Food Processors

[pigletwillie]

Rest assured Valerie, that money is kept in her knickers out of my way. I will look at the Bamix and may well bag one along with the 5100 as both together will still be within my budget.

Thanks all for the info.

[Earthbabe]

Good luck and happy shopping piglet. Let us know is there is anything else we should be aware of.

[valmarg]

Naughty Piglet, you never know, Mrs P may be saving the money to buy you a super duper Christmas present!!

Sorry I didn't reply earlier in the week, but the hard disc went belly-up, and when we fetched the computer back this afternoon, the exhaust dropped off the car on the way home. Not feeling terribly happy tonight.

Have a super time at the NEC. I am a bit envious, as I have thoroughly enjoyed the show in the past, but don't think we will be able to make it this year.

When we bought the Bamix, it was the first demonstration we watched. All right, the mad harrys doing the demos are very slick, but to be able to make your own mayonnaise in seconds, and all the other things it will do, sold me on the machine, and I am glad that we bought it It has been worth it as it gets a lot of use. (And no I'm not on commission!!)

valmarg

P.S. Surely the very good news is that MrsP is still off the evil weed!!

[pigletwillie]

No chance of the money coming my way Valmarg, I'm sure its earmarked for shoes or handbags.

We go to the show every year and generally pick up a "Run" pan or two as well.

[Mrs Dobby]

Mr D has just asked if I'd like a Food Processor as a joint prezzie for Yule, to which I obviously said yes, even though I've never owned one or really used one before (apart from my Mum's Kenwood Chef mixer/processor thingy in the late 70's early 80's), so not sure what I should be looking for in terms of features and extras! I'm used to cooking (I love cooking), but generally prepare everything by hand (very theraputic), but if we are potentially going to be dealing with some decent crops next year and making lots of jams / preserves / sauces and chutneys then I have a feeling it would be far easier with a Food Processor!

Our budget is a lot less than Pigletwillies, so any suggestions as to what to look for, in terms of features, prices or any specific models that you have used and would recommend, then I'd be very grateful! Thanks in advance!

[Alice]

I don't know Mrs D, but I look forward to the replies. I use mine for liquidising soup and grating cheese and vegetables and not much else. Everything else I do by hand. Maybe I'm missing out on great features. Look forward to other grapes suggestions.

Oh. I do use it to grind meat to make burgers and sausages.

[Snadger]

I was given a smashing little food processor in my MOM pack. Its called a stainless steel vegetable knife.
Still can't convince the missus though!

[Alison]

What's your budget Mrs D? I posted the Which list of processors further up this thread which are all less than Pigletwillie's budget, I've found Which pretty reliable in the past. If these are still more than your budget you might be able to find the previous version of those models at a reduced price.

[Mrs Dobby]

Budget is prefferably less than £100, but could probably stretch a little bit more if it was really worthwhile! I had a look on the Which site, but I'm not a member, and dont really want to sign up for their free trial, as I've had free which things before and ended up getting charged and when cancelled had lots of Which junk mail for the next 5 years (until I moved house!)

If not a member you dont actually get to see their ratings, so I'm snookered with it! Did see a silver Kenwood one for £79.99 with a top loading drive, which looked quite good! We do already have a smoothie maker, so dont need it to do that, but not sure what else we can use them for!

[Alison]

If it's the Kenwood FP533 you were looking at it only gets a score of 70%, apparently it's pros are Excellent at mixing, slicing and whisking, good at chopping, kneading and whipping, excellent jug blender, small dosing hole in lid insert, fairly easy to clean, not as well-built as other models. Cons: Fiddly to assemble, uncomfortable to operate, noisy, jug and whisk beaters must be washed by hand. The Philips Cucina Click and Go HR7745 at £100 seems to come out as the beset all rounder with a good capacity without going any more expensive, it has the following summary, Pros: Excellent at chopping, mixing, slicing, good at grating, kneading, whipping and whisking, excellent jug blender, easy to operate, very easy to assemble and dismantle, easy to clean, well-built and durable. Cons: Quite noisy, large so harder than other models to store. Or alternatively the smaller Phillips Cucina Click and Go HR7735 at £70 for 79%, Pros: Excellent at chopping, mixing and slicing, good at grating kneading, whipping and whisking, excellent jug blender, easy to operate, very easy to assemble and dismantle, easy to clean, easy to store, well-built and durable. Cons: Emulsifying disc not as effective as a traditional whisk, quite noisy.

Not used any of these but Which is usually pretty good.

[Mrs Dobby]

Thanks Alison, any tips on ones just over the ton mark? Perhaps up to £150 or so (I think I can persuade Mr D to open his wallet a little further!

[Alison]

The Magimix Compact 3100 gets a score of 82% for £147, Pros: Excellent at chopping, grating, kneading, mixing and slicing, simple, easy to use, easy to clean, easy to assemble and dismantle, well-built and durable. Cons: Average at whipping and whisking, heavy. Only other down side looks like it hasn't the capacity of some and is only judged as medium sized. Some of the posts above rave about magimix generally so guess it's pretty good. None of the ones in between this and £100 mark score any higher than the cheaper models. The survey was done last April so won't have the very latest models reviewed.

[Mrs Dobby]

Many thanks Alison! I'll get Mr D engaged in looking at them all and hopefully get a decision made soon! Thanks for all the help guys n gals!

[Tigger]

Got the Bamix and the Moulinex but still seriously rate the Vitamix Piglet as the owner and user of all 3. Go and see the demos at the Foodshow. I think any one of these is fine but a serious foodie needs all 3. - hint, hint the Vitamix. There again - you may want to aim for something slimmer than us......

[valmarg]

What's a vitamix??