Let's not deny it, we have all opted for a pre-cooked and ultra-processed dish before buying ingredients and then mixing them. Well, a food processor does it for us, preparing and mixing, not buying, we're sorry. It is a great forgotten that lives in the shadow of kitchen robots, when in reality they are very similar.
Food processors are halfway between a simple blender and kitchen robots. Throughout this text we are going to know what a food processor is, what exactly it does, the differences with a blender and a food processor, and what to look for to buy the best food processor among all the options available. we have before
What is it and what is the food processor for?
These are machines that are one step below kitchen robots, although they share a multitude of functions, only they are not intelligent and somewhat limited. A food processor, in other words, is an electric kitchen machine or utensil that saves time and makes life easier, especially when it comes to cooking healthy food. There are many models on the market that adapt to each kitchen (by size), to each pocket (by price), and to each type of cook.
Food processors help us learn to cook, achieving better results in less time. It is a significant investment, but if we learn to use it, we will be glad every day we bought it, because no more having to cut everything by hand.
To give us an idea, with a machine like this we can do all of this:
- Grate.
- Laminate.
- Chop. (vegetables, grains, seeds, etc.).
- Whip whites and beat eggs.
- Make seed creams.
- Ice creams and granitas.
- Dried fruit jams.
- Vegetable sauces and pates.
- Knead.
- Squeeze.
- Liquefy.
- Crush.
Differences with a blender
Apart from the physical aspect, where the mixer is elongated and has small blades together with a plastic cup, normally. There are also other differences, such as the processes, since as we have seen, food processors have a multitude of functions and another important detail is that they work without liquids.
However, blenders can work with liquids creating fruit smoothies, soups, fluid creams, hummus, sorbets, ice cream as long as all the ingredients are frozen, grinding nuts, grinding foods that are not very consistent, etc.
On the other hand, the food processor is several steps above and once we try it, we cannot get rid of it, since it becomes an essential accessory in our day to day. Thanks to this kitchen utensil we can perform functions without our hands suffering, and functions that we could not be able to perform so perfectly if it were not with the help of this machine.
Let's say that the main difference is that the food processor works without liquids and the mixers need it to be able to do their job in the best possible way. Another key difference is that the blenders do not give you the option of different types of cuts.
Why is it not a kitchen robot?
A food processor and a food processor are NOT the same, they look alike, yes, but they are on different levels. The robot is more sophisticated than the processor, which is nothing more than a professional evolution of the classic blender.
Food processors are machines that work without liquids. Nevertheless, Kitchen robots admit all kinds of liquids, including alcohol.
The food processor is a small appliance that helps to process and prepare food and recipes, however, the kitchen robot literally cooks for us and we can make any type of recipe without limitations.
Kitchen robots are more versatile and complete, and that is not always synonymous with "better". The best will be what suits us and our type of food. If we want to grind food, prepare creams or shakes and little else, perhaps a simple blender is worth it, now, if we are looking for something that mounts yolks for us, knead, chop meat, squeeze, grate, slice, crush, blend, etc. then it's time to look at a food processor.
And if we want all that and that it cooks for us, then it is time to go up one more step and opt for a kitchen robot. It is yes, you need to learn to use it, it may even take several weeks until we master it perfectly and are able to get its full potential.
What to look for to choose the best
When it comes to a small appliance, there are two keys that must always be taken into account when buying the best one, and it is no longer so much choosing the most recognized brand, but rather standing in front of the product and if we can touch it with our hands, better . In this type of purchase, we always recommend going to a physical store, and if they can give us a demonstration, show us, see how it works and such, much better.
To know how to choose the perfect food processor you have to focus on two factors, materials and powerapart from the weight. We already know that the more weight, the more quality, but that was useful before, now lightweight materials are used and we can no longer trust them.
The materials must be resistant plastic, that when hit it sounds like a filler, stainless steel, quality buttons, cable protected or designed with an anti-break system, that there are rubber feet, that the glass is made of glass, that the blades are placed at different heights to cover the entire mixture and if it has more than 3 blades, better, top cover so that it does not splash, ergonomic handle, tactile or physical keyboard, but that the keys do not dance or feel loose, that the glass and the body fit well and the appliance does not limp, etc.
The power is something key for it to be a good food processor, since you have to see that it is a minimum of 1.200 W or 1.500 W in professional and decent models. In the case of buying a compact one, which we do not recommend, you have to check that the motor is at least 300 W. The more power, the faster it will work, the better results it will give and the longer life the food processor will have.
Advantages and disadvantages of the food processor
When it comes to a small appliance, we always want to buy the best one to get a return on investment with many years of useful life. This is why it is not good, neither to buy the most expensive one (because that is why we buy a kitchen robot), nor to buy the cheapest one, simply the one that fits our style and performance in the kitchen.
Main advantages:
- Facilitates the preparation of recipes.
- We save time.
- We win in security.
- It is a versatile product.
- It helps us to be original.
- It is multifunction.
- It takes up little space.
Inconvenients to consider:
- He doesn't cook, he just prepares.
- In the long run we may fall short in functions.
- It does not work with liquids.
- They can become very noisy (more than a mixer).
- Its price is sometimes almost at the same level as kitchen robots.