When it comes to small appliances on your kitchen counter, chances are the most expensive one is going to be your food processor. But consider that purchase price stacked up against the actual usage of your food processor and the cost may be well worth it.

True you can find an inexpensive food processor to help with your budget, but in the end, cheaper may not be better.

Food processors are designed to help you with repetitive kitchen chores like chopping, grinding, pureeing, slicing and shredding. All of these are much easier tasks when you’ve got a food processor to do the work for you.

In most cases when you think food processor you think electric appliance although there are some manual options available. Generally a food processor is an electric appliance with interchangeable blades that work in a container which is usually clear plastic.

Kitchens first saw food processors coming on the scene in the 1960s. Since then they’ve become a popular item to have around.

Before you purchase, decide if you really need a food processor. Do you cook enough to make it worthwhile?

When you’re cooking do you do a lot of chopping, shredding, mincing and slicing? Do you like to prepare dips and salsas?

Maybe a good reality check is whether you would use a food processor more than, or at least, once a month.

How about available kitchen space? Do you have a place to house a food processor?

Food processors come with a lot of parts, some of which are sharp blades that need to be cleaned well. Having a dishwasher can be a plus when it comes to clean up.

If your answer to a majority of those questions was “yes” then perhaps a food processor would be a good investment for you.

If you’re thinking you can get by with using a blender, you need to realize that you’ll have some limitations because a blender just can’t do the same things a food processor can. Blenders require liquid to keep the food moving through the blades while food processors don’t and actually work better without liquid.

You can use your food processor to shred cheese, make biscuit dough, puree foods, grind spices, and chop up salsa ingredients and more. But know what you need and what you plan to buy before you head out to the store or track it down on the Internet.

Usually, food processors come with one speed and they’re designed with a small tube on the top that allows you to add ingredients. A utensil to push the food through the tube should be included. A good model will also have a pulse button to give an added burst of energy when needed.

When you’re looking for a bargain, don’t skimp on power. You want the machine to be able to handle things like chopping raw carrots or kneading dough. Using a processor that doesn’t have enough power runs the risk of uneven food and could eventually burn out the motor.

Sizes of food choppers range from three cups to twenty cup versions and the choice is really about what capacity you need and how you’ll be using it. Generally an eleven cup size would accommodate food for a family of four.

Depending on the type of cooking you do, you may want the extra slicing and shredding discs. You can also find models with mini bowls, feed chutes, varying speeds and reversible blades.

A sturdy model food processor with a strong base will keep your appliance from walking across your kitchen counter when you’re doing larger jobs.

What you can do with your food processor and the types of food you can make is as endless as your imagination.

Lawrence Reaves writes for Hamilton Beach, a kitchen appliance company that offers a selection of kitchen products including food processors and toasters. For more information about these products and others visit this site.

Lawrence Reaves writes for Hamilton Beach, a kitchen appliance company that offer a selection of kitchen products including slow cookers and toasters. For more information about these products and others visit http://www.hamiltonbeach.com/products/kitchen-appliances.html

Author Bio: Lawrence Reaves writes for Hamilton Beach, a kitchen appliance company that offers a selection of kitchen products including food processors and toasters. For more information about these products and others visit this site.

Category: Advice
Keywords: Food processor, food processors