Food processor vs. blender

[AndreaU]

I see many recipes (some in Cooking Light) that call for ingredients to be chopped, pureed, sliced, diced, mixed in a food processor. Problem is: I don't have one nor do I see myself getting one. I already have a blender and a very small house (i.e. no room for more appliances). Can I use a blender to do the same job?

[MrsReber]

Andrea, I also do not have a food processor and I refuse to give in! I know there are people out there who love theirs, but I get by just fine with my blender or improvising in other ways. Food processors always looked so big to me. Plus, my mom has had one for years and she hardly ever used it. She hated cleaning all the parts. I do have a black and decker minichopper which works great for some things, as well. You might want to consider one of those if you don't have much room. I have a feeling I will be in the minority with my feelings about food processors!

[LIsaP]

I'm with you both!
I don't have a food processor either, just a mini chopper. I seem to get by fine with my blender, though there are times when I would like a food processor-like for making hummus.

Overall, I think you can pretty much get by with a blender and other means of chopping things.

They do take up a lot of space and as I see it, they are things one would only use occassionally.

Lisa

[gabbyh]

Grace, I have a "blender-on-a-stick" (as my Aussie husband calls it!) also...I use it alot for mixing batters and mashing potatoes...probably actually use it more than my Kitchen Aid...which I just HAD to have. Am thinking of a blender for the drinks that have ice incorporated into the recipes...

[Gail]

I have had a full-sized Cuisinart, two blenders (one has since passed on to that big kitchen in the sky) and a mini-processor for years. Know which gets the most use? The mini. (I wouldn't even use that nearly so much, except that ever since I've had laser surgery on my eyes, I am miserable dealing with onions. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif )

You have to keep in mind with questions of this sort that what you tend to cook dictates whether or not you really NEED a processor. Most likely if you've managed without one and you're happy, you don't need one, yes? A good set of knives and a blender have been doing the job just fine for decades. And if it ain't broke, don't fix it...

[This message has been edited by Gail (edited 09-07-2000).]

[Ohioan]

Gail, you're absolutely right! Everyone has different cooking needs, constraints, and even personalities. What works for one person is a pain in the tutu for another, and vice versa.

Myself, I have neither a blender nor a food processor, but I do have a Braun stick blender, which does a nice job of pureeing soups or tomatoes for sauce right in the pot. Everything else I do with my lovely Forschner and Wusthof knives. (This name-dropping has been brought to you without any advertising subsidies whatsoever, alas.)

Sometimes, though, I do wish I had a blender or processor for a particular recipe, but then I think: (1) but then I'll have to wash thirty-five different moving parts instead of one knife (okay, so I'm exaggerating to make myself feel better), and (2) where in the world am I going to put the thing? Every square inch of counter space is already taken, except for a couple of square feet where I do the normal cutting, mixing, setting out of ingredients, etc. The cupboards are also overflowing. Pretty soon I'll have to throw out the living room furniture to make room for more cooking equipment.... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/rolleyes.gif

All of which is thoroughly off the topic. Maybe I'm just envious of all you people with the big kitchens. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif

Cheers, Phoebe

[lindrusso]

Ack - I'm having a food processor vs. blender dilemma myself! My blender jar broke and my food processor's motor burned out. Now I'm stuck with only a mini-prep and a small processor that will only hold 2 cups at a time - very annoying.

I think I will end up with both in the end. The blender is great for more liquid type things like soups - the mess that the processors make aggravates me. Blenders are also good for mixed drinks and crushed ice. I don't think I'd use the blender all that much, but it's annoying not to have it when you do need one. And I do recall the delicious chocolate milkshakes my husband made for me one time....

I love the processor for pesto, dough and for grating zucchini. It's so much easier to cut the butter into dough with the processor than using a pastry blender. Since one of the secrets of good pie crust is to handle the dough as little as possible, I figure a processor helps quite a bit - it only takes a couple of seconds to get that cold butter evenly distributed. Same for making pasta - that egg gets mixed in very easily with the processor.

