A Food Mill is a kitchen tool that purees and strains food. It’s invaluable for making smooth sauces, soups, and especially seedless jams. When making jam from soft fruits like raspberries or blackberries, a food mill efficiently removes seeds and skins, resulting in a smooth, flavorful jam. While some prefer using a muslin cloth for a clearer jelly, the food mill offers significant advantages in terms of speed and yield.
Using a food mill for jam-making allows you to retain more of the fruit’s pulp, including valuable fiber and pectin. Pectin is a natural gelling agent found in fruit, and higher pectin levels contribute to a better jam set.
The process begins by gently heating the fruit to release its juices.
After simmering, the fruit is ready for processing.
While a muslin cloth requires tedious straining and squeezing, a food mill quickly separates the seeds and skins from the pulp. A fine mesh food mill creates a smooth puree.
Processing raspberries with a food mill is significantly faster, taking just a couple of minutes per kilogram of cooked fruit.
The resulting puree is richer and contains more pectin than juice strained through muslin.
The food mill method usually results in a jam that sets well without needing additional pectin. However, some fruits, like blackberries, might require added pectin or a longer cooking time for proper setting.
Adding lemon juice, or purees of high-pectin fruits like apples or redcurrants, can also help ensure your jam sets correctly. Overall, a food mill provides a more convenient and efficient way to make seedless jam with superior texture and flavor.
