If you’ve ever tried to make your tomato sauce by hand, you may have found it extremely time-consuming to remove the tomatoes’ skin and seeds, puree the tomato, and get the consistency you desire. That’s where tomato strainers come in.
A tomato strainer can streamline this process, making it quick and easy to process a lot of tomatoes and turn them into the perfect, tasty sauce.
If this sounds like what you’re looking for, keep reading to see our picks for the nine best tomato strainers.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Norpro 1951 “The Original” Sauce Master
Budget Option:
Ergonomic Tomato Strainer
Best Electric:
Weston Deluxe Electric Tomato Strainer
Professional Grade:
Raw Rutes Electric Tomato Strainer Machine
Best Overall
Norpro 1951 “The Original” Sauce Master
The best tomato strainer at the top of our list is the Norpro 1951 “The Original” Sauce Master. This tomato strainer is one of the more affordable options on the list, but it has all the capabilities you need from this type of appliance.
To use this tool, attach it to your countertop, place your tomatoes in the bowl, and turn the handle. From there, the spiral forces your tomato through the steel screen, which separates the juice from the pulp.
Pros
- It holds up to three quarts of tomatoes so that you can strain larger amounts at once
- Attaches to the side of your counter, so it doesn’t slide around
- You can buy additional screens for the strainer to strain other foods, including berries, pumpkin, and salsa.
Cons
- The handle can be tough to turn
- Some reviewers note that the tool is difficult to clean properly.
- A few customers have noted that the screen rusts easily.
Budget Option
Ergonomic Tomato Strainer
This Ergonomic Tomato Strainer is a great budget option. Despite being one of the lowest price devices on this list, it’s high quality, rust-resistant, and made with heavy-duty stainless steel, so you can rest easy knowing your money is well spent.
The other key highlight is that this strainer has an ergonomic design. The position of the handle and the spring-loaded lever makes it easy and comfortable to use, reducing the amount of hard work that usually goes into milling foods.
Pros
- Compact size for easy storage
- It comes with three interchangeable discs to strain different foods and gets different textures
- This tool is multipurpose and can also be used as a steamer and colander.
Cons
- Some customers say that the tool doesn’t always do a great job of moving the food through the screen, so that it can involve some extra scraping and pushing.
- Its smaller size makes it take longer to mill large quantities of food
- Assembly may be difficult.
Best Electric Tomato Strainer
Weston Deluxe Electric Tomato Strainer
The Weston Deluxe Electric Tomato Strainer does even more work for you. It doesn’t require any of the manual labor that goes into turning a handle and instead strains your tomatoes at the press of a button.
Pros
- Reviewers have found that this machine is durable and has lasted for several seasons.
- Parts are removable and dishwasher safe, making for an easy cleaning process.
- Comes with three different stainless steel screens for different consistencies.
Cons
- Some reviewers find that they have to do a bit of prep work, including cooking tomatoes and cutting them into smaller pieces, for the machine to work effectively.
- You may need time to rest if you’re straining large batches of tomatoes
Professional Grade
Raw Rutes Electric Tomato Strainer Machine
Consider the Raw Rutes Electric Tomato Strainer Machine for a luxury option with all the bells and whistles.
Made in Italy, this strainer has an electric motor, is made of stainless steel and cast iron, and can process over 300 pounds of tomatoes every hour. Overall, if you’re looking for quality and ease over anything else, this is the best tomato strainer for you.
Pros
- Reviewers say that customer service is excellent in case of any issues with the machine
- Relatively easy to clean and assemble
- It can be used to make apple sauce, too
Cons
- More expensive than other options on this list
- It weighs 21 pounds, so it can be heavy to lift
Kitchen Crop VKPMOTOR Motor
This tomato strainer is not only excellent for making tomato sauce, but it’s also great for making jams, applesauce, and more. Reviewers love that it removes fruits’ skin and seeds, making straining and preparing foods even more effortless.
This device is manual, so you must turn the handle to get it moving. However, you can also purchase a separate motor that gives you an electric option and saves you this step (and reviewers say that this piece is worth the extra cost).
Pros
- The many parts of the machine, including three different screens and an optional motor, make it extremely versatile.
- It comes with a five-year warranty
Cons
- Some reviewers note that the plastic spiral piece is flimsier than the metal would be.
- It can be difficult to clean
OXO Good Grips Food Mill
The OXO Good Grips Food Mill is a great compact option if you don’t have much storage or counter space. It’s 7.5 inches tall, 15.5 inches long, including the handle, and just over 3 pounds.
To use this tool, insert the disk that will give you the desired consistency. Attach the handle, unfold the legs, and set it on top of a bowl or pot. Add your tomatoes, and turn the handle until your fruit is perfectly strained!
