Food Processor: An Essential Kitchen Appliance

The food processor is perfect for industrial kitchens, and in the homes of the rich and famous. Even if it is just a quick evening for you and your lady, a multitude of new and exciting uses await.

Food processors are kitchen workhorses that easily handle heavy-duty tasks like slicing tough carrots, and yet they can also prepare recipes that need delicate handling, such as a flaky pie crust. A food processor can tackle almost every task you give it, from pureeing a savory soup to mincing garlic cloves.

Perhaps the most important decision one has to make is regarding the food processor's capacity. They vary in size from 21 ounces to 14 cups, for professional kitchens. Try to determine the quantity of food you will most often prepare and how often you expect to use this machine before you choose a model.

Look for the pulse feature switch in the model that you purchase. It is used for quick chopping and prevents over processing. This helps to give you maximum control. There are some attachments that come with the processor. First one is the feeding tube. This allows you to push foods in while the machine is working. When combined with a disc for slicing, shredding or grating, the feeding tube keeps your hands far away from the blade. Tubes differ in size with larger openings on certain models.

Disc and blades are important food processor accessories that really expand your food preparation options. Processors typically come with a variety of slicing and shredding discs. The size of the processed slice or shred is measured in millimeters, and this is how the discs are labeled. Some models also include juicers. A dough blade, included with heavy-duty models, is designed for processing yeast bread dough.

All processors come with a clear plastic mixing bowl and lid, an S-shaped metal chopping blade and a plastic food pusher to safely push food through the feed tube. Some models have a wider tube so you don't have to cut up vegetables like potatoes to fit the opening.

Mini choppers look similar to little processors, with a capacity of 2 to 3 cups, but they are for small jobs only, like chopping small quantities of nuts or half an onion. Generally, blender processors are better suited to working with liquids and food processors work wonders with more solid foods. You can say that of the two, the food processor is the more versatile appliance. However, it is also among the most useful kitchen appliances for the average person.