Food processor or blender: which do I need?

Food processor
Updated on 29 May 2023
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Maybe you’ve just started eating a bit healthier, and want to make more food at home yourself, but it’s 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 can understand if you are struggling with that choice because there is more to it than you might think beforehand. You want the appliance that suits you best, and 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 is the difference? The tasks of food processors and blenders both serve the same end goal: to lighten the load in the kitchen. They perform tasks by means of blades and motors that make you finish preparing a meal in the kitchen a bit 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, whichever 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 are 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 extra accessories such as cutting discs and a shredder blade. So it is especially suitable for labour-intensive tasks.

When do you use a blender?

A blender is often used in the following tasks:

  • Blending: a professional high-speed blender like the one from Vitamix is a blender you will often come across. With it, you make delicious drinks that perfectly blend and pulverise everything you put in.
  • Grinding: when you need to grind seeds, nuts, pulses and grains into flour it 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 from the blender? For regular blenders this is not an easy task 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 heavier tasks like for example kneading dough for that tasty cake.

Blender or food processor, which do I need?

Then, of course, the answer to the question of questions. Which of the two do you need? 

I can tell you, the food processor is the more advanced and versatile option. Are you mainly 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 depends a bit on your situation and what you prefer. So before you make a decision, think again, what tasks should my appliance perform?

What would you like to read?

Food processor


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