Can a food processor do cakes or do I 'need' a Kitchaid Artisan?

skintchick

I find I am baking much more these days, and usually use my cheap Teaco value hand held mixer, but I was eyeing up one of those lovely Artisan thingies from Kitchenaid (in cream...yum).

But, I have a Kenwood food processor I hardly ever use except to blend soup - can I use that to make cake mix? Or do I need a standalone cake mixing thingy?

lisakay_2

I started to reply and then got sidetracked, so someone may already have posted by now! A food processor is absolutely fine for cake mix and I used mine for years with perfect cake results.

Then I got a second hand kitchen aid and I absolutely loved it, loved it, loved it. Unfortunately it was a very old one and I managed to blow it up:o! Now I've got to decide whether to go back to a processor or save like mad for a new kitchenaid....I know what I want to do, but not sure my bank account thinks the same;).

Softstuff

I use a wooden spoon and a whisk! I occasionally use a stick blender, for cakes like whole orange cake.

To my mind the addition of a gadget would just mean something extra to find a home for and something else to wash. I wouldn't say anyone "needs" a posh mixer, but if you'd like one, can afford it and it puts a smile on your face it'd make cakes

Kirri

I don't find a food processor produces a very light, high sponge. It's ok but just not very good, I used mine for ages but then got a hand mixer, the £50 ish one, and the cakes it produces are way better/lighter/higher than a food processor.

I tend to use the food processor for biscuits or pastry which it's excellent for (or dips, veg cutting etc) but not cakes.

sillyvixen

when i left home i did not have room in the kitchen for my food processor, and a bowl and wooden spoon was easier to wash up!! my mum used the food processor once in the 10 years she has been storing it in her huge kitchen. at the beginning of the month i has need to make 200 christmas tree biscuits and collected my ancient kenwood fp from mums to make life easier - i can now say i have used it 3 further times this month (for cake,shortbread and pastry) it is staying, in the new year i am clearing out the cupboard in the dining room (full of stuff i dont use) to make use for cook books and food processor / and free up a cupboard in the kitchen. not used it in donkeys years but now realise that it mixes in a quater of the time but takes 30 seconds later to wash up.

mildred1978

Softstuff wrote: »

To my mind the addition of a gadget would just mean something extra to find a home for and something else to wash.

You don't put a beautiful thing like a kitchenaid in the cupboard!!! :eek:

Mine has pride of place on my worktops and gets used most days. Bowl and beaters go in the dishwasher. I even grate cheese with it

bunty109

mildred1978 wrote: »

You don't put a beautiful thing like a kitchenaid in the cupboard!!! :eek:

Mine has pride of place on my worktops and gets used most days. Bowl and beaters go in the dishwasher. I even grate cheese with it

I'm adding grating cheese to the list of reasons to present to my OH for getting one

mildred1978

bunty109 wrote: »

I'm adding grating cheese to the list of reasons to present to my OH for getting one

Best not mention that it needs a £145 attachment for that :rotfl:

kitschkitty

mildred1978 wrote: »

Best not mention that it needs a £145 attachment for that :rotfl:

:eek:






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mildred1978

kitschkitty wrote: »

:eek:

Worth every single penny

Can grate a kilo of cheese in about 30 seconds without grating any of my fingers/nail polish into the bargain.

And it did come with 3 different drums............ :whistle:

Softstuff

mildred1978 wrote: »

You don't put a beautiful thing like a kitchenaid in the cupboard!!! :eek:

Mine has pride of place on my worktops and gets used most days. Bowl and beaters go in the dishwasher. I even grate cheese with it

I have about 80cm of worktop in total (2 small bits either side of the 2 ring hob), the kettle is on a bit of it, a chopping board is on another bit and I have a trivet that rests against the wall, but fits down flat on the worktop when I need to use it. Short of sitting it in the sink, not sure where I'd put one :rotfl: Even the toaster has to sit on top of the cupboard when not in use, because there isn't the space for it on the counter.

There's a lot of pretty gadgets you can get for the kitchen, but as to the idea of *needing" them, there's not much you can't do with less stuff. And that's even with hands that are heading sharply towards arthritic!