Alzheimer’s has not hit me (yet), I am well aware that this is a recipes-website, but really, tell me how to prepare perfect recipes nowadays, without the use of a food processor.
I can go without a few gadgets in the kitchen, but not without my “kitchen mate,” my food processor. Had I met or known Pierre Verdon, I would thank him in a more elaborate ways than even Steve Jobs. Of course, I love Jobs for my iPad, but I can’t chew on it.
Pierre Verdon made every homemaker’s life easier in the kitchen with his invention of the food processor. When I imagine how long I could have been on my feet chopping meat, or kneading dough for pizza, or extracting juices from oranges, or blending fruits for a smoothie I am so thankful for my food processor? I would have grown varicose veins up to my neck by now!
Seriously, a food processor cuts my time preparing food in half because it is almost an all-in-one gadget. There is no need to reach for separate items like a blender, a juicer, a mixer, or a knife as you prepare food. You save on effort and time as you clean-up, too.
Helpful Tips on How to Choose the Best Food Processor:
Shopping for the perfect food processor can be a challenge as there are lots of options out there; in fact, if you did not do your homework before heading out to the appliance store, you can easily pick the wrong one for your needs. So, here’s a list of things you should remember when you go out and buy or order online your food processor.
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Know what you need. Apparently, finding out what could work in your kitchen is Rule No. 1.
Your kitchen needs are different from mine. I only have four people in the family to prepare meals for, while you could have the whole battalion of the US army. In other words, you need to determine first if you can use a food processor for a small family recipe, or big ones that caterers to cooking for a larger group.
To stay on the safe side though, you can buy a medium-size food processor that has 10-cup capacity. If money is not an issue, you can buy a big and a small one. There is no rule banning against kitchens having more than one food processor.
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Power. Just like with any other appliance, power determines the speed and efficiency of a food processor when put to work. Again, your choice depends on your kitchen needs. Obviously, larger food processors should have enough power to be useful. Household food processors need about 400 watts while larger units can only run efficiently on more than 700 watts of power.
Cup-Capacity. Small food processors have a 2-cup capacity while professional models usually have a 20-cup capacity.
Storage & Safety Measures. Food processors are NOT for kids to play with. If you will be cooking with a precocious child who believes she’s Rachel Ray choose a food processor fitted with a lock to avoid accidental start-up of the appliance when you are not looking.
Consider buying a food processor that is easy to stack and easy to wash. Make sure that all accessories are intact. Do not disassemble your unit, unless you are sure you know how to put everything back on again.
Accessories. Choose a food processor that has a big tube size to save time from having to cut food in smaller pieces. Also, make sure that your unit comes with a plunger to push the food down the tube more easily. Food processors that come with steel bowls, in different sizes, are great buys you should not miss out on.
Other accessories should come with your unit as well: spatulas, shredders, blades, cutting disks, etc. Don’t leave the store unless you are sure you have every accessory that should come with your purchase.
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And don’t throw away the user’s manual! Take the time to read the instructions carefully, and refer to it for minor fixes, before you submit your unit for repair. Needless to say, check out your product’s warranty card, fill it out completely and mail it in.
It takes hands-on practice to master the use of your food processor, but it’s an effort that pays off greatly in terms of preparing excellent dishes, at less time and least effort.
