Most people enjoy cooking more if they have the right tools to do the job properly, however due to limited counter and cupboard space and personal budgets, there are times when home cooks simply have to make due with the equipment they have.In some cases, a blender may be able to be used as food processor, but can you use a food processor as a blender?
Understanding these two small kitchen appliances will help determine that answer.
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Can You Use A Food Processor As A Blender?
Blenders
Waring WPB05 Professional Kitchen Blender, Chrome
Blenders consist of tall jars with a blade at the bottom or top that is designed to mix or blend soft foods and liquids into a smooth almost silky concoction.
Some blenders such as Vitamix blenders do have chopping abilities and can crush ice for making smoothies and even blending frozen desserts.
Some blenders such as immersion blenders do have chopping as well as blending blades, so can function for both purposes.
Food Processors
A food processor comes with a shorter wider bowl and sharper blades than you will find on most blenders.
Processors are designed to chop, shred, grate and mix soft and hard foods, but are really not equipped to handle massive amounts of liquids such as cream soups, or juices. There are electric food processors as well as manual food processors.
While you can do some blending in a food processor, the food that is blended won’t have the smooth silky texture you will get from a blender, but rather will have some unblended chunks in it.
So, while you can do some blending in a food processor you can’t really use it as a blender for most dishes that require blending smooth.
Which to Choose
When deciding which of these small kitchen appliances to purchase, the best bet is to consider your overall needs and which appliance you are apt to use most.
If you do more slicing, dicing, and chopping, a food a food processor may be a better choice.
However, if you tend to drink more smoothies, shakes, and make a lot of cream soups, then a blender may be a better choice.
Do keep in mind however, that there are some blender/food processor combinations that are available that are designed to function as both.
You may also find that your budget will allow you to buy a good blender and a cheaper but highly efficient hand crank food processor, many of which are highly functional and inexpensive so that you can have the best of both worlds.
In the final analysis, neither appliance is better than the other, it is simply a matter of which appliance you will use most often and will prove to be of more help and save you more time in the kitchen.
Food Processors to Consider
Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Stack and Snap Food Processor (70725A)Cuisinart DLC-8SBCY Pro Custom 11-Cup Food Processor, Brushed ChromeCuisinart DFP-14BCNYAMZ Custom 14 Food Processor Brushed Metal Series, Stainless Steel
