what food processor?

[ILoveMondeo]

Hi PH cookery crew.

The GF just came upstairs to tell me that she thinks the food processor is broken.

Why's that? I ask,

There's smoke coming out of it, comes the reply.

That'll be fooked then!

So, I need a new food processor, it was a £50-60 kenwood set that bit the dust, nothing special but it's lasted 4 or 5 years of fairly heavy use.

I'd like to get something which has a blender and "processor" attachment, can mix/chop/blend and hopefully be tough enough to kneed dough (I'm too lazy to do it myself these days) in fact it was the dough that killed the thing!!

Any suggestions for what to buy, budget would be £300 tops, but would rather spend less if possible.

Of course what I really want is one of those things off "will it blend" on youtube but they are a bit steep!

Thanks in advance!

Dave

[Mobile Chicane]

Magimix, all day long.

These have an ultra-quiet induction motor which is guaranteed for 12 years.

[21TonyK]

My home Magimix (5200) which is at least 5 years old has just seen 6 months heavy duty use in my restaurant and the motor etc is still perfect. The main blade got damaged via numpties using it but that was all. Thankfully their back to using a proper commercial machine now so mines back home with me safe and sound.

I'd go Magimix again plus you can get spares very easily.

[grumbledoak]

Magimix 4200 here. Much better than the Kenwood I had before.

[ILoveMondeo]

Looks like even the top end ones with all the toys fall nicely inside budget too! Thanks I will do some research and pick a model this evening!

[dazco]

Magimix are rubbish.

My 4200 made the 'square' edging on the spindle 'round' when making dough. It is a nylon spindle designed to strip itself rather than burn the motor out.

The badly fitted spindle then made two blades 'square' edges round before I copped on what was happening.

DO NOT USE A MAGIMIX FOR DOUGH.

If is any doubt there is plenty written about this pile of ste on the internet.

I have just received the bits to mend mine, and I am still bidding for Robot Coupes on eBay. I trust it not one bot.

[ILoveMondeo]

dazco said:

Magimix are rubbish.

My 4200 made the 'square' edging on the spindle 'round' when making dough. It is a nylon spindle designed to strip itself rather than burn the motor out.

The badly fitted spindle then made two blades 'square' edges round before I copped on what was happening.

DO NOT USE A MAGIMIX FOR DOUGH.

If is any doubt there is plenty written about this pile of ste on the internet.

I have just received the bits to mend mine, and I am still bidding for Robot Coupes on eBay. I trust it not one bot.

oh fking hell, I ordered one this morning. piss flaps. Will have to see about returning it.

Any mixer that is good for dough?

[21TonyK]

ILoveMondeo said:

oh fking hell, I ordered one this morning. piss flaps. Will have to see about returning it.

Any mixer that is good for dough?

Food processors aren't really the right tool for the job if you want dough. For dough you need a mixer not a processor. Having said that if you use the plastic dough blade and pulse to just bring a dough together then kneed by hand they are fine. If you use the chopping blade and overwork the dough or just overload the bowl then it will strip the blade spindle. Also if you don;t have the blade cap on to stop the spindle rising you will strip them pretty quick.

If you want to do a lot of dough then you need a decent mixer as well, a Kenwood Chef is pretty good but add that and a processor together and you are looking at £5-600 minimum.

[21TonyK]

dazco said:

...I am still bidding for Robot Coupes on eBay...

Check the price of spares before you buy something that might be knackered. A motor costs more than a new Magimix as would a spare blade and a new lid (which are plastic and crack quite easily).

They're normally only for sale if beyond economic repair.

[ILoveMondeo]

21TonyK said:

If you want to do a lot of dough then you need a decent mixer as well, a Kenwood Chef is pretty good but add that and a processor together and you are looking at £5-600 minimum.

We do a reasonable amount of dough, yes. 1 or 2 batches a week probably.

Really want an all in one device, there must be one with clever gearing or something, or a "dough" mode.. the cheapo kenwood did a fantastic job for the last few years, it just finally gave up the ghost.. Maybe I should just get another one of those and know it will only last 24-48 months. I was only £50-ish for the whole thing IIRC.

