A blender and a food processor are amongst the most useful kitchen appliances. These items look almost similar, but they have some differences in functionality. However, if you only owe a blender and do not have a food processor, never worry. Can I use a blender instead of a food processor?
The answer is a big yes. You can substitute a blender by changing some of its settings and reducing the amount of food you blend per time. Read this guide to understand more.
Can I Use a Blender Instead of a Food Processor?
First of all, let us look at how these two items work to help you decide whether a blender can work as a food processor.
A blender:
A blender is an electric device commonly used to make cocktails, baby food, smoothies, and soups. It can blend as well as to puree foods. For a blender to function, there has to be some liquid. The ingredients usually come out as a smooth blend with few or no chunks at all.
Blenders have very powerful motors that do most blending, unlike a food processor with a less powerful motor. However, the blades in the blender are blunt compared to the ones in a food processor. This is not an issue since the motor covers up the matter.
A blender has four parts: a pitcher, a motorized base, a lid, and a set of blades. The body’s shape is conical to allow ingredients to settle at the bottom and spout for easy pouring. Please avoid filling the pitcher with ingredients to the brim. Always ensure that you leave enough space for ingredients to mix freely without overflow.
Food processor:
A food processor is a multi-purpose device that makes several types of foods with ease. It is best when you need to prepare accurate food faster. It can crush hard foods like seeds as well as nuts effortlessly. A food processor pulverizes garlic plus onions.
It is perfect for dicing, shredding, slicing, dough kneading, plus chopping, provided you have the appropriate blade. For this reason, the device is a perfect kitchen appliance for restaurants’ chefs.
A food processor has a less powerful motor compared to a blender. On the other hand, the blades are very sharp and rigid, making it the best blender. It comprises four parts: a clear plastic jug, a base, a lid, and a set or detachable blades. There is a pulse together with speed control buttons located at the base section. The body is larger compared to that of a blender. Therefore, it can accommodate bigger recipes. The lid has a design that allows you to put in more ingredients while mixing without stopping and opening the lid.
Some food processors have bowl inserts that make your work easier since you can make several foods using different compartments simultaneously. A food processor is not the best to blend any loose ingredients or liquids. You will be required to blend in several batches since you cannot overfill the bowl.
Can I use a blender instead of a food processor? You can use a blender to substitute for a food processor. Nevertheless, the result may differ from what you wanted. This calls for the necessity to change the blender’s settings a bit for you to come up with the desired food.
How to Use a Blender Instead of a Food Processor?
To achieve the same constancy similar to a food processor, you need to make a few changes to your blender. These are:
Reduce the number of ingredients:
While using a blender in place of a food processor, make sure you reduce the number of ingredients you put at a go. It is good that you put half the amount that you can put in a food processor. By doing this, you are sure to get an even constancy while blending, and the results will be perfect.
Putting many ingredients in a blender will result in the bottom food been excessively processed. Contrary, the food in the pitcher’s upper part will be less processed, resulting in non-leveled food results.
If you want to chop vegetables, I advise you to use a tamper to push vegetables to the bottom. For hard and huge food like cheese, first, chop using your kitchen’s knife, then put an appropriate number of chunks in the blender.
Change blender’s settings:
Secondly, when substituting a blender for a food processor, ensure you set it to the right settings. Remember that blenders are designed to work at a very high speed. Blenders are different, with some having three speeds while others come up to six different speed settings. In case you need to chop some ingredients, use the lowest speed setting.
This will ensure that your ingredients are not fully crushed. When making puree ingredients, use the highest speed setting for fine results. Make sure you blend little by little ingredients. In case you find it challenging to regulate the speeds, use the pulse button, then keep observing your ingredients until they are okay.
Use a smaller amount of liquid:
A food processor makes less soupy food. So, to imitate a food processor, avoid too much liquid on the ingredients. In case your food lacks the required smoothness, add little by little liquid as you blend until you get the best. Some blenders come with a grinder and a chopper; please use these items for that work.
It is crucial to note that if you are trying a blender for the first time, make sure you use a small number of ingredients. Things may fail to work out, and I am sure you do not want to waste your food.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need both a blender and a food processor?
No. You can substitute one device with the other. For instance, you can have only a blender and use it to do the tasks of a food processor so long as you change the settings and use some small ingredients.
When should you use a blender and a food processor?
You can use them when the blender is unable to substitute a food processor. For example, when preparing dough, use a food processor and a blender for the cocktail. A blender is unable to make the dough, but it is the best for smoothies.
Can you chop food in a blender?
Yes, you can. However, it would help if you made some adjustments to your blender. First, use the pulse setting and the slowest speed. Secondly, put small batches of the ingredients. You can use a tamper where necessary.
Final Thought
In conclusion, if you want your blender to substitute a food processor, ensure that you buy a quality blender. Some inexpensive blenders fail to carry out some tasks of a food processor due to their less-powerful motors. Can I use a blender instead of a food processor? The answer is yes, and now you know how to do it.
