Can anyone recommend a food processor to assist in preparing produce mainly for the freezer. There are so many different types and I want the cheapest that can do all the most useful jobs like
Shredding cabbage/ slicing beetroot. Can you get any that dice (celeriac, parsnip,carrots etc)
I'm expecting a bit much if you can get any that prepare runner beans?
As you can guess, I'm no cook but it will have to also do the standard stuff for the cheff of the house- whatever that may be!
thanks
Jeremy
PS forgot to mention we are a family of 6 so it needs to be a reasonable size too.
Jeremy,
It is all about preference, perhaps this may help a bit.
http://www.reviewcentre.com/products2020.html
I too have a family of six and know how hard it is to cater for the hungry breed.
We have a cheap Mounilex model which is now about twenty years old and still going strong. It does not dice, which we are not bothered by and as far as runners go, I prefer to do them myself. We can gauge how thick or thick the bean is by the use of the hand and I find that that potato peeler we had to do the job was not big enough. I have got about twenty bags of blanched runners in the freezer and more to come.
Carrots we slice and freeze readily, swede is stored and chopped down as needed for stews and mashing. Cabbage is cut and come again unless you want coleslaw, when this is shredded along with onion, carrot, celery, and any other veg you want to add.
Whatever you need is out there and it is just a case of looking long enough to get the best for your family.
Lifes to short to worry over a processor, enjoy the fruits of your labour and eat well.
We've got two Magimixes. An old Robot Chef, and a more modern larger model. Both are very good. The old one has only two settings, on and off. The larger model has three settings, on/off and pulse.
There are makes and models out there that do varying degrees of speed for chopping, etc.
I am very happy with the machines I have. They are very robust, and don't bounce all over the work surface when in use. I can really recommend them. I've learned to work out which one to use if I don't want things too finely chopped.
With both, slicing and grating are a doddle. Neither of them do dicing, you need a sharp knife for the items you suggest.
But a Magimix is not cheap.
We also have a Bamix stick blender. It is an extremely useful item.
You say you want the cheapest, but that can be false economy. Cheap and cheerful, as opposed to built to last. My experience with Moulinex is not terribly good.
I agree with landimad about stringing and slicing the beans yourself. It may be time consuming, but as you string the bean, particularly with one that seems a bit stringy, as you cut round the edge of the bean you can sense whether it is all stringy, or if there is some that is edible. ;D ;D Well you do have to make the most of the short season don't you?
valmarg
Thanks for your replies. I may have to save up for a magimix. I was hoping to get something for £50-£80 and pay a bit more to get 3 years warranty from Argos or something. I'll do what you say regarding dicing and get a decent knife and hide it from the kids (so they dont use it for a screwdriver or whatever they do to them)
I'm not sure my runner/french beans are worth freezing anyway/ I havent been impressed with them when they're fresh for a few years even though I pick them when very small. Stringy/tough and squeeky. I'll try a runner bean trench next year so see if its not enough moisture. Sometimes they are perfect but cant work out why.
Can I use the same boiling water to blanch say cauli/ cabbage and beans?
thanks
Quote from: jeremyf on October 05, 2010, 09:00:52
Can I use the same boiling water to blanch say cauli/ cabbage and beans?
I do not see why you cannot use the same water. I would do the cauli first though as the others are green and the cauli is hopefully white.
If you get a magimix, don't put the bowl in the dishwasher. Mine has warped and now it won't turn on. The new ones cost a massive amount (around £50). I believe their new one has a tougher bowl but if it says wash by hand, I'd do it!
I understand that neither of the Magimix bowls of the two I have are dishwasher friendly. Its not a problem rinsing them out.
valmarg