Can I put hot liquid in a food processor?

A food processor is a kitchen utensil used to facilitate repetitive tasks in the preparation of food.  However, nowadays, the term is almost always used to refer to an electric motor driven appliance, even though there are some manual devices that are equally referred to as food processors too.

Can I put hot liquid in a food processor? It is really not advisable to put hot liquid or food in a food processor, even though there are now some newer food processor models that can effectively handle hot foods. The general consensus, therefore, is that you must not for any reason put hot liquids or foods in the food processor. This is primarily because the heat from any such contents could potentially cause complaints with the food processor’s machinery.

Why can’t I just put hot liquid in my food processor?

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 You are not advised to put hot liquids or foods in your food processor mainly because, doing so may lead to the damage of the food processor due to the heat radiating to its machinery. Furthermore, hot liquids can expand and explode when you blend them in a blender, by creating pressure from the inside that can blow off the lid. The best case is that the liquid may spurt all over your kitchen, which becomes a real mess to clean up. If it is in the blender, you might just put it in the refrigerator to cool off.

Aside hot liquids, can I also put hot food in my processor?

There are now several models of food processors that are designed primarily to handle hot contents without any fear. However, to be on the safer side, you are strongly advised against putting any hot food in the food processor.

The severe heat from the hot food can very easily lead to a certain damage to the machinery of the item. Therefore, you must not put any hot food in a food processor. Regardless of what you may be pureeing in a food processor, you will most likely have better results, if you will periodically endeavor to stop its motor and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.

And this is usually not easy when you are working on hot food/liquid because care has to be taken in order to avoid accidents from splash

Read also- Can I Use A Hand Mixer Instead Of An Immersion Blender For Soap?

Which food processor can handle hot liquid or food?

 When it comes to handling hot food or water, the best food processors are usually made of heat resistant plastics. A good example of a heat resistant food processor would be the Cuisinart  Food Processor and Ninja BN601 Professional. Even this 3in1 Bamix – M150 “SwissLine” Immersion Hand Blender can get the job done as well. In all the best advice is to process first then heat up when it’s cool or cook, allow to cool then process.

Are food processor parts dishwasher safe?

 Yes, some of its parts are dishwasher safe, such as the blades, containers,  and a few others. On the contrary, you are not for any reason allowed to use water in cleaning some of its parts, like the base which houses the electric motor.

In the case of washing these parts, you are advised to simply go over them with a damp and clean cloth or towel, while making sure that the cloth is wrung very well of any water before using it on the food processor. This will protect its electrical parts.

Read also- Can a food processor overheat?

How do I remove smelly food in a food processor after processing them?

The most important thing in this case is to make sure that you thoroughly clean the food processor after use without any delay, particularly if you smell a foul odour coming from it or even when you have reason to believe that mold is growing in it.

First, soak the container and its blades in a mixture of 1 part baking soda and another part warm water for a period of between 10 to 15 minutes. Thereafter, rinse thoroughly and dry completely before reassembling the unit.

Alternatively, you can grind up a lemon, which works very effectively too. Just put into the jar of the food processor squirts of bleach and allow it to sit in there for about 15 minutes, before you finally rinse it.

Read also- Why does my blender smell like vomit ?

What are the features of a food processor?

Most types of food processors have only a single motor speed, while others have a small tube opening at the top that will enable you to easily add other ingredients when needed. They mostly come with a ‘pusher’ that fits perfectly into this tube and which also helps to feed larger items, keep your fingers safe during handling, and also act as a sort of lid too.

To get a good food processor, always look for: a commensurate size that will serve you adequately, less loud or noisy food processors, an electric motor that powers the food processor, and finally, its blades that come with the unit, which should be strong and metallic too.

What mistakes do you avoid when using a food processor?

 Keeping your food processor in the best possible working condition and using it as intended to be used will ensure that it lasts for much longer. Some of the things you should do are:

(1). Forgetting about the pulse button

The pulse button moves the ingredients in the food processor unit such that they will be mixed very evenly. It also results in chopping, therefore  hold it down and whatever you are processing,  will turn into a very fine puree.

(2). Using it instead of a blender

Yes, a food processor can do a lot of the things a blender can do, but still, it can’t do everything. Both of them can churn butter and make mean pesto too, but leave jobs that involve extra liquid, such as soups and runny sauces to the blender. The bowl of the food processor has a full line or mark, and should liquids go beyond that mark, you risk the contents leaking out the sides or even from the top.

(3). Adding ingredients that are not too large

While a food processor is powerful, it does still need a little assistance, so cut your ingredients, such as pepper or onions, up into a few equal sized pieces before throwing them into it. This same procedure applies if you are making bread rumba. Tear the bread up into pieces before tossing it in.

(4). Running the machine for too long

If you are processing a recipe that may take long to work on, consider break times so as to allow the machine to cool down. Nut butter and some dough made in the food processor will begin to degrade if the machine’s motor begins to overheat

(5). Putting the parts in the wrong place in your dishwasher

The bowl, blades, and the lid are usually dishwasher safe. However, do not take this recommendation on face value only, but consult your user manual to be sure. If they are, they are meant to be washed in the top rack of the dishwasher. Since the heat from the dishwasher comes from the bottom; therefore,  the bottom rack can become too hot for these parts, and can potentially wear them down.

Read also- Can I use a blender instead of a mixer for frosting?

Is a food processor the same as a blender?

 Although both of them share functions, they are not interchangeable. Basically, a food processor is used to puree or crush ice. In addition to pureeing some ingredients, a food processor can also slice, grate, shred, dice, and do lots more.

A general rule of the thumb, use a food processor if the outcome will be eaten with either a spoon or a fork. A food processor allows you to make many store-bought staples or even to create new recipes at home using fresh, whole ingredients without any additives or preservatives whatsoever

Do I need a food processor and a blender?

 Which one of the two you need more than the other will depend on several considerations. A blender is indeed a better option for items that contain a lot of fluid in them. A food processor is best suited for foods that are mainly solid and require more labour-intensive handling, such as in chopping and also slicing too.

Read also- Should you freeze coffee beans before grinding?

Is food processor really necessary?

Of course, it is. The fact remains that prior to the present generation, people got along just fine without food processors, but these workhorses are just very desirable to keep around. They can also mix dough, grate, chop and make quick work of really tedious tasks.

How does one maintain and clean a food processor?

 First and most importantly, make sure that your food processor is given the chance to cool off intermittently if you are processing a bulky quantity of ingredients. Otherwise, you may risk damaging its parts.

Next, always make sure that you clean the parts of the processor very well according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. All its parts that are dishwasher safe can be washed in the machine, while for those that are not, make sure that you wash them manually.

 Can I put hot liquid in a food processor- Conclusion.

As already established, the food processor is not primarily designed to handle hot food /liquid but for the sake of improvisation, let’s endeavor to allow the food cool a little before processing it in the food processor.  Also, blenders and food processors are a great kitchen aid we cannot do without. Be that as it may, you should use either of them just as it is intended, if you wish for them to last in your service. Finally, their functions overlap a lot, but they are intrinsically different in some functions,  as well as certain physical features. Make sure, therefore, that you know which of them will suit your purpose well.

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