Pros
- Includes three discs for different foods and consistencies
- Although this gadget is manual, users note that the design makes it more comfortable and less difficult to turn the handle than more traditional styles.
- It has three nonslip legs so the tomato strainer can grip the top of bowls and pots, and these legs are foldable to make for easy storage
Cons
- 2.3-quart capacity is smaller than other options, meaning you can’t strain as many tomatoes at a time
- Hand wash only
Weston Metal Tomato Strainer
You’ll need a tool to handle the volume if you’re working with many tomatoes. The Weston Metal Tomato Strainer is the best tomato strainer for bulk quantities.
It has a one-gallon hopper, so you don’t need to keep re-filling it with tomatoes. Most of its parts are also stainless steel, so this machine is sturdy and will last.
Pros
- It doesn’t require you to peel or core your tomatoes, saving you time when processing large amounts of tomatoes
- The base has both a suction cup and clamp options for attaching to your countertop, so it doesn’t slide around
- It comes with the option to purchase additional accessories for more straining options
Cons
- Assembly and disassembly may be tricky.
- You may need to run your tomatoes through the strainer twice to maximize the sauce you can get from them.
- Some reviewers complain that the suction cup doesn’t work on all countertop surfaces.
VBENLEM Electric Tomato Strainer
The VBENLEM Electric Tomato Strainer can’t be beaten as a commercial-grade option.
This machine is the best tomato strainer for commercial use because of its quality and ability to handle large quantities of tomatoes. It’s made of durable stainless steel, with a 370-watt copper motor, allowing it to process 330 pounds of tomato sauce each hour.
Pros
- It can be used to make jams and other sauces, in addition to tomato sauce and ketchup
- Leverages noise reductions to keep the machine quieter than other electric options
- Relatively easy to clean and assemble
Cons
- Some reviewers report that this strainer does not always filter out the tomato seeds
- It does not come with instructions for use or maintenance, which some users do not like
- The heaviest machine on this list, weighing 22 pounds
What to Know About Buying a Tomato Strainer
Still need help choosing the right tomato strainer for you? Keep reading for more tips and things to look out for!
What to Look For
Depending on their unique needs, finding the best tomato strainer is different. Here are factors to consider when looking for the right option for you.
Manual vs. Electric
Tomato strainers come in both manual and electric varieties. As you would expect, electric strainers do much more hard work for you, so this is a great option if efficiency is your priority.
However, electric strainers are often more expensive and heavier than manual ones. So if you’re on a tighter budget, want something less bulky, or don’t mind a little elbow grease, the manual may be best for you.
Price
As you can see from this list, these tools can range widely in price. Because the lowest end of the price starts just under $50 and can reach several hundred dollars on the higher end, it’s important to understand your budget and what it can get you.
Although more expensive doesn’t always mean better, you often get what you pay for. Different prices can correlate to how much of the work the strainer does for you, different materials that make it more or less durable, different attachments and capabilities, and more.
Size
Size is another way tomato strainers can vary greatly. Some devices have large hoppers, whereas others are much smaller.
Some are quite heavy, weighing more than 20 pounds, while some weigh just around one pound or less. And lastly, some are compact, whereas others may require a couple of feet of space for storage.
Keep in mind that the size of the strainer may also impact how many tomatoes you can process at a time. If you want to process tomatoes in bulk, you may just need a bigger machine.
Assembly, disassembly, and cleaning
If easy cleaning is important to you, look for tomato strainers that are easy to assemble and disassemble, as most require you to wash different pieces individually. Better yet, look for a strainer that has dishwasher-safe parts to save you even more time and energy.
Flexibility
Some devices are truly made for straining tomatoes, whereas others are made to process all kinds of fruits and vegetables.
In between, you may find that some strainers come with different parts or attachments that allow you to process different foods, or you may need to purchase those accessories separately.
If you plan to use your tool to make applesauce, jams, and other purees, make sure the one you purchase has everything you need to be able to do so!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are tomato strainers used for?
The main thing these tools are used for is to make tomato sauce. However, some tomato strainers can be used to make salsa, applesauce, jams from different berries, baby food, and other sauces.
Is a tomato strainer worth it?
Many people who have used tomato strainers find that it saves them time and energy versus making tomato sauce completely by hand. Tomato strainers can efficiently remove tomato seeds and skin, create pulp, and more.
Perfect Tomato Sauce Every Time
Once you find the best tomato strainer, you can rest easy knowing that the perfect tomato sauce is just a few steps away. Now, when you have more tomatoes than you know what to do with at the peak of tomato season, you’ll be able to process them quickly and efficiently!
Looking for more tomato tools, ideas, and tips? Visit our tomato plant page to find everything there is to know!