Looking for a Food Processor? Here’s help.

 

   I think that my food processor is one of the most used small appliances in my kitchen. I use it for so many recipes like my spicy carrot hummus. I find so many uses for my food processor, so many that I keep this appliance on my kitchen counter. Just the other day after I harvested prickly pears, I used the food processor to make prickly pear lemonade. So if you what an appliance that is very useful, a food processor is one that I recommend.

 The question that I am sure that many have is which food processor should I buy? Keep reading to get some valuable information on selecting the right food processor for your kitchen. These tips will make shopping for the food processor an easier task. Once you buy a food processor, you will have to make my Plant-Based Healthy No-Bake Salted Chocolate Brownies. These brownies are amazing with chocolate flavor and are also dairy-free.

  When you get a food processor, you will probably wonder what all the parts are for. Let’s start with the S-blade. It is the most common and significant attachment, and is the heart of the machine – this is the part that helps you to achieve several different consistencies in your dishes. The less-frequently used attachments can vary but could include a dough blade, a French fry cutter, or even an attachment that squeezes citrus! All the foods that seemed previously out of reach are firmly within your grasp when you own a food processor.

What to keep an eye out for

 You want a powerful food processor that can get things done with consistent results. A heavy base will prevent your appliance from skating across the countertop when it is in operation. You will also be glad you chose a large bowl capacity, which is useful for processing liquid ingredients.

 A wider feed tube gives you more space to work with when processing large pieces of food, and choosing a model with a pulse option gives you greater control over your mixing speeds without overmixing. If you are a “bells and whistles” kind of person, look for a model with extra features, like an egg beater for baking, or a citrus press.

What’s it made of? 

 The motor can be found in the base of the processor. This is the engine room, from which all the power comes. From the motor, there is a shaft that extends upwards, onto which the attachments can be fit. A bowl, usually made from transparent plastic, with a lid, goes on top of the base, and the machine usually cannot work without having this locked into position. Food is inserted through the feed tube that is attached to the lid, and you use the plunger accessory to push ingredients down the tube.

Care and maintenance of a food processor

 If you don’t look after your food processor, it will get damaged. While food processors are great for chopping food into small pieces, it is less great to have to clean small pieces out of the appliance. But don’t shirk this responsibility – keeping a clean machine will prevent bacteria from developing and will prolong the life of your appliance for years to come.

Follow these tips to keep your food processor in tip-top shape:

1. Avoid experimenting with foods that could harm or clog the food processor.

2. Cut your ingredients into appropriate sizes before feeding them into the machine.

3. Do not overfill the bowl.

4. Do not use anything other than the plunger/pushing attachment to push food down the tube.

5. Prolong the life of your motor by only processing small amounts at a time.

6. Use a combination of water and baking soda to clear any lingering odors. Let the mixture sit for 15 minutes before drying thoroughly.​

7. Never skip cleaning your machine after use!

8. Get rid of residual food pieces using a nylon scrubber.