food processors, blenders & juicers

lets learn to karate chop our veg.

I used to have a juicer, but it was impossible to keep clean and it jammed all the time. Plus, you know how much fruit it takes to make one cup of juice? A FREAKING LOT, THAT'S HOW MUCH!

Juicers are for hippies.

If I had a big enough kitchen though I'd have a huge heavy multipuprpose processor, like my mum's 1970s Kenwood or like this:
http://kitchenaid.suresource.com/itemdetail.asp?uid=2002102314243629&Item=K45SSWH&edp=23410&itemcat=K45SSZZ

(I hope this image works).

An understandable approach. Unfortunately a recent example caused problems on my end, but I'll leave it at that.

I like the industrial-grade juicers they have at Korean delis. They look like incinerator chutes and make a great whirring noise.

(It is very, very small though. I mean, like, literally smaller than a teaspoon. Yeeah)

I've just bought an 800 watt processor thing and I couldn't be happier.
Although the only thing I've made so far is this utterly amazing Lebanese garlic sauce (toum).

Was too tasty on roast potatoes. srsly.

Wand-style blender/processor/mixer=supercool

Either I bought the world's most inefficient juicer or squeezing your own orange juice is a 'not gonna happen' proposition.

I rarely use my juicer and breadmaker anymore. :-( The foodprocessor turned out to be crap, so I use a cheapo multi-functional mixer.

milo get something like this -

http://www.johnlewis.com/jl_assets/product/230205090.jpg

they are cheap, they make orange juice and they're EZ to clean

The Naked Chef

i have a wand thing and find that, while excellent for things like salad dressing or marinade, i need to get something a little bigger and/or stronger for things like hummus or a larger job like pureeing for soup, etc.

I have a wand thing too, but my nu processor definately takes precedence.

Here tis
http://www.shoppersadvantage.com.au/ProductImages/products/140/Product29184.jpg

Oh yeah, and this citrus juicer still rules the world
http://www.fernsnutrition.com/brevillcitrus.JPG

We had some blender thread on here where Sam and I had to point out to Ally that blenders are needed so margaritas can be made. (Just used mine earlier this evening to make some pesto and no, I don't care that it's not 'traditional' that way.)

How d you mean, not traditional?

the name pesto refers to the pestle and mortar with which it should be made

It is finally time, and there are SO MANY OF THEM!!! I know I want a Cuisinart, and I was going to get one of the 7-cup models but am also considering the standard 12-cup ones. I'm just afraid that when I make smaller batches of things it'll just become a film on the bottom/sides of the machine. I'm considering the Elite 12-cup which also comes with a smaller 4-cup bowl, but I've heard that the flared bowl is problematic and that things get caught in the seam.

I desperately need personal recommendations and advice!

some recent discussion here:

rolling nutrition nazis 2010

lately the fruit I've been buying has been so good by itself I can't bear putting it into a blender. hope the trend continues, tbh.

Oh I should point out I'm talkin baout food processors.

i have the small 7-cup cuisinart and a stick blender for soups/odd-sized jobs and it's all i need.

What do you think you'll use it for the most?

I only have the tiny grind/chop Cuisinart Mini-Prep, for making pesto.

I'll make hummus and cashew cream/nut things, and I know I'll use it for other things but can't think of them off the top of my head. I just keep trying to make recipes and can't coz they call for pureeing things in a food processor, and blenders just don't cut it. I should note that I already have a stand mixer with a dough hook, so I won't need this for any dough stuff.

The KitchenAid ones were rated highest by Cooks Illustrated (but that was 6 years ago, 2004) - they've got one with a 9 cup and 4 cup bowl. That seems really versatile. But the larger ones (of any brand) have the more powerful motors (720W vs. 500W) that you would probably want for nut butters. Something to think about with the bigger bowls - it would be easier to maneuver a spatula around to scrape the sides down.

Oh I'm also limited to what's in stock at Kohls.com since that's where my mom works and thusly gets mad discounts.

I think I'd go for the most powerful motor one, even if it's a gigantic 14 cup bowl - you can always scrape the sides down if you're processing a smaller batch of stuff.

I have a 3-cup Cuisinart, looks like they call it a Handy-Prep though I swear mine has some ridiculous name like Little Chef or something. I got it when I thought I would be just cooking for myself any more, shrug. Now I kind of wish I had a bigger one, but, well. It does have an orange juicer attachment and a thing so you can shred into a bigger bowl.
I found that making hummus used to burn out the motors on my blenders too quickly.
I have my mother's old Sunbeam Mixmaster from 1956. It is pink and black and has tailfins! :D
Oh and an immersion blender that I don't use enough. It's here somewhere...

have a huge, old cuisinart from like 1980. it's a tank. passed along to me by my mom a decade back. weighs about 20 pounds, thick plastic hide is liberally stained and yellowed, have replaced the blade and bowl a couple times. nothing can kill this machine. it's cranked out hundreds of pounds of hummus over the years, has never encountered anything it can't instantly render into pulp. feel i could use it as a ship's anchor and not slow it down.

Will it chop up a ship's anchor?

yes

I am in love with my food processor. I have the Kitchenaid 7-cup. I make hummus, dressings, nut butter, veggie burgers. I use it at least every other day, sometimes multiple times in a day.

yo i got the 3c one like doo dah. it's fine for salsas, curry pastes, or pesto as that's what i mostly use it for. i sometimes wish i had the bigger version, but have one of them immersion blender thingys which kicks it nice for the bigger volumes. when i make hummus i just mash them like potato or use my food mill

thing about hummus is that it only gets better as it gets smoother. i let the machine run for like 15, 20 minutes, and let me tell u...

I use it at least every other day, sometimes multiple times in a day.

i hear you sister

hII, do you ever wish you had the bigger 12-cup model? Is there any time you run out of room?

i have only wished that one time, when I was making a double recipe of hummus for two classes of 20 ppl each. Unless you cook for a large family regularly, I don't think you would need the big one. 7 cup is more than enough for me.

OK for example, today I had to process 1/2c cashews w/ 1/4c lemon juice. Would this be too little for a 12c processor? Like would the bowl be too big to blend it all nicely? I do not know these things.

i have an 11 cup magimix and it would be fine for that, i'd just have to scrape the bowl sides down once or twice.

i use mine almost every day at least once, i hardly ever cook without it. i keep it on the countertop so it's always ready to go; i think if i had to haul it out of a cupboard i would use it way less.

Hummus is about making a smooth emulsion with the tahini first.