See what MNers think of Kenwood’s new kCook and be in with a chance to win your own! NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for the 20 Mumsnetters who tried the Kenwood kCook.

Here’s what the people at Kenwood say, “Whipping up a one-pot wonder for your family has never been easier thanks to the new kCook cooking food processor from Kenwood which not only chops and stirs, but also cooks delicious dishes at the touch of a few buttons. All this, plus a fantastic specially-developed recipe app to provide a little inspiration at every meal time, makes the kCook the new must-have kitchen essential.

The three bowl tools coupled with the app make the laborious tasks of thinking up a meal, preparing ingredients and endlessly stirring over a hot stove a thing of the past. Simply follow one of over 200 recipes available on the app, or adapt them to your taste using the kCook’s manual modes which allow the speeds and temperatures to be changed.”

Testers, we’d like you to answer the below questions:

Q1. How would you describe the kCook to friends or family who had never heard of it before? What was your overall impression of it?

Q2. How easy, or not, did you find to use the kCook? What time saving tips did you find when using the kCook?

Q3. What family meals did you create with the kCook? Did they go down well with your family? We’d love it if you could post some pictures of your dishes on this thread.

Q4. Did you use the Kenwood recipe app? If so, what did you think of it? Did you discover new recipes you hadn’t tried before?

Q5. If it came up in conversation, do you think you’d recommend the kCook to friends and family? If so, why? If not, why not?

Non-testers, what’s your favourite dish to make in a food processor? Everyone who adds their thoughts to this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win their own kCook.

Thanks
MNHQ

Non tester

I use my food processor for dishes which would otherwise require much chopping. A favourite is slaw - finely chopped fennel, cabbage, courgette and carrot with a sesame oil and lemon dressing.

I use my food processor for soups...carrot and coriander, vegetable, ham and pea...and many more.

Hi, a very lucky tester here!

Q1. I'd describe it as a food processor that also cooks. My first impression was that it is very sleek and stylish - I'd be happy to have this on the kitchen side rather than in the cupboard.

Q2. Very easy to use. Controls are easy to get to grips with. Instructions easy to follow. Also good to clean, which is an added time-saver.

Q3. I've made tomato & red pepper soup, which was gorgeous. Also made the spaghetti bolognase, but found it too runny - probably my own fault. It tasted lovely though, and the kids loved it.

Q4. I did use the app for the spag bol, and am going to attempt a risotto from the app next. I actually think the app is a major selling point. It's got some really lovely recipes, and I'm always struggling for inspiration so this is great for me! Very easy to follow step-by-step instructions too.

Q5. It is definitely a very useful piece of equipment, which I can see me actually using a lot. I'd recommend it for the ease of use, the excellent app, and the look of it. I would say the cons are that it's not bigger, so you can't batch cook, and also (sorry) the price. I'm not sure I'd shell out £330 for it.

I'm a non-tester but do use my food processor, mainly to make pesto with my homegrown basil for pasta and salad dressings, dough for pizza and bread and chop nuts for various things - I know chopping nuts is a really simple task but for some reason, if I do it manually, they end up pinging off all over the kitchen!

ecuse Thank you for your thoughts on porridge. Will try it soon when the weather cools down. Can't really contemplate it for breakfast at the mo!

When you detach the bowl from the base, you'll see pins in the base of the bowl which locate into hidden rubbery slots in the base itself when you re-attach it. (Am I making sense here?)

However, when I've washed it in the dishwasher, I stand it on a tea towel on top of my boiler to ensure that the base is really dry before re assembling it.

Non tester- I use my food processor for all. Sorts. It's 11 years old and desperately in a sorry state.

I love making breadcrumbs for chicken nuggets for the kids, followed by blitzing veg for hidden veg dishes, bases for cheesecake, pastry, houmous, soup. They are so versatile I could wax lyrical for ages.
My favourite would have to be breadcrumbs

Non tester who loves to make a lovely curry paste in a food processor

Made the carbonara last night from the app, I adjusted it slightly (included onion, pepper, mushroom and chilli) but it was very nice. Will definitely make it again.

Also cooked spaghetti in saucepan rather than an extra step in Kcook as saved time. Had to cook bacon much longer than recommended

Only con was that the spaghetti wrapped around the centre post so didn't mix too well

Would be good if you could set stir speed, heat and time without it being a specific program

This sounds great. Tbh I'm still getting over not being picked

My favourite things at the moment would be soups, but I am thinking with this I could make stifado (lovely Greek stew). Something that would allow really slow cooking would be ideal for getting it super tender.

Non-tester. I don't have a food processor, but if I did, I imagine it would be great for chopping onions (which I hate!) or for making lovely soups with lots of nice veggies.

Q1. How would you describe the kCook to friends or family who had never heard of it before? What was your overall impression of it?

