Difference between a Food Processor and a Blender?

[Pailani]

I have a fairly decent Krups blender, and a cheap food processor. I won't be getting a VitaMix any time soon (someday!) Can I do everything a VitaMix can do with what I have? And, how do I know what to use the food processor for, and what to use the blender for? They both do the same thing--cut up and mix with blades. The plastic blade casing on my food processor looks cracked, I think that happened when I tried to make almond butter in it, so I may be replacing it.

[RawNaturale]

I use 'em for different things. Most recipes will specify. I don't have a VitaMix either. I use the blender for "more liquidy" things and use the processor for butters, pesto, shredding and chopping. Soups and smoothies go in the blender. Hope this helps.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Food processor -

Chops solids, shreds, makes nut butters, hummus, pates etc.

Wouldn't use a food processor if I wanted an ultra smooth-consistancy, like a soup, salad dressing, smoothie, mayonnaise or something like that.

Blender -

Usually needs enough liquid to chop cabbage (you strain out the liquid afterward), crush ice, etc. If you don't have a high powered blender, I wouldn't risk too many solids and frozen fruit. I've burned out cheaper blenders that way.

Wouldn't use a blender to make nut butters or hummus, too messy and hard to get stuff off the bottom. The stiffer/denser the mixture, the more difficult it may be to use a blender. But, often you can 'grind' dry nuts or grains in there, more finely than with the food processor, unless you use a coffee grinder which would be your best bet.

[JustMe]

I didn't know you could use a food processor to make nut butters. How do you do that and can you make tahini in it too, if so, how do you do that too?

[levamssg]

I use my small food processor to make almond butter. I throw in a few handfuls of unsoaked almonds about a tbl of olive oil and process until creamy. I used to use my vitamix for this job, but it is much easier removing the nutbutter from the food processor.

My nut butter doesn't come out the same consistency as what you buy in a jar, but it tastes wonderful. I store it in the fridge. Can't say how long it may last because I only make small batches and eat it up in a day or two.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Nut-butter is really simple to make in the food processor. Soaking the nuts before hand is key.

Not sure about tahini, since sesame seeds are already so tiny. Coffee grinder might work better for that one.

[rawpriestess]

Hi, when I first went Raw 4 years ago, I had a little blender and a 2 cup food processor and that was all.

The blender worked okay for sauces, and macademia nut whipped cream, makiing almond milk that type of thing, and I used the baby food processor to make pate's, I would have to make it in 4 batches, then mix it by hand all together.

Now I have a VitaMix, a Champion Juicer, a Cuisinart Food Processor and all the old stuff too.

The Vita Mix will make the smoothes nut butters and make the best almond milk.

The Champion Juicer is the best juicer in the world, and makes wonderful nut butters, and super smooth pate's, instantly and easily.

The Cuisinart Food Processor will NOT grind flax sees, or make smooth anything, it makes things that are thicker, and chopped up more, It is super easy to clean, and take apart, the Vita Mix is harder to clean, and the Champion can be a challenge, as it is made of nylon, so no HOT water, only luke warm to clean it.

I put my Vita Mix and Cuisinar parts in the dishwasher, (no drying) and they come out wonderfully, but the Champion I wash by hand, and no soaking, and the grinding mechanism is hollow, and can fill with water.

So each device has it's uses.

If it were me, and I only could buy one thing. I would buy a $40 food processor at K-mart, as they work just fine, and that is the kind that I saw in Alissa's video that she was using.

Save you money to buy a good Excaliber dehydrator, then once you have that, you can save up for the Vita mix etc.

Victoria Boutenko (Raw family) bought her Champion juicer at a thrift store for under $15, the owner thought it was a meat grinder with missing parts.

She is till using it, 10 years later.

Hope this helps.
Rawpriestess