A food processor is an electric kitchen equipment used to process food items. Since it uses electricity, chances are pretty high that, if you are not careful enough, it can overheat in the course of using it, especially for prolonged periods. Therefore, it is pertinent to ask whether these gadgets actually get overheated while in use.
Can a food processor overheat? No, food processors hardly ever become overheated. That is because, usually, most food processor brands come with built-in overheat protection mechanisms, which will automatically turn off the food processor if its electric motor detects an abrupt temperature rise.
This overheat protection mechanism sensor does not, in any way, allow the processor to become over heated. If you are looking for sound food processors to buy, check out this Hamilton Beach Professional Stack and this Robot Coupe Feed Combination Food Processor Dicer with 3-Quart Polycarbonate Bowl.
What causes food processors to overheat?
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Food processors generally become overheated if the working bowl is made of plastic. In that case, the heat from the hot food can allow micro plastic particles to leach into your food. Also, hot foods could melt the bowl and possibly harm the electric motor of the food processor. Extreme heat is one of the most common causes for small appliance motors to overheat and eventually fail too.
Read also- Can you blend spices in a food processor?
How do I know that my food processor is overheating?
Sometimes, if your food processor overheats, the ‘On’ button may not actually stay on, unless it is continuously pressed. Furthermore, you may receive a burning smell of rubber and its casing may also feel hot to the touch. In extreme circumstances, if care is not promptly taken, smoke may even be see coming from the appliance too.
Read also- Can you put hot liquids in a Magimix?
What do I do if my food processor overheats?
If your food processor overheats, the first thing you should do is to turn it off from the main wall socket, so that it can cool down a bit. Secondly, if you are processing bulky ingredients, it is highly suggested that you give it intermittent breaks as against using it continuously, which will only worsen the issue. Finally, if your food processor overheats, try to find out what exactly is its problem, so as to address it, before things get out of hand.
FAQ- Can a food processor overheat?
How do I cool an overheating food processor?
If your food processor overheats, the first thing you are expected to do is to promptly unplug it from the wall outlet and allow it to rest for a period between 20 to 30 minutes. This will enable the food processor to cool down down completely.
Secondly, you can also remove the working bowl, and feel its base in order to determine whether it is still hot to the touch after the expiration of the rest time. If it still feels hot, even after this effort, and probably after some repair work is carried on it, you may need a replacement for it.
How do I prevent overheating in my food processor?
The first thing you should, if you want to prevent your food processor from over heating, is to stop using it immediately. If you do not do so, you may be risking a fire hazard, and could even constitute a danger to yourself and others around you as well, depending on how badly the gadget is overheating.
Should this overheating continue to happen repeatedly, you are advised to get the attention of a food processor service repair agent nearest to you. In extreme cases, you should have to replace the entire unit without any delay.
Read also- How To Prevent Burning Smell In Kitchen Blenders
Will overheating damage my food processor?
Certainly, overheating of the food processor can damage it completely, if you treat the matter with any levity. So, do something without any delay. First, when your food processor overseas, there is the possibility of its electric motor to get burnt beyond any repairs.
It’s blades and other electric components, or even the plastic casing can be at great danger of irreversible damage as well. So, find out the cause for the unit overheating and address it.
How long will food processor last?
Generally, the average warranty for a food processor is about 5 years, although some brands may offer up to about 10 years for their top tier models. However, more basic machines may offer up to 2 or 3 years of warranty. If you buy a more high tech model, you should expect it to last much longer than other inferior models, since it is likely to have more sturdy components.
Why did my food processor stop working?
If your food processor stops working, it may be that the power cord, the outlet or even the electric motor have faults. Therefore, you should check to make sure if the electrical outlet is working fine, and reset it, if it is not. In addition, the lid may not be placed well on the unit, which can prevent it from starting at all
What are the dangers associated with a food processor?
There are both minor and major hazards associated with the use of a food processor. However, we shall restrict ourselves to mainly the commonest and major ones, for reasons of time and space. Some of these hazards are:
(1). The possibility of getting a cut or broken fingers while using the equipment. This usually happens during handling of the blades or shredding discs of the food processor, especially when the machine is still plugged in, which causes the injury.
(2). There is also a risk when other items fall into the appliance accidentally.
(3). There is another danger associated with the gadget running while it is still not properly secured.
(4). Finally, you run the risk of electrocution where you touch an open or naked wire or any component carrying power.
Is it normal for a food processor to get hot?
Yes, it is normal for a food processor to get hot. Most, if not all, appliances that use electric motors produce heat as part of their normal operations, so, they can overheat really. For this reason, many electrical appliances that have electric motors come fully equipped with overheat protection.
What should you not put in a food processor?
Do not put any of the following items into a food processor:
(1). Any boiling or steaming foods.
(2). More liquid into the food processor than it can actually cope with without any complaints.
(3). Gelatin.
(4). Tough meat portions.
(5). Hot or baked nuts.
(6). Bone.
(7). Fruit peels.
(8). Ice.
Read also- Can I put hot liquid in a food processor?
What are some of the heat processor tips of safety?
There are certain measures or steps that should be taken whenever you are using a food processor. First, do not toss a food processor blade into a sink full of soapy water. Just like this, there are other ways you are messing up with your food processor.
Secondly, do not fill the bowl before setting up the machine. If you do this, the blades of the processor won’t sit flush. Also, you must not fill the processor with too much liquid or other ingredients as well.
Simply fill it up to the indicated mark on its siding, or at least not more than a quarter of the way. Doing this may cause the appliance to agitate the liquid, thereby causing it to splash up and out of the bowl, or even seep out through the sides as well.
If you are processing any hot nuts, it may discolor or partially melt the plastic portions of the blades. So, never put any hot food in the food processor. Next, do not pulse the equipment for too long. A food processor usually has two speeds: steadily running and pulsing speeds.
Running it continuously is recommended for creating emulsions, such as mayonnaise and creamy sauces, while the pulse is meant for chopping, which should be held only for optimal length of time.
A second pulse is perfect, if it is long enough to agitate the food, but not so long as to begin to break down and liquify.
Never scrape down the sides. Periodically, stop the motor and scrape down its sides with a spatula. Finally, assuming the blades last forever, the electric motor will most certainly outlasts the blades, since they are dull after a couple of years.
Read also- How To Fix A Leaking KitchenAid Blender With Steps
Why does my food processor smell?
Most food processor bottles are made of BPA( Bisphenol A) plastics, which are more prone to regaining smells and odors, especially if they are not cleaned well or on regular basis. Due to this possibilty, all you may need to do is fill the bottle with a mixture of vinegar and baking soda and allow it to sit overnight before washing.
What do you do if your food processor stops working?
If the speed light of the machine turns off and the ‘Off/Pulse’ light flashes, stop processing and wait until the ‘Off/Pulse’ light goes dark, before you re-start it again. Reset the motor by disengaging the interlocking pusher, feeder tube lid, and bowl. Unplug the food processor, plug in the power, reallign the bowl and its lid before you restart the processor.
Can a food processor overheat- Conclusion.
Food processors are indispensable kitchen wares in our homes. Despite this special need, we should buy them after knowing which are the best to buy, and also with the knowledge of how best you can use them without any harm to either you or the gadget itself.
