The tomato press is an important tool in any kitchen. The press peels tomatoes and separates the seeds for you. This simple function is a huge time saver when preparing family meals or after a long day of work.
This convenient device will help you create the best tomato sauces and purees with minimal effort and is a must-have for tomato lovers.
That being said, not all tomato presses are created equal. A bad press could leak or break on you.
With that in mind, let’s get into what makes a good tomato press and what are the best tomato presses on the market.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Johnny Apple Sauce Maker 250 Food Strainer
Best Electric:
Weston Deluxe Electric Tomato Strainer, Food Mill
Best Manual:
Weston Food Strainer and Sauce Maker
What Do You Use a Tomato Press For?
The purpose of a tomato press is to make it easier for you to create tomato sauces or purees.
The machine does this by separating the skin and seeds of the tomato from the tomato by pressing it through a filter to create a clean sauce.
There are also tomato presses that can be used for more than just tomatoes. There are a lot of fruits and vegetables that carry seeds in them or can be made into a sauce.
Electric vs Manual
The advantage of using an electric tomato press is that it runs automatically and saves you from the manual labor of cranking a shaft.
A disadvantage is that it will hurt your wallet more than the manual options out there. Also, an electric press gives you less freedom over the end product.
A manual tomato press is an option your bank account would thank you for. A manual press gives you complete control over the end product, which is a significant advantage over its electric counterpart.
The requirement to crank the shaft yourself is a disadvantage if you wish to avoid manual labor. There are also more manual products of lower quality than there are electric ones, making it more important to know the difference between a good and bad device.
Best Tomato Presses
Now we’ll get into our list of the best choices for tomato presses out there. We’ve provided the pros and cons of each model to help you determine which one is right for you!
Best Overall
Johnny Apple Sauce Maker 250 Food Strainer
We’re throwing you a curveball because our top choice is marketed as an applesauce maker. But stick with us because the VKP250 Food Strainer and Sauce Maker is, without a doubt, the best tomato press on the market! Its hybrid functionality makes it a versatile choice for any kitchen.
The quality of the product also doesn’t change whether you use it manually or with an electric motor. This is thanks to its top-tier component quality.
The only negative about this product is its high price tag, depending on whether you get the electric motor or not.
Pros
- Can be used manually and automatically, with a motor option available upon purchase, making it the best of both worlds.
- The quality of the press stays the same regardless of whether it is used manually or automatically
- Good mount that clings to the surface it is on
- Components are easy to clean
Cons
- Easily the most expensive press on this list, with the motor driving up the cost significantly
Best Electric
Weston Deluxe Electric Tomato Strainer, Food Mill
The Weston Electric Tomato Strainer, Food Mill is the best electric tomato press. It can be used for more than just tomatoes and is incredibly simple to use.
It has been known to be a durable option as well and it features a large 4-quart hopper that can hold all the raw tomatoes your heart desires.
The price tag is the only real drawback for this option, but at least it is cheaper than some other electric options on the market.
Pros
- Has a large hopper to press more tomatoes at once
- Simple to use
- Versatile being able to work for other fruits and vegetables
Cons
- More expensive than manual options
Best Manual
Weston Food Strainer and Sauce Maker
The best out of all the manual tomato presses has to be the Weston food strainer and sauce maker. Its dual-mount system grips its work surface incredibly well which is vital for a manual press.
This press can also be used for other kinds of vegetables and fruit making it a versatile option. The quality of its components is excellent and easy to clean.
The downside is that while it’s cheaper than the electric options, it’s also more expensive than other manual options. But the fact that Weston takes the top spot in the electric and manual categories should speak for itself!
Pros
- It has the most space to hold raw tomatoes
- A dual-mount system means it will definitely stay in place while you work the press
- Components are easy to clean and work well
- Works for more than just tomatoes
Cons
- The fact that it is a manual press means you must work it yourself
- More expensive than some manual options
VBENLEM 110V 370W Electric Tomato Strainer
The VBENLEM 110V 370W Electric Tomato Strainer is the runner-up electric option. In terms of quality, it’s among the best of the best.
The VBENLEM is also easy to clean as it can be disassembled and has a level 2 waterproof rating, which means it never gets too dirty in the first place.
What makes this option inferior to the Weston is that it’s too large for small kitchens and more expensive than all but the Victorio with the electric motor attachment.
Pros
- Extremely high-quality components
- Has a powerful commercial-grade motor that is quiet
- Easy to take apart and clean
Cons
- The most expensive option on this list
- Large in size and will take up too much space in a small kitchen
Tonsa Tomato Strainer and Press
The Tonsa Tomato Strainer and Press is a simple-to-use device.
It’s made of good quality components and is easy to disassemble and clean. The suction cup mount base works well on any surface.
The bad part about this option is that it is quite expensive for what it is.
Pros
- Simple to use
- Made of high-quality plastic components that are waterproof
- Suction cup mount that grips well on any surface
Cons
- You have to pay a high price for its simplicity
OSTBA Electric Meat Grinder
Don’t let the name of this baby fool you! This 5-in-1 machine is a close runner-up in the electric options. The OSTBA can grind meat, make sausages, and press tomatoes making it the most versatile option on this list.
Its low price is also a plus, which makes it one of the lower-priced options.
The only drawbacks are that it’s far too big for a small kitchen, and its 5 different attachment options can be difficult to keep track of if you’ve never seen anything like it.
Pros
- The most versatile option on this list able to work with anything from meat to fruits to vegetables
- Lower price than its electric counterparts
- Easy to disassemble and clean
Cons
- Large in size and not suitable for small kitchens
- Has many different attachments that can be difficult to keep track of
OXO Good Grips – Stainless Steel Potato and Vegetable Mill
The OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Potato and Vegetable Mill is a handheld tomato press and the smallest option on this list, but it’s no slouch
This device is made of good-quality stainless steel and is versatile.
Its small size makes it unable to press multiple tomatoes or vegetables at a time, but it is still a great option, especially for those with small kitchens.
Pros
- The only handheld device on this list
- Made of quality stainless steel
- Works with all sorts of vegetables
Cons
- Small in size
How to Evaluate a Tomato Press
The first thing to look for in a tomato press is the quality of the components. The components should not be flimsy or made from cheap material, and there shouldn’t be any gaps large enough to cause a leak.
The quality of the filter is important as it’s what will be separating the seeds and skin of your tomato from the rest of the tomato. If the press has a low-quality filter then it wouldn’t be able to serve its main purpose.
The mount is what keeps the device on its work surface. This part of the press is important for easy use of the machine and if your press has a bad mount it will continuously fall from the surface you are using it on, making it a hassle to use.
Look for whether the press can be used for more than just tomatoes. The press is more useful if it can work with other fruits or vegetables.
A Convenient Must-Have Product!
The tomato press is an incredible must-have tool that makes your life easier.
Whether you go with the hybrid VKP250, the electric Weston Food Strainer, or the manual Weston model, you can’t go wrong. Every product in this list is the best in its respective category.
If you want to know more about tomatoes, visit our Tomato Plant page for everything tomato related.