food processors?? os or not

tootles_2

Chuck everything in the food processor using the metal blade, when the dough rolls into a sausage its done, take it out and roll out as usual..... simple and takes a couple of inutes. I chill mine in the fridge before I roll it, but thats my choice.

exlibris

Re: pastry in food processor

I mix the fat, flour and salt until breadcrumb stage then store in a plastic box in fridge. When needed take out some of the flour mix and add water. As it has been in the fridge you don't seem to need as much water to mix. I could never make pastry the normal way - too warm hands - but this works for me every time.

HOLsale

that's briliant exlibris and tootles, i will probably mix some up tonight to store in the fridge.

dh is practically living in his dept at uni right now as he's doing a 1 year intensive MSc and has professors that really DON'T know how to plan properly... they've run him and all their other students from pillar to post all year long so i have to come up with clever tasty ways to feed him

the dept has a microwave and a fridge so if i make him pies that are just undercooked a wee bit he gets a meal that's very easy to warm up and can be filled with our leftovers. nice and neat and saves time for him as he can pop it in the microwave on a piece of paper towel so he doesnt' have to waste time cleaning up (he uses the paper towel as a napkin when he's finished)

course i do send him our leftovers too but he quite likes the pies and he needs extra fat right now as he's using so much brain power! if i give him tasty meals he stays out of the very expensive shop in the basement of the building too

ChocClare

Re: making pastry in the food processor - I've just come online and seen your post, HOLsale, not ignoring you! When you talk about the shredding thing, are you talking about plate-shaped thing on a stick which you put into the machine? Because I don't use that (having very stupidly thrown away the stick bit during a clearout when I thought "what on earth is that?"!!). I just use the metal blade and, as tootles says, bung everything in and switch it on. I would definitely chill it in the fridge afterwards as it makes the pastry quite soft otherwise.

maryb

I used to have a magimix then I got a Braun food processor which is absolutely fantastic - miles better than the magimix because the bowl never leaks. you can also get spares for it (have broken the lid once). i don't know if they still make it but if they do I really recommend it
Braun kitchen gadgets have very powerful motors - i have a hand mixer which is nearer to the Kenwood Chef in power than the average hand mixer

annie-c

I have a little one costing lees than 30 quid and it's great - I use it all the time and it's light and small to keep in a cupboard. I also read about buying the best you can afford, but at £30 mine has been fine for 3+ years. If the motor burns out tomorrow it will still have been worth every penny.

Another related item that I would recommend is a stick blender (around £5 in Tesco/Asda). Again, I went for the cheapest + simplest I could find and use it all the time for blending soup, whisking egg whites. No need for lots of attachments or fancy brand names...

foreverskint

I'd second the thoughts that the cheaper ones can be just as good.


I have a cheapie Hinari processor, lots of blades (even a potato peeler, although there's not much potato left at the end lol), and a liquidiser too. Think it cost around £20.00 3 years ago. It's still going strong.

Re the pastry, I make mine to the crumb stage and then freeze in 8oz bags. I find then I can either use one or more depending on what I'm about to make, or add sugar when it's still a bit frozen and chuck over a tin of fruit for a quickie crumble.

I personally wouldn't be without mine, even though i don't use it every day, but for bulk jobs (Curry queens curry sauce) it's invaluable.

bratsmum

Sorry if this is in the wrong place, just thought you OS'ers would have lots of knowledge about these! My very old and cheap Kenwood is on its way out

So I thought I would start looking for a replacement, especially now more cooking/baking from scratch is being done. I have searched on these boards and read what people had to say, but just wanted to get some advice. Cook for two adults and two kids, usually batch cook a lot.

I will definitely use the new machine to mainly:

Chop veggies
Chop herbs, nuts etc
Grate cheese
possibly chip cutting attachment
Liquidiser for soups, smoothies etc
Make breadcrumbs
Make cakes

I would like to use it, and assume these attachments are extras, to mince meat, and maybe (only sometimes!) make pasta. I think I saw the Kenwood does an ice cream attachment.

Hoping one machine would replace the hand held mixer, the old Kenwood, and the blender.

Is this possible? I have spent hours searching the web and am now extremely confused. I'd like to go and buy one armed with some knowledge!! Your help and advise would be much appreciated.

The Kenwood KM001 looks good, I think, maybe. Or was it just cos it was shiny? Don't really want to spend that much on a piece of kitchen equipment, but it will get lots of good use, and I have a birthday soon!

Thank you.

bratsmum

Just seen a couple of other threads about food processors since I started to type this, must be something in the air!!

[Deleted User]

I have the KMOO1 and it isn`t just good looking. It is a really tough and powerful machine. I got a glass liquidiser free and have the processor, mincer, pasta maker, grinder and juicer attachments. I don`t have much kitchen space and they don`t take up that much room. The k beater, whisk and dough hook are all stainless steel. I would most definitely buy the KM001 again
I bought it here

http://store.securehosting.com/stores/sh205311/shophome.php