October 2024 Issue
Culinary Corner: Food Processors
By Alexandria Hardy, RDN, LDN
Today’s Dietitian
Vol. 26 No. 8 P. 50
Unlocking Creativity in the Kitchen
The food processor was invented in the early 1960s, and its main purpose was to efficiently prepare large volumes of food in a commercial setting.1 A smaller, less expensive model was developed for home use a decade later, and around 40% of American households are currently estimated to own one today.
The food processor is a multifunctional, time-saving kitchen tool that can help create innovative meals and recipes, enhancing the culinary experience and saving valuable prep time for commercial and home kitchens alike. They allow users to knead, slice, emulsify, mince, grate, and shred food, and even crush ice for beverages. If counter space and the budget allow, a food processor and its accompanying attachments can be a great way to increase creativity and streamline the cooking process.
Structure and Function
Classified as a small kitchen appliance, a food processor consists of the base (which houses the motor), a detachable lid and bowl, and various tool attachments. The main purpose of the food processor is to quickly perform a multitude of kitchen tasks, such as shredding, chopping, and kneading with a variety of blades and slicing discs.
Food processors come in many sizes, though most home cooks choose processors in the six- to 16-cup range, allowing them the ability to prepare larger amounts of food quickly while also being easy to store.2 Their versatility of form and function, along with their ability to streamline kitchen tasks, are some of the main reasons people make space for them in their kitchens.
Advantages of Using a Food Processor
Food processors may help save time and allow for more precision cuts than a home cook might achieve with a knife; this is especially valuable for recipes that rely on consistent food sizes to ensure equal cooking times.
Food processors can also help home cooks use whole foods and raw ingredients to create meals from scratch, which might be attractive to an individual looking to bolster their kitchen skills or someone with a limited food budget. For example, a food processor can process almonds into homemade almond butter for a fraction of the cost of a jar at the store.
Replacing Multiple Kitchen Gadgets
Food processors can also replace several other small kitchen appliances and tools, like a box grater, immersion blender, and mandolin. In some instances, they can even act like a blender. Depending on their size, they likely won’t provide the same silky-smooth results as a high-powered blender like a Vitamix but can pulverize and blend fresh or frozen fruit into a textured puree, great for making homemade fruit roll-ups or smoothie bowls.
Another standout attachment is the dough blade, which is a shorter, duller blade than the larger, sharper S blade that is used for general chopping and pureeing needs. The dough blade is a great tool for making homemade pasta, pizza dough, biscuits, and quick breads. Food processor attachments also tend to be dishwasher safe, making cleanup easier.
What to Buy
The best food processors per Consumer Reports were evaluated based on noise, chopping, grating, and pureeing abilities. The Cuisinart Pro Custom 11 DLC-8S is an 11 cup, top pick model with a midrange price point of $158.3
Breville the Sous Chef Pro 16 BFP800XL has a 16-cup volume and an excellent rating in all of the functionality tests, but clocks in on the higher end of the price range with a $359 price tag.3 The smaller Cuisinart Pro Classic DLC-10SY is known for its quiet volume and quality blade work.3 As the smallest of the models featured, it clocks in at 7-cup capacity but is also available for less than $100, making it a budget and countertop-friendly choice.3
— Alexandria Hardy, RDN, LDN, is the owner of Pennsylvania Nutrition Services, an insurance-based private practice located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Mushroom Cheesesteaks
Yield: 4 servings
Enjoy a savory, plant-based meal that comes together within 30 minutes, thanks to the assistance of a food processor!
Ingredients
1 lb mushrooms (such as cremini, portobello, or white button)
1 large onion
1 bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 T olive oil
1 T soy sauce (optional for added flavor)
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
4 hoagie rolls
8 slices provolone cheese
Directions
1. Wash and dry the mushrooms, onion, and bell pepper.
2. Attach the slicer disc to your food processor and slice the mushrooms, onion, and pepper.
3. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat, add the sliced vegetables, and cook for 10-12 minutes until they soften and brown, stirring occasionally.
4. Add the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
5. Stir in the soy sauce (if using), Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until everything is well combined and the flavors meld together.
6. Preheat the oven’s broiler and lay rolls open-faced on a baking sheet. Top with vegetables and provolone cheese. Broil until cheese is melted and bubbling, 1 to 2 minutes.
Nutrient Analysis per serving
Calories: 432; Total fat: 24 g; Sat fat: 11 g; Cholesterol: 39 mg; Sodium: 783 mg; Total carbohydrates: 32 g; Total sugars: 8 g; Dietary fiber: 3 g; Protein: 23 g
References
1. Food processor: one machine, a multitude of possibilities. Food & Nutrition website. https://foodandnutrition.org/from-the-magazine/food-processor-one-machine-a-multitude-of-possibilities/. Updated August 9, 2018. Accessed July 16, 2024.
2. What is the standard size of a food processor? Kitchen Aid website. https://www.kitchenaid.com/pinch-of-help/countertop-appliances/sizes-of-food-processors.html. Updated 2024. Accessed July 16, 2024.
3. Best food processors and choppers of 2024. Consumer Reports website. https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/food-processors-choppers/best-food-processors-of-the-year-a7878155198/. Updated January 1, 2024. Accessed July 16, 2024.
4. De Camarago AM, Botelho AM, Irmão GB, Fiates GMR. Analysis of recipes shared as ‘healthy’ in a popular Brazilian website: a cross-sectional study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(21):13914.