If you're looking to puree fruit for compote, the best tool depends on how smooth you want the texture and whether you need to remove skins or seeds. Here's a breakdown of the top tools and their advantages:

1. Food Mill

A classic choice for smooth, seed-free fruit purees.

• Why it shines: Manually pushes cooked fruit through a perforated disk, skimming off skins and seeds for a silky purée The Spruce EatsSerious Eats.

• Top picks:

  • OXO Good Grips Food Mill – Best overall for usability and cleanup The Spruce EatsSerious Eats.

  • Mirro 3.5-Quart Stainless Steel Food Mill – Great budget option The Spruce EatsSerious Eats.

  • Williams Sonoma Prep Tools Food Mill – Ergonomic design and anti-clog features Serious Eats.

Pros: Leaves behind undesirable bits (skins, seeds), yielding ultra-smooth results.
Cons: Requires cooking fruit first and manual effort, especially for larger batches.

2. Immersion (Hand) Blender

A quick, convenient option if texture doesn’t have to be perfectly smooth.

• Why use it: Immerses directly in the pot—blend as the fruit cooks or after. Great for chunkier compote or puree Food & Wine.

Pros: Compact, easy to clean, minimal gear.
Cons: Doesn’t remove seeds or peel; texture depends on your blending.

3. Stand Blender (e.g., Vitamix)

Ideal for ultra-smooth purees, good for small to moderate batches.

• Vitamix Ascent X2: A powerhouse blender capable of silky purees—even soups—thanks to its strong motor and versatile settings WIRED.

Pros: Superb consistency and power.
Cons: Expensive, bulky, requires careful cleaning, and won't strain out skins or seeds unless you strain afterward.

4. Food Processor

Great for coarser mashes or initial prep before further smoothing.

• Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor: Reliable and powerful, excels at chopping and can do coarse purees Allrecipes.

Pros: Spacious and efficient for chopping or initial blending.
Cons: Not as smooth; needs additional straining or blending for silky compote.

5. Simple Manual Tools (Masher, Fork, Strainer)

Great if you prefer low-tech solutions or want to keep it rustic.

• Common method: Cook the fruit until soft and mash with a potato masher or fork. For smoother texture, strain through fine mesh or cheesecloth Cookie and KateTea and KumquatsFood52Reddit.

Pros: Minimal gear, low cost, flexible.
Cons: Labor-intensive and inconsistent smoothness—plus extra straining.

Tool Comparison at a Glance

What People Say on Reddit

A user on r/AskCulinary recommends pairing malleable tools with straining:

“Fruit puree through a fine mesh strainer to catch all the seeds.” Reddit

Which Tool Is Best for You?

• Silky, seed-free purees → go with a food mill, especially a quality one like OXO or Williams-Sonoma.

• Quick and easy prep → use an immersion blender.

• Ultimate smoothness & versatility → opt for a high-powered blender like Vitamix.

• Budget or rustic works → a simple masher + strainer or food processor fits well.

Final Tip

Regardless of your tool, cooking the fruit first helps break it down and allows flavor to develop. After pureeing, taste and adjust with sweeteners, spices, or citrus for a compote that sings.

Let me know if you'd like help picking a specific model or adapting your approach for certain fruits—happy to help!