Food Processors - are they worth it?

[madmax]

I've been thinking about getting one for months. I have RA and it's getting harder to grate various foods. I don't think I need a top of the line model. It's just me and the other half.

How does this one sound. Has gotten good reviews - just wish it came in either SS or Black but, no biggie. Moderately priced so that's a plus, too.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16896110231&cm_re=cuisnart_food_processor-_-96-110-231-_-Product

Do you use your processor a lot? I don't have much counter space so, if it's just going to be one more gadget that will rarely get used I guess I can live without it.

I use a Black & Decker mini chopper for onions and garlic but, would like something for shredding potatos for potato pancakes, grating cheese, maybe pie crust dough, chopping veggies, etc.

[Tesha]

1. I use my at least once a week.

I make my bread dough in my Cuisinart.

It saves hauling out the big mixer and it saves my
aching hands from kneading or stirring. I have to admit
tho' that I have a slide out wire shelf in the cupboard just
under where I use it, so I can stow it away when its not in use.

I also use it for large batches of veg.

For smaller amount of slicing or grating I use my new Japanese mandolin
I can peal with it then slice, I has secondary blades that even grate and its
sharper than anything I've ever had in the kitchen. Its only 12 inches long,
an inch high and about 5 inches across.

I bought it at a local store for the going price, but now Amazon has it on sale
http://www.amazon.com/Kyocera-BN1-Japanese-Mandoline-Slicer/dp/B0000VZ57C

Maybe I should get Christmas presents for my daughters????

[hippywife]

2. Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

Like Tesha said, I use mine at least once a week. There are so many things you can do with it so easily. Well worth the cabinet space.

:hi:

[madmax]

3. I use the hell out of the little Black & Decker

now that I'm a big girl I should go for the mid-size.

If it helps me cut up tons of veggies for soups and stews that's a plus. If I get into making fruit and meat pies this little puppy would help immensely with the dough part.

As summer wanes my thoughts wander to cooking day long dishes over the stove or in the oven. Must be an age thang ;p There is nothing I'd rather do on a winter day than make a big pot of comfort food. :bounce:

My husband and I both use the imersible stick blender that was rec'd on C&B - what a great little powerhouse. Much easier to use than a blender, so easy to clean! Always handy and fits nicely in a drawer. One of my fav kitchen appliances.

Thanks for the nudge and advice.

[Stinky The Clown]

4. That's okay, but consider an 11 or 14 cup model if oyu can swing it

Heavier, to be sure, but more versatile and can make dough. The 7 cup model may do all your chopping needs, but is likely too small to make dough for, say, pizza.

[madmax]

5. Glad you brought that up because

I was thinking - if I'm going for it, why not get one I won't outgrow. Homemade pizza is something I'd like to start making. Pie dough, bread dough etc. so the larger more powerful makes sense. Yesterday a found a niche on the counter that I can keep it out and handy. That little plot of counter real estate is just being wasted with a 'looks' nice canister set that I don't really need.

Made the mistake of not buying a Kitchen Aid mixer and bought the less expensive Sunbeam, which is ok but for a little more $ I could have gotten the KA and added various attachments such as the pasta maker. A few gizmos at a time.

Watching Food Network now and boy do those shredded potato nests with a egg baked in muffin tins are making my mouth water. Not about to shred a slew of spuds with a box grater! x(

[Stinky The Clown]

10. Well, since you've admitted you attitudinal predisposition . . . . . .

:evilgrin:

Go for the largest. It has more available attachments and you will, indeed, never outgrow it. I suggest this because you say you have a spot on the counter for it. It is really kind of heavy to have to lift each time you use it, but if its already there, what he hell, yanno? You'll use it a lot.

Our Cuisinart lives on an open shelf above the counter. A lift, indeed, but not a bad one.

We wash ours in the dishwasher (not the motor base, of course). Our Bosch can do plastic on the top of bottom racks. Most others can do plastic top rack only, but that's still okay. Using the processor and then the the dishwasher makes using it pretty much a no brainer. Handier, in fact, than our Kitchenaid, which also lives on the counter.

