Hi rock - we have lots of discussions here on the various brands of presses and their pros and cons. But since the search engine isn't working right now I can't pull them together for you to review. A Google search adding 'gardenweb' to the search term will pull some of them up if you are interested. See this one. And you might want to read these discussionson other brands.

Otherwise, the one consistently recommended by most of us here is the Vittorio/Victorio/Roma.

Dave

I agree with Dave and Ken. I bought a brand new Victorio Strainer back in the 70s and loved it. The lady that owned the orchard down the road from us used one to make their apple butter and convinced me it was the way to go. She was right. DH stored it somewhere when we first move to this place 20+ years ago and we still haven't found it so I bought another one last year. Bought my sister one as well. I'm just plain lazy and like this type of strainer because it does the work for you with no waste and less clean up.

Hey guys!! It's good to be back on the forum and thinking about canning again.

You might remember that last year, I was using my great grandfather's tomato mill, which is still going strong. I am upgrading this year and going electric. It's just too much work to do it manually!!

Ken - from the link you posted, do you think I would be good with the $54.99 tomato mill with the motorized attachment? Last summer I put up 60 quarts of tomatoes and will just squeak by with enough tomatoes until this years crops come in. I know there are numerous posts on this and read them all last year. I also know enough to know that I trust your judgement and if you say that is good, than that is what I will do.

Thanks!!!

I used a hand crank for years and that is really only good for small processing.

I now have the Kitchen Aid electric mix master and the attachment for doing the tomatoes. I can do huge volume like nothing. No problem at all.

You need a really strong motor. Even the kitchen aid comes to an almost grinding hault at times. They just get stuck in the grinder at times. or the tomatoes are too hard or green or something. Anyway do not get a small motor. Get something that will last for years and make it a pleasure.

I already had the kitchen aid so I only had to add on the attachment. The kitchen aid uses 275 watts. I say bigger would be better. But if you are on a budget here is one at 200 watts for less money. look on internet for a better price and different models.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001V5JA8G?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=nextag-kitchen-delta-20&linkCode=asn

here is a company with many tomato machines to make comparisons.

http://tomatomilling.webdirectbrands.com/category.asp?intCatID=187&gclid=CPq9wKyT2poCFQVinAodA3Tn2Q

according to them their best selling machine is 190 watts @ $300 so the 200 watt machine @ $95 should do a good job.

here is one at 170 watts for $230

http://www.cutleryandmore.com/details.asp?SKU=12111&src=Google&cam=Misc&sub=Imperia&kw=electric%20tomato%20machine&gclid=CNyH572U2poCFRMhnAodCHUA3Q

Once you use electric you will never go back to hand crank.

Here is a link that might be useful: tomato mill

As Alton Brown always says, 'multi function'. The food strainers not only do tomatoes, but all kinds of berries and even pumpkin and squash. The pumpkin puree cannot be home canned however as its just too dense. The motor attachment is a bit of a 'kludge' for the Roma model. It has a few long screws and some thin metal plates that help support the motor when the shaft is pushed into where the crank went. These motor units are also used on pasta rolling machines from Atlas and and others. There is a single strainer type especially for tomatoes only that has a motor as a built in part. The site below offers a very SERIOUS unit, and they also offer a meat grinder attachment, as well as a cheese grater attachment for the Reber. I have seen another motor type unit as well, but its hard to find. The Kitchen Aid has nothing but a single screen type, so things with tiny seeds like raspberries are not going to work well. The ones I mention in the first link are also variable in cost from several other suppliers. Suggest that you do a web search for ROMA food strainer. Be sure it has the newer twist on screen sieves. Most of the time I just do small bataches of tomatoes or berry juices for jellies, so I dont attach the motor all the time.

Here is a link that might be useful: Motorized tomato strainer

Thanks to all for your input I have been checking on the internet for one but looking at them on the net is not as good as hearing from someone using one. Looks as if I will go with the Vittorio/Victorio/Roma. seems to be the best bang for
the buck on a tight budget unless I find a deal on one used I still have some time to find one just got plants in the ground a week ago here in WV had a late frost on the 18 strange weather 90 one day frost the next. THANKS ALL

I just bought this new Model 250 Victorio at Amazon:

Victorio Model 250

I haven't used it yet, but it is well made, has some improvements over earlier models, and is priced right at $48.

