Can I use a food processor instead of an electric mixer?

An electric mixer and a food processor have overlapping functions. Despite this similarity, they are primarily different in certain areas, such as in their features and uses with various ingredients. The question now is whether one can be interchanged functionally with the other.

Can I use a food processor instead of an electric mixer- No, you simply cannot use a food processor or blender to either beat eggs or whip cream. Do not even try it for whatever reasons. Notably, you can only cream butter in a processor provided its electric motor is rated for it.

However, if you plan to mix  better by hand, the go-to tool for most people is a simple spoon. Spoons come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and materials as  well. For mixing purposes, look for a spoon that has a large enough surface area to work through a good amount of your mixture without too much effort.

A food processor is a kind of hand baking aid, which you can effectively use to whisk, knead, and mix food items. The kneaded dough is processed a little less thoroughly than with a stand mixer, because you attach the kneading blade to the bottom of the bowl. Notably, its power is also sited somewhat lower too.

What is the difference between a food processor and an electric mixer?

Contents

The fundamental difference between a food processor and an electric mixer is how each of them interacts or processes the ingredients.  For example, a stand mixer uses various beaters in order to mix, knead dough, whip cream, and also mash the ingredients together.

On the other hand, a food processor uses blades and discs to to cut food, which allows you to chop, puree, slice, shred, and at certain times, to do even more. The mixer grinder usually comes with between 2 to 3 jars,  which can be adequately used for juicing and also for grinding, but for other tasks, you cannot perform with it.

Again, a food processor usually has a bowl, which consists of an electric motor that has a shaft to which you can attach different kinds of blades. It also has a lid and a tube,  which help to pour the food into the bowl. In addition, food mixers or kitchen machines, if you like, are better for baking than the food processors.

Therefore, whether you are making cookies, baking a rustic loaf of bread, or even a Victoria sponge, the preparation is easy due to the dough hooks, whisks, and beaters that come with an electric mixer.

Read also- Can you blend spices in a food processor?

Can a food processor do all that an electric mixer can do?

Although some of their functions greatly overlap, but they also have glaring differences as well. In any case,  both of them will allow you to perform a wide variety of functions. For instance, you can effectively whip, mix, chop, mince, and do lots   more, if you  are using different attachments and accessories to the equipment.

The major  difference between these two is the final end product of the food you get after processing. A food processor is known to be best for chopping, grating, shredding, slicing, blending, and lots more. Whereas an electric mixer is a better option when it comes to cutting, mashing, and crushing. In addition, a food processor can also be used for whisking and kneading as well.

However, the dough kneaded with a food processor is a little less thoroughly done than that which is kneaded with an electric mixer, because you attach the kneading blade to the bottom of the bowl. Its power is usually somewhat lower too.

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

What can a food processor do that an electric mixer cannot?

There are many things a food processor can do which an electric mixer cannot, either partially or even totally, and vice versa too. Commonest among these things that a food processor can do are in the use of its blades and discs to cut up food items, which will enable you to puree, chop, slice, shred, and sometimes to do even more.

Although the attachment of other accessories to either appliances can greatly expand their various functions. In summary, a food processor cannot mix, knead dough, whip or mash ingredients, functions which are the exclusive reserves of electric mixers.

What can an electric mixer do that a food processor cannot?

If a food processor has things it can do which an electric mixer cannot, so does an electric mixer has things it can do which a food processor cannot do as well. It’s a sort of ‘quid pro quo’ so to say, according to the Greeks, which means that every coin has two faces, or life goes in both ways.

Notably, an electric mixer cannot shred, slice, or even grate unless it has a food processor attachment to it. On the other hand, an electric mixer  can mix, knead, whip, and mash various ingredients with the aid of its beaters, which a food processor cannot do unaided, except may be with the attachment of electric mixer  components.

Read also- Can You Use WD40 On A Blender?

Which is better, a food processor or an electric mixer?

The question of which is better between them is largely dependent on what you actually want done, since each has its specific functions. However, to put it simply, a blender is a better option if you want to process items with considerable moisture content, such as smoothies and soups.

