Food processor

[satisfied7]

I am looking for the best kitchen equipment that can be multi functional. Does anyone recommended the Ninja or any other products? If so, can you be specific about the model? I am starting from scratch and have a hand blender but need more "tools".

Also, any coffee makers you love? Now that I am starting to enjoy black coffee, would a press or any other special coffee maker be better?

Thanks for the help. I am gearing up to do a second "badass" whole30 and want to be prepared!

[MJam]

I have the top of the line Cuisinart 12 cup food processor (I'm too lazy to find the model #)...love love love it. It is the one that has 2 work bowls a tiny one that nests inside the big one. I honestly use the small work bowl more than the large one but I like have the option for both. I make mayo in it, use it process up blanched tomatoes, it grates and shreds stuff super fast. I use it make almond flour from left almond pulp...it makes a fine powder better than Bob's Red Mill stuff which is waaaay too coarse for my liking.

I got rid of our microwave when we went paleo and I got a Breville countertop convection oven that I am seriously in LOOOOOOVE with. I use it every single day probably 2-3 times a day. It's amazing and I can't say enough good things about it.

I don't use many more gadgets and I don't drink coffee. I had borrowed a Blendtec from a friend but since I have moved away from nut milks I don't need it anymore and the FP can do it all.

If i had a wish list a quality mandolin would be on it (I've wanted one for years!) and a spiralizer or juilenne peeler (these are pretty cheap). Hubby wants a dehydrator so that will probably be our next large small appliance purchase.

[Aberrantatavia]

I'm also looking at a food processor, and I was leaning towards the new kitchen aid with the adjustable slicer, but I'd be interested in hearing more about the cuisinart one as that the brand I would prefer. How long have you had it?

Coffee pot, mine is a delonghi or something like that. It does coffee and expresso and all of that. I switched to this and a burr grinder a couple of years ago. I really love it, but honestly my cuisinart one with the built in little grinder thing was awesome. They just don't hold up very well and I bought a new one every 2 years or so so I went to something new. I like freshly ground beans, so for me it's a combination of the pot and the grinder.

I have an Excalibur dehydrator and I love it. I've had several others and this one is so well worth it

[Bridget]

I use my Viking food processor daily and LOVE it. It, too, has the smaller nesting bowl. I shred everything in it and am currently enjoying my shredded sweet potato w/ coconut oil. I also use my counter top mandolin almost daily. I hurt my should a couple of years ago and sometimes when I use the mandolin too much, it bothers my deltoids for a while, so I often switch from the mandolin to the food processor. My favorite with the mandolin is shredding strips of zucchini for "pasta". Man, that's good stuff ! The mandolin, I forget which brand it is, was only $19.99 at a kitchen store here in Ct. I thought (and still do think) it was a great deal.

Fun !!!

[Bridget]

BTW- Melissa- what are you using your dehydrator for ? I had one, used it for beef jerky and fruit a couple of times, but ended up selling it because I didn't think it was worth what we paid for it, for the few times we used it. The jerky recipe was pre- paleo, so not a good one, and I know too much dry fruit isn't a good thing.Everything I make we go through quickly- with 8 of us in the house. I did like using it, though, but not sure it was a good use of $$. Just curious how others have made it worthwhile. Thanks !

[MJam]

I did a buttload of research before pulling the trigger on a rather pricey appliance and the Cusiniart came away the winner based on all my research. I've had it since the spring of 2010 and it is still like brand new. I love that the lid has a fully sealing rubber gasket which makes processing liquid stuff drama free. I tend to prefer Cuisinart over Kitchen Aid...husbie gave me the choice of a food processor or a stand mixer to which I chose the FP and I am soooooo glad I did because while I used to bake a lot. I don't anymore.

I want to make jerky, dried fruit, fruit leather, veggie chips and nut flours. I just found a recipe for making your own garlic powder using the dehydrator this morning (we use a lot of this spice) For us the jerky alone would be worth the dehydrator investment.

[MJam]

Oh and the FP makes ricing cauliflower sooooooper easy!

[Nancy H.]

For a coffee maker I prefer my Keurig. I live alone and only drink one or two cups every morning. I got tired of making a pot full and throwing away half of it. This is great for someone who lives alone of only drinks one or two cups a day.

I also love my Kitchen Aid Immersion Blender. I LOVE it. It make great Mayo.

[Sharon Simpson Thumann]

Everything I own in terms of kitchen appliances has been made by KitchenAid. I so love it! I've had my stand up mixer for fifteen years.

I have a 13 cup food processor with the nesting bowl and all attachments, all attachments for my mixer, a hand mixer, convection oven, an immersion blender, two roasting pans and a mandolin. Not to mention an array of gadgets.

I guess you can say I love all things Kitchenaid! So much so, that my husband took my mixer to an auto shop and had it painted red to match all my other appliances.

Next purchase will be a dehydrator.. unfortunately Kitchenaid doesn't make them but Nesco does and I happen to like them as well, I have a huge Nesco roaster.

[Michelle Garcia]

I have to reiterate what Nancy H. on the Kitchenaid immersion blender. I have the KHB300 in white. What I love about it is that it comes with both a whip attachment and a mini food processor attachment. I really like to use my immersion blender to make gravies out of sauteed vegetables in broth so that I don't have a need to use flour as a thickening agent.

[kb0426]

I adore my Cuisinart Food Processor. Do NOT waste the money on the Ninja. Sadly, I did and after one batch of mayo, where it spattered ALL OVER THE PLACE, I now use the food processor. Mayo in 30 seconds. Ta da! On a weekend food prep day, I likely use my FP 5-6 times. It is the best!

As for the coffee maker, I actually make espresso. I don't have one of the fancy machines, just a Bialetti like this one:

http://www.espressoz...CFck7MgodmGEAuQ

While it is not difficult, it does keep me from over-indulging in multiple cups. That is one of the reasons I no longer use my Keurig. It was too darned easy!

[Aberrantatavia]

I'm going back and forth with the cuisinart and the kitchenaid. They are very similar, but the cuisinart comes with a 10 yr warranty on the motor... This might be the deciding factor for me. I'm pretty for serious about my appliances, I expect them to work hard I have a kitchenaid stand mixer, but I prefer my Bosch.

Dehydrator: I soak and sprout my nuts, so I dry them in here. I get herbs and veges in the summer and add some extra that I can dehydrate, like tomatoes. I'd rather use local organic dried tomatoes to make paste. I also make jerky, dry fruit like blueberries and things that I pick locally. When I'm not doing a whole 30, I will indulge in raw milk (still debating this portion of my lifetime diet) and make my own yogurt. There are actually a ton of things you can do with veges in the dehydrator, lots of which is good for you if you have a healthy relationship with food.

[SarrizleP]

I've got to say, I have a cheap food processor from Walmart. It does it's job. When it dies I will probably get a kitchenaid, as I prefer that brand for most things. For now though I really don't mind the cheapy one for shredding sweet potatoes, zucchini, cauliflower, etc.