Food Processor Recipes and Tips for Using This Versatile Appliance (2024)

FAQs

What can I use my food processor for recipes? ›

Your food processor can tackle the tough and rigorous work of shredding, kneading, dicing and grinding, but it can also blend a combination of ingredients into hom*ogeneous mixtures in a similar fashion as a blender. Food processors often depend on a multipurpose blade set to a high speed to get the job done.

As well as being able to make light work of food preparation in a matter of seconds, food processors can handle a wide range of baking tasks quickly and efficiently, from chopping, grinding and mixing to whisking, whipping and kneading.

The processor's blades and discs, which are attached to the stem and rotate and cut the food in the bowl, determine the functions it can perform. An S-shaped steel blade is typically used for chopping, mincing and pureeing, while metal discs handle slicing and grating jobs.

Blenders usually have one blade, tall jars and are typically used for wetter recipes. Food processors, on the other hand, usually have multiple blades and wide work bowls and can usually shred and slice in addition to pureeing. Read on for more details on the differences between a food processor and a blender.

You can use a food processor to blend liquids, too, but they aren't leakproof and are more prone to overflowing, and the result won't be as smooth as if you used a blender. Food processors can also be useful when making buttery doughs, like shortcrust pastry or cookies—just be careful not to overprocess the dough.

Food processors come with a variety of different attachments, so you can perform lots of tasks with them. In our review of food processors, we tested models that contained not just chopping blades, but slicers and graters; our top pick even had a unique attachment for making pizza dough.

Can a food processor chop onions? ›

Press your pulse setting to chop your onions in a short burst. Hold the pulse button longer to mince your onions. Conversely, you can run your food processor on low to similarly chop your onions and on high to mince them.

As it turns out, it's simple to make if you have a stand (or hand) mixer, a blender, or a food processor. Within about 10 minutes, you can turn cream into solid butter.

Mini food processors can mix, chop, and puree a variety of foods, such as vegetables (think onions), chickpeas, and nuts. When making smaller batches of salad dressings, salsas, sauces, and spreads, you'll find that compact food processors are more suitable than larger models.

Frozen food. To avoid breaking your food processor, you shouldn't put frozen food or ice inside it. As the food is too hard and tough, this will dull or break your blade and put too much strain on the motor.

What are the Differences Between a Food Processor and Blender? Blenders usually have one blade, tall jars and are typically used for wetter recipes. Food processors, on the other hand, usually have multiple blades and wide work bowls and can usually shred and slice in addition to pureeing.

Either way, start getting some more use out of your food processor right away with some help from these 40 great food processor recipes. From soups, salads, and sauces to pudding, ice cream, and baked goods, you can make practically anything with one of these appliances by your side.