which food processor do you have?

[Thirstysomething]

they are so expensive I can't afford to buy the wrong one! Starting to enjoy cooking again (now youngest is 2 finally might have some time to do more than the basics...?!) and really want a magimix or kitchen aid (food processor, not mixer). Think Magimix 4200 looks good, but there are even variations on that ... any advice? thanks, Clarey

I've an old Moulinex Masterchef which has been great. I think that what you have got to be wary of is not to buy one that has too many functions as this will cost you extra and you will find that other than the basic, you won't use them. I personally wouldn't spend more than £50 on one.

I have a Magimix 5200 but with the normal sized feeder tube. I have found that I do use a lot of the extra functions, mainly the juicer attachment and the various shredding/grating discs. I think the only thing I haven't used yet is the dough blade.

I agree with Fifichef and would say to think hard about what you would use it for before you buy it, unless you get a cheaper one.

The Magimix was very expensive but has integrated very well into my kitchen and has speeded up the preparation what we were eating anyway:

• I was grating a lot of things by hand on a box grater, like cheese (for pizzas, souffles and burritos), cucumber (for raita), courgettes (for souffles and fritters) and potatoes/onions (for latkes/rosti). Usually managed to grate my knuckles or break a nail while grating.

• I was slicing potatoes with a knife about the thickness of a pound coin, as we often make dauphinoise or boulangere potatoes to feed 6 or 8. Now that takes about 5 minutes and is perfectly even (I know I could have got a cheap mandoline but I'm afraid of slicing my fingers off).

• We go through guacamole and hummus like it's going out of style and it works out cheaper to make our own in the evenings in one of the small bowls (for us, hummus is never quite good enough from the supermarket: we like it so garlicky could keep vampires at a 10 mile radius).

Mid-range Magimix here. Went for cheaper brands in the past but found that the motors conked out if given any real work to do. Mine came with a box of various discs and paddles which all seem to get used. Regular size feeder tube... a few different size bowls.

fifichef! how are you? Sorry O.P. i have an OLD magimix which is still good but i always use my hand blender and kenwood mini whisk.

Kenwood- has blender/food processor bowl.
Blighter to get the bowl off as theres nothing to grip except the control knob .If you had ginormous hands and grip of steel you'd be okay.
Also has a spindle thing goes up in the blade- pain in the neck because have to remenber to take it out.

Hi ppeatfruit - nice to catch up with you again. Have given it a rest on here just lately cause I find it so addictive. My bums getting ever bigger cause I sit on it too much!! Must exercise more.

I know what you mean Fifi but if you come on our paul Mckenna thread you can loose weight AND be on here! I've lost 2 stone on it! You can eat what you want!

Thanks ppeatfruit - I'll have a look and see if I can rustle up the willpower!!
When I get the time I'm going to follow up again on our 'foodie' project we were banging on about at the beginning of the year. Have you spotted any more of our old lot on here??

PP - where can I find the Paul McKenna thread - do I need to get the book?

Thirtysomething have look at ebay there must be loads of unused magimixes on there!!Fifi we're on the Big\Slim whatever weight loss club site. you can get the book and C.D.s but I started without either.

it's very unmumsnetily (if that's a word!!) friendly and supportive!! no cal counting, weird diet foods or pills, try googling Paul Mckenna i Can make You Thin

Thanks pp I'll go a searching!!

thanks everyone, Tyelperion it looks like you are using yours for a lot of the things I want it for, so that was great. Will look on eBay today!

Have both a Magimix - fairly basic one bought 5 years ago, and a kitchen aid, bought about 10 years ago. For small whisking jobs, I also have one of those very fast swiss blenders - a Bamix.

At the time dh was responsible for spending vast sums on lab equipment, so didn't think that kitchen stuff was dear by comparison. So I made the most of it when suggesting buying stuff

I have a Magimix but not sure which model. DH bought it for me for Christmas before we were married. I was hoping for an engagement ring.

It's still working well after about 15 years, but I've replaced the bowl and the lid - which was pretty expensive, around £50 I think. I only use the metal blade, the larger grater and the slicer.

My sister still has my mum's old processor which must be nearly 30 years old, and she uses it most days. It would have been a pretty bog standard make. I'm not sure I'd go for an expensive one if i was buying one today.