By the way, we have a little tiny Cuisnart, too. That's very handy for spices and pesto and that sort of thing. I like to shave garlic, but Sparkly always uses the mini processor to chop it when she needs it. I also use it to make Hollondaise.

[Warpy]

25. I use the Kitchen Aid for all doughs

except pastry dough like piecrusts, shortbreads, and biscuits. The cleanup is far easier for a bowl and paddle than for the Cuisinart.

A 7 cup machine is perfectly adequate for 1-2 people. More than that, you need a bigger machine.

[Warpy]

6. I have the old model of that one and I like it

Whether or not it's a good toy depends on how you cook. Things I find it superior for are things like cutting fat into pastry dough, making breadcrumbs out of stale bread, making fillings for dumplings, and other jobs that are done in the bowl, itself. I rarely use it for grating, although I did when I'd cook huge quantities of food for crowds. The mandoline will still work (I have RA, too) and the cleanup is easier.

Just make sure that plastic lid comes completely apart so you can wash it. I had a commercial size processor that was so safety conscious it couldn't be cleaned. I recycled it to a local mission where the huge bowl size and hefty motor would be appreciated.

I also find that 7 cup bowl the ideal size for one or two people. Cuisinart is still the gold standard for food processors, although Kitchen Aid is moving up fast.

[MajorChode]

7. I use my food processor on just about a daily basis

In addition to the obvious things you can do with a food processor you can also grind meat, make different kinds of flour, make homemade bread, and dozens of other things. I just got done making a batch of humus with mine. It stays out on my counter full time.

Cuisinart makes very good food processors. That's what mine is. However, I suggest you get an 11 cup model at a minimum, rather than a 7 cup. You won't be sorry here.

The one I have is this one:
http://www.cuisinart.com/products/food_processors/dlc-8s.html

I think I got it from either Sams or Costco several years ago. The nice thing about it was that it came with several accessories including two bowls.

[madmax]

8. I know that if I buy one and don't

leave it on the counter it won't get used and that would be a pity. My Sunbeam mixer weighs a ton and sits on the lowest pantry shelf. I use it at Christmas.

Checking various recipes that a FP would be such a great machine to have and make life easier in addition to yummy food. It will have a permanent home along with the coffee pot and toaster.

Yesterday I was craving carrot cake and bought a box mix, ich.

Can't wait to make fruit pies, potato pancakes, zucchini bread, carrot cake, pizza and...

Gosh, I'm hungry.

[hippywife]

14. It's really great for making carrot cake.

And carrot raisin salad, or broccoli raisin salad, or hummus, or slaw, or pie dough, or peanut butter, or pumpkin and similar pie fillings, and so many more possibilities. You are so gonna love this!

I'm jealous of that 11 cupper for that price at Macy's. My 7 cupper is still working great dammit! :rofl:

[madmax]

20. Know what you mean. It's hard to buy

a new anything when we have one that works, but it's just not quite 'there'.

Finally found a Portuguese Grocer in MA that will ship salted dried cod (one of my ethnic cravings). This Christmas the cod fish cakes are going to be so appreciated. It's been 3 years since I've had some. With the FP I can whip up a huge batch so easily.

Making a small trial run today to taste the cod. It's soaking in the fridge as we speak. :bounce:

[hippywife]

23. Known in my family as bakala.

I've never had it since my mother refused to fix it. My dad is Italian and they lived with my immigrant great-grands after they married and for some time after I was born. Gran used to make bakala every Friday while mom was pregnant and the smell made her violently ill. To this day you should see the look on my mom's face when someone mentions it. LOL

Boun appetito! :bounce:

[madmax]

26. My dil hates fish - the smell makes her sick, too.

She does not eat any fish at all - nada, zip. Not even Tuna fish salad.

Christmas Eve without fish? It's a sacrilege! ;) For us it's not the religious aspect, we're pagans when it comes to organized religion and rulz. The thing is it's so expensive it was reserved for holidays. I ordered 4lbs. from MA - cost a tad under 70. with shipping. Ordered skinless boneless, thick pieces. Arrived in 2 days. Since we've been 'deprived' for so long this will be gone before Christmas and I'll need another order.

I'm making Cod for dinner and then 'bolos' with the leftovers. The spousal unit is Cuban and they make it a little different. He's been telling me about his G'ma's dish that he misses. I think I found it - 'In a Cuban Kitchen', by Alex Garcia.

