Food processor- hoping I haven’t made a mistake

[Porcupine83]

Hello wise ones, I have just bought an expensive food processor- it arrives tomorrow- and I think I have made a mistake. It was a bit of an impulse buy (bored, fed up, covid shmovid etc) and I’m not sure I really know what I can use it for. I think I overestimated its usefulness- is it really only good for making dips and coleslaw?? (This is all I have found after a quick google.)
Can anyone suggest some recipes or ways you use your food processor that will save me time and help me justify the purchase?

Depending on the attachments you can do loads with it, mix lovely cakes, make dough, make soups, finely chop onions without tears are just a few that I use mine for.

I use mine to make smoothies, grate cheese (big block in 5 seconds), blend avocado to make chocado, blend dates to make ‘caramel’. It does have attachments to mix cake batter but I’ve never used it. I do use mine around 4/5 times a week but I probably don’t use it as well as I could.

They use it on bake off for everything! Watch it. There’s a stand up to cancer version on at the moment.

You could return it while you decide.

I use mine for grating all foods slicing large amount of veg or fruit, baking I use it for crumble topping, bread crumbs, scones or more so American style biscuits, smoothies,

Brilliant for pastry and crumbles as they don't overwork it like hot hands.

I've had mine for years, it doesn't get used all the time but sits on the side (rather than put away) and gets used very regularly for;
Crumble
Pastry
Pancake/Yorkshire pudding mix
Whisking eggs for omelette etc (in the small spice mill)
Grating a whole block of cheese
Plus less regularly for other things I can't think of atm!

It has whisk and dough attachments but I use a hand mixer for cakes and a breadmaker for bread, pizza dough etc.

Breadcrumbs, pastry, hummus (and other dips), marmalade cakes, praline, slicing things thinly (potato dauphinoise, onion chutney) grating things... I use mine most days.

I use mine mainly for breadcrumbs and a salad that Jamie Oliver does (basically shreds lots of random veg in the food processor, quick to do and if you use the right veg can make it a the beginning of the week for a few days of virtuous lunches).

Other uses are pastry, pesto and Thai curry pastes.

I use mine all the time, not sure how I coped without it! I make coleslaw, marinades for meat, finely slice potatoes for potato dauphinois, make homemade hummus, finely chop nuts etc... Probably use it about 3 or 4 times a week. My mum used to make cake mix in a blender too but I've not attempted that yet.

Karma which salad is that please?

Which one did you get?

I use mine to make homemade Donner kebab meat, cheesecake bases, finely chop herbs.

I have a magimix. It's been my second one in 30 years so they do last well. My first lasted 25 years or so.

I use it every single day. It's my kitchen help.

It grates, slices, grinds, makes chips, chops, mixes, beats, juices fruit and lots more.

I can make ice powder and Parmesan powder with the attachments, I can mix scones, and beat cakes and pancakes. The best use is to a slice and chop vegetables for cooking. I also make kebabs and mix meat balls/burger mix in seconds.

It's honestly effortless prep and all of it is dish washed safe. After about 10 years in the dishwasher the bowl cracks and needs replacing, Magimix offer all parts to replace. I calculated it had been used over 2,500 times! So not bad.

orchids sorry couldn’t find the recipe but found this YouTube video. Really is simple though, basically shred any veg you have in the fridge and add some dressing.

Another thing I use mine for is nut butters.

Oh I've been looking for one, would any of them mince venison? Yes I know how that sounds and believe me I never thought I've type that - my DS is vegetarian but has decided he'll eat wild shot venison and it's his birthday in 3 weeks and he wants a bbq. What with lockdown and him being a bloody nice teen I am minded to splurge on one 'cos I want one and he deserves it, sort of!

Couldn't you just get the butcher to mince it for you, or do you have an acquaintance who shoots?

No our butchers don't do venison I buy it in Costco in huge bags of chunks. It's that or steaks from Lidl.

Wow, so many helpful and reassuring replies already, thank you all. Will come back and read / reply properly later as been cooking and watching the stand up to cancer bake off! Didn’t realise this was on. Love Bake Off.
@IsolaPribby I bought this one www.kitchenaid.co.uk/food-processors/859720915480/food-processor-2.1-l-5kfp0919-matte-black

Ours became incredibly dusty a few weeks after purchase it got boring very fast. The clean up and prep is beyond tedious. Great if you don’t work or have plenty of time to faff with it. It now lives in a cupboard waiting to be adopted on eBay.

I couldn’t live without my Magimix. I don’t use it all the time but so many recipes are unacheivable without a food processor and this one is amazing. Mine is about 40 years old now. Mother in law bought it when they were first available here and still works perfectly.

Love the Jamie salad video. Though it is kind of a coleslaw which was on my original list

Intrigued by chocado, never heard of it before but love anything chocolate related.

Thanks for all the suggestions - and the reminder about dauphinois potatoes - so good, and not made them for years as such a faff.

Mine won’t have a whisk attachment so will be more for chopping, slicing etc. I’m going to have to try and use it even when I don’t think I need it.

Thewiseone this is what I am afraid will happen to mine. I have two small DC and going back to work in June so definitely don’t have much time - was hoping the gadget would save me time!

Love the Jamie salad video. Though it is kind of a coleslaw which was on my original list grin

Yes it’s a coleslaw but please don’t tell DH that as he doesn’t eat coleslaw but he will eat a Jamie food processor salad

I do agree that the washing up is a phaff but I give the bowl and lid a quick rinse because they are too big for the dishwasher and the rest goes in the machine. Quicker than doing it by hand.

I have a KitchenAid food processor and I love it. I use it at least once a week.My most used attachments are the slicing disc and the blade in the mini bowl. It's great for things like chimichurri, pesto, coriander chutney. Part of the reason I use it so often is that it's out on my counter. if I had to go digging through a cupboard for it then I would probably just get the knife out. It's dishwasher safe (if bulky) which makes it easier too.