Food Processors

[muffy]

I want to get a food processor, fed up of seeing a nice recipe which states you need a processor as it is better to mix the ingredients.

Anyone recommend a good cheapish one? Don't want a state of the art one which cooks and washes up afterwards just a basic good quality one will do.

Thanks.

[NikNu]

I'm on my 3rd food processor now so feel vaguely qualified to reply

Personally, I wouldn't be without one and when the last one died, dh told me to get one that was going to last as he was fed up with replacing them so I bought a magimix which, frankly is fabulous. They're not cheap - in fact they're about the dearest you can buy without going commercial - but they will last and last and any bits that go (bowls etc) can be easily replaced.

I think my first one was a moulinex and I remember being really pleased with it. I bought a Kenwood and that didn't last very long (although I love my Kenwood mixer).

Argos has them REALLY cheap but I'm not sure that they'd be up to the job. You need to think about what you want to use if for - I use mine for slicing, grating, shredding, whisking, mixing, pastry making you name it. Cakes and biscuits I tend to make in the mixer, I also whisk large quantities in it.

Haven't really helped have I

Nik

[muffy]

Hi Nik

Yes you have helped thanks

I just really want a basic one (got DP to do the chopping, shredding and grating etc ) preferably I guess for cakes.

I have seen a Kenwood one in Debenhams but I'm sure it's loads cheaper in Argos.

Oooh I can feel my Delia hat coming out !!

[NikNu]

Think carefully about whether you want a food processor or a food mixer.

A food processor will do all sorts of things, chop grate, slice, chip etc depending on the blades. It will also mix and whisk but it will not do as good a job as a mixer. It will also not cope with double quantities or thick fruit cakes - a mixer will be much better at that.

If you want it primarily for mixing cakes then I think a mixer will suit your purposes better than food processor - a nice big open bowl will help air get into your mix which a food processor bowl won't be so good at - which is often a jack of all trades (and a cheap one will be a master of none). With mixers you don't pay for additional functions, you pay for motor strength and capacity. I think my mixer is still my favourite machine probably for its strength and capacity, although my breadmaker, 6 years after purchase is still used almost every day.

I adore kitchen machines, I just love them and my dream is to have a huge kitchen with room to have all of them out on the worktop. I have both a food processor and a mixer and a hand held whisk and blender all of which I use pretty regularly. The hand held is useful for batters and blending soups.

As you can tell you've hit my passion and any questions feel free to ask and I'll happily rabbit on for hours and hours.

Nik

Well Nik, feeling a bit thick here but I'd never even thought about there being a difference between a food mixer and a food processor! Interesting that you rave about the Magimix ... been thinking about splashing out myself.

Shan x

[NikNu]

Originally Posted by shanjayne

Interesting that you rave about the Magimix ... been thinking about splashing out myself.

Shan x

Don't splash - dive right in. Get it, get it, you won't regret it. Its a complete workhorse.

I'd always had variable speed before this one and the fact that it doesn't have that really put me off but there is nothing else in the same league unless you get a commercial machine (and boy does the price jump then). I've had mine several years and never had so much as a groan from it. I'm on the 2nd bowl (parts ARE expensive but at least you can get them) but to be honest it still looks as good as the day I bought it.

Let me know when you get it.

Nik