How to choose the best food processor

Food processors, despite being relatively new to the world of kitchen appliances, are a must-have tool for anyone who loves to cook great food. Why? Food processors take the tedium out of repetitive kitchen activities (namely, preparing food) and help amateur chefs get a great deal of food processed quickly, easily and in bulk. Whether it’s chopping, pureeing, mixing, shredding, dicing, slicing, whisking, grinding or mincing, food processors get things done fast. Leaving YOU more time to focus on the eating of great food than the pernickety preparation side of things...

How much will a food processor cost?

First things first, let’s talk money; food processors, depending on which model you buy, can cost anywhere between £10 to just under £1000. Strictly speaking, food processors at the lower end of the price scale will offer a more basic array of functions, whereas more costly food processors can be extremely sophisticated when it comes to food preparation. Think additional features, such as juicers, blenders and grinders – your food processor will quickly become your one-stop shop for easy food preparation.

What’s the difference between a food processor and a blender?

Some kitchen dwellers are of the mindset that they don’t need a food processor as they already own a blender; they couldn’t be further from the truth. Food processors are completely different from blenders and fulfil a completely different range of tasks. Whereas blenders require liquid to keep the blades moving – which makes them ideal for soups and purees - food processors, with their broad, flat bottoms and sweeping blades, can tackle dry food easily. From salads to salsas, crumbles to chips, they will never need additional liquid to keep things rolling.

Must-have food processor safety features

Food processors sure are fun to use – not to mention easy – but it can all go wrong if the correct safety features aren’t installed. When shopping for food processors, maker sure that the food processor bowl locks onto the base, that the top locks onto the bowl and (most importantly) that the food processor will NOT start until the unit is locked together securely. This not only prevents mess (processed food never looks good on the ceiling) and ensures that hands cannot get caught between the blades while they are spinning.