All About Food Processors

Sometimes processed food is a good thing

They are called food processors, but that's only because calling them food slicers/choppers/grinders/shredders/mixers/puree-makers would be far too time consuming. Yes, food processors can do nearly anything, which has made them the kitchen appliances of choice for busy cooks and homemakers.

Food processor history and design

The food processor as we know it was developed in 1973 by an engineer named Carl Sontheimer, who adapted it from a design for a French industrial blender. Sontheimer's creation was called the Cuisinart, which remains a leading brand name for food processors and other kitchen appliances.

Even without knowing its history, the similarity of a food processor to a blender is obvious. The main differences between food processors and blenders are that food processors use interchangeable blades and disks instead of a fixed blade, and the bowls used by food processors are typically wider and shorter.

Another difference is that food processors feature a feed tube on their bowl lids, enabling the user to add food for processing even while the food processor is working.

The appeal of a food processor is that it can process so many foods in different ways: vegetables are sliced and chopped, bread dough is kneaded, egg whites are beaten, cheese is shredded, and cooks are delighted at how little work is required. In fact, it could be said that the most difficult aspect of using a food processor is cleaning it.

The best food processors

Cuisinart

Since Cuisinart was the first food processor, it seems the appropriate place to begin. If size is what you want in a food processor, look no further than the Cuisinart DLC-2014 PowerPrep Plus 14 Cup food processor. You may not be able to look further anyway since you won't be able to see around your food processor.

OK, so it's not that big, but the Cuisinart DLC-2014 is about as big a food processor as you'll find. It can hold up to 3 pounds of bread, grate more than ten cups of cheese at once, or process more than 2 pounds of meat. The Cuisinart DLC-2014 food processor will cost you around $300 or more and comes with a ten-year motor warranty.

A smaller alternative is the Cuisinart DLC-5 7 Cup food processor. This is a great household food processor. All parts are dishwasher-safe, and it comes with a 5-year warranty against motor defects and a 3-year warranty against other defects. The Cuisinart DLC-5 food processor sells for $80 or more.

KitchenAid

Food processor reviews consistently rate KitchenAid food processors as among the very best. The KitchenAid KFP750OB food processor is well regarded for its reliability and quiet operation. It has a 12-cup capacity, dual feed tubes, and multiple shredding and slicing disks. The KitchenAid KFP750 food processor comes with a 1-year replacement warranty and sells for about $200.

In smaller KitchenAid food processors, a KitchenAid mini food processor, the KitchenAid 3100BU, is useful for smaller chopping jobs. It features a 3-cup capacity and comes with a 1-year total replacement warranty. This KitchenAid mini food processor sells for upwards of $30.

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