How to choose a food processor
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1. Food processor, kitchen machine or planetary mixer?
It is very easy for an inexperienced user to get lost in the modern home appliance market: there are kitchen machines and food processors, which are similar in name, and there are planetary mixers, which are the basis of food processors, and each of them performs its own specific tasks. Let's figure out how these devices differ.
1.1 Planetary mixer
A planetary mixer is an advanced version of a stationary mixer with its own special operating technique: the attachment moves not only around its axis, but also in a circle inside the bowl, which resembles the movement of planets (hence the name). Due to this, a planetary mixer quickly copes with kneading any dough, whipping egg whites and cream, mixing contents, etc. This technique is often used in confectionery. It works quickly, performs processes without human intervention (load the ingredients, start the device - and calmly do other things) and easily withstands heavy loads. The complete set of such mixers is standard: whisks for whipping, dough hooks and spatulas (beaters) for mixing. In addition, models can be supplied with additional silicone bitters - they are designed for mixing light, airy masses.
1.2 Food processor
A food processor is, so to speak, a planetary mixer at maximum settings. Any food processor is based on a planetary mixer, so their capabilities for whipping, kneading and mixing are the same. However, a food processor allows you to connect various additional attachments that significantly expand its functions. These can be a meat grinder, blender, vegetable cutter, juicer, etc. And if a mixer is more often used in confectionery, then a food processor is a universal assistant for various processes: it can not only knead dough or whip cream for a cake, but also prepare minced meat, a cocktail, cream soup, chop vegetables for salads and side dishes.
1.3 Kitchen machine
A kitchen machine, although similar to a food processor, is radically different from it in appearance. Such devices are based on a stationary blender, often supplemented by a food processor - a bowl with knives for chopping and cutting products. The kit may include other attachments, but usually kitchen machines have a more modest set than food processors. In addition, the difference between them is that a kitchen machine is not designed for kneading dough. Its "arsenal" may include a corresponding hook, but you are unlikely to be able to knead a large amount of heavy dough with it. In turn, a food processor will cope with this faster, better and, so to speak, more professionally.
To sum it up, with the right equipment, a food processor is a more versatile and multifunctional assistant than a kitchen machine and, especially, a planetary mixer. But there are some nuances when choosing one: for example, incorrectly selected characteristics will not allow you to prepare certain recipes, and extra attachments will take up space in the kitchen and create a mess. So let's figure out what you need to consider when buying a food processor.
2. Attachments and accessories
The functionality of the device directly depends on the number of attachments and accessories in the package. As a result, one food processor can replace several separate kitchen devices: for example, a stationary blender, meat grinder, vegetable cutter, juicer, etc. At the same time, unnecessary components will take up extra space in the kitchen, so approach the choice of equipment carefully and thoughtfully.
2.1 Planetary mixer
As we mentioned above, this is the heart of a food processor, so it's a must-have. Traditionally, it comes with a bowl and attachments for different tasks: a whisk for whipping, a dough hook for kneading, and a beater for mixing. All the accessories are quite large, so unlike regular mixers, they come in singles rather than in pairs. However, some models do offer a double hook.
2.2 Blender
Essentially, a classic stationary blender that connects to the top drive of a food processor. It will help you make healthy smoothies, cocktails, cream soups, salad dressings, and liquid pancake batter. The blender has minimal equipment: a bowl of different sizes made of plastic or glass, a sealed lid, and knives for chopping. However, keep in mind that a food processor with a blender connection becomes very tall and may not fit under kitchen cabinets, so a lot of space is needed to place and fully operate such a device.
2.3 Meat grinder
A full-fledged alternative to a standard meat grinder, made as a separate device. It is designed for making minced meat or fish, as well as grinding fruits and vegetables. The meat grinder is supplied with minced meat discs, and these can be discs with holes of different sizes and shapes for minced meat of different consistencies. In addition, the kit may include other attachments:
- for making homemade sausages ;
- for kebbe(hollow meat tubes with filling, a dish of Arabic cuisine);
- for various types of pasta ;
- for making shaped cookies.
2.4 Food processor
A separate bowl in which the products are chopped, sliced and grated. Pay attention to the volume of the bowl - it can be from 500 ml to several liters. If you need to slice a large amount of products, it is better to take a capacious bowl, if you cook in small portions, a compact container that does not take up much space will do.
The capabilities of a food processor depend on the accessories included in the set. The knife chops various products: meat, onions, herbs, vegetables, etc. Various discs for shredding, grating and dicing will help you quickly prepare ingredients for salads and side dishes, saving you from a troublesome and lengthy process. There are also discs for French fries, which cut potatoes into neat bars, discs for potato pancakes(potato pancakes), which grind potatoes, and emulsifying plates for making sauces - special discs that grind and whip ingredients into a thick mass. In general, a food processor is a good assistant for preparing a variety of dishes, which significantly reduces the stage of preparing and processing products. For example, preparing Olivier or any other salad with such a processor will take only 5 - 10 minutes.
