Difference between a food processor and mixer: You must have gone to get a kitchen mixer or you did some research because you wanted to get a kitchen mixer but you did not know what is the exact difference between a kitchen mixer and a food processor.
They are quite different in some ways. You need to know that these two kitchen appliances are quite close to each other but have some specific and unique qualities which makes them different.
You will need to be aware of these differences before you even get started. We will highlight in this article the major differences between these two similar kitchen appliances.
Table of Contents
Summary of the difference between a food processor and a mixer
| Function | width=”219″>Food processor | Mixer |
| Grating | Suitable | Use with an accessory |
| Chopping | Suitable | Use with an accessory |
| Slicing | Suitable | Not suitable |
| Shredding | Suitable | Not suitable |
| Cutting | Suitable | Use with an accessory |
| Mixing | Use with an accessory | Suitable |
| Mashing | Use with an accessory | Use with an accessory |
Difference between a food processor and mixer
What is a food processor?
A food processor is simply a piece of kitchen equipment which has can be used for several functions like shredding, grinding, chopping and slicing. Some other types of food processors can be used for grinding vegetables and making citrus, etc.
How does a food processor work?
The food processor comes in three sizes, they are the mini, compact and full. Despite the difference in sizes, the components are still the same. It has a bowl, motor, lid, feed tube and attachments.
The shredding disc of the food processor does the work of grating common ingredients like carrots, the slicing disc can slice apples, potatoes and other fruits.
What is a mixer?
A mixer is a utensil, used mainly in the kitchen which has a gear-driven mechanism that rotates a set of beaters in a bowl which contains the food to be ground.
It could either be electric or manual, today, the electric ones are more preferable to the manual ones because of its speed and ability to save energy and time.
How does a mixer work?
When you have bought your mixer and you are done assembling it and ready to use, you need to take note of how the meat grinder works.
After you have put in the things you want to grind in the mixer, you switch it on and then select the speed at which you want I t to rotate. It will keep rotating based on the electric motor built in it.
Depending on the speed you put it in, the mixer will mix and beat what you have put inside of it. When this Is done you will get a particular texture, either fine, coarse or medium, depending on the blades that were inserted.
The major difference between the food processor and mixer
Difference in Function
The major difference between a food processor and a mixer is the function and the final product of each of this equipment. A grinder is best for cutting, mashing and crushing, while a food processor is best for slicing, chopping, grating etc.
Difference in design
Both mixers food processors are made to work with different types of foods, this ability makes it result in different end products. The designs of this kitchen equipment are far different.
The blade set up is different, it could cut coarse enough or even finely. The desired texture can be created based on the different designs of this kitchen equipment. Food processors may have a rotating pump-based blade or stationery one.
Those with stationary blades do require someone to guide the food over the blades, then it goes into the processor container.
I have a food processor do I need a mixe
This depends heavily on what you want to do with it. In the above table, we have stated what the mixer and food processor can and cannot do. The food processor chops, slices and cuts, while the mixer grinds, mixes and crushes.
However, the food processor can do some of the tasks of the mixer, but you will need to add an accessory to it for it to work smoothly. Conclusively, it depends on what you are into that will determine if you will get a mixer or not. If you are a baker then you should stick to your food processor.
Best mixers under $150 to buy
| Mixers under $150 | Where to Buy |
| Dash Go Everyday Mixer – PASTEL BLUE
|
Buy on Amazon |
| Aucma Stand Mixer,6.5-QT 660W 6-Speed Tilt-Head Food Mixer
|
Buy on Amazon |
Dash Go Everyday Mixer – PASTEL BLUE
This mixer is a very compact, lightweight and portable machine that has six preset speeds. It has a revolving bowl which can be adjusted for a better mixing experience.
It is capable of whipping up everything from oatmeal cookies, fluffy egg whites easily. This mixer will do the job for you if it is a sweet treat you crave.
It is also easy to use, if by chance you are buying this for the first time ever you will not have issues with it because it was made easy to use, clean etc.
Pros:
- Easy to clean
- Easy to use
- Giftable
- Lightweight
- Durable
Cons:
- May be noisy
Final verdict
This mixer is a very portable one, if you get it you do not have to bother about storage. That is one added advantage. Also, if you are searching for gift items and you have no idea what to give, this mixer I a good idea.
You must have gone through the product description, if it suits you or meets your expectation then you should go for it, if it does not, then you should check others that may satisfy you.
Aucma Stand Mixer, 660W 6-Speed Tilt-Head Food Mixer, Kitchen Electric Mixer with Dough Hook
This machine has a very powerful motor and a high performance of 660W. It has six optimized speeds with a pulse function. The mixer has a low motor noise of less than or equal to 76decibel.
