Hi there,

I realise there are no stupid questions, BUT, I have tried to use the Vitero Stainer two or three times and still have more of a mess than is desired. Does anyone have experience with this gadget. I had a fried that swore by it and he has moved away,(can't ask him). I can't seem to get stuff through with out clogging up and separating. I have cooked the stufff, I have tried it raw, unnless there is a part missing I think it may stay in the box. Most things I have heard were praises. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks for listening. Thats what the forum is for isn't it, to share experiences, well this was mine onn the Vitero Strainer.

Wayne (& Lyn) Roach

-- Wayne & (LYN) Roach (R-Way@msn.com), August 30, 2001

Answers

what are you trying to use it for? juice,, jam?? need more info

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), August 30, 2001.

Are you perhaps speaking of a Victorio Strainer? I use it every year to make tomato juice and applesauce.

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), August 31, 2001.

Wayne, In my limited experience, I have found that you need to cut the food up in pretty small pieces, so as to not plug up the strainer. If you look at the pieces of the strainer especially the corkscrewy piece you can see that the space for the seeds and skin to pass thru, towards the end, is very small. Susan

-- Susan n' Emily, in Tn (animalcrackers55@hotmail.com), August 31, 2001.

If it is a Victorio Strainer that you are talking about, Then I can help you, I think. I have used it for over 20 years. It takes every single part to make it operate smoothly.

1. The tall metal frame that attaches onto the table.

2. The handle along with the wing nut to hold it on.

3. The round conical screen with its hinged bolts and wing nuts. Make sure it has the rubber ring to seal off where the screen frame meets the main frame.

4. The corkscrew the pushes the food through when you turn the handle.

5. The "drive shaft" that goes between the handle and the corkscrew. make sure it has the peice that looks like a little metal thimble open on both ends, to seal around the opening in the main frame.

6. The spring that slips over the drive shaft, to press the corkscrew as far front as it can, to press as much juice out as possible.

7. The plastic sheild and chute that catches all the juice and puts it where you want it. Without this peice, you will have an awful mess.

8. The Huge funnel that sits on top of it all.

9. The plunger. (Dont try to ram the stuff through with it, just use it to direct the food into the small opening at the bottom. If you press too hard with the plunger, you will compromise the cleanliness of the operation.

I find it always works better to cook tomatoes before processing them through the Victorio. It goes through the machine so much faster, besides the juice processing more nicely. It also looks nicer after processing.

Hope this helps!

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), September 01, 2001.

My Victorio Strainer works quite well. Be sure that you are using the right size screen. I have 3 sizes depends on if its juice fruits, tomatoes or applesauce. I waited for a long time before buying mine, and I still wonder why I waited, it is so fast. Denise

-- Denise (Rabbitmom2@webbworks.com), September 01, 2001.

Victorio strainer is what your talking about I'm sure. I've had mine for years and want to be buried with it, well, not really but it is my favorite tool. If it's clogging up you are probably using a screen that is to small or maybe it's the auger. I have a berry auger and a grape auger, for tomatoes and apples I use the grape auger and just keep running the skins and seed through until I can't get anything else off them. I have never steamed my tomatoes and they run through fine( I cut into quarters to put in the hopper) Apples do need to cooked / steamed until soft. What screens do you have? I have a berry, regular( holes are alittle bigger than the berry) and a salsa screen( it has approx. 1/4" holes) I did two bushels of tomatoes in 30 minutes. The berry screen and auger even too out the seed from elderberries. I hope you can get it up and working because it is truly a time saver in my kitchen.

-- Kelle in MT. (kvent1729@aol.com), September 02, 2001.