Food Processor Advice needed by expat

[august24]

Just had an awful experience with a food processor that I bought at Argos(I know I should have known better)it broke when I tried to make a smoothie, and earlier I had tried to make hummus and it was a lot of trouble to get the chickpeas to mash up. Needless to say I returned it. I am honestly perplexed by the price/quality of things here in London and I need some advice. At John Lewis, the cheapest food processor is 99 pounds, and I am not sure I can justify that price as I don't know what the "good" brands are. I am shocked at the price of some of the more expensive ones, because if I spent over a hundred dollars on a food processor in the USA I would be getting the very top of the line. What brand of food processor would you recomend and where would be the best place to buy it?(I always turn to John Lewis because I fins the quality to be great, but the prices seem high) Thanks in Advance

Also has anyone ever used their USA food processor with a convertor?

Magimix is expensive but widely agreed to be the best food processor brand, I think, expat. I love mine and think it was worth the initial outlay because they seem to last forever and are guaranteed for 10 years. Sorry to hear about the bad experience with the Argos one.

Oops- thought you were expatkat from the title! Sorry august24.

Anything sold at John Lewis is good if not excellent quality, August. If you can afford it and you know you'll use it, I'd buy from them.

Sorry I was too poor as a student in California to ever own a food processor! But the deli staff in the health food shop where I worked used to make humous in a Champion Juicer; I think they retailed for near $200 15 years ago, so £99 today doesn't seem bad to me.

have to agree - i have magimix and use it all the time. never had a single problem with it. my mum's had hers for 20 years and same thing!

I've had a Magimix for a long time, more than 15yrs I should think, and it's never missed a beat.

August, I use my American food processor with a transformer. (A mere "converter" would be a disaster; don't try that!) But I have lots of American appliances (wedding gifts) so it makes sense for us to have a transformer, as it's used v. often and meant we didn't have to buy new stuff. Are you familiar with transformers? They are almost the size of a small appliance themselves, but not expensive.

"Also has anyone ever used their USA food processor with a convertor?"

Yes, I am using my very powerful Cuisinart via a transformer. It works absolutely fine, as does my separate Cuisinart blender.

I've had Magimix and Kenwood over the years in the UK, and they have been fine too. I don't see that the Cuisinart is any better, although it was at least double the price.

thanks Expatkat, I meant a transformer. How much do they cost? I have a ton of great appliences at home(including my kitchen aid mixer, Cuisinart food processor, ice cream maker, stick blender and regular blender , ) that I would love to bring over, but was worried that long term transformer use would cause my applience to break(just remember that from somewhere not sure if it is true)? Where would I get a tranformer, any other details I should know?

I am torn about buying something here as I don't know how long we will be here(at this point I think only another year, my husband on the hand is of the idea this will be our lifelong home! ), also it is hard as I accumulated my things at home over years, but to buy all those things now would be so expensive. I am going home next week and think I will bring my Cuisinart back with me if I can get some details on the transformer

I have all my American kitchen appliances routed through a 1000W transformer. I bought mine in the US from an online store - www.world-import.com . It cost $40. It is very heavy, so it might be an idea to source one in the UK.

Meant to add - the attitude I had to small appliances was that I couldn't really sell them for very much, if at all (more likely give them away to neighbours and relatives) so it was worth the gamble bringing them to the UK as we weren't paying for shipping. So far, the gamble has paid off, because I have working appliances and I haven't had to fork out several hundred pounds in replacing them.

Glad Ameriscott came through with details on where to get one, 'cause I'm not sure. We bought ours in the US just before we left to come here. As far as appliances breaking, though. . .we've been here for 6 yrs and the appliances all work as good as new, in spite of their going through the transformer.

But that's a tough one, august, about your disagreement with your dh over how much longer you'll be here. I've heard of that happening a lot. Hope you resolve it.

that's how I feel Ameriscot about buying things here, if I spend 100+ pounds on something, I won't be able to resell it for very much. My things in the USA are in my house, I had left them for my tenants, but as they are leaving and I have a new set moving in I think I will take the things I want. So now I just need to sort out a transformer.

Expatkat, I will win in the end(about moving home), I am sure about it, I just am waiting for my husband to come to his senses And there are worse places then London, I just feel that I had a level of comfortablility in the States as we had owned our house for 3 years and had just moved into that stage where we were finished with the unfun renovations(the roof and asbestos) and were on the the fun bits, and now here I am living like a student in rented accomodations with someone else's yucky couch etc!!!!

Thanks again for all your help!

August24, thanks for this thread. I've been wondering about food processors and the like, too. And I also commiserate with you about you thinking you'll be here a year, and your DH thinking this is forever your home!