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Post by crimsoncat05 on Jan 6, 2020 19:52:36 GMT
I want to start doing a lot more from-scratch cooking so we can eat healthier on a regular basis. I'm 50 years old, 50-75 lbs overweight, and our meals typically consist of pre-packaged, processed foods, take-out, and frozen meals. (Hey, I'm a child of the 70s and 80s; processed food was everywhere, and I never really learned to "cook" from my mom.) Anyway, I've recently started looking at doing more consistent meal planning and cooking; nothing fancy, just roasted vegetables, simple meals that I can do as meal prep on the weekend and finish during the week, freezer cooking, etc. I'd also like to recreate some of the yummy Mexican recipes I see on Patti Jinich's PBS tv show, which involve making your own salsas, sauces, marinades, etc. as part of the recipe. But man, actual 'cooking' and 'prepping' in a tile-floored kitchen is hard work when you're not used to it! Yesterday afternoon/evening I made shredded chicken taco meat in the IP and a deconstructed chicken pot pie meal prep recipe that involved lots of chopping celery, onions, and carrots before sauteing; oven-roasted carrots (peeling / slicing the carrots); and mashed potatoes (chopping the potatoes). And then, standing in the kitchen tending to the Instant Pot, shredding the chicken from both recipes, keeping an eye on the pots and pans on the stove, in the oven, etc. After washing the dishes and picking everything up, I was pooped, and both my hands-- from all the chopping, etc.-- and my knees-- from standing on the tile floor-- were killing me. (the 50+ extra lbs add to those issues, I know.) So, to my actual question-- and thank you for reading my long ramble so far: What do I need to make *actual, real* cooking easier and more efficient? Currently the only kitchen appliances I own besides a toaster are an Instant Pot (many thanks, elaine !), an ancient hand mixer that I think only has two speeds, and an ancient electric stick blender that I use only to make instant pudding. I want to be able to chop and mince easier, make sauces, salsas, blend marinades, etc. and then maybe graduate to more complicated things (making my own bread would be cool). What's more versatile to start with: a food processor or a blender? What's the main difference; which would give me more bang for my buck; do I need a Kitchen Aid mixer, instead? I know they make lots of attachments for it... where do I start in terms of thinking about features, price, brand names, etc. ?? Please help a kitchen-appliance newbie out! |
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Post by elaine on Jan 6, 2020 20:15:40 GMT
For what you want, I would start with a food processor. You can chop, grate, slice, and mix with it.
A blender isn’t great for just chopping, you can’t slice or grate with it (which you can with a food processor) and you can use a food processor for pie crusts and mixing some doughs (although a stand mixer is better for dough).
Then depending on what you still need help doing, the blender or stand mixer would be next.
If you make smoothies and soups a lot, you’d probably want a blender next. But, if you find yourself baking a lot - cakes, cookies and breads - then a stand mixer would be next.
eta: my KitchenAid food processor finally bit the dust while making latkes (shredding/grating potatoes), and I replaced it with a Breville food processor that I am absolutely loving. I made a wonderful creamy cheeseball in it the day I got it. I also used it for cranberry salad, and chopping the onions and celery for Christmas Dinner stuffing/dressing.
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Post by teacherlisa on Jan 6, 2020 20:20:36 GMT
As a kitchen gadget freak, food processors, blenders and the kitchen aid stand mixer are all different but I have each one and do use them. If I were starting out, I think I would get a "good" blender ( I am biased towards Vitamix but there are blend tec and some other good brands) and get a "mini chopper" to start with. You can chop with a vitamix, but it is not quite the same. I feel like vitamix is more versatile than my food processor, but I do use them both for different things. I like my stand mixer for "mixing things" but have not been a huge fan of the attachments like the spiralizer. I am not sure about the food processor attachment for the kitchen aid though.
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Post by jubejubes on Jan 6, 2020 20:31:25 GMT
I would purchase a kitchen floor mat that provides a cushion for you to stand on.
Costco has these. It really helps with body fatigue when working in the kitchen.
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smartypants71
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,714 
Location: Houston, TX
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Post by smartypants71 on Jan 6, 2020 20:34:37 GMT
I have a good blender, a KA mixer, and a nice food processor, but i actually get more use out of my immersion blender (it has a whisk attachment also) and my mini food processor. I do all my cooking from scratch and those tools are sufficient for almost everything. I also use my cheese grater/shredder KA attachment quite a bit. I only cook for 2 though, so larger appliances might be better if you are cooking for more.