I'm desparately trying to pick just one, but I figure I'll end up with both. First I have to send my processor to Cuisinart to see if they can fix it. Now to figure out WHICH blender to buy.

[Gail]

Originally posted by Ohioan:
... Pretty soon I'll have to throw out the living room furniture to make room for more cooking equipment.... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/rolleyes.gif



Who needs living room furniture, for heaven's sake! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

PS I'm intrigued by this "stick blender." Is that the thing I always thought was just a spoon with a motor? Please elaborate.

[gabbyh]

Gail, Before Bryan and I were married he would commute from Detroit to PA EVERY W/E for a year. He would shop during the week for great "kitchen" gifts for me. He had been trying to convince me I needed a "blender-on-a-stick" and I fought him till he finally just bought one for "us". Most households in Australia have them...it must be the convenience thing...but it works! I have the Cuisinart "Quick Prep" but have seen other models/brands that I'm sure work just as well. It makes the best mashed potatoes and cleans up in a flash.

[Ohioan]

Gail, I think the approved (i.e., la-de-dah) term for a "stick blender" is "immersion blender," but since everyone was using the word "stick," I didn't want to seem to be talking about something else ... if that makes sense. Anyway, I'm sure you've seen these: they're long rod-like implements with a processor head built into the bottom of the rod and a button at the top. You immerse the bottom of the rod in whatever you want to process, and then push or pulse the button. Bingo! Processed/pureed food. Then you stick the processor head under the tap and wash it off. Slick.

I should add that if you don't immerse the head completely, or if you use too shallow a container, there's a third step after immersing and pulsing: cleaning up all the surrounding surfaces, including the chef. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

Cheers, Phoebe

[Vanessa]

Andrea:
I have a food processor and a blender. I was looking at one of those inmersion blenders but resisted since both Cuisinart and my Oster do the jobs. For creaming,soups and drinks (daiquiris, pina coladas etc) I love my blender. For shredding, pesto, even pie crusts I love my workhorse Cuisinart. Since my mixer was feeling neglected I did use it to cream ingredients in the cinnamon apple cake and really its great for batches of dough etc. And now I don't have to hold my hand mixer I can let the Kitchen aid cream away while I do other stuff. It ALL depends on your own personal cooking needs. I must say all kitchen gadgets take space.

[Wendy w]

I have one of each. I like the blender for making dehydrated vegetable powders; the processor for making pesto, hummus, and my favorite dip recipe. I use the Braun hand blender for cream soups and smoothies, and the mini chopper for quick, small jobs.

One of my favorite tools is my boyfriend because he has a knack for chopping-but it is hard cleaning up after him!

The Kitchen aid is my fantasy item and I would give up all but the boyfriend for one!

[This message has been edited by Wendy w (edited 09-07-2000).]

[Gail]

Thanks, Phoebe! That sounds like a nifty gadget, now that I understand.


Gail! (Gabby) Just the person I was looking for. If you get a chance, will you check out the wine link Vanessa printed in my post to you a while back, and see if you've got any recommendations based upon their inventory.

Everyone else, I apologize for straying from the subject at hand.

[This message has been edited by Gail (edited 09-07-2000).]

[Grace]

Phoebe - (applause!)

(ROTFL) What a great description! I called it a "stick blender" only because I had forgotten the proper name of it!! But you are indeed quite right (about all of it - the name, how it's used, and the fact that if you don't immerse it completely or have too shallow a pot, you WILL have to clean up a whole lot!)

Anyhow, an immersion blender was not something I ever felt I needed or wanted, but one holiday at my MIL's house, I was watching her make the holiday turkey gravy with hers, and I remarked that that was the one gadget I didn't have. So needless to say, come Christmas, there was one under the tree for me. Mine came with a little chopper attachment for the bottom, which believe it or not, I use most of all! It's perfect for chopping a couple tablespoons of nuts, or whenever I make the Feta Aioli for those Greek Burgers, I make it in that little chopper - perfect size, and comes complete with a little lid, to store the stuff in the fridge if there's any left over. So anyway, thanks for making me laugh, and thanks for clarifying the technical term for the STICK blender!!

