Choosing the Best Food Processor

Not everyone needs or will use a food processor, but for those who may will need to be sure to purchase the perfect food processor for his, or her, specific needs. They're not all the same, and they shouldn't be treated as such. There are a number of differences that you'll want to be careful to spot when purchasing a food processor for your kitchen.

If the processor isn't for your kitchen, but as a gift for a friend or family member, you'll still want to consider the basic features that will vary from one product to another. You don't want anyone disappointed because you purchased a 4 cup, when they really needed a 9 cup food processor.

Even though, the features will be similar, what the food processor will be used for, will really determine what size and what major features you will want to look for. You can use a food processor for many culinary tasks, and depending on what you plan on doing, will determine what features and blades you'll need to use and what size bowl you'll need.

Consider the different features that are listed below before choosing a food processor. Consider the major brands, and consider the price so that you can find a food processor that fits into your budget. You don't always have to purchase the most expensive food processor that you can find, as some of the least expensive, name brand food processors are perfectly suited for your needs.

• 6 cup bowl
• Includes in-bowl storage for blades
• Has a convenient On/Pulse dial
• Dishwasher-safe parts
• Space saving design
  

• 7 cup bowl
• Includes a steel blade, dough blade, slicing disc, and a shredding disc
• Extra large feed tube for larger food pieces
  
• Dishwasher-safe parts
• 5 year full motor warranty and a 3 year limited entire unit warranty
  

• 9 cup bowl and an exclusive 4 cup mini bowl and blade
  
• Includes various accessories, including a stainless steel, mutli-purpose blade
  
• Quiet operation with a pulse control
• Dishwasher-safe bowls, blades, and discs
• 1 year replacement warranty
  

When choosing a food processor, you want to consider all of the features. You may find that most of the food processors that are on the market have similar features, but if you look closely, you'll easily be able to determine which processor best suits your needs.

Bowl Capacity- You will find that food processors come with bowls that can hold between 3 to 14 cups, according to the manufacturer (many find that they actually hold a few cups less than the manufacturer's capacity). If you regularly cook for a crowd, you'll want to consider a larger bowl capacity, although they can be a bit pricier than a smaller bowl. The larger bowls also take up more counter space, which is something that you should consider before buying a food processor.

Speed- Most food processors have two speeds- On and Pulse. Pulse allows you to run the food processor in brief bursts which allows for more precise processing. Other than that, you really don't need to concern yourself with high, medium, and low settings that some of the food processors have. The more settings, generally the more you will pay for that food processor.

Feed Tube Size. Some food processors will have a wider feed tube than others, which definitely saves you effort from having to cut larger items into smaller pieces before processing them.

Quiet Operation- If you want a food processor that has a more quiet operation so that you don't disturb everyone else in the house or scare the dog when you use the kitchen accessory, you will end up paying more in the end. In most cases, the few extra bucks will be worth it.

Safety Features- You want to make sure that whatever food processor you choose has safety features. You want to make sure that the bowl locks onto the base and that the top locks onto the bowl. You also want to make sure that the food processor won't start until the accessory is fully locked together.