How to Choose Food Processor

How to buy a best food processor that fits perfectly to your needs today where the market made by a variety of manufacturers to cater to the many various requirements of both domestic and professional cooks. The choices available can sometimes make it difficult for someone to know which is the best food processor to purchase, however if you do a little research into what is available, as well as develop your own list of criteria as to what you would like to do with it and how much you are willing to spend, you will soon be armed with all the information you need to make an informed buying decision.

Food Processor Buying Guide

At the top of the list, you need to consider things like functionality, power and portability. The reason for this is because they come in a range of sizes from a mini food processor through to a commercial food processor. If you are able to firstly identify your unique cooking needs, your choice of food processor will be much easier. If you are an average home cook, a medium sized machine will likely prove to be the best choice and it will hold between 8 – 10 cups in capacity. This size is good for family cooking, unless you have a large extended family.

If this is the case, then a larger processor would be better for you. For anyone doing catering as either a sideline or a full on profession, the larger sized machines will definitely be better suited for your needs. If you do a lot of cooking, it’s also worth considering having more than one food processor because having a mini food processor for small specialized tasks and quick chopping jobs, can free up your regular processor for a more efficient work flow. Some people may only want a baby food processor for specifically preparing their baby’s food and in this instance, you won’t want anything else.

Power

You should give this some serious thought, particularly if you do a lot of baking and enjoy making bread. Kneading bread dough and breaking down very hard vegetables require a processor with plenty of power, preferably at least 700 watts. Larger units will also generally require more power than a very small one. So if you are looking at a medium sized processor, but are not intending to use it for kneading bread dough, 450 – 700 should be fine. If you are intending to use to knead dough, then 700 watts is advisable. It’s worth remembering too, than running a processor constantly at the top of its limits will not be good for it and you are likely to burn out the motor. It’s better to opt for a processor with more power in this case and run it around the middle of its limits to ensure longevity of the unit.

Accessories

If you purchase a food processor with plenty of accessories, you will be able to use it for more food preparation tasks. The better processor will always have plenty of accessories and should include cutting blades, disks and whisks. They should always be of sound construction and attach securely to the machine. An important consideration is the feeding tube and you should always opt for a machine that has a large one as well as a plunger to help press items down into the feed tube. This means you will not have to waste precious time pre-cutting produce to fit into it. A small feeding tube can really slow you up.

Another thing to consider is the ability to add items into the machine while it is processing. You should make sure this option is available so as to avoid the tiresome task of stopping, adding and starting the processor each time you want to add something extra in. If you are a baker, make sure your processor comes with a dough hook and whisks are also necessary if you intend to whip cream for desserts, beat eggs and make meringues. If you don’t intend to do these things, you don’t need a machine which has them.

A blender type attachment is also a good idea from a functionality perspective and it can save you shelf space by not doubling up with another appliance. Likewise a juicer attachment however these tend to be for citrus juicing rather than extraction type juicing. There are plenty of other accessories available which can be purchased separately and if you are going to be constantly using your processor and find yourself looking for more ways to enjoy it benefits, you might want to invest in them as you become more proficient.

Cleaning

Make sure to check and see if parts and accessories are all dishwasher safe because this can save you a lot of fiddling about cleaning out small nooks and crannies. It is also safer when you consider that the blades are very sharp

Storage and Portability

You can definitely save on storage space when you replace several appliances with one but you might also consider the weight of the processor if you don’t store it on your countertop. If you do store it on your countertop, you should allow 1 – 1.5 cubic meters of space for the machine and for you to work in.  Storing the accessories should also be given some thought because keeping them all together is the most efficient approach.

Safety Features

A bowl which locks onto the base and a top which locks onto the bowl are essential, particularly if there are small children about. Likewise, there should be a feature which prevents the processor from starting unless it is locked securely together.

Controls

If you don’t want to do anything complicated with the food processor, one which has On/Off/Pulse will suit you fine, however if you are keen to explore all the capabilities of the machine, a variable speed control, possibly even touch pad controls will suit you better.

Make sure you try and read as many food processor reviews as possible as part of your due diligence so you are well armed with all the knowledge you need before purchasing. Know what you want to do with it and decide if you think you will get your money’s worth from the purchase.