and preparing foods, kitchen equipment plays a crucial role. Out of hundreds of kitchen gadgets and appliances, a food mill and a juicer are two of the most commonly used ones. While both these tools serve a common purpose of processing food items, they operate differently and have their own set of features and benefits. In this article, we will help you understand the differences between a food mill and a juicer.
What is a Food Mill?
A food mill is a hand-operated mechanical device that is used to process cooked foods such as vegetables, fruits, or meats by forcing them through a perforated disk. The food mill is designed to make mashed potatoes, pureed tomatoes, applesauce, fruit jam, and sauces, and can also be used to remove seeds or skin from fruits or vegetables. A food mill comes with different disks or plates of varying sizes to produce various-sized grains.
What is a Juicer?
A juicer is an electrically operated kitchen appliance that is used to extract juice from fruits or vegetables by breaking down the solid portions of fruits or vegetables into liquid form. A juicer can process both raw and cooked fruits and vegetables and can produce large amounts of juice within a short period. There are two types of juicers available in the market, centrifugal juicers and masticating juicers, both of which work differently to extract juice.
The Main Differences Between a Food Mill and a Juicer
When deciding between a food mill and a juicer, there are several differences to consider.
Functionality: A food mill is best suited for making purees and sauces, whereas a juicer is best for making juice. One cannot substitute the other, as their primary functions are entirely different.
Method of Operation: A food mill is a hand-operated device that requires manual effort to puree or grind the food items. In contrast, a juicer operates electrically and requires basically no effort on the part of the user.
Output: A food mill produces a grainy-textured puree, while a juicer produces a smooth juice. This means that, when using a food mill, you will need to remove any seeds or skin that remain in the puree. In contrast, all the juice extracted by a juicer is free from any seeds or skin.
Which One to Choose?
Choosing between a food mill and a juicer depends on your needs and preferences. If you want to make baby food, fruit sauces, or purees and don’t want to invest in an expensive and complex kitchen appliance, then go with a food mill. On the other hand, if you are focused on making fresh and healthy juices as part of your daily routine, then go with a juicer.
