You Need A Food Processor To Do That
Have you ever tried to make a healthy, banana-based ice cream with almond butter in a blender? If you haven’t, don’t try it. If you have, I am sorry you ended up with an almond butter banana smoothie too.
I used to always think that I could do anything with a blender, until I discovered that the secret to all of these food bloggers’ amazingly healthy versions of Ben and Jerry’s was a food processor.
Many bloggers swear by food processors and even claim that this appliance would be the one to pick if they were stuck on a deserted island.
Before planning a trip to Seychelles, let’s take a look as to how a food processor compares to other kitchenware and why it could be your next best friend.
What Can a Food Processor Do?
When compared to a blender, a food processor has capabilities to grate, chop, slice, and even knead dough. Pie lovers and ice cream lovers alike can agree that a food processor is the solution to all your culinary needs. Food processors are suited best for producing chopped salads, blending hummus, slicing vegetables, grating cheese, and pureeing soups and sauces.
Pinch of Yum, a popular food blog, explored the power of a food processor and its ability to make homemade peanut or almond butter, pesto, curry paste, protein balls, dressing, and sauce while tweaking recipes for dietary needs.
Are you gluten intolerant? Use a food processor to turn rolled oats into gluten free flour.
Read our guide to a gluten free lifestyle
Worried about unnerving emulsifiers and preservatives that are found in most store-bought jars? Make your own mayonnaise.
Have a body building competition coming up and craving some snacks? Slice up some sweet potatoes and throw them in the oven for healthy potato chips.
From savory to sweet, a food processor can make all your wildest dream meals become a reality.
So What Can’t a Food Processor Do?
While a food processor has the ability to create and customize many of your favorite dishes, there are some limitations when it comes to having this appliance.
If you’re looking to make smoothies, blended cocktails, or purees, a countertop blender is best for these tasks, so don’t throw away your blender.
A food processor is designed with a flat base, which isn’t best for whipping fruit and veggies into a smooth and creamy texture because ingredients don’t pass as frequently through the blades.
With a blender, you can make amazing smoothies and blended cocktails, but with a food processor you can make ice cream. So if you are in need of a post-workout smoothie, leave it to the blender. But if you want homemade ice cream, the food processor is what you need.
So Which One Do I Get?
After analyzing customer reviews and prices on Amazon, we found our favorite food processors to get you started in the kitchen. From pie crust to pesto, the world is your oyster with one of these appliances.
The Beginner: Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor, with Bowl Scraper (70730)
Due to the reasonable price point and the 10 cup bowl that makes this food processor large enough for most jobs but small enough to store away, Hamilton Beach made the top of the list. This food processor was one of the products that qualified as an Amazon’s Choice with 66% of users giving this product 5 stars.
Customers commented on the fact that it was lightweight, but able to take on heavy duty jobs and easy to clean. Multiple users were very pleased with the food processor’s chute size and the suction cups on the bottom of the device to keep it stable and in place.
A few dissatisfied customers noted that there was some confusion when using the knob and that there were some overheating issues.
Even with these reviews, the majority of users were happy with their Hamilton Beach purchase and believe it to be perfect for someone’s first food processor.
The Step Up: Cuisinart DFP-14BCNY 14-Cup Food Processor, Brushed Stainless Steel
If you’re looking to invest in something a little larger while spending a bit more, the 14-cup food processor from Cuisinart is right for you. While the device is significantly more expensive, 72% of customers rated it with 5 stars, which means this appliance is worth the price.
One user explained that they struggled with the idea of spending that much money on a food processor, but after using it, they couldn’t believe they didn’t buy it sooner. Another customer said that despite the tall size of the food processor, they were able to bypass their OCD with countertop clutter and that the Cuisinart food processor now deserves a place of honor on their peninsula counter.
The most striking comments came from a user who claimed to have been working in professional kitchens for many years and compared Cuisinart’s food processor to industrial kitchen equipment.
At a fifth of the price of professional kitchen appliances with the same capabilities, this food processor comes out on top for those looking to mix things up in the kitchen.
The Splurge: Breville BFP800XL Sous Chef Food Processor
For those who frequently prepare large portions of food and have extra money to spare, the 16 cup food processor from Breville is for you. 82% of customers gave this appliance 5 stars due to the value of the machine being undeniably high. Customers who bought this product were looking to invest in a food processor that would last a long time, which is what the Breville is known for.
The main complaint with users concerned the packaging and delivery of the product, but the appliance itself had great reviews. The product is significantly large and the blade storage case requires a lot of space, thus not making it ideal for a small kitchen.
For the advanced foodie, the Breville constantly delivers and performs, which makes it a perfect gift for someone who frequently likes to challenge themselves in the kitchen.
The Cutie: Cuisinart DLC-2ABC Mini Prep Plus Food Processor Brushed Chrome and Nickel
After looking at all of these options, you might be thinking that the food processors are too large to store away. Well, take a look at the 3 cup food processor from Cuisinart and this may be the answer to your problem.
Of all the reviews, 64% gave this food processor 5 stars praising the compact features of the appliance along with its ability to help make a majority of their favorite meals. It is important to understand that this food processor is significantly smaller, which means it is not powerful enough to do a fine grind or chop harder vegetables like carrots.
This food processor is best suited for simply crushing nuts, making salsa, and preparing sauces. If you want a simple appliance to get some extra help in the kitchen, this device from Cuisinart is your best bet. However, harder tasks should be left to the larger food processors.
Final Thoughts
If you find yourself browsing Pinterest and get inspired by a cashew nut butter or a homemade salad dressing recipe, chances are you will need a food processor. Whether you need to change things up with your meal prep, or have specific dietary restrictions, this device could help you reach all of your cooking goals. From vegan cheese to creamy pesto sauce, a food processor will make it happen. However, if you want to have a peanut butter banana smoothie, leave it to the blender.
Why should I listen to you?
More than ever, people are focused on their health and well-being. And, because of this increased interest, that means there are tons of products on the market to help achieve that goal. From kitchen gadgets that make cooking easier, to reusable water bottles, sleep aids, and workout gear, the sheer number of options can be overwhelming.
That’s why we wanted to do the hard work for you. We’ve committed to trying out some of the most popular health and wellness products on Amazon. Here’s what happens:
We scour Amazon for the best rated or most reviewed products in health and wellness categories: whether that’s something for the kitchen, supplements, or lifestyle products. Then, we order and try them. We give each product a spin – being as unbiased as possible.
Next, we write up our thoughts, our experiences with the product, and any feedback we may have. And we publish it here for you. You’ll find the links to the same exact Amazon products we tried in these articles.
That’s it – easy! And if you have a product you’d like us to try before you buy, let us know.
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