What is a Food Processor?

thisismynewmindset
thisismynewmindset Posts: 273 Member
edited September 2024 in Food and Nutrition
Okay. I know. DUMB question.

But (as many of my MFP friends know) I am EXTREMELY new to cooking (up until now my Dad was the "cook" of the house growing up, and then I moved in with my boyfriend (now my husband) who is also the "cook" of the house - because of this, I never learned, just ate).

I was wondering what exactly a food processor was, and how it differs from any regular blender?

Thanks!

Replies

  • Mindful_Trent
    Mindful_Trent Posts: 3,954 Member
    http://housewares.about.com/od/blendersprocessors/f/blendervfoodprocessor.htm

    here is a food processor: http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=food+processor&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=16646465719583642014&sa=X&ei=FJgoTpfxGJDDsQKr7rQ7&ved=0CJsBEOUNMAA#
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    Generally a food processor can do more than a blender.
  • oklanoue
    oklanoue Posts: 33
    Pampered Chef has a great 3 cup manual food processor...it is portable and does smaller portions! I think Avon also has one similar...and Tupperware too....

    It is great to make salsa or just to chop up veggies or even ice and fruit to make a quick fruit smoothy!
  • fionat29
    fionat29 Posts: 717 Member
    A food processor does more than just blend stuff in a liquidiser. It slices, grates, chops hard fruit and vegetables. It beats and whisks cakes mixes or egg whites. It kneads dough so you don't have to.
    In conclusion, they do everything and take a lot of washing-up. Lol!
  • spngebobmyhero
    spngebobmyhero Posts: 823 Member
    With a food processor, the blades are in the middle, instead of on the bottom. You get a lot more even chop. It also means that you can just chop things instead of liquefying everything. Its great for salsa, whereas if you tried to make salsa in a blender, you would probably end up with gazpacho (soup).

    A food processor also can make cheesecake, bread, hummus, and many other things MUCH easier to make!
  • Tree72
    Tree72 Posts: 942 Member
    Many food processors have an attachment plate that can slice or grate foods as well as the main compartment with a large blade for blending/pureeing foods. Also, due to the shape of the compartment and blade they are much better than a standard blender for making things like meatballs or other thick mixtures. If you want to see pictures, I'm sure you can find plenty on Google or look up one of the brand websites like Cuisinart or KitchenAid. :happy:
  • Lolyballs
    Lolyballs Posts: 180 Member
    Food processors are similar to blenders . The biggest difference is that food processors use interchangeable blades instead of a fixed blade. Their bowls are wider and shorter, and better used for solid or semi-solid foods You can shred a head of cabbage in seconds for coleslaw. Little or no liquid is needed with a food processor, but a blender needs liquid to move food around the blade.
  • thisismynewmindset
    thisismynewmindset Posts: 273 Member
    Thanks guys that helps!

    I do have the magic bullet and the slap chop... which I think are doing a good job of the cutting and chopping you describe above. Do you guys have these? Do you agree?
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    Thanks guys that helps!

    I do have the magic bullet and the slap chop... which I think are doing a good job of the cutting and chopping you describe above. Do you guys have these? Do you agree?

    While those two items are good for certain things, a food processor can handle more food at a time and much more quickly. I wouldn't want to try to grind a couple of cups of nuts into meal using a slap chop. Neither of those would do very well at grating a pound of cheese in under a minute, either.
  • TourThePast
    TourThePast Posts: 1,753 Member
    Neither of those would do very well at grating a pound of cheese in under a minute, either.
    My days of meals which include a pound of cheese (1800 calories) are sadly over... :bigsmile:

    Food processors are very expensive, but they are versatile. I make a lot of soups and stews, and the time saved in chopping veg is amazing. Though they do take longer to wash up than a knife, which is why mine only comes out when I am cooking in bulk to freeze.

    A good brand should last decades. I got my Braun in 1984 and it's still as good as new.

    Oh, just checked prices, while they're not cheap, they're not the big ticket luxury item they once were. :)
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