8 Ways Of How To Use A Food Processor Effectively For Different Kinds Of Tasks

In the kitchen, a food processor is one of the most versatile appliances that any home cook could ever wish for. If you've just bought a food processor and are not yet sure how to use it, read on!

With its great functionality, a food processor can do a lot of tasks like slicing vegetables, dicing onions, shredding cheese, kneading dough, grinding meat, making peanut butter, pureeing food, and making soups, just to name a few.

In this step-by-step guide, we'll help you with tips on how to use a food processor for different tasks, so you can start incorporating it into your cooking routine.

How To Use A Food Processor

We have written a detailed guide on how to assemble a food processor. Check it out here before you start using this appliance.

How To Assemble A Food Processor: Simple Step-by-Step Guide

Setting a food processor up can be a daunting task. We’re going to look at how to assemble one quickly in this guide!

CatchyFindsJane Vo

What Does A Food Processor Do? 11 Things How It Assists You

With this guide, you will have a better idea of the pros & cons of owning a food processor to be able to make a more informed decision. Read on!

CatchyFindsJane Vo

1. Slicing Vegetables

1. Choose the slicing disk, attach it to the stem and attach the stem to your food processor and close the lid.
2. Wash the vegetables you want to slice.
3. Cut them into smaller pieces that fit easily in the feed tube.
4. Once attached, place your vegetables into the feeding tube.
5. Switch the food processor on.
6. Use the pusher, load the vegetables into the chute.
7. Turn the food processor off when you are done.
8. Remove the sliced vegetables.
9. Remove the slicing disc and clean it.

How To Chop Vegetables In A Food Processor: Do It Like A Pro

Follow this guide to chop, dice, slice, shred, and grate vegetables effortlessly. Learning how to use a food processor properly so you can make meal prep a breeze.

CatchyFindsJane Vo

2. Dicing Onions

1. Choose the S shaped blade, attach it to the stem and attach the stem to your food processor, and close the lid.
2. Remove the top and bottom of the onion.
3. Cut the onion into quarters.
4. Place them into the feeding tube.
5. Turn the machine on and let it do its job.
6. Process them in short bursts until you reach the desired consistency.
7. Once done, turn the food processor off.
8. Remove the diced onions.
9. Remove the S blade, and clean it.

3. Shredding Cheese

1. Choose the shredding disc, attach it to the stem and attach the stem to your food processor, and close the lid.
2. Cut the cheese into smaller pieces that fit the feeding tube.
3. Insert the cheese through the feeding tube.
4. Switch your food processor on.
5. Use the pusher to keep the shredding going.
6. Turn the food processor off once you are done.
7. Use a spatula to remove all cheese shreds from the food processor.
8. Remove the shredding disc and clean it.

How To Grate Cheese In A Food Processor: An Art Of Shredding

If you are looking for a quick and effortless way to grate and shred cheeses, a food processor is an excellent choice. How to do it? Read on!

CatchyFindsJane Vo

4. Kneading Dough

1. Choose the dough blade, attach it to the stem and attach the stem to your food processor.
2. Add the flour, yeast, salt, sugar, and other dry ingredients in the food processor.
3. Check the manual to know what speed is right for kneading what dough: bread, pizza or pie dough.
4. Turn the food processor on at the right speed.
5. Use the pulse function a few times for a few seconds to mix the ingredients together.
6. Add the wet ingredients (eggs, water, milk) to the mixture.
7. Let the food processor knead the mixture into dough.
8. Stop pulsing when the dough comes together and reaches its desired consistency.
9. Remove the dough blade from the food processor bowl.
10. Let the dough rise and shape it as you desire.
11. Clean the dough blade.

Note: If you use your food processor mainly for kneading dough, be aware that a dedicated stand mixer may do a better job, and handle higher volumes.

How To Make Dough In A Food Processor: Tips For Home Bakers

A food processor can easily handle various dough types in smaller batches. We’ll walk you through simple steps on how to make your perfect dough using it. Read further!

CatchyFindsJane Vo

5. Grinding Meat

1. Choose the blade for grinding the meat, attach it to the stem and attach the stem to your food processor.
2. Make sure the meat is cold, but not frozen. Cut the meat into small cubes.
3. Check if the lid is properly closed.
4. Push the cubed meat through the feeding tube.
5. Turn the food processor on and let it grind the meat.
6. Go in short bursts, so you can control the coarseness of your ground meat.
7. Once done, turn off the food processor.
8. Remove the lid carefully to avoid spills.
9. Use a spatula to scrape out the minced meat.
10. Clean the meat grinding blade.

Note: Not all food processors come with a proper blade to grind meat. Besides, grinding meat in a food processor can be a challenge, as different meats may require different coarseness. When in doubt, consider buying a dedicated meat grinder.

