Whether you are mixing dough for artisanal breads, chopping fruits or vegetables, or mixing up a purée, the right food processor can help you put personal touches on your recipe. It can also let you experiment with textures and flavours as and when you need it.

Even in a kitchen with the nicest oven or stove, a creation can fall flat without proper preparation. In bakeries, patisseries and confectioners kitchens small and large, choosing the right food processor allows experimentation with fresh ingredient combinations—while also saving time and improving the look and quality of the finished product.

So which food processor would be the best fit? One must consider the capabilities and advantages of these common types of food processors. 

THE VALUE OF THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT

First, consider what needs to be done. Is there a need to prepare ingredients through chopping or slicing? Or is a bowl-style processor that works well for sauces and purées required? Is it important to have equipment that can quickly process a high volume? These are some questions to determine which food processor will best meet your needs.

A food processor allows a fresh, creative approach to be taken for baking—experimenting with combining seeds, fruits, herbs, chocolates, spices and many other in-season ingredients and high-quality raw materials.

In addition, the right one helps save time, especially in high-volume applications. Preparing hundreds of zucchinis by hand for bread can take hours—work that can be completed in minutes by a food processor. This also maximises the labour resources available in a kitchen.

Not only does the work get done faster, but the output is also much more consistent when it is done with a food processor—resulting in better visual presentation and a higher quality finished product.

Flexibility may be another priority in choosing the right food processor. Certain types of food processors offer the versatility to complete many tasks, since you might be slicing, grating and shredding one minute, and mixing and kneading the next. 

ConTINUOUS FEED FOOD PROCESSORS

A continuous feed food processor can consistently slice, dice, grate or shred many ingredients—from nuts and vegetables to cheese—so you can easily experiment. This type of machine is well-suited for jobs that require prepping ingredients in volume, so one can tackle that mountain of vegetables in no time, quickly and easily slice strawberries for pastry, cut thin apple slices for a tarte, or grate carrots for carrot cake.

Because continuous feed food processors can take a bit longer to clean, they typically are not the best option for low-volume preparation needs. But in jobs that require processing larger volumes, they offer significant time savings.

Some machines are designed for optimal cutting performance, which helps maintain nutritional value by preventing liquid from being pressed out during processing. This also contributes to a higher quality finished product.

Look for a model with heavy-duty metal construction, which is more durable than plastic for the demands of continuous feed food processing. Also, be sure to choose a model with an assortment of high-quality cutting tool options, which last longer and offer greater versatility to do more jobs. 

BOWL-STYLE FOOD PROCESSORS

A compact, countertop bowl-style food processor can chop, mince, mix and emulsify. One can whip up aromatic butter, chop nuts or seeds for pastries, and mix dough for a pie or cheesecake. The ingredients and flavours can be seleced, and the preparation time determines the texture.

A machine with multiple processing speeds offers greater versatility, so you are in control of how you process the food. In a two-speed machine, the higher speed can emulsify, while the lower speed can incorporate and mix ingredients. A jog or pulse feature allows you to personalise your creation and experiment to your liking.

Consider a machine with a durable see-through cover and built-in scraper to wipe the lid: it will allow you to easily watch your creation take shape without having to stop the process. Some models also allow the addition of ingredients through the lid without stopping the action, which saves time. A built-in scraper ensures that all ingredients are consistently mixed—so the perfect purée or ganache with just the right consistency can be achieved.

A machine with a two-knife system that utilises serrated cutting blades and turning blades in tandem helps force the food into the cutting blades, speeding up the process yet maintaining accuracy. A serrated knife also maintains sharpness even when cutting tougher foods like raisins and nuts. 

COMBINATION FOOD PROCESSORS

Just as the name suggests, a combination food processor combines the capabilities of a continuous feed food processor and a bowl-style processor into one machine for exceptional flexibility. Use a combination machine to tackle any cutting, mixing or emulsifying job in the kitchen, from breads and sauces to toppings.

Such a machine provides multiple speed options to help meet a variety of food applications. Certain machines can sense which mode is being used (continuous feed or bowl-style) to automatically adjust the speed, so you do not purée your cheese.

Some combination food processors offer two speed settings in the bowl application along with a pulsating setting. These speed settings allow one to lower the speed for applications using more delicate ingredients like compote and bananas, or raise the speed for denser foods like carrots or nuts.

Quality construction is again an important consideration, so look for a design that provides durability and longer life. For example, a metal bowl provides robustness and helps keep chilled ingredients cold during food preparation. Time can also be saved in clean-up by using a machine with a high-quality plastic lid that is dishwasher-safe. 

CUTTER MIXERS

Cutter mixers, which are available in larger sizes such as 45-quart bowls, offer speed and precision for high-volume cutting and mixing. When you have big jobs to complete, you can cut, mix and blend large volumes of ingredients in seconds with these versatile machines—for everything from quick breads and pie dough to muffins and frosting.

Look for a cutter mixer with a durable see-through cover and liquid incorporation spout. This lets you add liquid ingredients while the machine is continuously mixing and allows you to monitor the mixing process without stopping the machine.

Save time by using a cutter mixer with a 90-degree titling bowl, which simplifies mixing and pouring and makes clean-up quicker. Add flexibility by making sure the mixer has a pulse function and a timer setting, which will allow you to complete other tasks while your machine is preparing ingredients. 

TASTY TIPS

No matter which type of food processor you choose, you can experiment with ingredient combinations to create different textures and flavours for a personalised flair to your recipes. Consider these tips to get started:

• Prepare a ganache directly in a bowl-style or combination food processor by diluting with cream heated to the desired thickness.
• Release the nutrition in seeds, nuts and almonds by soaking them before preparation. If you want an aroma of toasted nuts and almonds, roast first and then soak.
• Easily make vanilla sugar from dried vanilla pods in a bowl-style food processor.
• Experiment to see how ingredients react to friction and temperatures to get your desired texture.
• For smooth jam, prepare it in a bowl-style or combination processor.
• Do not let dry bread or leftover buns go to waste—use them to make biscuits or breadcrumbs in a bowl-style food processor.
• Grate leftover cheese to use on rolls and bread.

When choosing a food processor, first consider what you make in the kitchen and how much you produce in order to selec the right style for your needs. It is a tool that can save time and money, while helping you create fresh, high-quality foods.