{"id":3087,"date":"2019-12-10T23:39:14","date_gmt":"2019-12-10T23:39:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betterfood.co\/?p=3087"},"modified":"2020-05-13T23:08:26","modified_gmt":"2020-05-13T23:08:26","slug":"difference-blender-food-processor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betterfood.co\/difference-blender-food-processor\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the Difference Between a Blender and a Food Processor?"},"content":{"rendered":"
You likely already know the difference between a standing mixer and a food processor. But what about the difference between blenders and food processors? <\/p>\n
If your kitchen doesn\u2019t have either, which is the best investment? Can a blender do the same tasks as a food processor? Which one is better for a home baker? And super importantly\u2014which one makes the ultimate<\/strong> smoothie? <\/p>\n both<\/em>In this article, I\u2019ll examine the differences between blenders and food processors . Then you can better determine whether your home kitchen needs one, the other, or maybe !<\/p>\n Have you ever wondered about when the blender <\/a>first appeared on the culinary scene? personally love the history of cooking and cookware. Sign me up for that course!<\/p>\n You might be wondering which appliance came first\u2060\u2014the food processor or the blender? Read on to find out!<\/p>\n <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n My Oster brand blender and a Cuisinart 12-cup food processor<\/p>\n \u200b<\/em><\/strong>The first blender debuted in the year 1922. A Wisconsin man invented it for mixing up milkshakes and malts. Mmm! By the 1950s, the blender made it out of soda shops and into hospitals and labs. <\/p>\n Around 20 years after that, in the 1970s, the first food processor was shown in Paris. That design was soon refined into the very first Cuisinart and the rest is history<\/em>. <\/p>\n Did you guess correctly which came first? I didn\u2019t, even though it makes sense that a blender pre-dates a food processor!<\/p>\n<\/p>\n When it comes to blenders, there are several more types than the classic kind you probably grew up watching mom make banana smoothies in. <\/p>\n First, there are handheld immersion blenders<\/a> . These little guys are more powerful than they appear, and are typically found in commercial kitchens though recently many top brands are making them more accessible to home cooks.<\/p>\n They\u2019re normally used for mixing soups, sauces, and powdered drinks or shakes. <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Next, there are hand blenders (or handheld mixers<\/u><\/a>). You\u2019ve probably seen this kind in action beating eggs for delicious cakes!<\/p>\n They\u2019re awesomely easy to clean, that\u2019s what I most appreciate about them. <\/p>\n Handheld mixers are more suited to blending ingredients for desserts than for making smoothies or kneading bread dough (seriously don\u2019t try that it\u2019ll make a mess!).<\/p>\n I use mine whenever a recipe calls for \u201cegg whites beaten until stiff peaks form\u201d or if I\u2019m making homemade whipped cream\u2014yummy!<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n While we wouldn\u2019t classify them as blenders, standing mixers<\/strong> are closely related to handheld mixers. If you want to know more about those, check out our article on Kitchenaid mixers here.<\/a> Or if you already have a standing mixer, maybe you\u2019d be interested in ideas for what to make with it. Click here<\/u><\/a> for ideas! <\/p>\n Single-serving blenders got really popular for a while thanks to the infamous Magic Bullet infomercials. They cost less than a full-size blender and are a space-saver.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t own one anymore, but Ninja blender<\/a> also offers a single-serving size that my friends swear by. <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n <\/u><\/a>These are perfect for you if you only ever need to make one morning smoothie to go! Plus, no need for an additional glass because it blends right into its own cup. Convenient! When I had my single-serving blender (it was a magic bullet!) I liked to use it to blend my own pumpkin protein pancake mix.<\/p>\n Full-size blenders<\/a>, the one you likely think of when you hear the word \u201cblender,\u201d are affordable and can perform several kitchen tasks. <\/p>\n <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n I like to use mine for homemade almond milk<\/a>. Depending on the wattage, you can even whip up a batch of muffin batter<\/a> in these blenders! Other uses include: salad dressings, pasta sauces, and soups. <\/p>\n Then there\u2019s the creme d<\/em>\u200b\u200b<\/em>\u200b\u200b<\/em>\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200be la creme<\/em> of blenders, have you heard of it?<\/p>\n We\u2019re talking, of course, about the Vitamix<\/a>. Its got a big price tag, but that\u2019s because it can handle some serious work<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Not only can a Vitamix whip up a tasty butternut squash soup in minutes, but it can also heat it<\/em> for you while it blends. Meaning you\u2019ve got lunch ready with minimal dishes for clean up! <\/p>\n Strong and durable is the name of the Vitamix game. <\/p>\n No products found.<\/span><\/p>\n No products found.<\/span><\/p>\n And finally, the powerful food pro\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bcessor<\/a>. More expensive than a blender, cheaper than a Vitamix (usually), and capable of taking your home-cooked meals from basic to gourmet<\/strong> in just a few whirls. <\/p>\n No products found.<\/span><\/p>\n Similar to the Vitamix, food processors boast enough power for chunky dips, homemade nut butters, thick soups, sticky doughs, dense cake batters, and more. <\/em>I don\u2019t know what I would do without mine, and that\u2019s no joke.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for the short and sweet<\/em> answer\u2060\u2014we hear you! Without dancing around the subject we\u2019ll go ahead and give you the big reveal<\/strong>. <\/p>\n A blender is more ideal<\/em> for liquids.<\/p>\n A food processor is optimal<\/strong> when solids are involved. <\/p>\n There are benefits to having both kitchen appliances on hand, but an important fact to note <\/strong>is that a food processor can handle liquids better than a blender can tackle tough solids.<\/p>\n In this section, we\u2019ll hook you up with a handy chart to easily see which appliance to choose depending on what kitchen task you\u2019re up against. Check it out!<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n
A Brief History of Electric Mixers <\/h2>\n
The Power of the Blend<\/h2>\n
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The One Largest Difference Between a Blender and a Food Processor<\/h2>\n
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Who To Turn To?<\/h2>\n