I have been describing it as a food processor that cooks, stirs and steams. I was a little worried the dish was a bit small at first, but i like the compact-ness of it. The stainless steel and white fits nicely with my kitchen and doesn't look too OTT

Q2. How easy, or not, did you find to use the kCook? What time saving tips did you find when using the kCook?

It is quite easy to use. I think even without the instructions it is quite intuative. The risotto was definitely time saving as i could get on with other jobs as the stiring was done by the kCook. The chopping action seems much better than my old kenwood processor. I havent used the steamer yet.

Q3. What family meals did you create with the kCook? Did they go down well with your family? We’d love it if you could post some pictures of your dishes on this thread.

made risotto twice. First time a disaster as the automatic 'keep warm cycle turned it to wallpaper paste. Tried again and it was rather good! *
Q4. Did you use the Kenwood recipe app? If so, what did you think of it? Did you discover new recipes you hadn’t tried before?

risotto off the app. I did change recipe and reduced the amount of liquid as other testers had suggested. Lots to chose from. The app i think could be improved slightly. I'd like to search using ingrediants. And when you click back it goes to top of a long list so you gave to slide down again. Also-many recipes have too longer name to show on the screen. When you click on title it still doesn't reveal it!

Q5. If it came up in conversation, do you think you’d recommend the kCook to friends and family? If so, why? If not, why not?
I would. But only to friends that i knew could afford it! And most of mine wouldnt be able to. It is a nice gadget and i will use it loads. I was in need of a new processor and this it great. Easier to clean than the last one and much less cumbersom. However-some features of older model are missing. I have no attachment for slicing potatoes for hotpot!

Thank you kenwood and mumsnet.

Non tester

I don't own a food processor but if I did I would use it for soups and pastries. I love the sound of the risotto recipe already mentioned.

Another one disappointed not to be picked!

non tester

soups great for summer and winter

i spent ages refusing to believe that the bowl wouldn't detach, before sort of dipping into the full washing up bowl

I did paella tonight. It was a bit mushy and watery TBH - but i think I'm still struggling with reducing liquids enough. Am having a crack at the proper recipes over the weekend.

I am going to attempt something cakey at the weekend.

Pate!, I make it about once a month, so easy and great for lunches

Chicken and butterbean stew recipe from the App today. It was tasty but I got muddled up again pressing pause and start when adding things and I 'lost' what stage I was supposed to be at - what the machine was doing didn't seem to tie up with what the recipe was suggesting.

I know it displays 1,2,3,4 on the machine as you move through to stages, it would be quite good if this was indicated on the recipe too to keep you right.

Tester here:

Q1. How would you describe the kCook to friends or family who had never heard of it before? What was your overall impression of it?
A food processor that cooks. I loved the size of it and the general appearance overall. I have a small kitchen and cupboard space is at a premium.

Q2. How easy, or not, did you find to use the kCook? What time saving tips did you find when using the kCook?
Very easy. I was amazed how quickly it heated up. Definitely easier than a lot of other dishes. It's missing a timer though.

Q3. What family meals did you create with the kCook? Did they go down well with your family? We’d love it if you could post some pictures of your dishes on this thread.
I made risotto and porridge. Both very tasty. Really enjoyable and very easy to use.

Q4. Did you use the Kenwood recipe app? If so, what did you think of it? Did you discover new recipes you hadn’t tried before?
Yes, very clear and easy. Search function could be improved

Q5. If it came up in conversation, do you think you’d recommend the kCook to friends and family? If so, why? If not, why not? Not sure. Think it's a bit gimmicky and the price is very expensive!

non tester: like others, i make tom sauce for spag bol, hiding extra veggies in the sauce

Non-tester

Spaghetti Bolognese. Making the Spaghetti sauce is so much easier and very delicious! :)

Non tester

Spicy butternut squash soup is my favourite. DD loves smoothies (amazing what goodness you can hide in a smoothie) and houmous. Another one gutted not to have been chosen. My DS was even more gutted, he wanted to steal it to take to uni in September!

Non Tester:

My favourite thing to make is spicy tomato and red pepper soup. My whole family love it.

Non-tester My favourite dish to make in a food processor is hummus, I love experimenting with different flavours like Red pepper, Citrus, caramalised onion and Minty

I am currently making my first meal in the kcook! It's brilliant, I am sitting her MNing and don't feel guilty because I'm making a nice healthy meals for later!

I have decided to just go with my instinct first instead of using one of the recipes, I am making a vegetarian lentil and (quorn) bacon soup. I regularly make soup but never done this as I usually just throw it all in with boiling water, this has allowed me to cook off the onions and bacon first

The biggest struggle I have had is the kettle refusing to boil can I test a new kettle next please seriously though, I was expecting lots of struggles and problems with first use and haven't had a single one yet!

Looking forward to seeing the results

My 7mo enjoying the macaroni cheese with added broccoli