The FP is going to make short order of mixing the cooked cod with potatoes for the fish cakes. Mom used a fork and her fingers. I'll be able to make a huge batch all at once.

For me it's just 'fishy' until it's soaked and the salt is removed. Then it's just good fresh fish. When it's still in the dried faze it's uh, well... lol fishy.

My husband called my Mom the 'Bolo Queen'. Bolo or bolitos, 'little cakes'. He'd be eating them as fast as she pulled them out of the frying pan and she loved it.


:hi:

[hippywife]

27. Family food traditions

are the true comfort foods, no matter where they come from. Aprecie! :D

[madmax]

9. On sale at Macy's

$129.99!

http://www.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=7106&BannerID=PD677&PartnerID=LINKSHARE&LinkshareID=neQRQBqOKtQ-cmoeWMU5f70ApRup9dhH9g

[hippywife]

11. Excellent price.

I'd hit it if I were you. :hi:

[madmax]

12. Oh yes, it's a done deal ;-) nt

[Stinky The Clown]

13. You are going to be *very* happy with that!

Buono fortuna!

[madmax]

16. Grazie amico mio.

Damn, now I'm craving Ravioli.

I have a some very sweet neighbors and I'm looking forward to making an extra pie or cake to share with them.

[MajorChode]

15. That looks like a better package than what I got

The one I got only came with two of those stainless disks. That's a very good price, too. You didn't go wrong.

[Dover]

17. My old GE processor recently broke down and I was considering this one -

also on sale for $129. I haven't done a point by point comparison to the 11 C. one you mentioned, but this one is obviously a little smaller. And it has a 10 yr/3yr warranty.
Not sure about the differences, if any, in power.



Features:

9-Cup Lexan work bowl
Extra-large feed tube slices whole fruits and vegetables
One-piece Cuisinart Supreme feed tube
Stainless steel medium slicing disc (4mm)
Stainless steel shredding disc
Chopping/ mixing blade
Dough blade
Detachable disc stem
Spatula
Recipe/ Instruction book
How-to-DVD
All removable parts are dishwasher-safe
Limited 10-year motor warranty
Limited 3-year warranty


On sale here:

http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/cuisinart-dlc-2009chb-prep-9-food-processor-reviews

[MajorChode]

19. I'm sure it works fine, but for the same price you might as well go with the 11 cup

I find myself using the full capacity of my processor fairly often and there are times when I wish I had an even bigger one. You certainly can do stuff in multiple batches, but that just means you need to divide up your recipe and remeasure everything. The 11 cup model seems to be about the right size to do the vast majority of things you'd want to do.

[madmax]

21. I so love the look of that model - very sleek.

But, I went for the 11 cup.

[noamnety]

18. I use mine several times a week.

Cole slaw, pie crusts, cookie dough, grating potatoes, zucchinis from the garden to freeze or use in bread, grinding graham crackers for crusts, etc.

I have the cuisinart elite 12 cup, it has a serious gasket at the top and it's designed to handle a lot of liquids unlike most of them. (Kitchenaid has a very low liquid fill line). I make my own version of bailey's in it. It has a smaller 4 cup bowl that fits into the big one, it's good for chopping herbs or nuts.

I've used it to shred soap for homemade laundry detergent.

I love the wide mouth on it. I had a smaller one before and I hated having to prechop things to fit them in the chute.

[hippywife]

22. The possibilities

are truly endless, aren't they? :hi:

[madmax]

24. Thank you guys for all the input

When it comes to recipes, cooking appliances, techniques, gizmos, gadgets etc. I know I can count on expert advice from C&B.

Now that I'm not working I'd like to play and try things I wanted to do, but never had the time. Baking, cooking and enjoying food and good company. Now it's now just something we do to live - it's a way to share with our friends - good times, bad times, and relaxation times.

Mom was a soup, stew and stick to your ribs type food person. No baking - so I'm learning it all from scratch.

:toast: to all of you.

Can't wait to get the new toy :rofl:

[Stinky The Clown]

32. Ravioli

Use the cuisinart to make the dough and then use it to make the filling. Recipes abound. Great fun.

