Devices and systems for compressing food articles are shown and described. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to squeeze, press, extrude, or otherwise process food articles. The disclosed embodiments can include a lever with a plurality of gear teeth, a base with a plurality of gear teeth, and a receptacle. The gear teeth can engage one another. The lever and base can be actuated to move a piston head into and out of the receptacle to compress food. A piston assembly of the compression tool can provide a mechanical advantage to provide relatively high compressive forces.