Food chopper/processor.

Recommendations would be appreciated please. I'm looking for something fairly basic for chopping mostly vegetables. At the moment I have my eye on an electric one made by Salter but not knowing much about them would like to make comparisons.

Salter Mini Kitchen Chopper - White

 

Sheal. Val had various electric thingamybobs in the kitchen. Mixers, blenders, chopper etc. As far as I am concerned. They all do basically the same job. You have a selection of cutting discs. Much the depends upon how long you buzz the contents. A short blast and you have some kind of chunks. Give it a bit longer and the chunks become a mass of goo. For me. I still prefer to use the knife and chop whatever. Take care. Count your fingers before and after.

 

Two points-

It may be difficult to chop veg etc if one has painful arthritis in the hands, wrists as I do, manually.Just a thought.

I make a lot of soups, bread and not so often now, cakes and biscuits. I have an old Maximix which is worth its weight in gold which is still functioning well for chopping, blending and mixing. I have a hand blender too which is handy for little jobs.

It's good to hear from you Mike and am glad you are still with us.
Keep on chopping, my friend!

Sorry, Sheal I've not really answered your question. The Salter looks a good bet. I'm sure others will offer good ideas.

 

I have both these type two items but prefer to use a knife. Gadgets clutter cupboards! However that Saltar looks good if you do soups/stews/etc.

 

We've had a magimix for years. It has a really powerful motor and is brutal with its chopping / grating / slicing. Its overkill for the amount of use it gets.

The big down side to any food processor is the amount of washing up it creates. I tend to only use ours when I'm making large quantities of something.

 

At the moment Lidl have a Compact Food Processor in their weekly special offers. I'm going to look at it today - think it may be small capacity for my needs (cauliflower rice) as it's a 1.2 litre capacity bowl, but says a working capacity approx. 625ml.

 

Sorry - read Aldi, not Lidl, in above post.

 

That's okay day to day @Mike Allen but I want something to help out when I'm producing food in bulk to freeze. I hate cooking and to spend two hours plus chopping vegetables finely is no fun, particularly when there's almost another hour added on to that for cooking it.

I sympathise, I have arthritis too Pattie but not in my hands and wrists.

Thank you. I want to fine chop vegetables, the equivalent of dicing them small, but I'm wondering if these choppers/processors just pulp them?

Thank you @Victoria but a manual chopper will be just as much work as using a knife.

I looked at those today while I was out shopping, the price tag put me in shock!

Not a problem. I do the cooking Mr. S does the washing up!

Although I will be producing in bulk (for two most of the time) the chopper will only be used every few months for recipes like Bolognese sauce. Although a mini chopper has a small capacity it won't be a problem re-loading it if necessary. It's the time spent chopping I want to reduce.

@JJ28 did you manage to check out the processor at Aldi please?

 

Sorry Sheal, I didn't go to Aldi (went to Lidl in error....) because it says in the details that the capacity is aprox 1.2 litres. I already have a similar one of 1 litre capacity so am guessing I need about 2 litres. Sorry I can't put on a picture for you as my camera and my computer just don't talk to each other. It says it will chop and mix with the same stainless steel blade - chopping, mixing and pulse. Gunmetal grey, black/copper or cream/stainless steel. £16.99

 

Thanks for the information JJ28. If it's only on offer for a week then I won't be able to get there. Mr S discovered today that Dunelm's have one that is similar but I haven't had a chance to check that out on the web yet.

 

This has to be one of the benefits of forums. One asks a question that after all usually relates to them as an individual. Suggestions are offered by forum friends. Then the theme opens up. Kitchen machines do a good job, but cleaning the appliance can take time. Is it worth it?

Then we learn that some members have physical problems, arthritis etc. Truly such ones have my sympathy. May I deviate a little. Daughter Amanda lost most of the use of her left hand due to a medical accident. Val & I shopped around for various aids that might help her in the kitchen. Boy O Boy these firms do cash in on disabilities. A bit of wood with a piece of rubber attached, to assist in opening jars and bottles....How much???!!! Then when Val was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Our shopping day may well have turned into a camping day out. It took ages reading the ingrediants etc. At the till. You end up paying more for less.

Anyway, I do hope that a solution can and will be found on the forum for all concerned. KEEP CHOPPING & CHOMPING.

 

It is interesting though @Mike Allen that those of us who have disabilities or dietary issues are charged more for the alternative items we need.

 

This is what I bought and have used. On the whole I'm pleased with it, but a minor issue is that the blade spindle is spring loaded so if food drops below it - it doesn't get chopped.

350W Grey Chopper | Dunelm