| In 1973, Carl Sontheimer took the culinary world by | | | | If cooking for two, you probably won't require as large |
| storm. He adapted a French industrial blender for home | | | | a unit as someone cooking for a family of four, five or |
| use. It was outfitted to do far more than blend. The | | | | six. Someone with a large family will do less cooking |
| landscape of cooking schools as well as professional | | | | than a professional chef. In addition, the amount of |
| and home kitchens has never been the same. | | | | food you process at one time will come into play. For |
| Practically every cook - whether amateur or pro - | | | | instance, a wedding caterer could easily prepare |
| wants a good food processor. With so many options | | | | enough food for hundreds of people within a day or |
| in the marketplace how do you know which will work | | | | two. |
| best for you? Is price the best indicator of | | | | Do you plan to juice your own fruits and vegetables? |
| performance or should you start small and work your | | | | Will you be baking bread? Grinding your own meat? |
| way up as your culinary skills improve? | | | | Some of these attachments may come standard on |
| The Basics | | | | larger, more expensive, models. If you don't plan to use |
| Food processors range in price from $50 to $500, | | | | them, you may want to opt for a smaller, more |
| depending on the quality, brand and attachments you | | | | practical machine. |
| select. As basic kitchen equipment, there are certain | | | | Budgetary Considerations |
| features you'll want to look for. Attachments can | | | | Lastly, look at pricing. Many different stores and |
| usually be added later. | | | | websites have drastically different pricing on the same |
| As standard equipment, most culinary school and | | | | brands and models. If you've decided what type and |
| professional kitchens make use of food processors | | | | size of machine you need, but feel you can't afford it, |
| that chop, slice, shred, grind and puree. The food | | | | don't give up. Do a little more research or wait for a |
| processor may be one of three sizes: mini, compact or | | | | holiday, then buy it on sale. To save money you may |
| full. The amount of counter space you have along with | | | | even want to purchase a model now that does not |
| the quantity of food you need to process will be the | | | | include a few of the attachments you want. You can |
| best indicators of which size is best for you. | | | | usually add them on later when funds are more readily |
| Each machine traditionally comes with a motor, at least | | | | available. |
| one bowl, a lid, a feeding tube and a set of | | | | From the basic to the extravagant, there's a food |
| attachments that perform the basic functions | | | | processor out there for practically every need, |
| described above. | | | | capacity and budget. Be sure to check product review |
| Your Needs | | | | magazines and websites to find brands that offer |
| Do you cook for a large family? Are you a cooking | | | | consistently good performance. A quality food |
| school student? Do you own a caf� or | | | | processor of high quality can serve you well for years |
| restaurant of your own? | | | | to come. |