Finding the Best Food Processor - What To Look For

Dear friends and bloggers,

Every time I watched Asian Food Channel (afc) on Astro, I always admired my favorite chefs (Jamie, Chuck, Nigella) food processor. It makes your cooking works so damn easy! But yes, here, those processors are quite pricey. 
Here are some tips on choosing the best, or the most suitable for your kitchen. I find it very educational. Have fun reading!

(p/s: if you don't really cook, just use a simple blender, save your money for something else, k!)

Size

Size tends to be the determining factor for most consumers when purchasing a food processor. It won't matter how powerful or reliable a food processor is if it's too big to fit in your kitchen or too small to handle your work load. Think carefully about what your size needs will be.

The size of a food processor refers to the capacity of the work bowl and is measured in cups. It is important to realize you won't be able to fill the bowl to the top. This is especially true with liquids, where the bowl can only be filled to about halfway to prevent leaking. If you plan on processing four cups of soup or other liquid at once, you'll need at least an eight cup food processor. The general size categories are as follows:

Mini - 4 cups or smaller

Compact- 5 to 8 cups

Full Size - 9 cups or larger

The limitations of a smaller unit are obvious, yet many consumers fail to realize too large of a work bowl also has disadvantages. It makes it difficult to combine ingredients when dealing with small amounts of food. Without enough product to spin around, everything tends to build up on the side of the work bowl.

If kitchen space is not an issue the best option may be a full size processor with a mini bowl. The mini bowl is usually about 4 cups and fits into the same base as the full-sized bowl. You'll always have the right bowl for the project at hand.

Power

Power is an important aspect of a good food processor. A well powered machine will give you easy, consistent and uniform results. An inadequately powered machine will inevitably lead to frustration.

What size motor does a food processor need? There isn't an easy answer to that question. Power isn't just about wattage or motor size. You will also need to consider efficiency.

There are two basic food processor motor types: belt driven and direct driven. A belt driven model has the motor and work bowl side by side, connected by a drive belt and wheels. In a direct driven model, the bowl sits on top of the motor. This allows for a more direct transfer of power and results in more usable power per watt.

Reliability

This is definitely an area where consumer reviews are crucial. This is the best way to get unbiased information. Another way to gauge the reliability of a specific model is through the reputation of the maker. A good warranty can also give you peace of mind.

Accessories and Special Features

Don't worry about the number of speeds a food processor has to offer. You only need one speed combined with a pulse button. You control the speed of the processing through pulsing.

Most food processors come with a few basic accessories for slicing, shredding and chopping. In general, the larger machines come with more accessories.

Think about what you intend to use the processor for to decide which accessories are important to you. A dough blade might top the list of an avid baker. If you wish to make homemade juices, be sure to find a machine that is compatible with a juicing attachment. Not all accessories are available for all models.

Read The Reviews

Once you have a better idea of what to look for in a food processor, be sure to check out consumer reviews. This will provide honest, unbiased insight you won't find anywhere else. People who have actually used a product can paint a more truthful picture of overall performance than the manufacturer. Check out a more detailed Buying Guide and thousands of reviews HERE.

Heather Krasovec, creator of http://food-processor-reviews.net/, uses her extensive experience in food based industries to help consumers make the best choices when stocking their kitchens. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Heather_Krasovec