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A food processor is one of the best kitchen appliances you can have. Don't be intimidated! This tool isn't just for professionals or people who make large meals. It is just as useful for smaller tasks typical of the everyday cook.
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.
The food processor's capacity is a very important consideration. Capacity varies anywhere from 21 ounces to 14 cups for the professional kitchen. Figure out the amount food you generally will be making on a regular basis in order to determine which model of processor you should buy.
You want a design that includes the ability to pulse. That allows you to chop rapidly so that you do not process the ingredients too much while working with them. It is a function which offers fuller control of the machine. There are various parts that are included with any processor. Major ones are the feeding tube and the food pusher which presses ingredients into the machine while it is operating without endangering your hands. There are also cutting discs to enable you to slice, shred or grate. Processor tubes come in assorted sizes and some have greater diameters.
Now we should discuss the circular cutting components. Each processor is accompanied by a group of discs which perform various functions such as making slices or shredding. Their measurements in millimeters are a reference to the thickness of the pieces they produce. Some of the machines also have the ability to make juices. Processors which are especially strong in their construction also provide an attachment you can use in making your own breads or pie crusts.
Each processor has a transparent plastic bowl for mixing as well as a cover, a curved metal chopper, and a food press which forces the ingredients into the tube without endangering your hands. Some designs include a tube which is less narrow and which therefore permits you to put large vegetables like sweet potatoes in without cutting them up in advance.
When you want to chop very small amounts of food, say only 2 or 3 cups, these miniature chopping appliances are a great fit, especially for a handful of nuts or even halves of larger items. Be sure to pick the right tool for the job; food processors are best for solid foods, while liquid foods are better when prepared through blender processors. Given a choice between a blender or a processor, the food processor is a better selection.
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