How to Choose a Food ProcessorIf you have never owned a food processor, or have an older model that you are disappointed with, you may just want to give one of the new food processors a try. Are food processors really necessary? While you can do just about anything with a good set of knives, most home cooks don’t have the skills of a professional chef and can save much time (not to mention fingers) by utilizing this nifty modern appliance. Many people were not pleased with the first food processors to hit the market because despite their large size, they really were not very powerful. However, today you can find models that do just about everything from the simple jobs of chopping, slicing, shredding, blending and pureeing to the tougher jobs of grating cheese and even kneading dough. There are attachments including whipping blades, julienne disks, juicers for fruits and vegetables, pasta makers and meat and nut grinder. Today you can get so much more power is a more compact and quieter machine!
Before choosing a food processor, here are some things to consider:Speed: The speed of the processor is not the most factor to consider when choosing a unit. You will basically just use 2 speeds: on and pulse. Pulse gives you the control to process foods in burst so you determine when the food is done and prevents over-processing. Is Bigger Better?
Overall Size: You need to consider the size of your kitchen when looking at different sized machines. Not only will the larger unit take up more counter space but more storage space in your cabinets or panty. Another thing often forgotten when choosing a unit is the space between your counter and the bottom of your upper kitchen cabinets. Unless you have a counter that is large enough to hold the unit away from the cabinets without using the processor too close to the edge of your counter, you will want to measure this space and make sure the unit is not too tall.
Feed Tube Size: An important consideration is the size and width of the feed tube. Keep in mind the larger the tube, the less you will have to cut the food to make it fit. Remember you are buying a food processor to save time on food preparation so the less pre-chopping the better. How much Capacity do you need? Models generally come in 7 cup to 14 cup capacities. Smaller models are usually choppers rather than tru food processors and have limited abilities. For professionals and those who cook for large groups on a regular basis, you will want to choose the larger 11 – 14 cup capacity model. For most home cooks, the 7 cup capacity model is a good size. When the food processor’s capacity rating is based on dry ingredients, therefore remember to use about half when you are blending liquids. Bigger Price Tag: Do you really need to invest in one of the more expensive models? It really depends on how you want to use your food processor. The more expensive units will have more powerful motors, larger capacities and more attachments giving you more options. More expensive processors come with more powerful motors, more attachments and options and are often quieter as well. If you will be doing tough jobs like kneading dough, you will need a motor that is powerful enough or it will be too much of a strain on your unit. Many of the newer high-end models and mini-bowl inserts for basic food chopping which means you don’t have to drag out a small food chopper for those jobs. If you are going to use your food processor often, you may want to consider a higher-end unit that will be more versatile and last longer which may justify the higher initial cost. On the other hand, if you are just doing basic chopping, blending and pureeing, a less expensive model may be all you need.
Make Pizza Dough in your Food Processor! |