Before air-fryers and hand blenders became kitchen fads, good ol’ processors and blenders have worked overtime to puree, blend, emulsify, chop and grate ingredients. Both instruments, known to have strong blades that cut rapidly through ingredients, can be manipulated into producing the desired texture required to facilitate a recipe. Fundamentally speaking, certain jobs that a food blender would do decently, a food processor would elevate due to its configuration. Although both appliances are multi-purpose, characteristic qualities differentiate one from the other significantly.
Food Processor
For the uninitiated, a food processor typically consists of a base – that is formed by the motor, a bowl and removable set of blades. Most modern models of the appliance also come with interchangeable discs which facilitate the performance of tasks such as grating. The S-shaped blade of a food processor turns rapidly once the bowl and blade are fitted to the base, allowing for ingredients to be chopped, shredded or sliced as needed. The disc attachment in a processor tackles ingredients fed through the chute and are usually accompanied by a pusher to move ingredients from the chute closer to the spinning disc. For tasks that one anticipates can be messy or for tasks that would otherwise take longer, if done manually, the food processor comes in handy to perform everything from fine chopping and even making dough or batters. The maximum fill line for a food processor is lower than that of a blender, allowing for limited quantities of ingredients to be processed at once. While blenders are ideal for ingredients which could slide off of the walls of the appliance easily, a food processor is great for dealing with sticky or hard to extract ingredients.
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Food Blender
Creating a vortex as ingredients or liquids spin rapidly within the deep jar of a food blender, the appliance creates a vacuum effect by circulating contents throughout the container. Unlike a processor which can be high maintenance, a food blender is relatively easy to clean-up once used. Once turned on, the blender pulls food to the bottom where the blade is located and pulverizes, purees or emulsifies it. Although smaller than food processor blades, blender blades are sharp and angled upwards to create the vortex. Whether it is used to make soups, smoothies or sauces, a food blender can provide a silken smooth texture unlike its counterpart – making it favourable for both, hot or cold ingredients to be processed without lumps or a grainy mouthfeel. While food processors are better suited for foods that must feel a little more solid in texture, blenders are ideal for recipes which require a higher liquid ratio. Besides this, a blender is ideal for tidy transfers from appliance to vessel, quite contrary to a processor which might require a bit more finesse.