Maybe you have just started to eat a little healthier, and want to make more food at home yourself, but it is not realistic to buy both a blender and a food processor at once. Of course, everyone appreciates every inch of countertop space, so you will have to make a choice.
I understand if you are having trouble making that choice because there is more to it than you may think beforehand. You want the appliance that suits you best, is the most versatile so that you keep the space taken up minimal at the same time.
Food processor and blender difference
So, a food processor or blender. What’s the difference? The tasks of food processors and blenders both serve the same end goal: load reduction in the kitchen. They perform tasks through blades and motors that make you in the kitchen finish preparing a meal a little faster.
Types of blenders
- Quick blender
- Standard blender
- Stick blender
Everyone knows the standard blender and the hand blender, but how are they different from the fast blender? A fast blender is simply more powerful than a food processor, which means the blades can turn a bit faster still. This is a good choice for mixed foods, for example. However, blender blades are not necessarily very sharp no matter which one you choose.
Food processor
So, food processor or blender, what is the added value the food processor has to offer. A blender or food processor has ridged and razor-sharp blades. This allows them to cut the substantial and thicker types of food.
The blades are significantly larger than those of the blender and also placed at two different heights. The lower blade scrapes the base and the upper blade chops food from the top. This is designed to allow food to be cut so smaller. In addition, a food processor has additional accessories such as cutting discs and a shredder blade. So this one is especially suitable for labor-intensive tasks.
When do you use a blender?
A blender is often used in the following tasks:
- Blending: a professional high-speed blender such as the one from vitamix is a blender you will often come across. With it, you make delicious drinks that perfectly blend and pulverize everything you put in.
- Grinding: when you need to grind seeds, nuts, legumes and grains into flour this can be tricky and frustrating. You can do this manually, but I can tell you: not recommended! In a standard blender these are quite difficult tasks to do, if you want to ask this of a blender buy a high-speed blender.
- Crushing: Want to make ice out of the blender? This is not an easy task for regular blenders either, you can get this done a lot better with a high-speed blender by the way. Lower quality blades can scrape ice but not ”crush” which is the effect you actually like to see with ice.
When do you use a food processor?
A food processor is often used in the following tasks:
- Chopping
- Grating
- Slicing
- Kneading
- Blending
Something the food processor really excels at is slicing. This is something no blender can actually do. A food processor is really there for the heavier tasks, such as kneading dough for that yummy cake.
Blender or food processor, which do I need?
Then, of course, the answer to the question of all questions. Which of the two do you need?
I can tell you, the food processor is the more advanced and versatile option. Are you primarily looking for a device that can handle the heavier tasks in the kitchen, the real slicing, grinding larger and coarser pieces of food? Then you are looking for a food processor.
Are you mainly looking for a device that can blend well, for tasty smoothies, for example? A device that makes simple kitchen chores easier? Then you are looking for a blender.
So it kind of depends on your situation and what you prefer. Before you make a decision, think again, what tasks should my device perform?