What to use instead of a food processor

What is a food processor?

A food processor is an electrical food prep tool that uses multiple blades and discs to help streamline tasks like pureeing, chopping, mixing, grating and kneading. Ingredients are added through a feed tube in the lid and processed by spinning blades in the bottom, or discs at the top of the appliance’s work bowl.

Can I use a blender as a food processor?

The blender is a food processor’s close relative in the kitchen and makes a great food processor substitute for a few tasks. These two countertop appliances are sometimes interchangeable for things like emulsifying and pureeing, but a blender can more thoroughly break down foods for ultra smooth results. In general, a blender is better suited for quickly liquefying ingredients for soups, sauces and smoothies. When using a blender as a food processor, blend using a pulse button or in short bursts to monitor your progress and avoid over processing. When it comes to more fork-friendly foods— doughs, chunkier chopped items and ingredients that require kneading, slicing or grating, the blender is no substitute for the food processor.

Can an immersion blender substitute for a food processor?

Like a blender, an immersion, or hand blender, can be a solid food processor alternative for a handful of prep tasks, in particular the ones that liquefy ingredients like pureeing, emulsifying and blending. This compact tool is designed to blend right in the pot, pan or bowl you’re using for prep and features a small spinning blade to process ingredients. As is true of a standard blender, a hand blender won’t knead, slice or shred ingredients. You can expand the versatility of some hand blenders by adding attachments. The KitchenAid Cordless Variable Speed Hand Blender with Chopper and Whisk Attachment comes with a whisk attachment to quickly whip egg whites to fluffy peaks and cream, or emulsify vinaigrettes and mayonnaise. The 2.5 cup BPA-Free¹ chopper attachment chops herbs, nuts, cheeses and more.

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Can I use a mixer instead of a food processor?

A KitchenAid stand mixer can perform some of the same tasks as a food processor using one of the included beater accessories. Mix, whip, knead and even mash potatoes or avocados in your stand mixer bowl. By adding one or more of the 10+ KitchenAid stand mixer attachments² your stand mixer can perform additional food prep tasks like grinding, grating, shredding, slicing and more. There is even a KitchenAid Food Processor Attachment featuring an exclusive ExactSlice™ System, allowing you to slice from thick to thin with one slide of the lever.

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TIP: MAKING MASHED POTATOES IN A FOOD PROCESSOR

Making mashed potatoes in a food processor is a quick way to make a beloved comfort food, but overprocessing can create gummy mashed potatoes. To ensure that your mashed potatoes are creamy, shred hot cooked potatoes using the shredding disc. Exchange the shredding disc for the multipurpose blade. Add softened butter, milk, and seasonings. Pulse three to four times, 2-3 seconds each time, until potatoes are smooth and milk is absorbed.

Are there other food processor substitutes?

Blenders and stand mixers are the best food processor alternatives. There are other small appliances like a food chopper or hand mixer that can perform some of the same tasks, while other smaller kitchen utensils, like box graters, can stand in for one or two tasks in a pinch. In addition to blenders and stand mixers, Here are 9 more ways to perform food processor jobs:

1. Food chopper

A food chopper is typically smaller than a food processor and uses one blade to chop, purée and mix smaller batches. Most choppers don’t have the versatility to make multiple cuts, so they won’t slice, shred and dice like a food processor. The KitchenAid^® 5 Cup Food Chopper comes with a whisk attachment for a variety of ingredients including whipped cream and is designed with a drizzle basin that’s great for making mayonnaise, dressings, sauces and other condiments.

2. Hand mixer

A standard hand mixer uses two beaters to stir, mix and whip, but it isn’t designed for chopping, pureeing, grating, grinding, shredding or slicing. There are some hand mixers on the market that come with extra accessories to expand their capabilities. In addition to two beaters, the KitchenAid^® 9-Speed Hand Mixer features a Pro Whisk attachment—great for whipping egg whites to fluffy peaks—and two dough hooks for kneading.

3. Grinder

Grinders are designed for grinding and mincing proteins for sausages and patties but many grinders can chop, rice and mince other ingredients as well. The KitchenAid^® Metal Food Grinder Attachment for KitchenAid® stand mixers comes with three different size grinding plates—fine, medium and coarse—to grind a variety of ingredients, including veggies for ragus or hard cheeses, breadcrumbs and nuts for your favorite dishes.

4. Grater

A large box grater typically has multiple coarseness options allowing you to grate cheese, aromatics and produce in several different sizes. They can also grate nuts into flour, create chocolate garnishes for desserts and butter for pastry. They require more “elbow grease” than a food processor but they’re light and easy to handle.

5. Food mill

A food mill grinds, mashes and purées soft foods by hand cranking them through perforated metal discs. Most food mills come with multiple discs to produce small, medium and large textures. A food mill can help when making foods like applesauce, tomato sauce, fruit purées or mashed potatoes.

6. Mortar & Pestle

A mortar and pestle is a tool that dates back to the stone age and is great for crushing, mashing and grinding nuts, spices and aromatics into pastes and powders. It requires more muscle and patience than a food processor.

7. Cooking/Mashing

Cooking foods till they’re soft and “mashable” is another way to facilitate blending ingredients. This method requires tools you already have on hand—a pot or saucepan and a fork or spoon—and can be time-consuming.

8. Knives

Every kitchen has knives on hand to chop, mince and slice ingredients to the size, shape and textures your dish requires. Knives are an indispensable kitchen tool, but when it comes to a food processor alternative, they’re more work-intensive and limited to a handful of tasks.

What to use if you don't have a food processor

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Is it worth buying a food processor?

A food processor can help speed up such a wide variety of tasks, opening up more time for exploration and creativity in the kitchen. Deciding whether or not to purchase this versatile tool can be easy, as it’s compact, and simple to use and clean. With a little effort you can accomplish tasks like chopping, pureeing, kneading and shredding with a single appliance.