Food Processor

A Kitchen "Work Horse"
A Food Processor Is Wonderful!
Kitchen Appliance A Great Help

A Food Processor like the one pictured here is a kitchen "work horse" used to chop, shred & slice, julienne, grate, mince, crumb, mix, cut-in, puree, mash, blend, and grind.

Processors are somewhat like blenders but the difference is that processors use different blades and disks to do different jobs.

A blender has a fixed blade. Processor bowls are usually shaped different to be more suited to deal with solid or semi-solid foods. Blenders "shine" when it comes to liquids.

The base of a processor holds a motor which turns a vertical shaft. The motor is usually heavy and that serves to keep a processor from "walking off" a countertop when it is operating.

A bowl, usually made of clear plastic, fits around the shaft. A lid with a "feed tube" is then fitted onto the bowl. The feed tube allows ingredients to be added while chopping, grinding or pureeing.

A "pusher" is provided, sized to slide through a feed tube that is designed to protect your fingers.

And almost all modern food processors have safety devices that prevent the motor from operating if the bowl isn't "seated" properly on the base or the lid isn't on properly.

The size of a bowl varies with the size of the machine and motor. Larger bowls run from 9 to 14 cups. Medium-size bowls can run from 5 to 7 cups. Small bowls can hold from 2 to 4 cups.

And some food processors come with large and small bowls for use with the same base.

The attachments fit over the shaft inside the bowl. A standard attachment for a food processor is an S-shaped blade shown pictured here.

This blade is usually metal or hard plastic and sits at the bottom of the bowl. I like a metal blade because it holds its sharpness longer.

Shredding and slicing discs are made of metal and sit at the top of the bowl, over the shaft. As you push food down the tube it contacts the disc and is grated or sliced into the bowl depending on what disc you are using.

You can purchase different versions of discs separately if they do not come with the food processor.

Other common attachments include: