A
food processor is a kitchen appliance used to facilitate various repetitive tasks in the process of preparation of
foodFood is any substance, usually composed of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and water, that can be eaten or drunk by an animal, including humans, for nutrition or pleasure. Items considered food may be sourced from plants, animals or other categories such as fungus or fermented products like alcohol...
. Today, the term almost always refers to an electric-motor-driven appliance, although there are some manual devices also referred to as "food processors".
Food processors are similar to
blendersA blender, or liquidiser in British English, is a kitchen appliance used to mix ingredients or puree food. The term typically refers to a stationary, upright electrical device, which is to be distinguished from a hand-powered or electric mixer that may be used for similar purposes...
in many ways. The primary difference is that food processors use interchangeable blades and disks (attachments) instead of a fixed blade.
A
food processor is a kitchen appliance used to facilitate various repetitive tasks in the process of preparation of
foodFood is any substance, usually composed of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and water, that can be eaten or drunk by an animal, including humans, for nutrition or pleasure. Items considered food may be sourced from plants, animals or other categories such as fungus or fermented products like alcohol...
. Today, the term almost always refers to an electric-motor-driven appliance, although there are some manual devices also referred to as "food processors".
Food processors are similar to
blendersA blender, or liquidiser in British English, is a kitchen appliance used to mix ingredients or puree food. The term typically refers to a stationary, upright electrical device, which is to be distinguished from a hand-powered or electric mixer that may be used for similar purposes...
in many ways. The primary difference is that food processors use interchangeable blades and disks (attachments) instead of a fixed blade. Also, their bowls are wider and shorter, a more appropriate shape for the solid or semi-solid foods usually worked in a food processor. Usually little or no liquid is required in the operation of the food processor unlike a blender, which requires some amount of liquid to move the particles around its blade.
History
The idea of a machine to process food began when a French catering company salesman, Pierre Verdun, observed the large amount of time his clients spent in the kitchen chopping, shredding and mixing. He produced a simple but effective solution, a bowl with a revolving blade in the base. In 1960 this evolved into Robot-Coupe
http://www.robot-coupe.com, a company established to manufacture the first commercial "food processor" for the
cateringCatering is the business of providing foodservice at a remote site.-Mobile catering:A mobile caterer serves food directly from a vehicle or cart that is designed for the purpose. Mobile catering is common at outdoor events , workplaces, and downtown business districts.-Event catering:Event ranges...
industry. In the late 1960s a commercial food processor driven by a powerful commercial induction motor was produced. The domestic market had to wait until 1972 for a domestic food processor. The Magimix
http://www.magimix.com food processor arrived from France in the UK in 1974, beginning with the Model 1800. See
first patent of this machine
Carl SontheimerCarl G. Sontheimer was an American inventor and engineer best known for creating the original Cuisinart food processor.Sontheimer was born in New York but raised in France. He returned to the U.S. to attend MIT, where he received an engineering degree...
introduced this same Magimix 1800 food processor into North America in 1973 under the
CuisinartCuisinart is a brand of small kitchen appliances, especially the food processor of the same name, one of the first to become popular in the United States. It was founded by Carl Sontheimer in 1971, and became a leading brand in the United States....
brand, as America's first domestic food processor.
Functions
Food processors normally have multiple functions, depending on the placment and type of attachment or blade. These functions normally consist of:
- Slicing/chopping vegetable
A vegetable is an edible plant or part of a plant. However, the word is not scientific, and its meaning is largely based on culinary and cultural tradition. Therefore the application of the word is somewhat arbitrary and subjective. For example, some people consider mushrooms to be vegetables,...
s
- Grinding items such as nuts, seeds (eg spices), meat, or dried fruit
Dried fruit is fruit that has been dried to remove some of the fruit's moisture, either naturally or through use of a machine, such as a food dehydrator. Raisins, prunes, and dates are examples of popular dried fruits...
- Shredding or grating cheese or vegetables
- Pureeing
- Mixing and kneading doughs
Design and operation
The base of the unit houses a motor which turns a vertical shaft. A bowl, usually made of transparent plastic, fits around the shaft. Cutting blades can be attached to the shaft; these fit so as to operate near the bottom of the bowl. Shredding or slicing disks can be attached instead; these spin near the top of the bowl. A lid with a "feed tube" is then fitted onto the bowl.
The feed tube allows ingredients to be added while chopping, grinding or pureeing. It also serves as a chute through which items are introduced to shredding or slicing disks. A "pusher" is provided, sized to slide through the feed tube, protecting fingers.
Almost all modern food processors have safety devices which prevent the motor from operating if the bowl isn't properly affixed to the base or if the lid isn't properly affixed to the bowl.
External links