4 Ways a Food Processor Will Save You Time in The KitchenHome » Time Management Tips » Kitchen TipsEvery home cook understands the value of time saving tips when preparing and cooking a meal. No matter how small the time savings, the accumulated time can add up quite a bit. In a world where even 2 minutes lost might mean missing a bus ride, or 10 minutes saved can mean dinner gets to the table on time - saving time can be critical. One of the ways you can save time is to speed up your prep work by using a food processor. These appliances offer time saving shortcuts to everyday cooking tasks. Here are 4 ways to get the most out of your processor. 1. Chop/MinceThis blade allows the food processor to cut and slice foods into small bits. The more you run the blade, the finer it becomes. The amount of time it takes to mince a vegetable, such as onions, is far faster than that of doing the same task by hand. In addition, the mess is contained within the chopping bowl, allowing the cutting board to remain available for other uses.2. PureeThis feature can be used if you need to puree a vegetable or fruit such as fresh tomatoes. Tomatoes are often pureed when creating a tomato sauce. Simply puree your tomatoes, chop the garlic and onion, add them to a pan with some heated olive oil over medium/low heat. Add some salt and fresh basil or other spices and cook for approximately 25 -30 minutes. Serve over fresh pasta or ravioli.3. BlendBlending is useful for tasks that involve mixing a few ingredients together - such as for blending together some yogurt and fresh fruits for a parfait. This blending feature is performed using the whisk accessory.4. DoughNot all processors have this feature, but it is a true treasure for those who enjoy baking in the kitchen. Whether for fresh pasta dough for a homemade pizza, or for chocolate chip cookies - the process could not be any easier.Simply add all your ingredients into the mixing bowl and use the dough setting. Start with a slight pulsing then hold the button down. Unlike other appliances such as bread machines, which can also provide good dough making results, food processors allow you to adjust the consistency of the dough while mixing. In other words, if you dough is looking too dry, you can simply pour in more water or olive oil through the feed tube and observe the changes to the dough until you are satisfied. Using the dough feature alone saves you at least 8 minutes of kneading for a basic pizza dough. In addition, it also saves you the hassle of having doughy fingers and hands because all the kneading and processing is done by the machine rather than yourself. When using a food processor, it is important to understand all the features it offers. The best way to do this if you already own one, is to read the Owner's Manual supplied by the company. If you cannot find your copy, you can usually download a free one from the company's website, such as Cuisinart which posts their manuals for each model they offer. Once you understand all the features and begin to utilize them, you will be impressed with the amount of time saved, as well as the increase in the level of your productivity while in the kitchen. Author Profile: Promote your website! Submit your own article here |