Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site olivej.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!oliveb!olivea!olivej!greg From: greg@olivej.UUCP (Greg Paley) Newsgroups: net.cooks Subject: Re: "Food Processor" vs. Electric Mixer Message-ID: <146@olivej.UUCP> Date: Thu, 23-Feb-84 17:14:52 EST Article-I.D.: olivej.146 Posted: Thu Feb 23 17:14:52 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 2-Mar-84 07:45:55 EST References: <2613@fortune.UUCP> Organization: Olivetti ATC., Cupertino, Ca Lines: 49 I use a food processor, blender, mixer, spice grinder, and meat grinder, all of which have overlapping capacities, but each of which seems better at certain things. The blender chops and purees things more finely than the food processor, but less so than the spice grinder. Therefore, I use the blender makes it good for mixed drinks and finely pureed sauces such as green tomatillo sauce for enchiladas and Indian sauces and marinades. The spice grinder (electric coffee grinder actually) grinds to a fine powder, and is therefore ideal for Mexican and Indian type spice mixtures (garam masala) and, of course, coffee. The mixer is great for cake and cookie batters, which can easily get over-processed in the food processor. It can also, of course, beat egg whites. I have had trouble getting many Italian cake recipes to work properly in the food processor which require long, slow beating. For these, the mixer is dandy. There is a technique for beating egg whites in the food processor. It's detailed in Abby Mandel's "Cuisinart Classroom" book and involves adding vinegar to the egg whites, which is not supposed to affect the flavor of the finished product. I haven't tried it. The food processor can mix and knead bread dough, chop large quantities of vegetables, and mix sauces. As has been discussed here, these things can be done with knives and by hand, but take much longer. Where it is really unique is in being able to whip out things with a mousse texture, such as quenelles, and making terrines and pates. You can make homemade mayonnaise in a food processor within 2 minutes and be sure it will always come out perfect - an often hazardous undertaking when done by hand (with a whisk) or with an electric mixer. If you do this, by the way, expect to find yourself spoiled when you try to eat store-bought mayonnaise again. If I could only have 1 of these appliances, I'd keep the food processor. - Greg Paley