A food processor and an electric mixer have similar functions but still have some differences in some areas, features, and their uses with different ingredients. Can you make use of a food processor as a mixer? That’s the question we have to answer.
You cannot use a food processor instead of an electric mixer. A food processor and a blender cannot beat eggs or whip cream. Don’t use the two kitchens mentioned to beat or whip eggs or cream for any reason. You can cream butter in your food processor if the electric motor is rated for it.
Suppose you want to mix using your hand, the better tool to use is the simple spoon. There are many spoon shapes, sizes, and materials. If you want a spoon for mixing, use a spoon with a large surface area to accomplish your mixture job with less effort.
A food processor works similarly to a hand baking aid, you can use it to whisk, mix and knead food ingredients. You can only knead dough to process a little using a food processor compared to a stand mixer, and it’s because the kneading blade is attached to the bowl bottom. The food processor’s power is also lower than that of a mixer.
What is the difference between a food processor and an electric mixer?
The difference between a food processor and an electric mixer is how each of them works or processes your food items. For instance, a stand mixer mix, knead dough, whip cream, and mashes ingredients together using various beaters.
A food processor unlike a stand mixer uses discs and blades to cut food items to chop, slice, puree, shred, and more.
The mixer grinder usually has 2 to 3 jars, which can be used for juicing and grinding, but you cannot perform other tasks with it. As a food processor, it has a bowl consisting of an electric motor with a shaft to which you can attach various blades. It also comes with a tube and a lid, to pour your food into the bowl. Food mixers are better for baking compared to food processors.
Having said those above, suppose you are baking a loaf of bread, making cookies, or baking a victoria sponge, the preparation process is easy because of the whisks, dough hooks, and beaters possessed by an electric mixer.
Can a food processor do all that an electric mixer can do?
Some of the functions of a food processor and an electric mixer may look similar, but there are wide differences between them as well. You can whip, mince, mix, chop, and do more using different attachments and accessories for your equipment.
The results of the two, when used on food items, are the difference between them. For instance, a food processor is agreed upon to be the best for grating, shredding, chopping, slicing, blending, and more. The electric mixer is a better kitchen tool for cutting, crushing, and mashing. A food processor can whisk and knead too.
Note that any dough you knead with a food processor will not be as perfect as the one you knead with an electric mixer, and the reason is that you attach the kneading blade to the bowl bottom. The power of a food processor is lower to that of an electric mixer.
What can a food processor do that an electric mixer cannot?
A food processor can do many things that an electric mixer cannot do, partially or completely and vice versa. A food processor can use its blades to cut up food ingredients, puree, slice, chop, shred, and do more of them.
The attachments for each kitchen tool have extensive functions. A food processor cannot knead the dough, mix, mash, or whip ingredients, all these functions are for an electric mixer.
What can an electric mixer do that a food processor cannot?
There are also many things a mixer can do that a food processor cannot do. An electric mixer cannot shred, slice or grate until you attach a food processor to it. However, an electric mixer can knead, mix, whip, and mash different types of ingredients using beaters which are not in a food processor unless a person attaches an electric mixer attachment.
Which is better, a food processor or an electric mixer?
Depending on what you want to do with any of them because each of the two kitchen tools has its specific functions. However, a blender is an ideal option if you want to blend items with excellent moisture content, e.g., smoothies, and soups.
A food processor is perfect for solid foods, it requires more labor-intensive handling like slicing and chopping. However, most electric mixers can serve as ideal substitutes for food processors since they share some functions.
You can place your food into a large and durable bowl and then lower it to your mixer, before turning it on. You can whip mayonnaise, meringues, and cream using an electric mixer.
A mixer usually comes with 2 to 3 jars that are used for juicing and grinding, but you can’t perform some other tasks with it. On the other hand, a food processor has a bowl of a motor with a shaft to which you can attach different kinds of blades. It equally comes with a lid and a tube that can help to pour food into the bowl.
