Do you need a food processor?
Discussion
I try and keep the accessories in the kitchen to a minimum, and just use a knife for everything (although I’m by no means an expert).
I do have an old cheap hand blender which I predominately use for soups. It has a small food processor attachment which I occasionally use for making hummus, pesto etc., it’s not perfect, but it does the job for small quantities of dip.
Every now and then I’ll see someone use a Magimix or similar and it’ll slice and grate food quickly and consistently, but is it more hassle than its worth? By the time I get it out of the cupboard, set it up, peel the veg, process the veg, and then tidy up, I could have done all the work with a knife and probably cleaned up?
Am I missing the point? Could a Magimix improve my kitchen or are they only really beneficial when cooking for large parties or specialist tasks?
I do have an old cheap hand blender which I predominately use for soups. It has a small food processor attachment which I occasionally use for making hummus, pesto etc., it’s not perfect, but it does the job for small quantities of dip.
Every now and then I’ll see someone use a Magimix or similar and it’ll slice and grate food quickly and consistently, but is it more hassle than its worth? By the time I get it out of the cupboard, set it up, peel the veg, process the veg, and then tidy up, I could have done all the work with a knife and probably cleaned up?
Am I missing the point? Could a Magimix improve my kitchen or are they only really beneficial when cooking for large parties or specialist tasks?
We’ve got a lovely Kitchenaid food mixed - got loads of attachments. Wife loves it and it’s used all the time / and has been for the last - IIRC 7years.
It is big some like to have it “on display” as it’s a nice looking thing but if you’ve a small kitchen it’s valuable work surface gone.
It’s heavy too
That said it depends on the user some may love it some not. One neighbour needed to borrow it loved it and her husband bought one for Xmas later that year.
If it’s a one person household it’s a luxury / big family gets used loads - our kids even help out with it baking etc.
It is big some like to have it “on display” as it’s a nice looking thing but if you’ve a small kitchen it’s valuable work surface gone.
It’s heavy too
That said it depends on the user some may love it some not. One neighbour needed to borrow it loved it and her husband bought one for Xmas later that year.
If it’s a one person household it’s a luxury / big family gets used loads - our kids even help out with it baking etc.
Welshbeef said:
We’ve got a lovely Kitchenaid food mixed - got loads of attachments. Wife loves it and it’s used all the time / and has been for the last - IIRC 7years.
It is big some like to have it “on display” as it’s a nice looking thing but if you’ve a small kitchen it’s valuable work surface gone.
It’s heavy too
That said it depends on the user some may love it some not. One neighbour needed to borrow it loved it and her husband bought one for Xmas later that year.
If it’s a one person household it’s a luxury / big family gets used loads - our kids even help out with it baking etc.
I am a chef. For meringues / genoise sponge the KitchenAid has it's uses. For absolutely everything else I prefer to do it by hand.It is big some like to have it “on display” as it’s a nice looking thing but if you’ve a small kitchen it’s valuable work surface gone.
It’s heavy too
That said it depends on the user some may love it some not. One neighbour needed to borrow it loved it and her husband bought one for Xmas later that year.
If it’s a one person household it’s a luxury / big family gets used loads - our kids even help out with it baking etc.
Not least because the effing thing spits flour everywhere, plus there's always that unmixed component at the bottom of the bowl. If I have to scrape everything out with a spatula - and mix again - I may as well have done it by hand in the first place.
We’ve got a small food processor and a jug blender. We use the jug blender more.
The food processor is mostly used to make batches of soffrito.
We also have a small kitchen so picked what we have carefully.
Probably says something about us that we deemed a stand mixer and coffee machine as more important than a toaster or microwave
The food processor is mostly used to make batches of soffrito.
We also have a small kitchen so picked what we have carefully.
Probably says something about us that we deemed a stand mixer and coffee machine as more important than a toaster or microwave
Used to have one but it was never used, it just sat on top of one of the wall mounted kitchen units, gathering dust so in the end we just chucked it, I remember digging out all of attachments from the cupboard, the vast majority of which had never been used.
I guess if you are into baking then you'd need something, but I'm not.
My hand blender, knives, spice grinder and nutri bullet is enough for us.
I guess if you are into baking then you'd need something, but I'm not.
My hand blender, knives, spice grinder and nutri bullet is enough for us.
Ours doesn't get loads of use - as already mentioned, cleaning all the component parts can be a faff. Each time I go to get the mixer, this does make you consider whether the job might be easier by hand.
