When to Use a Blender Vs. a Meals Processor

Your kitchen ought to have the proper instruments. Welcome to A Information to Gearing Up Your Kitchen, a sequence the place I enable you outfit the area with all of the small home equipment you want (and ditch those you don’t).

I’d be mendacity if I denied {that a} blender and meals processor form of look interchangeable—there are blades, containers, lids with chutes, and a giant heavy base with buttons. Whereas it would seem to be having one is nearly as good as having the opposite, they don’t precisely do the identical factor. Sure, they each reduce meals (quick) however the form of the container and blades make them consultants at totally different duties. As soon as you understand what they do finest, you should use each of those home equipment to make your work within the kitchen a lot simpler. 

Credit score: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

The blender’s vortex

The blender and meals processor each have highly effective engines that spin their respective blades at unbelievable speeds—method quicker than a human might transfer—and that’s what makes them handy. The place they differ is of their form, and this adjustments all the pieces.

A blender has a tall container that tapers on the base the place the blades dwell. There are often two units of small blades or blade ideas; two tilt (or bend) up and two down. The gently sloping partitions of the container and the opposing blade angles all contribute to making a vortex out of no matter you set inside. The blades spin and create suction on the base. Slowly, materials spins down from the highest of the container to get blended on the backside, after which it climbs again up the vortex to repeat the cycle till you cease the machine.

When to make use of a blender

A blender’s wee blades are solely on the base, so the design counts on the vortex to carry meals on that sluggish descent to the blades. This makes it ultimate for mixing liquids or objects which have a excessive water content material. Something dry or thick gained’t transfer down into the blades, so that you’ll find yourself with over-processed materials on the backside whereas the highest stays untouched.

Use your blender for:

• Finely puréed soups

• Tremendous {smooth} child meals

• Mixing smoothies 

• Churning frozen desserts

• Whipping-up salad dressings

• Making secure emulsions like hollandaise sauce, mayonnaise, or aioli

• Making nut butters (for extra highly effective blenders)

Blender price and high quality

Blenders aren’t low cost: They often vary from $100 to $700. Though you may often discover a righteous sale you possibly can reap the benefits of, most blenders falling beneath the retail value of $80 are a bit suspect. That is to not say {that a} decrease priced blender is not the proper alternative for you, however you often get what you pay for with blenders, so it’s a must to take into account what you need out of the machine.

For folk who mix daily, you desire a machine that’ll maintain up for years, possibly even a long time. Vitamix blenders are thought of prime of the road home equipment, however they’re an funding. I examined and reviewed the Vitamix Ascent X5 from their latest line which retails for $749.95. You possibly can in all probability purchase a roundtrip flight to Europe for that value, however the blender will last more.

It is an ideal blender—totally loaded with preset capabilities and a strong engine—however the most effective worth blender from Vitamix is the Explorian E310 which I additionally examined and reviewed. It retails for $379.95, so that you save virtually 50%, and it has all the facility of even their top-tier fashions.

For folk often whipping up a smoothie or frozen marg, you possibly can go for a middle-tier or finances tier blender. You will not get the best purées or silky soups, and the primary few years may be its finest, however you may get monetary savings. Attempt the Cuisinart Good Energy Duet Blender for $165, or the Ninja Skilled blender for $139.

Credit score: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

The meals processor chops evenly

A meals processor doesn’t create the identical meals whirlpools like a blender, however that’s not a nasty factor. You don’t at all times need purée—typically you desire a chunky salsa or roughly chopped onions. The blender doesn’t actually have a alternative however to overdo it, however a meals processor places you in management. 

The meals processor’s container is brief and huge in comparison with the blender’s tall, slender one. The blades are largely straight (possibly angled however not bent like some blender blades), have an extended wingspan that reaches virtually your entire diameter of the container, and, relying on the mannequin, there could also be two or 4. If you activate the motor, the meals processor’s blades spin and chop. That’s just about the lengthy and wanting it. What’s necessary is that because the blades are longer and extra unfold out, they may attain extra of the meals within the container at one time, permitting you to attain evenly reduce items quicker. Evaluate this to a blender the place the blades can solely entry the very base of the container at one time.

When to make use of a meals processor

The meals processor is extra like your sous chef. It’s an professional at chopping substances quick, serving to you to get to the cooking half quicker. Plus, it’s not solely geared up for chopping. Meals processors include attachments (totally different manufacturers can provide extra choices), so you possibly can slice rounds of carrots and potatoes, swap to the shredder, and simply take down a block of cheddar in your casserole. Learn right here for extra recommendations on shopping for the most effective meals processor. 

Take into account that a meals processor can completely smooth-out your chunky soups, however the purée gained’t have the identical velvety outcomes {that a} blender offers you.

Use your meals processor for:

• Chopping substances, from coarse to tremendous fantastic

• Slicing rounds

• Peeling greens

• Shredding substances

• Mixing dough

• Mixing puddings, sauces, dips, or dressings

• Making secure emulsions like hollandaise sauce or mayonnaise

• Making nut butters

When you get the grasp of it, you’ll have the ability to select the proper equipment for any job, whether or not it is making whipped cream, the right smoothie, or prepping your alfredo potatoes au gratin this week. 

Meals processor price and high quality

Meals processors will run between $100 and $500. They’re additionally priced in accordance with measurement, so somewhat 1-cup chopper may be $30, however I am speaking right here in regards to the 12- to 16-cup capability processors that may be extra multifunctional helpers in your kitchen. Once more, you get what you pay for with these machines. If you happen to see your self utilizing the meals processor just a few instances a month and getting probably the most out of the attachment blades, you’d profit from getting certainly one of these middle-range processors: the Cuisinart 11-cup skilled meals processor or this Ninja meals processor skilled XL.

Sadly, when you thought possibly the worth distinction between a meals processor and blender would make the shopping for choice for you, you have been improper. They’re somewhat equal in price, and they need to be—these motors can churn! For the reason that value ranges are comparable, assume as a substitute of what sorts of meals you see your self making probably the most and select from there.