Talk to me about food processors

[Sadik]

DF has asked what dd & I would like for Christmas, and I'm wondering if I should ask him for a joint present of a food processor (I have already asked dd if there's anything she wants & she didn't have any suggestions!!)
She does lots of baking & titting around type cooking & I make stuff like falafels, hummus, marmalade where I reckon it would be useful.

Any thoughts? If you have one, do you use it? (we do have space for it to live on the side) And any recommendations for a good make / model?

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MNHQ

I had one but never could be bothered with the faff .,I use a whisk and a nutri bullet a lot.

I guess it's for things that a whisk / blender won't do. I've got an old jug blender & then bamix stick blender with a small grinder bowl. I can do falafels, hummus etc in the bowl, but only a little bit at a time! Also thinking a processor would be good for slicing peel for marmalade, that sort of thing?

We have one of these from Ninja:

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7912995?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=30f62ea9-9626-4cac-97c8-9ff3921f8558&istItemId=ilpqrtixi&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&$ja=tsid:59157%7Cacid:598-923-9094%7Ccid:9568021390%7Cagid:98508739176%7Ctid:pla-889151362259%7Ccrid:423285393794%7Cnw:g%7Crnd:17266289929788003846%7Cdvc:m%7Cadp:%7Cmt:%7Cloc:9046334&utmmsource=Google&utmmedium=cpc&utmmcampaign=9568021390&utmterm=7912995&utmmcontent=shopping&utmcustom1=98508739176&utmmcustom2=598-923-9094&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIztuBys6y7QIVG-3tCh1ZJwQ7EAQYByABEgJ-rPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.DS

We've found it really useful, unexpectedly for bread making so make all our own since having it.

I quite wanted a KitchenAid but a recent thread on MN convinced me I actually want a Kenwood KMix. They're on offer at the moment, £250, which I thought was quite reasonable. I use my food processor a fair amount but it's ugly and takes up loads of room in the cupboard, with the KMix I can have it on display and reclaim some space.

The Kenwoods are very nice, but I think it's really the chopping / slicing that we'd use more than the mixer part - unless they do that too?

I have a magimix. I’ve had it probably about 8 years and use it occasionally, once a month maybe. Mostly it’s the washing up that puts me off but I tend to use it for slicing things or juicing

OK, I'm really not feeling a lot of food processor love here!

I have a KitchenAid food processor that I love. It has a small bowl in addition to the larger one, which is works well for smaller volumes (I think this might be common on food processors now though, but I'm not sure). The slicing blade is adjustable, so it covers a lot of thicknesses and there's only need for one blade in the kit. It's a really different use case to a stand mixer (which I also have and love) and it sounds like the processor is better for what you want from it.

I have a magimix and it cost more than a mortgage payment and I love it
I do a lot of cooking - make pestos, curry pastes, hummus etc etc from scratch all the time gets used easily 3/4 times a week and it’s excellent

That sounds like the sort of thinks I do lastqueen I did actually have a 2nd hand magimix years ago which I used a lot until it died. I didn't replace it because I moved & then didn't have counter space - then I had dc and had space but no time Maybe just magimix again is where it's at

How little is the smaller bowl on yours toast ? I've got the little grinder bowl with my bamix which works a treat for nuts / chilli paste etc, so I reckon just one bowl probably OK

I’ve got a kenwood - it’s quite old now and I’ve replaced loads of the parts! Am going to get a new one when I’m out kitchen gets redone next year similar. It has lots of blades you can use for chopping and slicing too. I don’t tend to use them to much but DD also uses it loads for baking (she is 10). Mine has the blender jug bit on it also.

I had a Magimix and hated it. Most useless item I've ever used. Instead I got a Ninja blender which I love (and is a 10th of the price).

I decided to talk to my dad in the end, he has a processor (that he uses a lot) plus knows what I mostly cook, so I've left it to him to decide what I'd find useful!

One of my kitchen shelves is entirely taken up with a well-reviewed Kenwood food processor I bought on Black Friday about six years ago. I have only used it a few times.

When I tried to use the dough hook, it turned out that the whole machine was too underpowered for bread dough, so the central shaft warped. Now it makes a horrible grinding sound when I try to use it for anything.

I really need to ditch it.

I have a Magimix and I use it at least 5x a week. It saves me so much time, I absolutely love it. Chopping, slicing, grating, pesto, hummus, bread making, blending, whipping... I couldn’t be without it now.

I have a food processor - Russell hobs I think - that I use all the time. It's dishwasher friendly and use it for slicing, grating and blending, making falafel, hummous etc. Not a baker so a magi mix and dough hooks etc would be lost on me. Not top of the range but works at treat and no need for heaving a big beast around the kitchen.

I use a combination of hand electric whisk for cakes, stick blender for soups and a really compact Kenwood food processor that's brilliant and used pretty much daily. We've had it for years now and I think it's probably been superseded but it is this model we have

I love mine but it's around 28 years old now. I use it mainly for coleslaw and cakes so would need to replace with one with a big bowl and chopping, slicing and whisking parts. Bet a new one wouldnt still work perfectly after 28 years

Argos have the kitchenaid one reduced to £80 at the min.

I've just bought my DH one for Xmas.

I have a Kenwood Processor and a KMix, both are incredible and have made life so much easier, and quieter than their predecessors! In fact I bought a 2nd Kmix for work as they were on sale for £180, usually more like £350.

The processors has a really big bowl, and many attachments including a whisk which is handy if the kmix is in use. Although they're pricey they have a 5yr motor guarantee and all the bits are available to buy separately if needed.