That said, and if I had no other use for a processor, I'd have one just for when I knock up another batch of curry base.
That said, and if I had no other use for a processor, I'd have one just for when I knock up another batch of curry base.
Edited by SS2. on Monday 20th April 08:32
The main issue with a magimix is that no matter which way up you put it to drain there's always a lip that holds water and dribbles down you leg when you forget and pick it up. 
Our kitchen aid gets used regularly for sponges and meringues, and the grater attachment is great for bulk processing.
And the spiralizer comes in a really cool box!
Our kitchen aid gets used regularly for sponges and meringues, and the grater attachment is great for bulk processing.
And the spiralizer comes in a really cool box!
21TonyK said:
In short no. Unless you are cooking for a large number of people a large food processor is not necessary.
As you have, a small hand blender with a small bowl attachment is fine.
I decent knife and a bit of practice far outweighs the extra washing up time.
Dishwasher! As you have, a small hand blender with a small bowl attachment is fine.
I decent knife and a bit of practice far outweighs the extra washing up time.
We didn't have a processor until a couple of years ago.
It's been a revelation.
It's just a John Lewis own labelled item.
I moan about the number of options we have for blending things...
My partner uses the grinder for coffee every other day on average. We use the smoothie type thing every other day as well for ourselves but mostly our daughter as its one way of getting fruit into her.
The actually food processor attachment is not used that often, once a fortnight. Really only for big meals, chopping lots of onions very fine perhaps. Could be done by hand though.
When I lived aboard in a country you couldn't buy hummus or tapenade I'd use it every week.
I'd miss it if we didn't have it though.
My partner uses the grinder for coffee every other day on average. We use the smoothie type thing every other day as well for ourselves but mostly our daughter as its one way of getting fruit into her.
The actually food processor attachment is not used that often, once a fortnight. Really only for big meals, chopping lots of onions very fine perhaps. Could be done by hand though.
When I lived aboard in a country you couldn't buy hummus or tapenade I'd use it every week.
I'd miss it if we didn't have it though.
rdjohn said:
I guess we use our food processor 5-6 times a year.
The stick blenders does attachment is probably used 5-6 times a week.
Most of the time, we are cooking for two.
Having now mentioned this thread to my wife, it was agreed that we should get rid of the food processor - it is big and has many pieces that it takes up an unreasonably large amount of cupboard space.The stick blenders does attachment is probably used 5-6 times a week.
Most of the time, we are cooking for two.
She has now decided that what we really need is a meat grinder. Not convinced, but minced Lamb is impossible to buy here and we must have at least 4 Moussakas each year.
Incidentally, we make mayonnaise with the stick blender and only ever tear Mozzarella - sadly its not available in France at the moment.
rdjohn said:
Having now mentioned this thread to my wife, it was agreed that we should get rid of the food processor - it is big and has many pieces that it takes up an unreasonably large amount of cupboard space.
She has now decided that what we really need is a meat grinder. Not convinced, but minced Lamb is impossible to buy here and we must have at least 4 Moussakas each year.
Incidentally, we make mayonnaise with the stick blender and only ever tear Mozzarella - sadly its not available in France at the moment.
Just clicked on your profile as was curious about where you could not purchase minced lamb - spent the past two holidays there! You've a very lucky man. She has now decided that what we really need is a meat grinder. Not convinced, but minced Lamb is impossible to buy here and we must have at least 4 Moussakas each year.
Incidentally, we make mayonnaise with the stick blender and only ever tear Mozzarella - sadly its not available in France at the moment.
rdjohn said:
I guess we use our food processor 5-6 times a year.
The stick blenders does attachment is probably used 5-6 times a week.
Most of the time, we are cooking for two.
Averaging it out over a year ours is roughly twice every week. The stick blenders does attachment is probably used 5-6 times a week.
Most of the time, we are cooking for two.
Going to buy the pasta making extra next and have a go at making fresh pasta. Lots of time to learn new skills.
21TonyK said:
There appears to be a lot of crosstalk and confusion between processors and mixers.
Processor = closed bowl, blades, disc cutters and graters etc
Mixer = open bowl, whisk, paddle, hook etc
Ah we’ve a mixed that’s what I’m mainly discussing. Processor = closed bowl, blades, disc cutters and graters etc
Mixer = open bowl, whisk, paddle, hook etc
We also have a processor rarely rarely used/and don’t use anything instead.
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