Both the blender and food processor provides almost the same functionalities, but most individuals are accustomed to utilizing them in distinctive ways. Each appliance is an excellent addition to the kitchen, but if you don’t have both you can use one of them as a replacement for the other in some cases.
So yes, you can most definitely use a blender instead of a food processor by adjusting the way you operate it. You may need to change some blender settings to get it to work as a food processor but remember that the outcomes can still be different.
However, you might also consider that you have limited use of the blender while utilizing it as a food processor. It’s because the blender is not designed to handle the same quantity of ingredients. In addition, the blender won’t be able to crush the ingredients as effectively as a food processor.
How to use a blender as a food processor
To use your blender as a food processor, simply follow the following tips:
1. Slow down the process of blending
Usually, blenders have been designed to operate at a much higher rate compared to the food processors, which can affect the intensity of the recipe you’re opting for. It will most likely make it much smoother than the outcome you want. Therefore, it would be best to let the blender pulse rather than blend for a longer time.
2. Try operating without a lot of liquid
For your blender to act as a food processor, it would be best to not put a large amount of liquid, especially at the beginning of the blending process. It would help your recipe not to become super watery. Always try to put the right amount of liquid for the required smooth texture.
3. Use fewer ingredients
When you’re operating a blender, always try to put the ingredients of your recipe in the form of small portions instead of all at once. It would help create the same consistency as you can get in a food processor. Therefore, put a small batch at once and increase the intake of the blender as you progress.
If you put a large number of ingredients at once, the recipe will not be even as the texture would be entirely different at the bottom of the blender. It will be the result of the bottom ingredients getting more processed than the above ones.
4. Utilize the suitable settings
The blenders usually have 3 to 6-speed settings, and therefore, it would be best to adjust the speed to make it suitable to work as a food processor. If you’re opting for a puree, change the setting to the highest rate. Whereas, for chopping ingredients, set the blender to the slowest speed setting.
5. Steer clear of the “Liquefy” & “Purée” settings
Blenders are specifically to have purees, soups, drinks, and to crush ice. On the other hand, food processors are best to chop and combine ingredients. Therefore, remember not to use the “liquefy” or “puree” setting for chopping down your food.
Food processor VS Blender - How do They Work?
Let us study first that how both the blender and food processor work individually to get to know both of them a bit better.
Working of a Food Processor
A food processor is quite a handy appliance in your kitchen that is mainly used to chop ingredients with razor-sharp blades. It requires a minimal amount or even no liquid to blend, slice, chop, dice, and grate your ingredients.
All you need to do is add your ingredients, such as veggies, fruits, herbs, etc., through the top opening of the food processor. The spinning blades of the appliance would perfectly chop your food without you worrying about anything.
Apart from this, you can also use your food processor to blend ingredients to turn them into sauces or have them as the salad’s dressing. Therefore, it’s renowned as one of the most versatile appliances for faster recipe preparations.
You can have your food processor from the market in three sizes; a mini, a compact, and a full one. All of the sizes have been equipped with five essential parts:
- A motor
- Controls
- The bowl
- A lid having a feed tube and a pusher
- Numerous attachments and razor-sharp blades
Now to use a food processor effectively, you need to follow the following basic steps:
- Plug your food processor into a power source.
- Now fix the jug to the processor’s base.
- Select the right blade and attachments according to your desired outcomes.
- Fasten the lid to the right place.
- Turn the processor on and add your ingredients and let the appliance work its magic.
- Clean the food processor after every use.
Working of a Blender
A blender is yet another functional machine in your kitchen that can substitute for the food processor, as mentioned earlier. It has been equipped with highly sturdy blades designed to spin at a high-speed rate and blend many ingredients such as fruits, veggies, nuts, herbs, etc.
With a food blender, you can put lots of amounts of liquid to make different smoothies, puree, soups, sauces, etc., as it’s ideal for these recipes. In addition, you get some buttons or other options to adjust the settings according to your requirements. A standard blender has the following parts:
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A blender jar
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A blender jar lid
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Jar lid center cap
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Blender blade cutter
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O-ring seal
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Bottom screw cap
Now let’s go through the straightforward steps on how you can use your blender in the kitchen:
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Plug your blender into a power source and take the lid off.
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Toss all the ingredients inside the blender jar.
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Now fix the lid, and hold it firmly with your hand.
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Choose the right speed for your required consistency.
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Once all the ingredients have been appropriately blended, pour your recipe out.
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Make sure to clean the blender after each use.
Blender VS Food Processor - An Overview
| Functionalities / Features / Recipes | Blender | Food Processor |
|---|---|---|
| Slice or chop ingredients | No | Yes |
| Crushing the ice | Yes | No |
| Puree or Liquefy | Yes | No |
| Replaceable blades and disks | No | Yes |
| Fixed blade | Yes | No |
| Tall jar | Yes | No |
| Best for liquid recipes | Yes | No |
| Best for chunky outcomes | No | Yes |
| Best for sauces and dips | Yes | No |
| Best for salad dressings | No | Yes |
Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs
It entirely depends on whether you have a powerful food processor with sturdy blades or not to handle the ice inside it. However, if you crush ice on a regular basis, it will most definitely dull the blades of your food processor. All the manufacturers recommend against crushing ice in the food processor as, along with the blades, it can also harm the motor.
