Please talk to me about mixers/food processors - I have qs and need reccomendations!

[CountessDracula]

Now
I have never had a food processor
I have a little hand held mixer that is at least 1000 years old and the motor is going

I still do all cakes, pastry, chopping etc by hand

DH has at last agreed to buy me something along these lines for my bday (he is v anti getting things like this for bday pressies but I have pointed out that there are only so many earrings etc that a girl can have!)

SO my qs

1. Can you get a combined food processor/mixer? Or do I get them singly

1. What do you actually use a food processor for?? Tell me your best time saving tips.

1. Does it taste as good if you make pastry for eg in food processor

1. What are the best makes. Kitchenaid look nice but are they actually good?

Bet you don't get that with a kitchenaid

ref the 'cleaning'... i have a dishwasher...and cleaning parts is no effort...however when have tried washing up grating discs by hand...have not found it at all pleasant!!!

So, i think a processor needs a diswasher buddy!

Another vote for the brill Kitchenaid here

And Foodprocessors, ours is a magimix

Both pricey but worth it

It won't live on worktop fyi

True I think the Kenwood is seriously heavier (in my mind a reason not to get it)

Mine will live on the worktop because with all the business that will be flooding in soon (I hope) I will be using it a lot, so want something that looks good too.

I have a Moulinex and it is fab! Does all sorts. Easy to use and clean. Not too big either.

I have a kenwood mixer, I think it´s the Kenwood Chef.

I use the mixer bowl with the whisk attachment for egg whites, with dough hook for bread and with mixer attachment for cakes and biscuits.

I use the liquidiser jug on top for hummous, breadcrumbs, soup, milkshakes...

I also have a stick blender that gets used for small amounts of soup etc.

It´s great, but I would like to buy a spare couple of bowls so can do various things one after another without washing up in between.

Yes spare bowls are a must, I keep mine on the worktop, am not at all shy about it and I rather like the fact it's very anti Nigella. My friend has a kitchenaid and it seems very insubstantial compared to the Chef. And when I am feeling v. lazy I pop bread dough in it too and the blender that comes with it is far superior to the one on my processor.

ok so which Kenwood Chef there are billions of the buggers

I would go with the one you linked, probably because I have the older version.

Ooh am now in a quandry wether to get the kitchenaid or kenwood. I much prfer the style of the kitchenaid, but need a tough durable machine!?!?!?

COV (and CD too) go to a Kitchen shop, or JL and have a look at both and compare. Only then will you be able to make a decision as to which one you want.

You need to leave it plugged in on the worktop or you will never use it.

I have a magimix and use the normal blade for almost everything - bread, cakes, soups, etc. I also have the lemon squeezer attachment and the juicer. All works really well, but if it was in the cupboard I would never use it.

We've just got a new Kenwood. The old one died. However, I inherited it from my grandmother - although , as she died when I was 10 it stayed in the garage for about 14 years until I got my own house. So I don't think that 40 yrs or so is too bad for something like this.

We've replaced it with a stainless steel Kenwood - for what we do, the heavier the better (although new one lighter than old one) as we make bread 2 or 3 times a week and leave it kneading for 5 mins or so - lighter versions can travel across the counter and threaten to fall off in this time.

We have a magimix foodprocessor - I understand that the benefit of having a 'tall' one as opposed to a 'wide' one is that the motor can drive the tools direct, rather than via a drive belt...

We use the Kenwood for Bread, cakes, whipping things and soups/smoothies (in liquidiser); we use the food processor for grating (cheese, veg) pastry, hummous and guacamole.

Cies I ordered a spare bowl on Monday as mine fell off the draiing board and it has come today, so they are available.

Kitchenaid for mixers
Magimix food processors
obvious really

to you maybe

yes well maybe....BUT....I've just found one for half pricehere
ooooh it's lovely!!!

Message withdrawn

Get a Kenwood Chef Major. The bigger bowl is really useful and it has a huge motor.

Have been mulling this over as well, CD, since the motor on my hand mixer phutted to death in blue smoke.

Part of me thinks I can do without one. Same way I measure quantities by eye using measuring jug since the battery went in my scales & I never remember to buy a new one...
I recall the yogurt machine never unpacked once since we moved in here 2 yrs ago.
And the bread machine still waiting for a replacement kneading blade...

I chop, can't see what I'd get out of chopper-wotsit apart from more washing up.
Use balloon whisks.
Make pastry by hand. Though must admit can't remember when I last did.
Don't like making cakes, prefer savoury stuff but autumn makes me think of baking more & guilt at not having done any baking for ages with s2 (my sous chef) and d.

Then there's the choice...
Will watch with interest.

Well, new bowl arrived, all fits but doesn't work with original lid. And I have smashed my 2 glass bowls. I did that last year as well.