There seems to be no end to the similarities between blenders and food processors at a glance. It can look like these appliances are the same, from the motor-driven bases to the rotating blades and transparent bodies. They’re not.
However, because the untrained consumer’s eye might not tell the difference, one may be on the fence about which to pick out. Case in point: when you’re wondering whether to choose the Ninja Blender or food processor. Well, you came to the right place. Read on to learn the things that set these two modern kitchen staples apart so you can find out which suits you best.
Food Processor vs. Blender: What’s the Difference?
As far as appearance and function, there’s not a lot that separates the two, which is why it’s easy to mistake them for each other. They do differ in purpose enough that it would be a good idea to read about each before purchasing.
It’s in design that these two appliances genuinely differ. Food processors are made to perform a wide assortment of food preparation tasks, while blenders are designed to crush and blend dry and wet ingredients.
Food processors win for versatility in general. They allow you to prepare different types of foods in various ways. From chopping meat and shredding vegetables to mixing dough and batter, a food processor can take on many tasks that would take you much longer to accomplish manually.
The Food Processor
The four main components of a food processor are the base, clear glass or plastic body, lid, and rotating blades. The appliance also comes with pulse and speed settings found on the base. Its body is typically broader and more spacious than a blender’s, which allows it to handle a higher volume of ingredients.
Food processor lids typically feature feed chutes for pouring ingredients through while mixing. Unlike blenders, which tend to come with a fixed or removable single-blade attachment, a food processor can come with all sorts of blade attachments for performing different food preparation tasks. Many even come with bowl inserts to help you accomplish another task in an additional compartment simultaneously.
The food processor’s body shape and versatility make the appliance adept at processing dry food. It doesn’t quite match the blender in liquid-blending prowess due to the tendency of wet materials to get stuck along the mixing bowl’s sides and out of the blades’ reach. A food processor can accommodate a larger volume of ingredients than a blender. In fact, unlike a blender, it can be filled almost entirely and still function fine.
The Blender
As the name suggests, a blender blends solid ingredients with liquid ingredients. Don’t take this to mean the appliance is a one-trick pony since blending can also entail pureeing, emulsifying, mixing, and crushing.
Like food processors, blenders are typically composed of four parts: a motor-driven base, lid, pitcher, and set of detachable or fixed blades. Their controls are also found on the base and typically include mixing and speed settings.
The blades are screwed onto the pitcher’s bottom for easy removal during cleaning. The lid fits tightly to the pitcher’s top, equipped with a removable plug. You may remove the plug to add more ingredients while blending.
More often than not, blenders are used to puree vegetables and fruits for smoothies, sauces, and soups. Their cone-shaped pitchers make it easy to keep ingredients in constant contact with the blades. As liquid and solid ingredients mix, the blades rotate and create a downward-spiraling vortex that ensures no material is left unshredded.
One downside to the blender could be its failure to function efficiently or at all when filled to the brim. That’s why you’re recommended to fill the pitcher only one-half to three-quarters of the way to provide ample space for the ingredients to flow and prevent them from spilling over.
Blenders also aren’t capable of blending dry ingredients well due to their constrained blades, which can’t function optimally without liquid.
While high-powered blenders can come with more than one type of blade attachment, regular blenders typically have to work with only one. So, if you’re looking for a more versatile blender, be sure to research the specifications of some of your choices.
So, Which Will it Be: Blender or Food Processor?
It is vital to understand, from the outset, that a blender and food processor are not the same. There may be high-end, high-powered appliances that can function as both, but they are exceptions to the rule and should not serve as a general basis for your decision.
If your goal is to reduce the repetitiveness of daily food preparation tasks, go for a food processor. On the other hand, if you’re into making sauces, smoothies, and soups, a blender would be the better choice. Of course, nothing stops you from getting both should you find the two appliances equally necessary.
Hope you learned something from this short guide on Food Processor vs. Blender and the difference between the two.
Want to read more of our latest posts? Check out our review of Beatnic in SOHO, a lovely Vegan restaurant.