Oh, and one more thing, it also makes "whipped cream" out of skim milk (just add a little sugar or nutrasweet), and does a great job of pureeing small amounts of stuff for baby food.

Grace

[This message has been edited by Grace (edited 09-07-2000).]

[valeriek]

Thanks Guys!!!

Now I'm going to drive myself crazy until I get a stick blender in my kitchen - like I need anything else in there!!

It does sound very intriguing though. I love pureed soups and the mess my processor makes is irritating. What a great excuse to go shopping!

[KimberlyE]

We received a blender/food processor combo as a wedding gift from my brother...I think it's made by Cuisinart. It works well and gets a lot of use both ways but it does take up precious space in our little kitchen.
~Kimberly

[JeanneL]

I have a large Cuisinart processor, which I love. I also have a Cuisinart mini-prep (processor) which I used for years before I got the large one. The mini works well for most things, including hummus!

I bought a blender for soups and smoothies, and haven't used it much, due to time constraints.

Here's my vote: If space was @ a premium, I'd get a mini-prep processor and a hand blender (stick). Good luck!

[Ohioan]

Grace, do you have the beater attachment for your immersion blender, or do you whip the skim milk with the regular processor head? I've never even thought of trying to whip skim milk! Wow, tell me more...

Phoebe

[Connie]

It looks like the blender vs. processor "war" is pretty even. I, too, have both, (both Kitchen Aid) and use them for different purposes. My blender is used almost every morning for my smoothie, but I was in heaven the first time I made olive pesto in the processor; it was so fast!! Before, pesto always took several batches in my mini-oscar, which I also use, but primarily for onions and nuts. The larger the quantity of ingredient(s), the more likely I am to choose the processor.

sneezles, we actually had a kitchen "bookcase" built specifically for a space in our kitchen between the end of the cabinet/countertop and the wall. It's deep with about 5 shelves; I love it!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Grace]

Phoebe,

I have the special "beater" attachment (not sure if that's the right term) to whip the skim milk, and I imagine it would make regular whipped cream just fine too, especially if you only wanted to whip a small quantity. The attachments came with mine, but I know you can order the attachments separately directly from Braun. Let me know if you need their number or anything - I think I have the information somewhere....

Grace

[shoyski]

Connie, can you elaborate on the olive pesto, please. As in, please, please, please give me the recipe? I've used eveyone's recipe for the basic pesto this summer which has been tasty. I'd be very pleased to add your olive pesto to my repertoire. Thanks.

[Ralph]

Here's my two cents http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif:
We have a blender, food processor, AND a mini processor, all Cuisinart. Oddly enough, we use the blender the least, but when we do, it's with the more liquid stuff; as someone mentioned, the processor isn't air-tight & is quite prone to overflowing.
The mini-processor has been invaluable in preparing recipes/sauces that are to go thru a food processor, but aren't that large in quantity (usually less than 1 1/2-2 cups); I find that the full-size processor just doesn't do that great a job with that small an amount.
The stick or immersion blender (or "boat motor" as Emeril calls it) looks like a great idea, and is something I may consider soon. It's a pain to have to pour a hot, cooked liquid into the blender to puree.

