Food Processors: Chop Your Prep Time in Half

Cooking your own meals from scratch can take a lot of time and effort. But with a food processor, you can significantly decrease the time you spend on repetitive tasks in the preparation process. For example, chopping vegetables in a food processor can take less than 30 seconds compared to several minutes manually dicing ingredients by hand. It can also make handling strong or spicy ingredients less challenging; many people like slicing their jalapenos or chopping onions in a food processor to keep a distance from potential irritating compounds.

So, what’s the difference between a food chopper and food processor, then? While a chopper can also help you slice and dice your favorite items, a food processor provides a larger container to hold the food. Plus, a food processor comes with multiple blades so you can do more than just chop. For example, with different food processor accessories, you can make homemade hummus, turn oats into flour, or beat egg whites — just to name a few functions. You can even put meat in a food processor to shred your favorite cuts for homemade burgers or meatballs.

Many models also come with mixing and kneading capabilities so you can make food processor cake and bread with the push of a button. So, if you’re wondering, “Can you mix cookie dough in a food processor?” The answer is absolutely — just make sure you buy a food processor with a dough blade for all your baking endeavors. You can find food processors with french fry discs, grating blades, emulsifier discs and plenty of other accessories for your specific needs.

Today you can find a lot of exciting options for food processors. But what type of food processor should you choose? Besides specific blades and discs you’d like to use, you should also consider food processor wattage, size and speed when shopping for your new device.

Food processor watts indicate how much power your device will have. If you just plan on using your kitchen appliance occasionally for grinding or chopping vegetables and herbs, a small 200-to-300-watt food processor will get the job done. But if you want to prepare large quantities of food or process thick meats and doughs, you can find more powerful motors that range from 600-watt to 1000-watt food processors.

You can also find food processors in a variety of sizes. If you’re hoping to save counter or cabinet space in your kitchen, consider choosing a small or mini food processor that can hold about three to five cups of food. But if you want to prep for big family meals or make large batches, you can find food processors that can hold up to 12 cups of food.

Another important aspect to consider is food processor speeds. Being able to control the speed at which your device chops and mixes can help you ensure your food comes out the right size or texture. Faster food processor speeds can help you process hard, solid ingredients like nuts and carrots, and slower speeds are a great choice for mixing dough or salad dressings. A typical 2-speed food processor gives you the option to go fast or slow. But if you really want to be precise with your preparation, you can find devices with a variety of speeds — all the way up to a 99-speed food processor that lets you dial in your preference.

Once you’ve considered blades, wattage and speed to determine the type of food processor you want, you can start to explore models with helpful features. Food processors with pulse capabilities let you start and stop your chopping or mixing for maximum control. Certain design features like a food processor with a wide-mouth chute can help you more easily feed in large vegetables and other items. And for easy cleanup, a food processor with dishwasher-safe parts can make tidying up a breeze.

If you want to make smoothies and sauces, you may be wondering, “Is a food processor the same as a blender?” While blenders are typically better for liquids, you can find food processors with a pour spout that aid in liquefying and then serving your ingredients. With so many functions, a food processor can replace your blender, chopper, mixer and more. No matter what type of food you’re preparing, a new food processor can make your cooking process a snap.