For the fine dicing/shredding without mush, get one with a grater/slicer at the top, where you can remove the blade in the bottom. That way, once stuff gets pushed through the blade, it is no longer getting cut.
Having that option of top-grating/slicing and bottom chopping/pureeing makes all the difference.
An extra coffee grinder is good for nuts and spices, and with most flavors you don't even have to worry about scrubbing it every time, as hazelnut cardamom coffee is pretty good. For especially pungent spices (Indian), you may want to keep a small mortar and pestle.
I only used the Food Chopper for a couple of meals, it isn't different from a large knife.
I use a Food Chopper for small firm things, like pecans, and I really like it for that, but my mom likes a big knife better.
zenhack just got a large food processor - it slices spinach, blends cobbler dough, and makes good zuccini and winter squash slices. I don't use it - it intimidates me, and it seems like you spend your time cleaning it instead of chopping. It's good for large scale things - zenhack made two batches of spanikopita mix this week, and it did go faster. I'll see if I can get him to call you and talk about why he picked what he did - he spent a lot of time researching and thinking.
He also has a coffee grinder, and a special grate for nutmeg and similar spices, though we don't do much seed crushing, so maybe he can talk to that some too.
I like a food chopper for chopping nuts, but don't own one, because that's the *only* thing I like it for, and I don't want to give space in my kitchen to it. But my mom had one, and it was far and away the fastest way to chop pecans, walnuts, etc. We never tried seeds, but I don't think it would work very well on them. And it would definitely create mush out of anything softer, like veggies.
I can't speak much to the others; I've never used a food processor (I want one, but haven't ever done the research to figure out what I need) and while I'm familiar with the concept of using a coffee grinder for more than just coffee, I'm on the fence about using one, primarily because of the mixing of oils you mentioned. I'd definitely want to get one that could be easily washed (dishwasher-safe, perhaps), and there would be certain things I would probably never use it for.
Comments 3
Having that option of top-grating/slicing and bottom chopping/pureeing makes all the difference.
An extra coffee grinder is good for nuts and spices, and with most flavors you don't even have to worry about scrubbing it every time, as hazelnut cardamom coffee is pretty good. For especially pungent spices (Indian), you may want to keep a small mortar and pestle.
I only used the Food Chopper for a couple of meals, it isn't different from a large knife.
Reply
zenhack just got a large food processor - it slices spinach, blends cobbler dough, and makes good zuccini and winter squash slices. I don't use it - it intimidates me, and it seems like you spend your time cleaning it instead of chopping. It's good for large scale things - zenhack made two batches of spanikopita mix this week, and it did go faster. I'll see if I can get him to call you and talk about why he picked what he did - he spent a lot of time researching and thinking.
He also has a coffee grinder, and a special grate for nutmeg and similar spices, though we don't do much seed crushing, so maybe he can talk to that some too.
Reply
I can't speak much to the others; I've never used a food processor (I want one, but haven't ever done the research to figure out what I need) and while I'm familiar with the concept of using a coffee grinder for more than just coffee, I'm on the fence about using one, primarily because of the mixing of oils you mentioned. I'd definitely want to get one that could be easily washed (dishwasher-safe, perhaps), and there would be certain things I would probably never use it for.
Reply
Leave a comment