[Stacey Strawn]

Hope you guys don't mind me throwing in my two cents worth here...I just had to get in on this one because cooking isn't just a hobby or just necessity for me, it's my stress reliever. When I really started cooking a few years ago money was really tight--not to mention the fact that I didn't know exactly what I really wanted or needed--so when I decided I HAD to have a food processor AND a blender, I headed out to local garage sales. No one ever asks a new bride if she or the groom really cook before buying them nice kitchen equipment!! I was amazed at how many choppers, "stick" blenders, food processors and blenders were on folding tables out there. I bought all four in like new condition for the regular cost of the least expensive one. What a great opportunity to find out if it was a must-have or a dust-have. I have replaced the processor (upgraded), the stick-blender (went to gadget heaven) and almost replaced the blender.....The blender was nearly replaced with a newer, more handsome model that I quickly found was only nice to look at and didn't work nearly as hard as the decade old pea-green one that resides on my counter and doubles as a utensil holder for space consumption. All that to say, it was a great, nothing to lose way to try things out without a huge investment. That's my two cents...hope you guys don't give me change!!

[sneezles]

Being a kitchen gadget fanatic ( moved a bookcase into the kitchen to hold all the "necessary" gadgets), I just recently bought a food processor after years of using a blender (and mine has a mini-choper attachment). What I love about the processor is that is MUCH easier to get all of the stuff out of it after it's all done. Sometimes it feels like I leave too much in the bottom of the narrow blender jar.

[valeriek]

This may sound a little wierd, but I am just the opposite. I have a food processor but no blender (the processor was a gift). I love my processor chopping and mincing veggies and herbs. I also put soup for pureeing (spelling?) in there. The only problem with that is the processor is not air tight and I end up with a mess at times. If I like my processor, do I need to invest in a blendor?

[gabbyh]

Great topic...I also have a food processor and NOT a blender. Thinking of investing in one though. Any suggestions?? Have seen lots of great "beverage" recipes around lately and a processor just doesn't seem to cut it for these. Not to mention smoothies...

[Grace]

You know, Valerie, I'm with you - I LOVE my food processor, and use it almost daily! But pureeing soups, etc., is very messy. I made the Tomato-basil soup from July last night, and to puree it I used my Braun stick blender - it's one of those stick things you put right in the pot. It worked very well, and eliminated transferring hot soup to a blender and then transferring it back, etc., plus, nothing extra really to wash - the stick blender you just rinse off quickly under the faucet and it's done. Anyhow, since they're not too expensive, and hardly take up any room (at least compared to a big blender!), you might want to consider that option! It makes nice smooth gravies too, and you can do smoothies with it right in the glass you will drink out of.

[AndreaU]

Wow, what I "stir" I created... Thanks so much for your input! I had a mini Black & Decker processor thing that I used once- found out it was too small- and sold at a yard sale. I really don't want to invest the money or kitchen space in a full-size processor. But it seems like those of you who have both appliances favor the blender for liquids. Do you think sauces, dips and such will work in a plain ol' blender? Often when I see a recipe that calls for a food processor I just skip over it (even if it sounds really good). I really appreciate your thoughts. Thanks for sharing! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Gail]

Why wouldn't they? You have different speeds on a blender. You can pulse a blender. Mrs. Reber and Lisa P say they're managing just fine with theirs. There are knives. There are forks, mortars and pestles. There are cheapie mandolines and all manner of smaller slicing implements. A food processor is a luxury, a nice something which does your chopping, slicing, grating and pureeing in one step instead of two. But, you can make do without one. Obviously, that's just what you've been doing.

But please-- DON'T bypass those intriguing recipes just because you don't have a processor. Use your blender. Use any of the above. Don't feel you have to become a slave to your gadgets and miss out on some seriously good stuff!

---

Oh, and "Gabby" (I'm afraid if I use your name, you'll bypass the message thinking it's for me... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif ) If you're only using your blender for drinks, we've got a classic industrial-style Waring I got years ago from Williams-Sonoma which works great. No multi-functions, though-- so if you're thinking you might use it for anything else, I dunno...


[This message has been edited by Gail (edited 09-08-2000).]

[jd]

Gail - thanks for the comments. I, too, have bypassed any recipes calling for a food processor because I didn't think I could do a good job by hand. I'll definitely try some (a couple of recent lasagna recipes come to mind)!

