Food processors

redkitty · January 19, 2015, 09:39:31 PM

What do you use them for? How are they better or different than blenders (assuming oyu aren't using the processor to slice things.)

I have one, I got last year at Xmas (so 2013.) I have never used it. I rarely come across recipes that require its use and the few where the recipe stated I should use one, I just used the blender anyway. The blender worked just fine. But perhaps I just don't understand teh coolness of a food processor and I am missing out on something. Please enlighten me...seriously.

If it makes a difference, I have a cuisinart one. It is fairly nice.

onawhim · January 19, 2015, 09:56:53 PM

I use it for slicing and chopping and grating. Also for dough and pancake batter that kind of thing. If all you do is blend then it won't be better for that.

diablita · January 19, 2015, 10:15:15 PM

what she said

I shred carrots, potatoes, cheese sometimes (if the cheese type in a recipe is needed shredded and doesn't come that way), zucchini for fab zucchini bread or shredded zucchini dishes, brussels sprouts

I make hummus with it, blend together almond flour and powdered sugar for macarons, blend dates with nuts and other fruits for bars, almond cake gets zapped together in the processor

so many other things! I love the food processor.

merigayle · January 20, 2015, 05:52:21 AM

I use it when I make beet burgers for DD, for pulsing tofu or making tofu ricotta, pulse cooked kale for a colcannon recipe I make, cashew cheese, etc. I use mine a lot.

Ice Cream · January 20, 2015, 06:24:13 AM

Quote from: merigayle on January 20, 2015, 05:52:21 AM
I use it when I make beet burgers for DD, for pulsing tofu or making tofu ricotta, pulse cooked kale for a colcannon recipe I make, cashew cheese, etc. I use mine a lot.

DD is the only one who eats beet burgers? I am impressed that she eats beets.

We had one when I grew up, but never used it. I don;t see that I have any need for one. I do have an immersion blender that I use a lot.

merigayle · January 20, 2015, 07:12:51 AM

Quote from: Ice Cream on January 20, 2015, 06:24:13 AM
DD is the only one who eats beet burgers? I am impressed that she eats beets.

We had one when I grew up, but never used it. I don;t see that I have any need for one. I do have an immersion blender that I use a lot.

We eat them to, but it is one of her favorite foods. It is roasted beets, roasted onion, roasted garlic, i pulse in the food processor and then stir into crumbled tofu with other things. Recipe from Fat Free Vegan. She loves beets. They are so sweet and make you poop purple, what's not to like?

ihop · January 20, 2015, 02:40:17 PM

Yes - shredding, slicing, dough, pesto, etc. I use it more than my blender or stick blender.

AmyAmyAmy · January 21, 2015, 02:21:46 PM

I use mine for pesto, salsa and falafel. I only use it every couple of months or so but it's nice to have.

Run Amok · January 21, 2015, 06:30:55 PM

I use it for totally different things than my blender.

Any time I need to shred or chop a large quantity of things.

Also for things like hummus and pesto.

Also for doughs like pie dough and biscuits.

RioG · January 21, 2015, 08:03:19 PM

i didn't know you could use the processor for dough.

we have a processor, used as said above. invaluable when processing garden produce for preserving. i also use the stand mixer and blender enough that i want them.

Dagstag v 2.0 · January 21, 2015, 08:09:02 PM

Quote from: merigayle on January 20, 2015, 07:12:51 AM
They are so sweet and make you poop purple, what's not to like?

OT - when I recently got my hair dyed, I told my hair gal that the color I wanted was "beet poo"

SO has a food processor, I don't, and I am looking forward to living in a home with one. Shredded brussels sprouts! I've tried slicing them by hand, and... ugh. A pain in the ace.

caribougrrl · January 22, 2015, 08:13:08 AM

Quote from: RioG on January 21, 2015, 08:03:19 PM
i didn't know you could use the processor for dough.

great for pie crust especially because it doesn't get as warm as mixing by hand! we do that even though we only have a mini-processer (pie crust in batches sounds weird, but it works so well it's worth the effort)

RioG · January 22, 2015, 08:56:58 AM

I'm going to have to try that. i . have two food processors (don't ask...)

redkitty · January 22, 2015, 10:04:56 AM

Yea I definitely don't use it to slice or shred. I just hand cut veggies, but I am never cutting up a large amount at once. Maybe a cucumber or a pepper at a time. I can't tell you the last time I needed to shred something and I pretty much never make bread dough or anything that would need to be kneaded (though the box told me I could do that.) I guess in general I just don't make foods that would require me to use it. I plan on planting a veggie garden this year, perhaps if that comes to fruition and is successful, I will change my mind about using it.

onawhim · January 22, 2015, 11:42:42 AM

I love mine but I refuse to peel vegetables so I just shred them instead

moroccangirl · January 22, 2015, 02:24:44 PM

I don't make bread either RK. But I do use my FP for everything Di mentioned. When I realized I could shred cheese, it was like a whole new world opened up.
I also make my own chicken breakfast patties (supposed to be turkey patties by we don't have turkey breast here). I grind the chicken breasts in the FP along with the spices, then just shape into patties.
I think I tried making hummus in my vitamix before but it didn't work too well. I always make that in the FP.

srsly · January 22, 2015, 02:56:12 PM

I made hummus last weekend with myold fp. Then made tabouleh a few days later. I don't think I could get by without my fp. I've had mine for over 20 years. The bowl is getting cracks here and there, but the motor itself works like new, so quiet.

I've used it to make a small batch of pizza dough before I bought my kitchenaid mixer. Doesn't work as well as the kitchenaid cause it gets too hot in it. But for doughs like pizza and small portion bread recipes, it works great!

Run Amok · January 22, 2015, 06:52:14 PM

Also good for chopping nuts and making bread crumbs, dumpling fillings, meatloaf, and things of that nature

Natasha · January 22, 2015, 08:37:32 PM

The handle in my kitchenmaid is messed up, and so it doesn't lock, therefore it doesn't turn on. A new bowl would cost $40. I haven't been able to use it for at least a year, and I've wanted to use it maybe 3 times. So... I'm not sure. I've got all the tools to do without it.

Ice Cream · January 24, 2015, 07:26:40 AM

Quote from: Dagstag v 2.0 on January 21, 2015, 08:09:02 PM
OT - when I recently got my hair dyed, I told my hair gal that the color I wanted was "beet poo"

SO has a food processor, I don't, and I am looking forward to living in a home with one. Shredded brussels sprouts! I've tried slicing them by hand, and... ugh. A pain in the ace.

I shred my sprouts with a salad shooter. I think they were popular in the 90s, but still around. I also use that to slice carrots.