A food processor is one of the best time-saving appliances to have in a kitchen. It takes the hard work out of slicing carrots, chopping onions, dicing potatoes and preparing similar types of food for cooking or eating.
Food processors come in a range of shapes and sizes. If you are looking to buy a new food processor, or replace an old one, it’s worthwhile doing extensive research before you make your purchase, as you are likely to live your choice for quite a while.
When in the market for a new food processor there are several practical things to take into consideration.; your budget, the space available in your kitchen, how often you are likely to use it and the amount of noise it makes when it’s doing its job. When you have made your decisions regarding these choices you can then look further at the type of machine you want and the available accessories.
The practical options:
Budget
At the bottom end of the food processor scale you can buy an appliance for about $30. A mid-range processor costs about $70, and there are domestic machines available for $150 and more.
My advice is to buy the best you can afford. If you are seriously into cooking then a top of the range processor might well be for you, if not, look for something in the mid-range. These processors are generally very good and should serve you well as long as you take care of it.
Space
In my kitchen I have ample counter space available to me. Above the counters I have cupboards. This means the appliances I buy have to be no taller than the space between the counter and the cupboard. If your kitchen is laid out in a similar way it’s best to get out the tape measure before you start your research as the space available may limit your choices.
Use
It really isn’t worth spending a lot of money on a food processor if you only use it once every few months. The same applies if you only use it to chop-up certain types of food. If you only ever chop-up onions or potatoes, it’s not worth buying a machine that comes with a dough blade or a huge feed tube.
Noise
Some food processors are louder than others. That’s just the way they’re made. For some people this is an issue, for others, it doesn’t matter how much noise a machine makes as long as it does its job. Unfortunately when you are buying online, and sometimes offline too, it’s difficult to know exactly how loud a machine is until you get it home and try it out. If the noise level is mentioned in the reviews you or the marketing blurb, you will have to take a chance. Food processors that are loud when working are generally made with cheaper components, and cost less to buy.
Now you have some practical advice on buying a food processor you can make an informed decision and hopefully buy the best appliance for you. Here are some of the most popular food processors available at Amazon.
