For a long time, we didn't have a food processor. Certainly, it isn't a necessity in a kitchen (as we've said many times, we believe just a chef's knife and a solid pan can take you far). But our food processor changed our cooking, and it's especially helpful this time of year, so allow us a minute to sing its praises...
We have the classic Cuisinart food processor. We use it more than our Kitchenaid standing mixer and more than a blender (in fact, we don't even have a blender). It is the most versatile appliance we own, and its general excellence lies in the fact that it does plenty of things you can do by hand, only much, much faster. It also does some things you can't do by hand—like purée soup.
This time of year, it's especially handy for pie crusts. Two pulses and your dry ingredients are well blended. A few more and the butter is cut in. Drizzle ice water through the feed tube while it's running and, presto, pie crust. It's practically foolproof.
Let's not forget making homemade bread crumbs—great for topping gratins or warm casseroles that are popular this time of year. And if you're entertaining a lot, you can make a dip out of almost anything just by whizzing it in the food processor. Carrot cake? A food processor will shred those carrots in a fraction of the time it will take you to grate them.
You can grind nuts. You can make homemade butter, like in the photo above. Have we said enough? We know many of you don't have room—or, hey, you just like doing things by hand—but if you're making a holiday wish list, we think this appliance is a good addition to a kitchen.
If you don't want to spend full price on a food processor, check Craigslist. Or, keep an eye on big department stores, which run sales around the holidays.
What other uses do you have for your food processor?
Related: Good Question: Can My Food Processor Do More?
(Image: Flickr member cafemama, licensed for use under Creative Commons)
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Oh my gosh, I can't wait to have a food processor. Registering for one is one of the main reasons people should get married, I think.
Having muscular dystrophy that affects my hands, my food processor "Choppa" has perhaps become my most used kitchen tool. I was also surprised to use it more than my stand mixer, but I use it 4 days a week, easy.
Aside from all the uses listed, I make a lot of salad dressings. I will also use it for mirepoix, and chopping of other vegetables. Makes great salsa!
I have a KitchenAid 12-cup, handles double crust pie dough with ease, and any other task I throw it's way, I highly recommend.
One of my favorite Cooks Illustrated tips is to cover the bowl with plastic wrap (if you aren't using the feed tube) before putting on the lid, and your lid stays clean!
I just got my brand new Magimix last week and have been dying to try it out. Wish I weren't so busy at work!
I agree! One of our wedding presents was the oh-so-beautiful Kitchen Aid mixer. I ended up sending it back and getting a cuisinart dual appliance processor/blender. it does everything and I haven't regretted my decision! (Although I would still like to get a Kitchen Aid mixer someday...)
Tabitha @ http://www.fromsingletomarried.com
Fabulous for pie crusts, I got mine for $28 at target during a holiday sale, Its only 10 cups but it meets my needs. The regular price is only $40 and it works great. Check it out.
http://www.target.com/Black-Decker-10-Cup-Food-Processor/dp/B000HGBY2A/qid=1225296747/ref=br_1_8/188-8738639-1023723?ie=UTF8&node=1041758&frombrowse=1&pricerange=&index=target&field-browse=1041758&rank=pmrank&rh=&page=2
I was JUST talking about this yesterday. I love love LOVE the food processor. KitchenAid has a new Ultra-Wide Mouthed one that I'm salivating over!
http://www.recipekey.com/new/becca/?p=10
We just brought our mini-food processor from our wedding-present-storage-space at my parents’ house to our tiny city apartment. I don’t have room for our big food processor, our blender or our mixer, but in the last week, I have been so glad to have this little guy in our kitchen. We have already made wonderful olive tapenade, roasted red pepper relish, salad dressing and pesto… and when we made crab cakes, it took half the time to dice all the vegetables. It is very small – so for bigger items I will have to do it in batches – but it works perfectly and is easy to store and clean.
Yes! I make pie crusts, shred cheese, shred more cheese, change the blade, and shred more cheese. And chop veggies, do soups, and make pesto and hummus. I might be able to open a hummus store someday from all the hummus I make.
Of course, not much of that is happening now, as the blades got lost in a recent move! I must buy a new blade set. But I'm going to get the special parmesan blade as well this time. :)
I did get mine before I was married- I never let the being-single thing prevent me from OUTFITTING my kitchen! I bought my own stand mixer and food processor. I never regretted it. (Nor did I lack for houseguests who basically came just for the pie. They know they did.)
Single cooks, you deserve a food processor! I waited for a sale and had a coupon, so the cost was great for such a high-quality item.
How big is big enough? I currently have a mini-processor (probably 3 cups) and find it limiting in terms of size and only having one blade. But I don't have much room to store a bigger one. We're two in the house, and have the occasional small dinner party (4 or 6 max). Any recommendations?
heh, my mom just gave me the cuisinart her mom bought for her in the mid-80s. still works great!
I got my KitchenAid stand mixer when I graduated from college as a gift from my grandmother. Then last Christmas, my mom got me the 12 cup food processor to match, and I thought she was CRAZY because it was so huge. But I have to say, The Beast (as it is so lovingly nicknamed) is my most indispensable tool in the kitchen. It's wonderful for pie crusts, crumb toppings, all kinds of soups and dips, and even better when you need to make coleslaw for twelve (which I did a few times this summer) in a few minutes! I would be a tired tired cook without it.
I have a mini-one, and as helpful as it is, it's just not the same as a big one. It's a priority on my Christmas list.
Emily
like sarahlucy, my cuisinart is a hand-me-down, from my grandmother. i got it in 1998 and i think she purchased it sometime in the 80s. it's a Custom 11, model DLC-8M and i've come to rely on it more in the last couple of years.
i really liked it the other night when i sliced four pounds of potatos for gratin in about 2 minutes and then shredded all the cheese in about 1 minute! though the time i'm standing at the cutting board with my chef's knife is actually my favorite part of the cooking process, sometimes it's nice to not spend 20mins doing the same task!
Watch craiglsist! I found mine for $25! Cuisinart's last forever, so if it looks older don't worrry. Bring some carrots and test chop before you buy if you're concerned. My mom's model from 1977 is still going strong. Though I do reccomend the 14 cup model. I ended up with a 10c and it's occasionally a little bit too small for what I need.