On the other hand, a food processor is best suited for foods that are mainly solids and hence, require more labor intensive handling, such as chopping and slicing. In consolation, whatever kind of electric mixer you may be using, it can function as a very useful substitute for a food processor.

All you may have to do is to place the food into a large and durable bowl and lower it into the mixer, before turning on the gadget. A mixer can equally be used for whipping meringues, mayonnaise, and homemade whipped cream also.

A mixer grinder is equipped with 2 to 3 jars which can be used in juicing and grinding but, other tasks you can not perform with it. Additionally, a food processor has a bowl which consists of a motor with a shaft to which you can attach  any different kind of blade. It also has a lid and a tube, which help to pour food into the bowl.

Read also- Can I sharpen immersion blender blades? 

Which is the best electronic mixer to buy?

The choice of a good electric mixer can be done only with reference to certain special qualities. For us to arrive at a reliable list of these highly acclaimed equipment, we put several factors into consideration.

Electric mixers–buyers guide.

The following are some of the factors to consider when buying an electric mixer:

* Good mixers should be easy to clean and maintain.

* Their prices should be affordable without any compromise to their qualities.

* Their bowl sizes should be between 4.5 to 5.5 quarts and preferably made of glass, metal/steel or ceramic too.

* They should  have any of a paddle, whisk or dough hook.

* Good mixers should also have up to 16 speeds.

* Their power should be about 175 watts for a hand mixer, and about 500 to 1000 watts for higher mixers.

* They should be stable and very durable too.

A good example of what an electronic mixer should be like is this KUCCU Stand Mixer, 6.5 Qt 660W And since there are a lot of mixers in the stores(whether online or offline) to choose from, let this serve as a guide to you when making choices.

Best electric mixers to buy.

(1). Best overall hand mixer: Breville Handy Mix Scrapper Hand Mixer.

Features:

It is made of very durable materials and is also easy to clean. In addition, it has a power of about 200 watts and speeds in the range of 10 to 16.

(2). Best value: Black and Decker lightweight hand mixer.

Features:

It is very affordable, durable, with speeds and power enough to process most ingredients excellently. It is also very easy to clean and lightweight too, for easy handling.

(3). Best rated: Hamilton Beach 6 speed electric hand mixer with snap on case.

Features:

Like any other good mixer, it enjoys great customer reviews of mostly 5 stars, it has a speed up to 6, is easy to clean, with a powerful electric motor to enable it process most common ingredients in the kitchen.

(4). Best beginner: KitchenAid Ultra Power 5 speed hand mixer.

Features:

This electric mixer has a speed range beginning from 5 and upwards, which will suffice for most ingredients, is easy to clean and maintain, very durable,  and lightweight for easy handling.

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

Which is the best food processor to buy?

Food processors– buyers guide.

The following are some of the best food processors you can buy, for their adequate power, availability of several processing cups, durability, easy cleaning, and affordability, in addition to so many other factors too.

(1). Best Food Processor Overall: Breville BF 660SIL Sous Chef 12 Cup Food Processor.

Features:

This unit is quite affordable, has excellent customer ratings, made of very durable materials that resist corrosion, and a host of other features too.

(2). BestFood Processir for Most Home Cooks: Cuisinart Elementsl 13 Cup Food Processor.

Features:

With this equipment, you can process a very wide range of items since it has up to 13 cups, is easy to maintain, lightweight, and is sold at very pocket friendly prices too.

(3). Best Budget Friendly Food Processor: Hamilton Beach 12 Cup Stack and Snap Food Processor.

Features:

As the name implies, it is sold at very affordable prices, is quite durable and very lightweight as well. You can process a wide range of ingredients with it too, due to its multiple cups.

(4). Best Food Processor for Small Kitchens:  KitchenAid 13 Cup Food Processor.

Features:

It can process many varieties of items, very easy to clean, and enjoys impressive customer ratings of up to 5 stars for its excellent performance.

Read also- Can you put hot liquids in a Magimix?

Can I use a food processor instead of an electric mixer- Conclusion.

The article has said it all. Starting from what you should know about both food processors and electric mixers before you buy, down to their maintenance, prices, and repairs. What is left is for you to make good use of this wealth of information? Thank you for coming along this far. Bon voyage, as the French are wont to say.

Leave a Reply