Which Is the Best Electronic Mixer to Buy?
Selecting the best electric mixer depends on your research and how informed you are about the product before the purchase. You must know some qualities of a good electric mixer, which will make us consider some factors as we proceed in this article.
Electric Mixers–Buyers Guide
There are many factors you need to consider while planning to buy an electric mixer.
The following are some of the factors to consider when buying an electric mixer:
- A good mixer should be easy to clean and maintain.
- The prices should be reasonable and affordable while they maintain high quality.
- The electric mixers’ bowl size should be between 4.5 and 5.5 quarts and should be made of glass, ceramic, steel, or metal.
- They should possess a paddle, whisk, or dough hook.
- An excellent mixer should have up to 16 speeds.
- For a hand mixer, the power should be about 175 watts and about 500 to 1000 watts for the regular mixers.
- The mixers should be durable, and sturdy.
Suppose you are already thinking of getting an electric mixer, a perfect example is KUCCU Stand Mixer, 6.5 Qt 660W. It is not the only electric mixer we will recommend in this article since there are tons of other great ones in the store.
Best Electric Mixers to Buy in 2022
The best overall mixer we recommend today is Breville Handy Mix Scrapper Hand Mixer.
The features:
It is made of durable materials, easy to use, and clean. It comes with a power of about 200 watts and a speed range between 10 and 16.
Black and Decker Lightweight Hand Mixer:
Features:
The hand mixer is durable, affordable, and has speed and power that are enough to process ingredients correctly. It is easy to clean and comes lightweight for easy handling.
Hamilton Beach 6 Speeds electric hand mixer with snap-on Storage:
Features:
It is a good mixer with a high selling rate of more than 45,000, however, the customer reviews are mostly 4.6 stars, the hand mixer is superb in performance.
It comes with 6 speed, is easy to clean, and has a powerful electric motor that allows it to process most of the kitchen ingredients.
Cuisinart HM-50 Power Advantage 5-Speed Hand Mixer, White:
It is a handheld mixer with a 220-watt motor and automatic feedback.
Handheld blender with a 220-watt motor and automatic feedback, it has 5-speed options with a slide control that easily changes speed with a single touch.
It also comes with a swivel cord, extra-long dishwasher-safe beaters, and a beater eject lever. The rating is around 3, 588 and the review stars are mostly 4.6, easy to clean, hold, and use.
Which is the best food processor to buy?
Food processors– buyers guide.
Choosing a new food processor can be daunting, especially when you’re trying to balance available power with the size of your kitchen, or find an option that’s both affordable and high-quality. We’ve done the research for you, and we’re confident that these four options are the best on the market.
Breville bf660sil sous chef 12 cup food processor
If you’re looking for a powerful food processor that will still fit in your kitchen cabinet when stored, we recommend the [breville bf660sil sous chef 12 cup food processor]. It can chop, whip, or blend any ingredient, and it comes with a recipe book to help get you started. The blades are durable and easy to clean—plus they’re dishwasher-safe.
Cuisinart Elemental 13 Cup Food Processor
Our second favorite is Cuisinart Elemental 13 Cup Food Processor], which is our top pick if the price is your primary concern. It performs nearly as well as our first choice, but it costs almost half as much. It’s also quieter than most food processors on the market—so if you have thin walls or sensitive neighbors, this might be a good choice for you!
Finally, our third choice is [Hamilton Beach Food Processor]. While it is not as expensive as our first two picks, we like that it’s small enough to fit in any kitchen—even if you don’t have much counter space. This makes it a great option
Determination
A food processor is an essential kitchen appliance that you might already have in your kitchen. This small but versatile and powerful machine can handle a variety of small food prep tasks including chopping, grinding, whipping, and emulsifying. You can even use it to reduce sauces or make fresh bread crumbs. By using your food processor as a mixer, you can add extra versatility to your cooking experience.