6. Whipping Up Peanut Butter

1. Choose the S blade, attach it to the stem and attach the stem to your food processor.
2. Place the desired amount of peanuts into your food processor.
3. Securely lock the lid into place as well.
4. Turn on the machine let it grind the nuts.
5. Pulse every 30 seconds until the nuts are coarsely chopped.
6. Stop pulsing, open the lid and scrape down the sides with a spatula to ensure all peanuts get processed evenly.
7. Turn the machine on again and process for a few minutes until you reach the desired consistency.
8. Once done, turn off the machine.
9. If you want, add a little bit of oil to make a smoother peanut butter.
10. Remove your freshly made peanut butter from the processor.
11. Remove the S blade, and clean it.

7. Pureeing Food

1. Choose the S blade, attach it to the stem and attach the stem to your food processor.
2. Place the ingredients into your food processor bowl.
3. Lock the lid in place.
4. Turn on the machine and let it do its job.
5. Pulse a few times until you reach the desired consistency.
6. Add some liquid for a smoother texture (milk or water) - just add a teaspoon at a time, and blend.
7. Once done, turn off the machine.
8. Use a spatula to scrape out the pureed food.
9. Remove the S blade, and clean it.

How To Puree In A Food Processor: Make Your Creamy Goodness

A food processor can help you achieve a perfect texture. You’ll puree vegetables using this easy guide and get consistent creamy result. Check further!

CatchyFindsJane Vo

8. Making Soups

1. Choose the S blade, attach it to the stem and attach the stem to your food processor.
2. Place all the ingredients into your food processor bowl.
3. Turn on the machine and let it do its job.
4. Pulse a few times until you reach a coarse texture.
5. Blend the ingredients until you reach desired consistency.
6. If needed, adjust the seasoning.
7. Once done, turn off the machine.
8. Remove your soup from the food processor.
9. Remove the S blade, and clean it.
10. Transfer the soup to a pot, bring it to a boil and let it simmer until the soup thickens and the flavors blend together properly.
11. Serve your soup with some freshly made croutons or crusty bread for added texture.

How To Clean A Food Processor

A food processor makes food prep so much easier. Whether you need pizza dough, whipped cream or nut butter, your processor is your reliable kitchen assistant.

The multiple blades provide the tools to make all those food processor recipes. It will chop veggies, serve as your food chopper. As it's your personal "sous chef", take good care of it.

1. Separate the blades from the stem.
2. Rinse off any visible particles with lukewarm water and a soft sponge or cloth.
3. Use some dish soap and warm water for a deeper clean.
4. Pay extra attention to the blades and the stem as this is where most of the food particles get stuck.
5. Rinse off any soap residue with lukewarm water and dry everything thoroughly before putting it back together again.
6. To prevent bacteria from growing, store your food processor in a cool, dry place
7. Make sure to clean it after every use or at least once a week to maintain its hygiene and performance.

How To Properly Take Care Of Your Food Processor

• Before using your food processor, make sure to read the manual as it will provide you with all the important safety information.
• To keep your food processor in good condition, oil it every few months with some mineral oil. This will help keep the blades and stem from becoming rusty or damaged.
• Use the right blades for the job. If you use the wrong ones, it can ruin your food ingredients and damage your food processor.
• Make sure to not overload your machine with too much food as this could cause a malfunction. Instead, break down large pieces into smaller ones for better results.
• Clean your food processor immediately after every use to avoid rusting or bacteria growth in the crevices of the machine. Make sure to wash and dry all the removable parts of your food processor before putting it away.

Using A Food Processor FAQs

Here are some FAQs that will help you get started and troubleshoot common issues with your food processor:

Tips & Tricks

• When whipping or blending ingredients together, use short bursts. This will help control the consistency of your ingredients and prevent them from becoming over-processed.
• Keep the speed setting low when working with delicate ingredients like eggs, mushrooms, and herbs so that you don't end up with a mushy texture.
• When chopping ingredients in the work bowl of your food processor, make sure to cut them into small pieces before adding them to the machine. This will help reduce the processing time and prevent clogging of the blades.
• If you find that your food processor is clogged, turn it off right away and remove the blades. Then, use a brush to clean out any stuck particles before putting everything back together again.
• When removing food particles from your food processor, use a spatula or a brush. Never use your fingers: dangerous!

In summary, a food processor is a fantastic multi-functional kitchen tool that can help make cooking easier and faster. So, invest in a quality commercial-grade food processor and get ready to unleash your inner top chef!

Best Commercial Food Processor: Your High Power Sous Chef

Looking for a best food processor to power all kitchen hard-work: slice, chop, dice, shred, puree all the foods? Check out these top picks to get yours!

CatchyFindsJane Vo

You will now be able to use your food processor to its fullest potential. With a little bit of practice and know-how, using a food processor can give a huge boost to your meal prep and daily cooking tasks.

Happy cooking!

Catchy Finds