While blenders and food processors have a lot in common, these devices serve distinct functions.
Which kitchen device has razor-sharp blades that rotate at unbelievable speed? Is it a blender or a food processor? Well, both.
A blender is generally better for liquids such as smoothies, protein shakes and milkshakes while a food processor is used in more labor-intensive tasks which include mixing dough and cutting vegetables.
Some blenders are so powerful that they can perform tasks of a food processor (and vice versa).
Nevertheless; let’s first look at the differences between a blender and a food processor.
1. Shape
Blenders are indispensable kitchen appliances with a pitcher and a rotating blade at the bottom.
The bottom and blade arrangement enables the dropping of the contents into the center of the vessel for easier blending (provided there is enough fluid).
However, food processors have large, flat bowls with two blades of different heights. The lower one cuts the bottom and the upper cuts things from above. They are intended for cutting solid foods into smaller portions.
Additionally, the bowl of a food processor is flat and therefore perfect for drier ingredients and dough. By processing food, it makes much of the manual preparation unnecessary. Shred cheese, slice onions, knead pizza dough and make pesto.
2. Accessories
Most blenders come with only one set of blades and a jug. At times you can get extra pitchers for dry foods (the bottom has a different shape for dry things), but most of the time there is only one set.
However, food processors are often supplied with an assortment of accessories for example; slicers, graters, dough blades, etc. This increases the user-friendliness of the appliance and allows fast and easy processing of large quantities of food.
3. Price
In any brand, a food processor costs more than a blender. Blender prices range from $20-$600 whereas food processors range from $40-$800.
When to use a Food processor
Food processors perform numerous tasks because they have sharp blade-edges or discs that cut, slice, grate and pulverize. Others come with a blunt blade for kneading dough or one that gives julienne vegetables.
In our food processor trials, we used a lot of vegetables. We cut almonds and onions, chop celery, mushrooms, carrots and cheese, purée carrots and peas and also shred cheese.
When to use a blender
When making frozen drinks, smoothies and juices, blenders are perfect. They are also used to crush ice. Blenders are generally better than food processors in these tasks.
What you need to know about food processors
A food processor has a large bowl with a feed tube attached to an S-shaped cutting edge.
Most are supplied with additional blade options for slicing and cutting. It comes with two settings: on / off and impulse to run the processor in short spurts for more accurate mechanism.
A food processor’s weight is 5-22 pounds. These and other information can be found in the Features & Specs segment of the reviews for Food Processors and blenders.
There are over 20 models of food processors.
• Capacity: 3 to 16 cups
What you need to know about blenders
Blenders have an elevated jug that narrows towards the base with a tight lid and a blade. Most have a speed of one to 17, but usually, three-speed choices are sufficient.
More than a dozen speeds choices are challenging to differentiate one from the other.
The height of a blender ranges from 8-22 inches according to the present rankings. Follow this specification if the blender is to fit in your cupboards. Are you planning to save it? Blenders weigh only 4 pounds; the heaviest weighs 19 pounds.
All this information can be found in the Features & Specs segment of Blender Reviews.
Frequently asked questions about Blender vs Food Processor
1. Which is better, a blender or food processor?
A blender is generally better for making liquids food such as smoothies, juices, milkshakes and protein shakes while a food processor has more tasks such as mixing dough or cutting vegetables.
However, some blenders are more powerful and can handle the tasks of a food processor.
2. Do blenders work as well as food processors?
In many circumstances, a blender can do most of the tasks a food processor can do, in bits, except kneading dough.
3. What is the difference between a food processor and a blender?
A food processor helps with slicing, chopping or grating vegetables, fruits and also making dough, but cannot make smoothies, drinks or shakes like a blender.