2.5 End-to-end food processor
The same food processor described above, only without a special container. The chopped ingredients are sent either to the mixer bowl or to any other dish from your kitchen inventory. This is convenient when processing a large amount of products: you can put a capacious saucepan and not watch when the bowl is full. And the dishes are already in the kitchen, and the bowl of a regular food processor needs to be stored somewhere. The complete set of the through food processor is almost the same: various attachments for cutting, but without a knife for chopping, which is due to the design features.
2.6 Juicer
A separate attachment that functions as a traditional centrifugal juicer. It makes freshly squeezed juice from most fruits and vegetables, preserving vitamins and nutrients. Or it can be a citrus juicer. As the name suggests, it is designed to make juice from oranges, grapefruits, lemons and other citrus fruits that a centrifugal or auger juicer cannot handle.
2.7 Mill
A small container with sharp blades, which is primarily designed for grinding coffee beans. In addition, it can grind spices, nuts, sugar, seeds and other hard ingredients, turning them into flour.
3. What to look for when buying
- Housing material. Most budget and inexpensive combines have a plastic housing - this material is affordable and can be painted in any color. Higher-end models are equipped with a metal housing - it is more durable, can withstand active use and is designed for a long service life. Naturally, metal is more expensive than plastic and does not provide such a wide variety of colors (mostly the housing is painted silver).
- Bowl material. The bowl of a planetary mixer is mostly made of metal — again, due to its reliability and durability. There are also plastic and glass options, but they are quite rare. As for attachments, food processor bowls are made of high-quality plastic, and blender jugs are either plastic or glass. Glass is more fragile, but it does not absorb odors, does not stain in the colors of ingredients, and is easy to clean.
- Bowl volume. The larger the container, the more contents it can hold, but it also takes up more space. Therefore, you need to start from your own needs. On average, for an average family of several people, a planetary mixer bowl with a volume of about 5 liters, a blender of 1.25 - 1.5 liters and a chopper of 1 - 1.5 liters will be enough. By the way, some models are equipped with several main bowls of different volumes, which makes it possible to perform several processes without stopping to wash dishes. Also, in this case, the user will be able to choose a container of the required size, taking into account the number of products.
- Power. The higher the power, the greater the power consumption, but at the same time, high-power food processors cope with their tasks faster and easily knead thick dough, grind stringy meat and process a large number of products. Accordingly, the larger the capacity, the greater the power should be. The optimal power will be 1200 - 1500 W.
- Number of speeds. Not all processes require operation at maximum power. For example, light, airy mousses and creams should be mixed at minimum speed. In general, the following rule applies: the harder and denser the product, the higher the speed. In order to be able to select the optimal rotation intensity depending on the type of products and the process, we recommend choosing a food processor with 5-6 speed modes. If you need more precise settings, there should be more modes (8-10 or more), and smooth adjustment with a stepless regulator is also appropriate.
The pulse mode will also be useful, when the motor works with short pauses as a result of manual control. It is mainly used for grinding the hardest products - nuts, ice cubes, frozen fruits. In addition, some models have a turbo mode for short-term loads during complex processes.
4. Additional functions
Not so important, but still useful are the additional functions of the food processor, which expand the capabilities of the device and increase the ease of use:
- Timer - controls the time and turns off the equipment after a specified period. This automates the process even more, since you do not have to monitor the time and check the consistency yourself. The timer eliminates the risk of such unpleasant results as over-whipped egg whites and spoiled dough due to over-mixing.
- Scales - allow you to accurately measure the amount of ingredients without using additional equipment. This function is especially relevant for confectioners, since when preparing cream and baking, the correct proportions and strict adherence to the recipe are very important. As a rule, scales are built into the platform on which the mixer bowl is installed, so you can weigh the ingredients directly in it.
- Heating is not a very common function, found in professional, expensive models. It implies heating the working container and, again, is mainly relevant for confectioners. For example, by heating the bowl, you can melt butter or chocolate, make caramel or achieve the desired state of yeast dough. Some advanced Kenwood food processors have a wide range of available temperatures - from 20 to 180 degrees, so you can even cook soups and porridges in them, if desired. The only question is whether you are ready to overpay for such an opportunity.
- Automatic programs - contain preset settings for performing the most common processes: for example, kneading dough, whipping eggs, making cream, etc.
- Smart features. Some advanced models have the ability to connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi, meaning they can be controlled remotely from a smartphone. In fact, this is a good way to automate processes and improve your culinary experience, as manufacturers of such devices offer hundreds of pre-installed recipes with step-by-step instructions and even video tutorials. Smart food processors are often equipped with touch screens.
Also, do not forget about safety. Such additions as protection of the engine from overheating and overload, rubberized feet for stability and vibration reduction, protection from incorrectly installed attachments and blocking the operation when lifting the upper part of the body significantly extend the service life of the device, prevent premature breakdowns and increase the ease of use.
5. Conclusion
In conclusion, we would like to emphasize once again that when choosing a food processor, you need to start from your needs. If you bake often and are looking for an assistant only for making confectionery, perhaps a regular planetary mixer will be enough for you. If you are setting up a kitchen from scratch, you can save money and replace several separate devices with one food processor with a large number of attachments. If you cook often and for a large family, having a food processor will save you unnecessary hassle and save time. Professional chefs will most likely need additional functions such as built-in scales, a timer, heating and a large number of speed modes. We hope that our article will help you make the right choice.
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