I never considered myself a kitchen gadget enthusiast until I moved into my current, generously sized apartment. By city living standards, my kitchen felt expansive, almost like it could double as a restaurant supply storage. Funny enough, all it took was a little extra counter space to change my perspective, and now, I’m a proud co-owner of a food processor, among other appliances, and surprisingly, I find myself using it all the time. After a full year of chopping, slicing, shredding, and puréeing various ingredients, I’ve gathered some insights on whether a food processor deserves a spot in your kitchen too.
Let’s begin with the basics: what exactly is a food processor? In its simplest form, a food processor includes a bowl, a secure lid, a motorized base, and a very sharp blade. Think of it as a super-powered knife, exceptionally efficient at rapidly chopping and grinding a wide range of ingredients, from onions and nuts to hard cheeses, in mere seconds. With different attachments, it can effortlessly shred and slice carrots (perfect for carrot cake!), cabbage (slaw!), or potatoes for homemade hash browns!. While there are more advanced attachments available for tasks like kneading dough, juicing, and even more, for this discussion, we’ll focus on the essential, no-frills version of the food processor.
Let’s be clear: unless you’re regularly making homemade nut butters and energy balls, a food processor isn’t strictly essential (I mention these specific foods because they are incredibly challenging to make at home without one). However, if you are someone who values efficient meal preparation, dislikes chopping, has a fear of sharp kitchen tools like mandolines and graters, or lacks confidence in your knife skills, investing in a food processor could significantly speed up your cooking process and make it a more enjoyable experience overall.
I personally use my food processor at least once a week, primarily for making hummus or bean dips, both of which are staples in my diet. I also rely on it for quickly preparing sauces and dips that benefit from a slightly chunky texture. Most food processors feature a “pulse” setting, giving you precise control over the consistency of your ingredients. This makes them ideal for creating wonderfully textured sauces like pesto (BA’s Best) and a variety of versatile green sauces, romesco, salsa, or nam prik, the flavorful Thai chili dip. (It’s worth noting that food processors are not the best choice for achieving an ultra-smooth texture. If your main goal is to make velvety soups or smoothies and you’re limited to one appliance, a high-powered blender would be a more suitable option).
