Photo:Courtesy of Brand
Courtesy of Brand
I function in an incredibly small kitchen. My constant challenge is finding room forthe kitchen toolsthat I really need and getting rid of what I don’t. The other day, I pulled out my blender and my food processor and thought that, maybe, I could lose one.
After all, they both essentially do the same thing: pulverize stuff into tiny bits. Do I really need both? Turns out, I do. The blender and the food processor have their own unique strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a breakdown of when to use your blender and when plugging in your food processor is a better choice:
Food Processor
Cuisinart FP-12DCN Elite Collection 12 Cup Food ProcessorPHOTO: CuisinartView on Cuisinart.com
Cuisinart FP-12DCN Elite Collection 12 Cup Food Processor
PHOTO: Cuisinart
View on Cuisinart.com
Not So Great For:Leave the liquids to the blender. Although a small amount of liquid is OK, the deceptively large bowl of the food processor cannot be filled to the top. Any amount of liquid that covers the entire blade piece can (and will) leak out through the middle, making a huge mess.
Blender
Breville Fresh & Furious BlenderPHOTO: Amazon$200$150 at Amazon$200 at Target$200 at Williams Sonoma
Breville Fresh & Furious Blender
PHOTO: Amazon
$200$150 at Amazon$200 at Target$200 at Williams Sonoma
Best For:The blender goes above and beyond when it comes to getting a smooth consistency. It’s designed for liquids, sosmoothies,soups, my delicious margaritas and even salad dressings are best made in the blender. And you can really fill it up and not have to worry about leakage like you do with the food processor. (Just remember to put the lid on!)
Not So Great For:Anything solid in the blender can be a challenge. It really needs liquid to work efficiently. The tiny blade whips up air pockets around itself and the narrow shape makes it hard for solid food to make contact with the blade. So you can leave your veggies and frozen fruits to the food processor. If you’re making a smoothie using frozen fruit, make sure to use liquid, such as milk or even yogurt, to puree properly.
Tip for Success:There’s a removable piece in the middle of the blender top. Remove it and place a folded kitchen towel over the hole when pureeing hot liquids to avoid a steam-generated explosion and possible very bad burns.
Don’t Miss:The Best Blenders for Every Kitchen Task
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