I need advice, chop-chop!

[veggiewriter]

For the longest time I've had to skip over receipes that called for using a food processor or blender b/c I don't have either. I'm now prepared to buy one, but I can't buy both (at least, not just yet). Which should I invest in first? Should I buy mid-priced, or will cheap be okay? Do I even need both---maybe just a food processor would do? Help!

[Pip]

I would go with a food processor. I only had a blender for a while and was always getting frustrated b/c it didn't do a good job blending thicker sauces.It would take a long time to completely blend recipes. I got a Kitchen-Aid food processor for my birthday and I'm really happy with it. It's fast, quiet, and easy to clean.Blends sauces quickly, chops veggies. I can mix dough in it, too, which saves alot of time. Do I sound like an infomercial yet? :D

[Joyful-Eyes]

A food processor is much better, as some things
tend to get stuck in the blender...
We have both, but I never use them it seems...
Our food processor is up in the cupboard, nuff said, out of sight out of mind, and it's now ancient, LOL!
My mother is not a cook at all, and she hates all our appliances!
She hides them, and says they are too messy and noisy!
Maybe you could look on Epinions.com for reviews and see what is a good processor in your price range...
They have little ones too, which I might get for making hummus!
Also those hand blenders are nice to have sometimes too, depending on what you are blending...

[EquiPro]

I've had several food processors - cheap and expensive, and the best one that I have had is the Kitchenaid. It's not cheap, but it is reliable, and gets the job done. I also have a top of the line blender, but I rarely use it. A food processor can do the job of a blender, but a blender can not do the job of a foodprocessor.

Don't cheap out. You'll hate the machine and you'll end up with the Kitchenaid anyway.

[triumvir]

there are many things you can only make with a food processor. Most things that can be done with a blender can be doen with a food processor. Besides, you will need the food procesor to make falafel :D

[Quizeen]

Equipro said it best that "A food processor can do the job of a blender, but a blender can not do the job of a food processor."

I have a midrange Cuisineart and it has never let me down.

If you really want a blender for soups and such you might want to get a blending wand (they're cheap) and a food processor. A little of the best of both worlds. As far as price midrange is usually the way to go. Cheap stuff is just that and the really expensive stuff is usually more than most home cooks need.

[veggiewriter]

Well, it's a landslide! I'll check out food processors ASAP. But, can the f.p. do ice? I've been dreaming of smoothies (yes, I know, it's the last bit of summer, but I'm determined to fit all I can into these next few days). :)

[Quizeen]

Some can, you'll need to check out the features list on the model you're interested in buying. Generally, though that's a blender's job because food processors have difficulty gettting the ice bits small enough. The motor is strong enough to handle it, but the blade is positioned differently from a blender, making it a bit more difficult for every ice bit to continually hit the blade enough to pulverize.

[mushroom]

We have had a KitchenAid FP for 5 years and so far so good... and it gets used a few times a week. It can not do ice...yet; you can make a smoothie without ice...I do. Toss in a banana and some soymilk or juice etc.

The FP takes the drudgery out of stir-fry’s...chops all the veggies in minutes! :) I use it WAY more than I use our blender.