How to Choose a Food Processor

If you entertain often, a food processor can be a lifesaver. Even if you're just cooking for your family, it can save time and let you combine several functions in one appliance.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Product Brochures
• Food Processors

1. 
    

   Analyze your need for a food processor. If you prepare food for large amounts of people and would regularly use the slicing, shredding, chopping and other functions of a food processor, you may be a candidate for buying one.

2. Consider the capacity you need. A 2- or 7-c. bowl is likely to be big enough unless you usually make large quantities of food.

3. 
    

   Decide whether you need any extra slicing or shredding discs. Most food processors are sufficient without extras, but you may want to add discs now or later.

4. 
    

   Check special features such as mini bowls, feed chutes, number of speeds, pulsing function and whether blades are reversible.

5. Look for a juicing function if you're interested in making fruit or vegetable juices.

6. Check that the parts are dishwasher-safe. This saves cleanup time.

7. Read warranties carefully, and check on service options and replaceable parts.

Tips & Warnings

• Be realistic. If you aren't likely to drag out an appliance to grate cheese or shred carrots because it's easier to do it yourself manually, you probably don't need a food processor.
• The heavier the base of your food processor, the less likely it is to move around when it's being used.
• The larger the bowl of the food processor, the more it's likely to cost.
• Make sure you have storage space for a food processor. It can be bulky, especially if it comes with extra discs and bowls.
• The base of a food processor should never be put in a dishwasher or underwater.

[pflynn]

on 1/3/2007 A bit simplistic. Give capacities in liters as well as cups (most of the world has no idea how big a "cup" is). Important aspects missing: look for as few [re]movable parts as possible; all parts must be very simply designed with no awkward nooks and crannies; all other things being equal, pick the one with the most powerful motor (measured in watts or kW); a more expensive model will likely be quieter in operation; check for simplicity of operation (no-one wants to have to read the manual to find out how to grate a carrot) one knob is all that's needed, from zero/off to max, with a pulse button in the middle; avoid flashy marketing designs that look cool but don't actually work properly; check the manual for spelling and punctuation (if the manufacturer is careless writing the manual, they're likely careless making a food processor).

[pflynn]

on 12/2/2006 A bit simplistic. Give capacities in liters as well as cups (most of the world has no idea how big a "cup" is). Important aspects missing: look for as few [re]movable parts as possible; all parts must be very simply designed with no awkward nooks and crannies; all other things being equal, pick the one with the most powerful motor (measured in watts or kW); a more expensive model will likely be quieter in operation; check for simplicity of operation (no-one wants to have to read the manual to find out how to grate a carrot) one knob is all that's needed, from zero/off to max, with a pulse button in the middle; avoid flashy marketing designs that look cool but don't actually work properly; check the manual for spelling and punctuation (if the manufacturer is careless writing the manual, they're likely careless making a food processor).

on 2/20/2006 A wide input was important to me. It allows long slices and long grating results. I chose the Cuisinart over the Kitchen Aid for this reason.