Food processors are godsend gift, especially for people who juggle between personal and professional lives. It transforms the way you prep up for the cooking, saving a lot of time.
If you think, you haven’t been using it to the fullest, then this article is for you.
We have provided all the tips and tricks that help you use the food processor efficiently.
Table of Contents
Step-By-Step Guide To Using Your Food Processor
Here is an ultimate guide that will teach you how to use a food processor.
Step 1: Plug it in
The initial step in this process is to plug the food processor into an electric socket. Make sure you unwind the cable of the appliance without any tangles and plug it in. Be sure that both the plug and socket are clean and dry.
Step 2: Attach the Jug to the Base
Moving on to the next step, set the jar on the base. Now lock it into position by twisting the bowl in the anti-clockwise direction. If you are using a large jug, you can attach it to the large main base. If you are using a smaller one, you will find the point to fix it on the top of the main stand.
Step 3: Choose your Blade or Attachment
The next step is to choose the blade or attachment depending on the task that you want to perform. If you would like to mince, chop, mash, or puree, use the knife blade and attach it to the central mechanism of the jar. You will hear a click sound once it locks in its position. Initially, you may find the blade wiggling, but a small anti-clockwise twist would do.
Let us have a look at the other frequently used attachments:
S-shaped Blade
Almost every food processor comes with this standard S-shaped blade. It is ideal for chopping fruits and vegetables, making puree soups and sauces, and, also, for grinding dry ingredients into a powder.
You can use this as a default blade for recipes without a specified attachment.
Slicing Disk
As the name suggests, you can use a slicing disk to slice fruits and vegetables into thin pieces. Unlike other blades, the slicing disk is an attachment, which you find near the lid of the food processor bowl. Put the veggies or other food items through the feed tube on the lid that hit the disc first. After touching the disc, they get cut into thin slices.
Shredding or Grater Attachment
The shredding or grater attachment is similar to the slicing disc, which sits near the lid of the food processor bowl. Some food processor models have both slicing and shredding attachments combined. All you have to do is flip the disk to use the features. A shredding disc is best suitable for shredding your vegetables or grating cheese.
Dough Blade
Free yourself from the hassle of kneading the dough by simply using this blade in your food processor. Like the knife or S-shaped blade, you find an attachment of this blade at the bottom of the processor. This blade sits at the bottom of a food processor and is plastic-made.
Made of plastic, a dough blade is a common accessory that you get in all high-end food processors. You can use it for kneading any kind of dough like bread, pizza, and even pie.
You can select the appropriate blade from the list of attachments you get and just fix it in the bowl to use it. After attaching it, you can get started with your recipe. However, you have to be extra cautious because the blades are very sharp. You might hurt yourself when cleaning, fixing, or replacing them. Hence, be careful with the blades.
Step 4: Fix the Lid in Place
Once you have the right blade or attachment in place, it is time to close the food processor bowl with the lid. If you are using the main or knife blade, add all your required ingredients into the bowl before closing it. Lock the lid into position by twisting it in the anti-clockwise direction. Ensure the feeding tube or funnel is to the left of the handle.
Step 5: Turn the Food Processor On
Once you lock the lid of the food processor bowl, it is time to turn on the appliance. Most units do not operate until you fix the lid in place. Now, start processing your food. Every processor has two buttons namely, “pulse” and “run”, to chop, and blend food, respectively.
You can use the run button to blend ingredients into a smooth soup, create sauces and mayo.
On the other hand, the pulse button helps you chop food the way you like it. However, you need to hold the button down to operate the processor. Keep press the pause button in one-second intervals until the food gets chopped.
For other food processors with more than two buttons, we suggest referring to the user manual to know how to use them.
Step 6: Add your Ingredients
If you are using a shredding or slicing disc, you may have to add the ingredients now to process them. Keep adding the ingredients by pushing them through the funnel or the feeding tube of the lid to come in contact with the disc directly. This allows slicing or grating of the food as desired. The other benefit is that it protects your hand from any potential accidents.
Step 7: Add Any Additional Ingredients
We know that not all recipes work the same way. Some recipes require blending all ingredients at once. And for that, you will have to place all the items inside the bowl before closing the lid.
Whereas, some other recipes may demand adding the ingredients slowly one after the other, during the blending process. In such a case, use the feed tube pusher to push the items down into the processor while it is running.
If the processor does not have a tube, do not worry. Turn off the processor first, remove the lid and now add any additional ingredients. After adding, resume the operation. Repeat the process until you finish adding and blending all items.
Step 8: Watch The Magic Happen
Your food processor is so quick that it performs any task in just a few seconds. Let us say, you want to blend all the ingredients into a puree. After you turned on the process, watch how it magically blends everything in just no time.
Are you using a disc attachment? Watch your bowl fill up instantly with finely processed items as you keep pressing them down through the funnel.
Step 9: Turn off the Processor
After you finished the processing, turn off the appliance, remove the lid and transfer the food outside.
Step 10: Clean the Elements
After every use, it is essential to clean the food processor neatly before you store it. It not only keeps the appliance working in good condition but also increases the lifespan.
This is how you can clean your food processor:
What all you need:
- Dish Soap
- Warm Water
- Soft Cloth
- Tea Towel
Instructions:
- Add a few drops of dish soap to the food processor bowl.
- Now, add warm water to the bowl up to the marked line and close the lid.
- After locking the lid, turn on the food processor for a few seconds. You will notice bubbles inside the bow.
- Turn off the appliance and open the lid.
- Remove the blades or attachments from the bowl and wash them with warm soapy water.
- If you notice any leftover ingredients, neatly scrape them out of the bowl, the lid, and the funnel cover.
- Use a soft cloth dipped in warm soapy water to clean all the parts of the processor.
- After cleaning, use a tea towel to dry the food processor. You may also leave the appliance to air dry.
Step 11: Stack it Together, Tidy Away
This is the final step in the usage. Reassemble all the parts of the food processor together and then store the appliance in your kitchen cupboard or the countertop. Next time when you want to use it, it is all ready to go.
How to use Food Processor Shredding and Slicing Discs?
Most food processor models have reversible slicer and grater discs for slicing and grating. The highly advanced models, these days, come with different blades, i.e., slicing blade and shredding blade. These individual attachments make your tasks easier, q