Immersion Blender vs. Food Processor: What’s the difference?

Similar, but certainly not the same, a food processor has sharp rotating blades or discs that can slice, puree, shred, mix and chop a wide variety of ingredients. An immersion blender is typically used for making liquid recipes like soups, purees, smoothies and emulsifying ingredients for condiments like mayo and aioli.

The immersion blender and the food processor are both mighty tools within their own right, and while they are often compared, each has strengths in different areas. While they may perform comparable tasks, they ultimately do them differently. Keep reading below to discover the difference between an immersion blender and a food processor, and get help understanding which countertop appliance works best for different tasks.

Is there a difference between an immersion blender & food processor?

In short – yes! An immersion blender is a handheld blender with a small spinning blade that is immersed into ingredients to create smoothies, soups and sauces. A food processor has larger, flat blades at the bottom of the work bowl, or discs that sit at the top and can chop, shred, grind, puree and more.

Food processors feature a work bowl where processed ingredients are collected, while a key feature of the immersion blender is that you blend directly in the bowl or pot you’re using for the rest of your prep, so it takes up less space and cuts down on dishes. Depending on the model and make, both immersion blenders (also known as hand blenders or stick blenders) and food processors may offer attachments or accessories to widen the scope of their capabilities. 

KitchenAid^® food processors, for example, can bring versatility and power to any recipe with accessories like a whisk attachment that’s available with some models, or a reversible slicing and shredding disc. KitchenAid^® hand blenders can also enhance your culinary adventures by allowing you to blend in various containers and pots. Interchangeable blending arm accessories, like a chopper, are available to help expand their versatility. You can also find accessories like the whisk attachment to help with your quick whipping needs.

Immersion Blender Types and Sizes

Immersion blenders are particularly handy if you need to blend while food is cooking or still very hot, and their size makes them both easy to use and store. Different models of immersion blenders may even have various attachments for capabilities like chopping. KitchenAid has an extensive collection of hand blender models, including the Cordless Variable Speed Hand Blender and the Commercial^® 400 Series Immersion Blender, so you can find just the right one to fit your needs.

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Food Processor Types and Sizes

With sizes that can range anywhere from 3 cups to 16 cups, food processors are amazing kitchen tools that make chopping, mixing and pureeing faster and easier to do. And with models as varied as their capabilities, you’re bound to find a food processor that’s exactly what you need.

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SHOP KITCHENAID® 7 CUP FOOD PROCESSORS

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WHEN TO USE AN IMMERSION BLENDER VS. A FOOD PROCESSOR

Use an immersion blender to:

• Blend: You can count on your immersion blender for most liquid and wet recipes like, this delectable Butternut Squash Soup that comes together right in the pot.
• Puree: An immersion blender works great for pureeing ingredients, especially if you’re making a smaller batch of food. So if you want to whip up some mashed potatoes for one, an immersion blender can be your go-to.
• Whip: The KitchenAid^® Variable Speed Hand Blender with Chopper and Whisk Attachment can be used to whip fluffy egg whites or emulsify vinaigrettes. You can also purchase individual accessories for your hand blender that suit your favorite kinds of recipes.

Use a food processor to:

• Chop: Chop away with a food processor or chopper. As the name suggests, this is the tool to use for delicious pesto, chopping veggies for soups and stews, and anything else your recipes call for. 

• Puree: A food processor can be used for pureeing cooked vegetables and fruits, making nut butters, hummus and more.

• Slice: Many food processors, including KitchenAid^® food processors, come with accessories like a slicing disc that let you slice vegetables at your desired thickness.

• Shred: Shredding discs are included with most models of food processors, and are superb at shredding cabbage, cheese, potatoes and everything in between. 

• Knead: Some food processors, like the KitchenAid^® 9 Cup Food Processor Plus, come with a dough blade that can be used to knead dough. It’s a good substitute if you don’t have a mixer handy.

DO I NEED BOTH?

You’ll be able to use a food processor for many tasks where you don’t have a blender on hand. However, if you want an ultra-smooth finish to your soups and sauces, an immersion blender is more likely to give you that desired result.

which is better: a blender or food processor?

Both of these appliances are useful whether you’re crafting completely new and unfamiliar dishes or optimizing your process for a few tried and true favorites. If you’ll mostly be making soups, smoothies or cocktails, you’ll probably fare well with just an immersion blender or juicer. If you’re looking for something that offers the ability to achieve precise cuts like slicing and shredding, however, a food processor may be the way to go. Choose one or the other, or equip your kitchen with both to get just the right results no matter what you're creating.

RECIPES TO MAKE WITH AN IMMERSION BLENDER OR FOOD PROCESSOR

Use an immersion blender to make all your favorite soups and sauces, as well as decadent milkshakes and refreshing smoothies like the green chia smoothie recipe below.

Smoothies

Green Chia Smoothie

Soups 

No Cream Gazpacho

Spend some time with your food processor making a wide variety of recipes like tapenades and hearty hummus or even scones and pie dough. Use these recipes as a starting point to your next culinary creation.

LATKES

Potato Latkes

PIE DOUGH

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

SHOP KITCHENAID® IMMERSION BLENDERS AND FOOD PROCESSORS

Chopping, pureeing, mixing and even kneading dough can be quick with the right immersion blender or food processor from KitchenAid brand by your side. With a range of speeds, attachments and sizes, you’re sure to master new techniques.