TomNJ

Oddly, the Victorio name has not been used for many years as that was the original maker brand back over 40+ years ago. There were leaky and used wooden pusher, and the wing nut type screens. The Roma name is newer, as was the Villaware name a few years ao. I looked at the link and it does show the clear plastic waste extender, as well as the twist on screens. The price at Amazon is about the best you can find right now. Suggest that you also get the optional screens and shorter grape spiral auger. The grape spiral is shorter because grape seeds are quite large and can jam if the regular sprial is used. There is also a nice USDA canning book being sold at Amazon, which can be used as the canning 'bible' if you so choose.

Hey guys. Now I am confused again. I am looking to buy a food mill with a motorized unit. It will only be used for tomatoes. The option of having a salsa screen would be nice but because I am on a budget, if necessary, I can do the tomatoes for salsa by hand. I honestly can't afford to spend $300 for a "serious" grinder. I am trying to stay under $200 for this. I've read the old posts. But honestly had a hard time making heads or tails of them. I trust you guys. I trust your judgment. If this can't be done, please tell me. Otherwise, please make this easy for me and just give me a make and model. Thanks!!!

The MOTOR UNIT for the Roma is an option. It can attach to the Roma machine, or you can use the hand crank. I can't understand about any confusion. The other unit I mentioned is for SERIOUS tomato people who are only wanting higher output of tomatoes ONLY. A Roma machine with motor will run about $100 total, depending on where you find the best prices. The Roma has OPTIONAL screens you can get later, for doing seedless raspberries, grapes, and salsa.

Many of the older strainers were from Italy or the USA. The newer ROMA products sound Italian but are made in China, reducing costs for purchase and jobs. Time will tell as to parts availability, durability, etc. Jim in So. Calif.

I have one of these and it works a treat

http://www.headcook.co.uk/pomodor-tomato-press.html

Here is a link that might be useful: Tomato Press

The best brand is Fabio Leonardi available through Consiglio's Kitchenware! These machines have better materials in regards to the augers and milling systems. We purchased ours a few years back and it absolutely destroys 10 bushels of tomatoes in less than 3 hours time! You can check them out hereFabio Leonardi

"The best brand is Fabio Leonardi available through Consiglio's Kitchenware! "

And exceptionally expensive!! Thanks but I stick with my Victorio for less than 1/5th that price.

Dave

how about adding the attachment to your mix master. I forget the popular name that does that. Kitchenaid has one. thats what I have. I had the mixmaster already and just added on the attachment. works fine.

I picked up an older used kitchenaid mixmaster super cheap for free. and added on the attachment. a pretty good deal.

Wow, a free KitchenAid, now that's a deal. And I was just patting myself on the back for buying my second Squeezo on the local on-line auction for $6.00. They called it a "food grinder", obviously didn't know what it really was. No motor, though, it's strictly arm power!

Annie

I am late in responding to this but I wanted to share for those interested. I do tomato gravy every year. I wasted a lot of time and tomatoes with the entry level versions of these mills that leaked or had other problems. Earlier this summer I found an Italian made ‘Reber’ tomato mill being sold by a company called Raw Rutes. If you speak the Italian language look up this product. It’s the one all the homecountry Italians are talking about. It was well worth the extra cash. I’ve done three multi bushel batches and it’s a powerhouse mill. Don’t mess with the plastic ones. -Vince

For maters, we don't use the hand crank for the Roma, but use a variable speed drill. Of course after years, the hand crank cannot be used on that Roma , so picked up another one at a yard sale for 2.00 so I can process the red raspberries and strawberries. At only 20 qts red raspberries and 20 lb strawberries this goes quick enough with the hand crank

I agree that the ‘Reber’ tomato mill is impressive in appearance but so is the price ($359,00). I could buy 5 Victorio Tomato MIlls for that price - if I ever needed to replace my 15 year old one that still works great.

Dave