This is quite good because some other mixers out there are noisy and constitute a nuisance when it is being used for a long time, this noise it causes could also be a disturbance to the user itself.
It comes with a stainless-steel bowl that will meet your needs in the kitchen, it is also very easy to use, this mixer also comes with a dual handle for more convenience in holding it.
It also has a fabulous design, a stainless-steel decoration belt and blue LED light as a power indicator. The stainless-steel design makes it look shiny and beautiful in the kitchen.
This mixer comes with three mixing accessories: Mixing beater, hook and dough.
Pros:
- Giftable
- Easy to use
- Value for money
- Easy to clean
- Durability
- Stainless-steel design
- Shiny look
Cons:
- Does not work well for baking cakes
Final verdict
You have gone through the positives and negatives of this mixer and have seen all that it has to offer, this mixer is value for money because it serves a lot of purposes even at its low price.
It can also be used as a gift item in case you want to gift someone special to you. This mixer is a very good one and be rest assured that it will meet your expectations after you have bought it.
Food processors under $150
| Food processors under $150 | Where to Buy |
| Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor & Vegetable Chopper
|
Buy on Amazon |
| Cuisinart DLC-8SBCY Pro Custom 11-Cup Food processor | Buy on Amazon |
Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor & Vegetable Chopper
This food processor comes with a special attachment that scrapes the sides of the bowl t make sure ingredients are close to the blades for a better and even result. With this feature intact, there will be no need to stop, open the lid and then make use of a spatula to stir.
It also has a ten-cup capacity, it can handle a large volume of food without stopping or without the food stuffing in the container. It is also a very versatile food processor which can serve as a food chopper, food processor and vegetable chopper.
With a two-speed pulse and 450 Watts of power, you should expect this food processor to do well in its work. It has a great blending power as well which makes it capable of blending any kind of food you throw into it for processing.
This food processor is also very easy to clean after you must have finished using it.
When you are making use of this food processor, you should always start with the pieces that are similar in size.
The operating time of this food processor is dependent on the quantity of food that is being processed if you are processing a large amount of food you should be ready to stay longer with your food processor because it will take time, on the other hand.
If you are processing a smaller amount of food you will not have to wait too long before it is done processing.
Pros:
- Great blending power
- Safety features
- Easy to clean and use
- Versatility of use
- Ten cup capacity
- Large feed chute
Cons:
- The lid could get stuck
- May be easily breakable
Final verdict
This food processor is quite breakable because of its transparent plastic container and lid, so you will need to be extra careful while making use of it.
The large feed chute makes the processor contain a large quantity of food for quick and easy processing with less time spent. You should know by now if you will like to get this food processor after going through the features.
Take note that these food processors are under $150, so they will be quite affordable for buyers. Food processors with such great features at this price value for money spent, you are paying less for a product that gives you maximum function and great product after processing.
Cuisinart DLC-8SBCY Pro Custom 11-Cup Food processor
This food processor comes with new chopping blades, spatula and three slicing discs. It is very ideal for making dough, for mincing garlic, for slicing vegetables and shredding cheese etc.
It comes with an eleven cup work bowl which is large enough for family use. The food processor also comes with an extra-large feed tube for larger food slices, a stainless-steel thin slicing disc and a medium slicing disc.
One added advantage is that this food processor comes with a five-year full motor warranty. This feature alone will give buyers reasons to buy it, it gives them the confidence and assurance that even if they buy it at a particular price, they rest assured that if anything goes wrong they will not have to spend extra money for repairs and fixing, it comes to the warranty.
When you buy it new it is also very easy to assemble and you will not have to waste unnecessary time learning how to assemble it, it has been made very easy.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Low noise level
- Easy to assemble
- Five-year warranty
- Three chopping blades
- Extra-large feed tubes
Cons:
- May be prone to breaking
- Not so attractive design
Final verdict
Buyers usually get confident with products with warranty, that may be one of the reasons why this particular food processor may be considered, it has a whopping five-year warranty coupled with some other features like the low noise level and is very easy to use and assemble.
After going through the features, you should be able to make your decision if this is what you want, check your budget and then make your decision. However, these food processors we listed here are under $150, so it should be quite affordable.
It is not bad if you invest some amount of money in a good kitchen appliance like this one.
Final words on the difference between a food processor and a mixer
We believe we have been able to answer your questions on the differences between a mixer and a food processor, we provided the major differences in function and design, we also stated some functions that are suitable for the mixer and for the food processor.
Also, we listed a few affordable under $150 mixers and foo processors you might be interested in if you are making plans to get one for yourself, or if you want to gift someone, the mixers we listed here can be given as gifts to people.
Gifting someone a mixer could be a blessing to their kitchen.