Help choosing food processor

Pink.

Hi MrBE,

As your thread has dropped from the front page of the Old Style board I've added it to the main thread on choosing a food processor so you can see other Old Stylers recommendations.

This thread might be useful too:

Food Processor - will I use one?

Pink

Dontknowanymore

Hiya
I am a complete food processor virgin
I live with my 2 small boys so we are a little family, I don't need an all singing all dancing one, but need it for things like grating lots of cheese, making breadcrumbs, and cakes (can you do the mix in a food processor or is that something different?) and sauces etc.

I don't want the cheapest one, but I would like the best one that is value for money, I have seen these 2 which have mixed reviews, so was wondering if you lovely old stylers could give me your opinions

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4234690/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CKitchen+and+laundry%7C14418476/c_2/3%7C15701302%7CSmall+kitchen+appliances%7C14418587/c_3/4%7Ccat_14418587%7CFood+processors+and+mixers%7C14418606.htm

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4200442/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CKitchen+and+laundry%7C14418476/c_2/3%7C15701302%7CSmall+kitchen+appliances%7C14418587/c_3/4%7Ccat_14418587%7CFood+processors+and+mixers%7C14418606.htm

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4227975/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CKitchen+and+laundry%7C14418476/c_2/3%7C15701302%7CSmall+kitchen+appliances%7C14418587/c_3/4%7Ccat_14418587%7CFood+processors+and+mixers%7C14418606.htm

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4234322/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CKitchen+and+laundry%7C14418476/c_2/3%7C15701302%7CSmall+kitchen+appliances%7C14418587/c_3/4%7Ccat_14418587%7CFood+processors+and+mixers%7C14418606.htm

caris

Hi

Sorry I cant comment on the ones you have listed. We are a small family, 2 adults and an 11yr old and have this one purchased from Argos.

Kenwood Silver Compact Food Processor.

423/0728

We have had it a while now and cant fault it. We had previously purchased a Cookworks one, which on first use burnt out, so put us off buying another one of these, we then bought an Anthony Thomas Worral, which the lid spit on first time use, so we went with the Kenwood range as its has a good brand reptation and it also has excellant reviews for the one we bought.

I know it is a little more expensive, and this was a consideration for us as the prvious ones were cheaper, but in my mind you get what you pay for, we didnt have to pay full price for ours as I used my Nectar points.

Hope this helps alittle.

caris

LondonDreamer

Personally, I wouldn't get a compact one. Even the large FPs aren't that big (around 1.5kg dry weight - which is a value bag of flour) and if you want to use it to bulk grate, I'd get a large bowl as even then you'll probably need to do batches.

If you don't already have a liquidiser, I would recommend the Kenwood FP196 out of the ones you linked to. My Kenwood FP730 came with one which I didn't think I'd use, but it's been great for soups and smoothies. I would thoroughly recommend Kenwood. :T

Some cakes can be made with a food processor - my favourite chocolate cake recipe actually recommends using one to get a smooth batter. But if you need to incorporate air, they're not ideal. I just use a cheap hand mixer for those while I save up for my stand mixer.

Bronnie

I've had 2 Kenwood food processors. The first years ago, when they first came out. It was absolutely hammered in the years I was cooking everyday for the family!

I had a couple of years without one, then picked up the same old model from Freecycle :jIt's quite straight forward to use and very robust.

I agree that I wouldn't want a compact one, even though you're a small family, you will want to prepare larger amounts sometimes and your "little" boys will doubtless grow into insatiable fridge-raiding teenagers before you know it!

If you can stretch to it, the blender one would be good you linked, although I blend soups adequately in small batches just using the blade in the processor.

I don't find the processor wonderful for sponge-type cakes, personally. I have a little Kenwood hand mixer for that. In fact just got another "old" new one from Freecycle this week, as my 1980 wedding present Kenwood hand mixer just breathed it's last. Freecycle is well-worth a politely-worded speculative ad for these gadgets, as often they lie unused in people's cupboards.

Dontknowanymore

Bronnie wrote: »

I've had 2 Kenwood food processors. The first years ago, when they first came out. It was absolutely hammered in the years I was cooking everyday for the family!

I had a couple of years without one, then picked up the same old model from Freecycle :jIt's quite straight forward to use and very robust.

I agree that I wouldn't want a compact one, even though you're a small family, you will want to prepare larger amounts sometimes and your "little" boys will doubtless grow into insatiable fridge-raiding teenagers before you know it!

If you can stretch to it, the blender one would be good you linked, although I blend soups adequately in small batches just using the blade in the processor.

I don't find the processor wonderful for sponge-type cakes, personally. I have a little Kenwood hand mixer for that. In fact just got another "old" new one from Freecycle this week, as my 1980 wedding present Kenwood hand mixer just breathed it's last. Freecycle is well-worth a politely-worded speculative ad for these gadgets, as often they lie unused in people's cupboards.

This made me chuckle, my 6 year old is like this already, I have no idea where it all goes though as he is wafer thin! :rotfl:

Thanks for the tips, I was thinking of going for the Kenwood, unfortunately they are all sold out in my area

newleaf

Definitely don't bother with a compact model, you will just regret it. I've had a Braun and a Kenwood in the past, both very good, and a couple of years ago my family clubbed together to buy me a wonderful Magimix for Christmas.

LondonDreamer

Dontknowanymore wrote: »

Thanks for the tips, I was thinking of going for the Kenwood, unfortunately they are all sold out in my area

Do you have a Comet near you? They are offering the same deal and also do free delivery if you wanted to order online... http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/495840/KENWOOD-FP196

Dontknowanymore

LondonDreamer wrote: »

Do you have a Comet near you? They are offering the same deal and also do free delivery if you wanted to order online... http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/495840/KENWOOD-FP196

I need to get it from Argos as I have a giftcard for there.
They have one 15 miles away lol

Linda32

Hi, Yes, defently go for the last one, you need a big bowl and the blender will come in useful.

That said, I have an Antony Worrall Thompson one, and I'm pretty sure you can only blend cold food, smoothies/fruit etc rather than soups, so unless you already have a stick blender, (which I do), be sure to check this out, if your likely to make soups.

Also, can I say thanks to those who mentioned that these type of mixers are not brilliant for making sponge cakes I think I might have worked out where I'm going wrong, off to look for a hand mixer.