[21TonyK]

As long as you just bring the ingredients together in it you'll be fine. It took 6 months of heavy abuse from a chef who breaks everything to shear the main blade (because he is too lazy to use a proper dough mixer which he also has )

[ILoveMondeo]

21TonyK said:

As long as you just bring the ingredients together in it you'll be fine. It took 6 months of heavy abuse from a chef who breaks everything to shear the main blade (because he is too lazy to use a proper dough mixer which he also has )

By the sounds of it that was daily use for mucho dough too if it was a professional kitchen.

We normally bring it all together and give it a couple of minutes in the mixer then beat it around by hand for a bit afterwards, saves getting horrible sticky dough hands (and kitchen counter) when the mixture is still quite wet.

Sounds like it it will be fine for our light use.

[uncinqsix]

ILoveMondeo said:

21TonyK said:

As long as you just bring the ingredients together in it you'll be fine. It took 6 months of heavy abuse from a chef who breaks everything to shear the main blade (because he is too lazy to use a proper dough mixer which he also has )

By the sounds of it that was daily use for mucho dough too if it was a professional kitchen.

We normally bring it all together and give it a couple of minutes in the mixer then beat it around by hand for a bit afterwards, saves getting horrible sticky dough hands (and kitchen counter) when the mixture is still quite wet.

Sounds like it it will be fine for our light use.

Also get your hands on a copy of "The Handmade Loaf" by Dan Lepard. It's centered on a method that uses a lot less kneading than usual - and would fit in well with what you're doing already.

[grumbledoak]

uncinqsix said:

Also get your hands on a copy of "The Handmade Loaf" by Dan Lepard. It's centered on a method that uses a lot less kneading than usual - and would fit in well with what you're doing already.

^This. It is quite eye opening how little kneading you actually need to do.

[Mobile Chicane]

uncinqsix said:

ILoveMondeo said:

21TonyK said:

As long as you just bring the ingredients together in it you'll be fine. It took 6 months of heavy abuse from a chef who breaks everything to shear the main blade (because he is too lazy to use a proper dough mixer which he also has )

By the sounds of it that was daily use for mucho dough too if it was a professional kitchen.

We normally bring it all together and give it a couple of minutes in the mixer then beat it around by hand for a bit afterwards, saves getting horrible sticky dough hands (and kitchen counter) when the mixture is still quite wet.

Sounds like it it will be fine for our light use.

Also get your hands on a copy of "The Handmade Loaf" by Dan Lepard. It's centered on a method that uses a lot less kneading than usual - and would fit in well with what you're doing already.

^^^ This.

Awesome book.

[ILoveMondeo]

I'm back!

In only 3 weeks I've not managed to break my second Magimax 5200.

I'm a tool and should have listened.

DO NOT USE FOR DOUGH

In this case it was pasta, and only 300g of flour and 3 eggs, half the max capacity of flour for bread dough!

First time is was bread dough, and 500g, which stripped the thingie.

I'll be taking it back to John Lewis next weekend for a refund and buying a seprate mixer and food processor.

Just to reitterate, DO NOT USE MAGIMIX FOR DOUGH!

[21TonyK]

Really?! I'm guessing the first line is a typo and you have broken two machines in 3 weeks(!)?

You must have been going some to do that.

[dazco]

ILoveMondeo said:

I'm back!

In only 3 weeks I've not managed to break my second Magimax 5200.

I'm a tool and should have listened.

DO NOT USE FOR DOUGH

In this case it was pasta, and only 300g of flour and 3 eggs, half the max capacity of flour for bread dough!

First time is was bread dough, and 500g, which stripped the thingie.

I'll be taking it back to John Lewis next weekend for a refund and buying a seprate mixer and food processor.

Just to reitterate, DO NOT USE MAGIMIX FOR DOUGH!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Andrew-James-Pro-Electric-Food-Stand-Mixer-Food-Guard-/280722462238?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Kitchen_Mixers&hash=item415c5cd61e#ht_6823wt_1037

I bought one of these for mixing and cannot fault it.

[ILoveMondeo]

nice one dazco, the dough hook on that certainly looks a bit more "manly" !

I'll get one of those and a £50 blender.

I dont really use the chopping/grating/slicing bits very often and when you factor in the washing up of all the bits it quicker with a knife anyway.

Cheers