When you cook a lot, you can start to feel like you spend the entire time slicing, dicing and chopping, (as well as washing, peeling, etc.). In order to help cut back on this task, I often use my food processor (affiliate link). I am lucky enough to have a full sized version as well as a mini. Whether or not I choose to use it depends mostly on the amount of chopping I see in my future, however, I will say that when I choose to use it, I never regret it. For some, the idea of taking it out, setting in up and washing all the parts afterwards is daunting and doesn’t seem worth it, but I find that it is a time saver in the end. Remember, it is dishwasher safe on the top rack so you don’t have to get your hands too dirty.
Top reasons why I love my food processor:
1. It’s easy. Once you get the hang of the machine, it works like magic. Take some time and learn when itis best to use the metal blade and when you should be using the discs. My past conversations lead me to believe that many people use their food processor simply as a blender; the discs themselves hidden away in the back of a cabinet, collecting dust. A food processor can do so much more than make a smoothie, plus, many of us already have a blender that we use. If your food processor is being under used (or, sigh, not used at all), there is no better day than today to take it for a spin. If you keep it stored away, perhaps try leaving it on the counter for a week or two or even for the month. Having it in eye’s view just might encourages you to use it. Start by making these (Pea)nut Butter Date Granola Bars and realize just how powerful your food processor is (and how delicious homemade bars are)!
2. It’s quick. You can literally make homemade salsa in two minutes. Chopping the garlic, onion, cilantro and tomatoes for this tasty appetizer could easily take ten to fifteen minutes which is why most of us simply pop open a jar and call it a day. But trust me, the homemade version is so much better and super quick if you use your food processor. Try it out with Mama’s Salsa recipe; you will be amazed that in under five minutes you can be enjoying restaurant quality salsa. Olé! I also love me some caramelized onions. I couldn’t imagine slicing eight onions thinly with a knife. Not only would my wrist hate me, I would surely be crying for hours—onion prep is the worst! Using a food processor with the slicing disc in place makes my onions ready for caramelizing in seconds! Need shredded carrots for this Carrot Ginger Bread? Just attach the shredding disc and you’ll be done in seconds! You’ll be shocked at how much time this machine can save you. Once you realize how quick and easy vegetable prep can be, hopefully you will be motivated to make some dishes that include a lot of slicing and dicing (think scalloped potatoes or French onion soup). Just let your food processor do the heavy lifting.
3. It’s even. If you are not a professionally trained chef, and perhaps even if you are, it can truly be a challenge to evenly slice veggies. Not a problem when using the slicing discs! You will fool all your guests into thinking you are a pro! Also, if you enjoy certain veggies sliced super thin like I do, you’ll be excited to learn that if you have a 1mm (or 2mm or 3mm) disc, you can achieve perfection every time. For example, paper-thin radishes are one of my go-to’s, but I honestly could never achieve my desired thinness with a knife. Using my 1mm disc, my radish slices are magazine cover worthy.
4. It opens cooking doors. Once you understand how the blades and discs you’ve never used before work, you will realize that you too can make those perfectly cut homemade French fries that you saw on Instagram…and those scalloped potatoes and shredded hash browns. Yes, the food processor will slice, julienne and shred potatoes in seconds. Recipes that before seemed too difficult or too time consuming magically become completely accessible. You can even beat egg whites to perfect peaks without using a hand mixer or make pizza dough and bread even if you don’t have a stand mixer. I’m telling you; your food processor will make you feel like a pro!!!
Get food processor-ing!
There are many more reasons that I love my food processor (can you tell I have a mild obsession), but I’ll stop here. I challenge you to familiarize yourself with your food processor. Leave it on the counter. Watch and read some tutorials online. Find some recipes that are food processor friendly (here is an Arugula Pesto that will be done in seconds). And then, let me know how it goes and what you made by leaving a comment below! Have fun! Enjoy! Buen provecho!
