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traineo Community / Healthy Recipes & Treats / Food Processor
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Jeff West
Fitness Guru
Posts: 237
Post History
 # Posted: 6 Nov 2007 21:25


Hey all, I'm thinking about getting a food processor. I recently dug my blender out of deep storage, but it doesn't work so well with some things. For example, I eat whole oats oatmeal mixed with a mashed apple; however mashing that apple in blender is a pain. I also chop and slice a lot of fresh veggies and that's time consuming. Additionally, I'd like the ability to mix cookie and bread dough without having to buy a big mixer, as well as slice potatoes and beets chip-thin.

Sooooo, for those of you using food processors, what do you think of yours? Can it do everything I want to do? Is there anything you don't like about your food processor? What brand and model do you use, and what accessories were included with it? Thanks!

Cheers!
THE NEW ME
The Master
Posts: 2856
Post History
 # Posted: 7 Nov 2007 01:26


i feel bad jeff that i cant help you out in this area. i dont own a blender or know anything about them. maybe you could go to consumer reports and do a search?
Jeff West
Fitness Guru
Posts: 237
Post History
 # Posted: 7 Nov 2007 04:33


Thanks Jenn, I have used consumer reports online in the past, it's a great tool. I'm just looking for a little personal experance first.

Cheers!
Cvijeta Lukic
traineo Newbie
Posts: 5
Post History
 # Posted: 7 Nov 2007 14:39


Well, I use a food processor, but only to puree soups or vinaigrettes, but a good one should let you differentiate between 'reduce to mush' and 'dice' settings. Clean up can also be irritating. My mother, however, has a marvelous KitchenAid that I shall probably fight with my sister over for inheritance rights. Compared to a blender, it is bulky [probably quite expensive as well], but there are a hundred attachments--for example, a whisk, bread hook, that flat beater thing, and you can even shred carrots for a salad with one particular attachment. For pureeing I always used the food processor, but, really, the KitchenAid is just plain superb.

It wasn't until I moved out for college that I truly appreciated all the cooking equipment I took for granted growing up. Even my food processor is small and sad compared to the one at home.

Hope this helps! Good luck in your search--I've always wished for just another person in the kitchen to help me with all the chopping and dicing.
Jeff West
Fitness Guru
Posts: 237
Post History
 # Posted: 7 Nov 2007 19:00


Thanks Cvijeta. The KitchenAid mixer is almost a magical machine, isn't it? I've really got my heart set on a food processor though. Someday...

Cheers!

Oh, and if you think while at college you miss all the kitchen gadgets you grew up with, wait until you hit the trail!
Dave Nicholson
The Master
Posts: 2094
Post History
 # Posted: 7 Nov 2007 19:16


FWIW, I have yet to meet a food processor that will stand up to mixing doughs.. everything else has worked out well though
Jeff West
Fitness Guru
Posts: 237
Post History
 # Posted: 7 Nov 2007 19:23


Ya, I wasn't sure about dough, and if I have to choose between dough capability and easy clean up, I'm definitely going to opt for easy clean up!

Cheers!
Cvijeta Lukic
traineo Newbie
Posts: 5
Post History
 # Posted: 8 Nov 2007 00:30


Quoting: jwest62
Oh, and if you think while at college you miss all the kitchen gadgets you grew up with, wait until you hit the trail!


Too true, Mr. West. I'm already lamenting my loss of spices, and I haven't even left yet. ^_^

Oh, and the great thing about large food processors is that they can process, well, just so much! In particular for soups, it's so easy to make a huge batch and freeze some for later. Like when you're in the middle of finals [my li'l trick for eating well even during that brutal time].
C. B
traineo Regular
Posts: 39
Post History
 # Posted: 8 Nov 2007 12:06


Ohhh kitchen appliances, as a hobby 'chef' it's my favourite subject aside from the food itself

Hand mixer with a bazillion attachments, easy clean up and one hell of a powerful motor...

I bow down to the BRAUN!!! I believe the EU and American ones are slightly different but here is a link to the one I have but its American equivalent:

URL
C. B
traineo Regular
Posts: 39
Post History
 # Posted: 8 Nov 2007 12:06 - Edited by: CBee


OH! and it says anti-splash but it depends how you hold it, i've ended up covered in much pumpkin puree due to incorrect angles so beware!


ps. it's been going strong for years of chef'ery abuse ;)
Cindy N
Fitness Guru
Posts: 733
Post History
 # Posted: 8 Nov 2007 18:27


I'm probably the worst to give advice, because my big food processor is currently sitting in my basement, untouched for over a year. Clean-up was aggravating to me, probably because I'm lazy but also a perfectionist and didn't like taking it all apart and cleaning every little thing. I have a tiny kitchen, so I also don't like having to store the different goofy pieces of these types of devices. Having said that, I also have lots of various other items I use instead.

I have a mini food processor (holds about 3 cups) that I love for puree and such. I don't make giant batches of things, so it serves my purpose. It won't do the slicing you desire though. For that, I either use a plain, old knife or a mandoline.

A coffee grinder takes care of spices for me. I don't use it for coffee and wouldn't recommend combining uses unless you like some interesting spiced coffee combos.

The Braun immersion blender CB recommended is great from what I've heard. Kitchen-Aid also makes a good one, which is the one I have. I actually use mine for making soap (that's where I also heard good reviews of the Braun), so I know it's ultra-durable. I went through about 3 cheap ones before finally giving in and spending the money on the KA. It withstands the long blending times I need. I don't use it for food though, so I can only account for its monster durability.
Lisa Parziale
traineo Regular
Posts: 45
Post History
 # Posted: 8 Nov 2007 19:08


I use only three items for this sort of thing. For liquids, I love my Bullet Blender. It works well in mixing shakes and liquids. For raw foods, I go with the old Hamilton Beach you can get at Walmart for about $35 dollars. Nothing fancy, I went for easy clean! And finally, I have one of those awesome Kitchenaid mixers that seems to cost way more then you want, but it has a great set of attachments that seem to get every job done, even dough (using this wide mixer attachment).
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