Which food processor should I get?

[extremelychocolateymilkroll]

I?ve been inspired to get a food processor after watching Jamie Oliver?s 30 Minute Meals. I?m thinking of using it for chopping and grating but also for making cakes. I?ve seen the [[http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kenwood-FP220-Multi-Compact-Processor/dp/B000M5D5JQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299503509&sr=8-1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 Kenwood FP220] in Sainsburys on offer for £39.99 but it?s even cheaper on Amazon. Bit put off by the negative review. Does anyone have this and would you recommend it? We?ve got a small kitchen so I like the fact that it?s compact but put off by small capacity ? perverse I know. Is it worth paying a lot more? Looking at Which the Bosch MCM4100GB got a very good review and is about £100. TIA

[PigeonPie]

As far as I'm concerned, there is only one make and that's Magimix. I've had mine for 18 years and it's fantastic. If it blew up tomorrow (which I desperately hope it won't!) I'd replace it, but get a larger bowl as I've got the middle size at the moment so I can make more than 6-egg sponges if necessary.

I've also got the juicer which is great for making marmalade and then you chop the bits in the bowl - so much less work.

Solid and reliable and just works!

[MakemineaGandT]

magimix, though expensive it is fab. my mum's has been going strong for 25 yrs now.......money well spent

[Ponders]

For the same reason (ie Jamie's 30 min meals ) I recently got the \link{http://www.amazon.co.uk/Magimix-3200-Processor-White-Finish/dp/B003NE04OW/ref=dp_ob_title_kitchen\Magimix?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 3200} after reading Which plus loads of customer reviews.

It is quite small, very heavy so doesn't move whatever you do with it but does need a permanent worktop home - works well, am very happy with it so far (bit expensive, hope it's worth it. £174 from amazon is a good price but they change prices constantly so it could be £189.99 again in 5 minutes!)

[PigeonPie]

If you're going for Magimix, go for the biggest one you can afford. My Ma is on her second one, only because the first was just too small and she couldn't do everything she needed in it.

[Chil1234]

Magimix, definitely. Have had others but they are always a poor imitation. Worth the extra money.

[Ponders]

Agree about the size of the bowl but the 3200 just tucks under my wall cupboards; are the bigger ones the same height or taller?

[whoneedssleepanyway]

I personally wouldn't use a magimix for making cakes, I think a handblender (£19.99 Kenwood) makes much lighter cakes get a lot more air in, just two whisk attachments to be cleaned in dishwasher...

[Pinkglow]

I would love a magimix but alas my funds dont reach that far. I got this one www.amazon.co.uk/Kenwood-FP730-Multi-Processor-White/dp/B000M4XLZK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1299513876&sr=8-3&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 its quite good although I got it in January when it was a tenner cheaper. Ive made quite alot of the Jamie 30 miute meals using it.

[DonaAna]

I just bought a Kitchen Aid Artisan food processor after considering both KA and Magimix (and reading countless reviews). The Kitchen Aid food processor is very pretty, does a great job chopping and grating, but TBH I probably wouldn't bake a lot with it. The extra blades and parts you need to assemble look a bit complex. It's brilliant for food prep but I have a separate Kitchen Aid mixer for baking and it's simply the best thing for bread doughs, cake batters, creme chantilly and egg whites.

The KA food processor is pretty tall, won't fit under all cupboards.

My brother thinks Bosch is a decent make. I don't have any personal experience. I'd steer clear of plasticky feeling food processors with weak motors.

[off to whip up pesto in the new KA]

[sethstarkaddersmackerel]

does anyone know if you basically need power to grate effectively? I have an ancient Kenwood that is only 500W and it really doesn't cope well with grating; I would love one that actually works.

it is probably over 20 years old; are they better designed now so you get more work for the same wattage? Or do I have to bite the bullet and get a higher powered one?

[extremelychocolateymilkroll]

Thanks so much for all your replies. Am leaning towards the Bosch - has a great drawer for storing the attachments - and is 800W. Great little video here].

[DonaAna]

Seth, I was impressed with the Kitchen Aid food processor's grating power, but it's just 650W apparently. I grated some raw beets and also sliced some turnips. Both of them are difficult to slice with just a knife (and impossible with my trusty Mouli-Julienne hand grater - a nifty little thing for cheese and carrots, cheap and easy), but the food processor was very efficient. Another thing - the grating and slicing disks may not be sharp enough. Sometimes you can get good results with the same motor if you replace the disks.

I've always felt the most punishing task in my kitchen is kneading yeast doughs. Few mixers are strong enough but I've loved my Kitchen Aid mixer and have used it perhaps hundreds of times over the past ten years for that specific task.