How to Choose the Perfect Food Processor
Blenders or food processors can be divided into two general categories: the manual ones and the automated ones. Put simply, blender-type machines make liquids by passing food through a spinning blade or the grinding plate. On the other hand, food processors maintain food in a solid, powdered form by means of a mixing compartment. For instance, a blender would first blend a puree until it becomes a smooth paste, while a food processor would grind it into powder, retaining its original shape and weight.
All appliances come with their own disadvantages and advantages. To begin with, it should be obvious that the food processors with blades are slightly more expensive than the ones with blades. Even so, most households have at least one such appliance. The biggest advantage of the appliance is that you don't have to stand over the bowl for several minutes waiting for the food to be fully blended.
There are also several types of food processors: mini choppers, semi-automated and full-automatic. Mini choppers have only a single working blade. Full-automatic and semi-automated processors have two working blades and a large chopping area. Some models have a rotary chopping board. Chopping boards can also be found. These types of processors have the best chopping power but are the heaviest.
Kenwood, Breville and the Japanese Domestic have some of the best food processors in the market. Each manufacturer has its own unique selling features. For instance, Kenwood has the super Quiet Power technology which minimizes the noise produced while the motor is running. The high speed processors can be used quickly. The best food processors from these manufacturers are portable, compact, user-friendly, and very efficient.
Most mini and full-auto food processors have a slicing blade motor. Most models have the option of adjusting the speed of the motor for chopping small pieces of tough vegetables. Some models have the option of adjusting the chopping depth. The blades can come in different sizes. Some are very wide, while others are very small.
Some food processors have a special blade that allows for fine cutting of dough and pasta. The finest of blades will cut the pasta and dough blades with ease. If you have to cut through a thick sheet of dough, consider getting a dough blade that is very fine. It is not advisable to use a blade with a bigger cutting depth because it will cut the food too much.
Most brands of food processors include a pulse function. A pulse function will add a circular motion to the chopping and blending motions. A pulse function is also a good feature if you need more pulses while making bread dough or chopping up fruits and vegetables. For specialty tasks, some food processors include a whisk and a chopping blade. You can also get machines that include a food grinder.
One popular brand of food processors that has both a pulse function and a whisk is the Cuisinart SP-series. All the appliances from this series are quite user-friendly. You can even add your own attachments such as a food chopper attachment if the original machine you are using does not have this. The Cuisinart Magimix also has both a pulse function and a whisk which is an ideal addition to the machine. The blades of the Magimix are large, but they are very gentle and you do not need to use very much force to get the desired result. The entire appliance is durable, quiet, and convenient to use.
There are many food processors that are available in the market today. However, if you are looking for a blender-style machine, the Magimix Airstream is the best one for you. The unit features a large motor that makes it easy to blend fruits and vegetables as well as dry and frozen items. The built-in feed tube makes it possible for you to pour the food into the feed tube, which is made of stainless steel. It can handle a large number of items and because the blender has a long tube, you can finish cooking without having to wait too much time.
Another very popular appliance is the Breville Commercial Blender, which is also a very efficient model. The Breville Variable Speed blender does not only allow you to adjust the speed of the motor, but it also has a handy function known as the hand mixer comes with the machine. This allows you to mix ingredients in different batches, which can be especially helpful if you have different sizes of foods to process. For instance, the hand mixer comes with a two cup capacity, which is perfect for making pasta sauce.
If you're into making cookies and cutting up smaller pieces of bread, the Handheld Wirecutter may be perfect for you. Unlike some other food processors, the Hand Held Wirecutter has a strong and heavy duty motor that is almost as big as the unit. This enables you to cut through thick materials like cardboard and sheetrock without any difficulty. If you want something smaller and more portable, the handheld shredder may be perfect for you. Although it only has a three cup capacity, it still comes with an eight inch cutting blade that may be useful for shredding cheese or chopping vegetables.