I just bought a vintage foley food mill (along with a vintage, clamp-style apple peeler) at the thrift store the other day for $4. It's got the spring-loaded tightening thingy on the bottom, but I think in retrospect that the bottom might be slightly warped, as the part that turns/pushes the food through the holes catches a lot on the grater-y part. :(

Haven't tried it yet with real food. Maybe they're supposed to do this?

I have a Foley. I use it all the time to make soups & purees. I love using hand powered "appliances" instead of electrical ones.

I have been happily using my MIU Stainless-Steel Tomato/Vegetable Mill for about 7 years now. The best part is that it goes in the dishwasher (though we clean the solid bits off first)!

Most efficient method for making applesauce. No need to peel. Just cook til soft, mill, voila! Applesauce.

I have the exact one pictured above and use it all the time. I make lots of jams, jellies, and fruit butters though so I may be someone who would need one more than the average person.
The one above is much cheaper than most other models but it has served me very well for several years. Although the white plastic has stained an orangey red from making pepper jelly it has no cracks or broken pieces. I keep it in the same box that it came in to keep all the parts together and store it easily.
They're kind of a pain in the butt to clean but once you have one there is no end to the uses you'll find for it. Over this summer I realized I could juice watermelon with it (keeping the seeds out of the juice) and make easy watermelon margaritas for parties! YUM!

I bought an Oxo last year and I love it. I use it for applesauce and for tomato soup. I even ground coffee with it when we had no power during Hurricane Irene. I like that it strains as well as purees. And it goes in the dishwasher—essential.

Is there any question? Yes! get a food mill! I make quarts and quarts of applesauce in mine every year. Also, it takes the 'hulls' out of cooked beans for smoother bean pie.

I also have an OXO and I love it. I might not use it every day, but it's great to have when needed and I know it'll last forever.

I used to work at a kitchen supply store and without a doubt this was the most requested item. My main recommendation would be to find an all metal one, the plastic housed ones can break if you end up using your mill a lot.

Does not having a dishwasher a deal-breaker for buying a food mill? I'm afraid I'll regret the decision.

At times like this, my father's advice rings in my ears: Either buy a dishwasher or be a dishwasher.

Michelle of Montreal, I find that if you're going to handwash it, a scrubby dishwashing brush with long bristles will usually get it clean.

I use my immersion blender and processor what can a food mill do that they can't curious? Thanks

I have a good sized blackberry patch in my backyard. I love blackberry cobbler but hate the seeds. Foley food mill to the rescue. Blackberries are in the freezer and this is going to be a taste of summer in January. Here is the result of using a food mill: http://vintagecookery.blogspot.com/2011/06/delicious-mistake.html

b77: A food mill strains out of skins, seeds and cores which neither the immersion blender nor the food processor does. Sometimes you don't want these things in your sauce for their taste or texture. (Example: apple seeds in applesauce.)

Of course you can pour what ever you've blended/processed through a strainer, but that's an additional step. And an additional thing to wash.

my mother gave me her stainless steel food mill when I was making baby food for my kids. I loved it. I still have it and use it from time to time.

I'm so glad to see this thread. I was just thinking about buying one for that tomato paste conserve thing that I think was here the other day. Also, the idea of them going through the dishwasher sounds fab, so thanks to whoever put that info in their comment!

I love my food mill. It helps process foods without making them too consistent, and it removes seeds and skins with ease. I got mine about 15 years ago and use it many tines each year; as I continually clean out my kitchen stuff (of which I have a ton due to inheritance issues), the food mill remains.

I nabbed my Dad's when we lost him -- perfect for Cranberry Orange Relish. Sooo much better than the food processor with its widely varying "grain". Like coffee ground in a burr grinder vs one of the whirly cups.

I only use my food mill once a year and it's to make cranberry sauce every Thanksgiving. My mom's recipe - we put a few granny smith apples in it to make it a nice tart.

also removes fibers (squash, for example) when pureeing foods and give a lighter and creamier texture than a processor or blender.

I have an all-metal one, and never use it.

I bought it 8 years ago to make baby food. Well, that was a bust. I found it easier to use a blender, and if I wanted it super smooth, to then pass it through a sieve.

It just wasn't powerful enough to push food through.

I think the question should be, have you missed your food mill? If you've had one before and life has gone on without you missing it now that it has disappeared, then why replace it? But if you feel the call to mill things, then go ahead.

I received the Oxo model as a gift 3 years ago and L-O-V-E it. I use it for making smooth sauces and pureeing soups - in fact, I just used it this afternoon! When our immersion blender kicked it, I didn't see the need to replace it, as the food mill makes smoother, more velvety soups than we ever managed with the blender. Three cheers for the food mill!

This is like asking if you should have pots in your kitchen.

Yes, you most definitely should.

Dana thank you..um I probably could of used one with my heirloom tomato soup, the skins where a bit annoying to what was almost a perfect soup.

I don't use mine. I have the style shown in the picture but for whatever reason I find that it just doesn't work. Don't know if I have one that is defective but it feels like the only thing I do is push food around.

I have an Oxo food mill that I love. We use it for mashed potatoes, baby food, and to puree berries b/c it helps strain out most of the seeds in the process.

I don't have one and its right next to the immersion blender on my to-buy list. Applesauce is next weekend and I will definitely need it then. Figure I can get an OXO with a coupon at BBB for reasonable.

I bought one of these at a yard sale about 30+ years ago, still have it, didn't know exactly what it was, didn't realize that it could do all the things I have just read here, I use it for cheese, potatoes onions grating and slicing, now I know what it can do will use it for my jams, and other fruit recipes

I just clicked on "Process my order" on Amazon.ca for my Oxo food mill. I can't wait!! I had originally decided on the All Clad one but after reading a bunch of negative reviews I changed my mind and went for the Oxo one. I plan on using it to make apple butter this fall, and next summer I plan on using it to make baby food for my little dude who is currently growing in my tummy.

Coming in late to the game here, but must echo Charlotte's and ssdf23's comments. I love non-electrical appliances and all stainless steel will last much longer. My son calls my non-electrical appliances my apocalyptic survival appliances. lol!