[Connie]

shoyski,
Here's the Olive Pesto recipe, from a book I checked out of the library called Pesto.

3/4 c pitted black or green nicoise-style olives (I use black nicoise olives)
1/2 c packed fresh flat-leaf parsley sprigs
1/4 c packed fresh basil leaves
2 shallots or green onions (white part only), chopped
2 T walnuts or pistachios
2 lg garlic cloves, smashed
3 T extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 c freshly grated Parmesan cheese

In a blender OR food processor, place the olives through garlic. Whirl until finely minced. Add the oil and cheese, and process until blended. Transfer to a small bowl, cover, and chill.

The book said this makes "a great spread for italian breads, sandwich with feta, asiago, or mozzarella, or topping for baked fish such as halibut". I've put it on bread and pasta, but have not done the sandwich or fish ideas. Enjoy!!

[JennyLiz]

Pesto recipe looks yummy! Thanks for sharing!

Does anyone else have a Vita-Mix Blender? I saw a demo at a home show where they were making soup (the blades go so fast they actually heat the soup), and delicious homemade ice cream. My DH gave me one for Christmas and it really is wonderful!

I did keep my Osterizer blender too because the bottom comes out (unlike the Vita-Mix) and I can get the thick stuff out of the bottom. I have a food processor attachment for it which is about the size of a mini-chopper. This works well for me, but I've secretly always wanted a real food processor. Maybe someday... JennyLiz

[MrsReber]

I used to by pass recipes that called for a regular old food processor- but why? As was pointed out, they are convenience items. People cooked and baked before they came along. Now I will either use my mini chopper or my blender. Yes, it can be done! Or even a good old fashioned pastry blender (my husband always asks me what that thing is!). I just never had the desire to have a processor, but we're all different, that's what makes this bb so great and such a wealth of information.

[Ohioan]

Grace --
Since it would have been almost as expensive to get a beater attachment for my old Braun hand blender, I went ahead and bought a whole new system, with beater attachment, detachable wand, and all the other newest goodies. Yippee! And I gave my old one to my mother, who's been coveting it for a long time. So I feel virtuous rather than extravagant. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

And now tell me ... how do you go about whipping skim milk? How much sugar do you add to how much milk, and is there anything else I should know? Other than not pigging out on the result, that is? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif

Cheers,
Phoebe

[lindrusso]

I'm getting more and more intrigued by this whole stick blender thing - it would be very nice not to have to transfer hot liquids back and forth.

Can you all expand on what brands you have? I've seen Braun mentioned, but are there different price ranges or just one model?

Thanks for any suggestions!

[sneezles]

I have two hand blenders from when we had two houses (a weekend place that has now become home). I have a Braun with no attachments but a convenient wall hanger and a Hamilton-Beach, no hanger. I tend to use the Braun just because it's right there but both do a good job of blending. I noticed while shopping yesterday that they range in price from about $20-$50 depending on whether or not they have attachments or are cordless, neither of mine are cordless.

[This message has been edited by sneezles (edited 09-14-2000).]

[Ohioan]

I've had two Brauns now, and I believe Cook's Illustrated once rated the Braun stick blenders as the best -- after I'd bought my first one. There are several models in each line, I think, at different prices depending on how many attachments they have, and (at least in the case of the Braun) how many speeds they have. My new one-speed blender with the detachable wand, beater attachment, mini-processor, and covered beaker was $29.95 at Tavolo ( www.tavolo.com (http://www.tavolo.com) ), and I might have been able to get it for less if I'd shopped around.

Phoebe

[jd]

My blender broke and I don't have a food processor, so I've been paying careful attention to this thread! I do have a Moulinex stick blender, which I had never used. After reading everyone's comments, I tried it on the Tomato Basil soup from July (?), and it worked like a dream. It's called Moulinex Turbomix, has one speed and no extra features, and was less than $20 a few years ago. It's my new favourite gadget. I'll keep reading to see if I need a food processor now.