[MrMickeysMom]

28. I went to a home and garden show about 8 years ago and got this-

BAMIX OF SWITZERLAND

It was around $70 dollars at the time. I use it for so many things. Customer services are great.

[madmax]

29. Love the stick blenders

so easy to use and clean. Keep it in a drawer and it's always handy.

Had a blender for 30 years. In one year I've used the stick blender more than I ever used my blender.

[Warpy]

30. Mine came with a wall rack

which I have mounted on the side of a cabinet so that the clean but wet immersion blender just drips into the sink.

Immersion blenders are great for fruit smoothies and soups but generally don't have enough power to crush ice. They will, however, puree things in a plastic baggie or drinking glass, saving on cleaning a blender jar.

[MrMickeysMom]

31. Not only did it crush ice...

I have an end whipper thing that makes it into a great slushie. I will put frozen berries, some sweetner, and ice, and that sucker crushed the hell out of the ice.

I don't make those things anymore, but it did a hell of a job and still does.

[Warpy]

36. My next one will

I'm going to upgrade to the mid size Waring that should do all household blending jobs including crushing ice. The old one has to conk out first, and it gets light use doing soups, whipped cream and smoothies so I'm anticipating it will live forever.

[madmax]

34. The baggie!

That's a great idea - I'm a lazy wench :P

[Retrograde]

38. Mine has a tendency to sling hot soup all over the stovetop

and me - I must be doing something wrong (I have one of the early Braun models - it's ok if I have it in a deep pot completely submerged, but the blade guards seem to get in the way of blending shallower liquids).

OTOH, I love my mini-Cuisinart for mincing small amounts of stuff, and making pastes like tapenade.

[Warpy]

41. You just need to work on your technique a bit

Take your hand off the button as you lift and start to press the button as you submerge through some unblended stuff that sitting stubbornly on the top. That decreases the mess tremendously and the only thing you'll spatter is the side of the pot. You can also use the stick in the off position to stir things up between blending runs, that also tends to get the few cubes of potatoes or slices of leek or whatever off the top and into the blades.

[kestrel91316]

33. Yes. Mine is stored a bit inconveniently, but I still wouldn't want to be without it.

My BIL, the family chef/nuclear pharmacist, uses his Cuisinart almost daily and has done so since about 1980. Actually that Cuisinart is with my niece now. BIL got a new one for his 30 yr anniversary at work, lol.

[madmax]

35. Update - it's here!

OMG - it's BIG. Not big in the sense that it takes up a lot of counter space but, the bowl is big. The good news is that I can make enough for more than one meal and freeze meals. Now, I'll need a bigger freezer. :rofl:

We're going on vacation so I won't be able to give it a spin until we get back. I'm so anxious to play with this puppy. :bounce:

I'm a late bloomer regarding cooking. Didn't have time really, life got in the way.

Side note: My microwave won't heat food. It's only 3 years old. :grr: Another 'thing' to be addressed after the vacation. <sigh>

Thanks for all for the great input regarding the FP.

[hippywife]

37. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

So excited for you! Enjoy your vacation and then get back here pronto and get to work, young lady! :rofl:

[Inchworm]

39. Yay! Next up FoodSaver vacuum storage thingy

Mine is a bit older model, but man alive at the things you can freeze and keep with it. It is just me here (and the dogs), so I can freeze portions of cut up stuff more efficiently. Add the garden season to that and life is good :)

http://www.foodsaver.com/Index.aspx

:9

[Jazzgirl]

40. Same with me Inchy!

My Mom gave me a Foodsaver when I first moved in my house 8 years ago. I left it in the box in the garage because I didn't even think about it. I was at my girlfriends house one night and she and her husband were using one to freeze a bunch of food. That was 2 years ago. I pulled it into the house and it has been a workhorse. I vacuum freeze everything and my freezer is so neat. Its great when you are alone to be able to pull out something you really like and it tastes like you just fixed it. I would get the upgraded upright model but this one works so well I can't justify it.

[Inchworm]

42. Yup- the cost of the bag material hinders me some

But waaaay worth having a good meal, or fresh vegetables, or portioned meat when you want :)

:hi: