do you need a f/p if you have a vita-mix?

[Aleesha Sattva]

i just received my vita-mix and i'm wondering... what will i ever use my food processor for now? it seems to me the vita-mix can do everything and more that my f/p could do.

so those of you who are vita-mix users... do you use a f/p? and if so, what for???

[raweater]

I don't have a vitamix but I do have a fairly good blender. I think there are huge differences between both machines:
-The blender is a very high speed but lower torque machine for making smooth purees
-The food processor is a low speed, high torque machine to work mostly with solid ingredients, like chopped vegetables or making very thick blends with nuts and little liquid

A blender is also most often used with more liquid ingredients while a food processor is normally used with solid ingredients. For smoothies I use the blender to get it smooth, but for salsa, I couldn't imagine doing that in a blender, it would turn to puree with a single pulse (at least on my blender, and I can only imagine it's far worst on a vita mix if it's that much faster/more powerful). For chunky salsa the food processor is perfect, it's low speed, high torque motor allow for great control on chopping things like salsa.

Also consider the other jobs a food processor does that no blender ever will:
-Chopping
-Shredding
-Slicing (Cuisinart has slicing discs up to 1mm thin "ultra thin slicing disc", great for chips, eliminates the need for a mandoline)
-Zucchini pasta (Cuisinart has a 2x2mm Julienne disc that cuts zucchinis just like spaghetti)

I would never let go of my food processor and wouldn't imagine doing the jobs I do in it in a blender, the blender is for blending, the food processor is for chopping/shredding/slicing.

[rawererin]

I have a Blendtec, which is pretty similar to a Vitamix, my blender can make woodchips...
I would definitely recommend a food processor, I use my blender for smoothies and grinding flax, but I make frozen fruit ice cream, cracker bases, guacamole, fudge ect. in my food processor.
I guess it's a personal decision too- I just think the shape of the food processor and the different things it allows you to do (shred, slice, grate, mix) is worth it.

[Aleesha Sattva]

but a vita-mix can grate cheese, make salsa, make soup, make juice with pulp... grind flaxseeds (i just did that one to make some crackers)... ice cream, sorbets...

that's my point... i want to know if other vita-mix owners even use their f/p anymore... cause i can't think of anything i do with my f/p that my vita-mix can't do.

this machine is freakin' amazzzing!

oh and i have a mandoline and a saladocco... hence why i'm wondering if i should even bother keeping my f/p???

[eachpeachpearplum]

Yes I have both and USE BOTH. The VM I use for making nuts, grains & seeds into flour and pureeing the h*ll out of foods!

The FP I use when I want a more crumbly texture and mixing batters. For the baby I made apple sauce in the VM but for the older kids I make it in the FP.

I would not make a smoothie in a Fp and i would not make cookies in the VM.

I really do use them in conjunction. I just couldnt be w/o either!

I hope this helps.

EPPP

[subbacultcha]

I have a vita-mix and an really old food processor. I use the vita-mix way more, but I still value having the food processor. The shape of it is much better for certain jobs, and the vita-mix struggles with some dry solids, like dried fruits, it's just not built for that.

[Aleesha Sattva]

ah okay. good to hear.

last night my son decided to NOT listen to me... hmmm i wonder why... could it be he's 14???

he turned on my brand-new-hours-old vita-mix with the lid off and the tamper sitting in it... well needless to say, i now need a new tamper :(

[raweater]

You said you make salsa in a VitaMix?!? How in the world is that possible? My blender is about half the power of a vitamix and one short pulse would turn the salsa ingredients into a liquid soup. Or do you have your salsa liquid? I like mine chunky, and don't see how that's possible in a blender, especially a vita mix. With the food processor the slow speed of the blades allow great control on how large or small you want the chunks in your salsa.

[Aleesha Sattva]

a vita-mix has many different levels of power to it. two power switches. one is from 1-10 *1 being very low speed* and then there's another high speed switch.

the instructional video it comes with shows them making chunky salsa! that's my point here... the vita-mix has such a wide range of power... whereas my food processor has one speed. ON well two if you count OFF *giggling*

[Zuri]

Yeah, I still use my fp, esp if it's something that'll be hard to clean out of the vm. I love the the versatility of the vm but with the fp I have even MORE versatility! Making RP's brownies is best done with a fp, just my opinion and guac.

[Aleesha Sattva]

thanks zuri!