[Val H]

Woo hoo another gadget :!:Don't tell Val that I'm being drawn to yet another gadget. I'm still resisting the jam maker so far. I can't be good all my life though.

I've been tempted by this as well. Our friend Annie in the Limousin has one an swears by it. However, we'll have to wait for a bigger house! I just drop my toms in boiling water and remove the skins before putting through the blender. Mind you, it wouldn't take up much space, would it?

[Trillium]

These machines would not do plum seeds, which are far too big for the fine filter(s). Even grape seeds are too large, but soft berries will filter nicely. I have a problem with raspberry seeds as well but what the heck, I love a fresh raspberry and will deal with the consequences later.

I used to have an aluminum handcrank model, which I made my sons turn for me. Now I have a heavy duty one which attaches to my Kitchen Aid mixer (see my personal gallery for a pic doing toms). I don't blanch my toms as such. I quarter them and fill a huge heavy based stock pot and let them slowly stew until they're soft. then I bung them through the machine. One of my pots will do about a half bushel at a time and running it through the machine takes less than 10 minutes. The resulting waste pulp comes out quite dry.

[Poolfield2]

Oh well I'll just stick to rubbing stuff through a seive, it works fine especially since my friend who is a wood turner made me a wooden tool, like a ball on a handle that pushes stuff through much better than a spoon.

Keep reminding myself that if I want to lower my carbon footprint I must buy less, especially gadgets BUT I LOVE GADGETS

[sclarke624]

I have a problem with raspberry seeds as well but what the heck, I love a fresh raspberry and will deal with the consequences later.

Trillium thats interesting because my partner swears that everytime I make a smoothie (Christmas press), which practically always includes raspberries he has to go to the loo.  He has got a fairly sensitive stomach but not too bad.

That machine would be very useful for me, I think as I hate the blackberry pips and not over keen on a mouthful of raspberry pips at the end of a smoothie drink.  Tried using the sieve but smoothie was too thick to go through the little holes searched for a tea strainer (doesn't anyone use these anymore) paid over the top for only one I could find and that was to small with the holes as well.

Great for tommies as well of course.  I feel another Christmas pressie coming onto the list.

[Trillium]

The original handcrank unit I had also offered different sizes of screening, so possibly you can find a make that offers 2 or 3 sizes for various fruits. Doesn't hurt to check....and then put your order in to Santa  

[sclarke624]

The machine in Lakeland looks exactly like the seeds of italy one does anyone know if it is a different machine?  Although I notice the seeds of italy one seems to come with a shallow bowl to catch the juice?

Some people on lakeland as strangerachael says have given the lakeland one mixed reviews some saying it was more juice than puree BUT I guess that could be the type of tom used i.e. some used gardeners delight.

[mumofstig]

The type or tomato pulped makes a huge difference to what comes out, of course. Ideally use plum or paste tomatoes.
But for making tomato sauces with a glut of 'ordinary' salad type tomatoes you just have to simmer the juice till it thickens a bit before you use,bottle or freeze it.