Culina Ricer {Review}

Culina Ricer {Review}

I've never owned a ricer/baby food strainer before, though I knew what they were. So when I was asked to review the Culina Ricer and Baby Food Strainer, I jumped at the chance! We put this baby through its paces and I'm not sure how I got by without one before!

To explain how it works, think about a strainer/colander with a metal bottom; then add a long squeeze handle on one side; finally add a lid that applies pressure from the top, to force the food through the holes in the metal plate. I know, it's an odd description, but once you see or use one, you'll know exactly what I mean.

Culina's Ricer and Baby Food Strainer comes with two options, a fine and a coarse plate. Honestly, I used the coarse plate most often for our veggie needs, but I could see using the fine plate for baby food or delicate dishes where you'd want that smooth texture.

How did I use it? The first thing I tried was a potato. I was in a hurry and didn't get all the skin off, but no worries; I let the potato cool for a few minutes after boiling it then popped it in the ricer and closed the handles. Ropes of fluffy potatoes emerged into my bowl which I quickly mixed with butter and salt for “quick but not quite instant” mashed potatoes. Any leftover skins I just pulled out with a fork and kept going! Other vegetables that met their end in the Culina Ricer were cauliflower, sweet potato, and squash.

It's completely dishwasher safe but, honestly, because of it's awkward length, I washed the body by hand and ran the plates and the insert through the dishwasher (my choice). The body is plastic, so that helps lighten the weight of this otherwise lengthy kitchen gadget.

I also love the small “pot handle” on the opposite side, which you can use to help balance the ricer over a pot or bowl as you're smashing directly into them.

If you're making your own baby food, this is a great tool for that purpose as well. With the finer plate, you can push your steamed fruits, veggies, and more through it to get that just right texture for your little one. No lumps or chunks, plus since you made it, you control the level of seasoning!

All in all, I'd definitely recommend this product to other parents and families; it's one of those things you didn't know you needed it until you had one!

Want to buy one for yourself? You can visit the Culina website for more information and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.

Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a sponsored post. The company who sponsored it compensated me in some form of payment. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”