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Post by mustlovecats on Jan 6, 2020 20:37:08 GMT
I want to be able to chop and mince easier, make sauces, salsas, blend marinades, etc. and then maybe graduate to more complicated things (making my own bread would be cool). What's more versatile to start with: a food processor or a blender? For these tasks I would get a food processor. Chopping and mincing get easier as you practice with a knife but the food processor can do it also. Salsa is a food processor task. Blending marinades can be done in either. You can make bread in the food processor, but look into no knead bread - it’s so easy. I think you might like a Ninja system. It will chop, grind, and blend. It doesn’t come with a grater blade but it has a blender jar and a food processor bowl. |
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schizo319
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,030
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Post by schizo319 on Jan 6, 2020 20:43:04 GMT
I cook mostly from scratch. Something I do to make it easier on myself is if I have to chop celery or onions, I go ahead and chop extra so I can freeze part of it to use for later recipes. I have baggies of onions & celery at the ready almost always. I have an ancient "Osterizer" brand blender with food processor bowl attachment that I love - it's so old that they've dropped the "izer" from the brand name now  . Unfortunately, I dropped and broke the food processor lid and it broke making it completely useless, I'm searching for a replacement on Ebay, but I'm having a hard time determining the exact model I need. If you could find a 2 in one like that, that would be ideal. (Here's the modern version of what I have: Blender/Food Processor Combo) If you have to choose one over the other, I would choose the food processor. You mention you already have a stick blender, which will basically do almost everything that you'd need a blender for. Typically blenders are used for soups, smoothies & sauces, anything thicker (like beer cheese spread I made recently in my tiny food chopper) really needs a food processor. Pie dough is also supposed to be easier with a food processor There are some chopping/shredding attachments available for the kitchen aid - I have one and have used it only once or twice. For me, it was wasteful and made more of a mess than just using a cheese grater (I was making broccoli slaw). I love having the kitchenaid (especially for the homemade bread I make every 2 weeks), but I very rarely use it for cooking, so I definitely wouldn't think it was a necessity. |
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Post by peace on Jan 6, 2020 20:53:43 GMT
I have all of the appliances but I use my blender the most. Probably because it's a vitamix and i make a lot of soup and sauces. I actually like chopping onions but I do have a chopper and my sister bought me one of these things that she swears by. I'll have to get back to you whether or not I like it - don't know just yet. My food processor is Breville. It's awesome. I last used it to make pasta dough. But I gotta admit, taking it out and using the attachments just doesn't happen. It seems like more work to get it out and clean it up than to just do the chopping myself (make sure you have good knives!!) |
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Post by sabrinae on Jan 6, 2020 21:02:19 GMT
A food processor will be best for the tasks you listed. Look at Cuisinart, Breville and KitchenAid. Some people also like the ninja systems. I would also recommend an anti fatigue mat for your feet and good knives that you keep sharp. A good sharp knife makes a huge difference in chopping and dicing. I like a smaller chefs knife. I think mines a 7 inch.
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,944
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Jan 6, 2020 21:11:04 GMT
We rarely use a blender unless we are making smoothies. I'd go with a food processor...
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 2, 2024 8:29:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2020 21:11:08 GMT
I do nearly all my cooking from scratch and I could not live without my food processor. I make crusts, shred cheese, slice, etc....
The only thing it really cannot do is chop ice. Not that I didn't try.
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J u l e e
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,531
Location: Cincinnati
Jun 28, 2014 2:50:47 GMT
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Post by J u l e e on Jan 6, 2020 21:16:09 GMT
You started out with an ambitious meal from scratch! I cook completely from scratch and nothing I ever do is that intensive! That sounded exhausting, but I'm proud of you for that effort!
I use my food processor a lot! My blender some. My rice cooker all the time (rice, quinoa, lentils, etc.). I'd start with a food processor!
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Post by ~summer~ on Jan 6, 2020 21:18:53 GMT
Get a floor mat!! Tile is horrifically hard to stand on.
I use my food processor a lot - I never use a blender. I also have a ‘mini’ processor which is great for chopping onions etc - check it out
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Post by FuzzyMutt on Jan 6, 2020 21:26:04 GMT
I second the mat and even more---- a fantastic knife. I have a couple Shun Kaji that I've picked up over the years on sale/coupons etc. I'd never spring for any set, as I get all the tasks done with my chef, paring and santoku knives. I tend to cook for two, but make enough that there are leftovers so I make for 6+, and multiple dishes at the same time (working mom.) A great knife (start with paring or chef) makes chopping, cutting etc a pleasure and for me, it's much faster than taking out a food processor, using it, putting the correct blade or blades or whatever and cleaning it. It takes me more than double the time to prepare a heavy cutting type meal (chili, salad, soup, potatoes) at my boyfriends house because of having to use his crappy knives (Henckles which are considered to be pretty decent.) I made apple pies with his sister last fall and my hand was actually numb! UGH. I have a pretty high end kitchen and don't have a food processor, and my blender only comes out of the cabinet a couple times a month. I just did a quick peek at food processors and wow they've come a long way! I'm going to click around a bit- but still- a good knife opens soooo many doors. I use my paring knife every single day. I do have a tiny "chopper" and I sometimes use it, but again, I can usually chop up veggies with my knife way faster than digging it out, using it and cleaning it lol Also- quick tip- carrots are super quick and easy to peel with the back of a butter knife run against them. Just do it in the sink or somewhere that you can wipe easy. Congrats on incorporating more yummy foods! I'm also a child of the 70's an my mom was the hamburger helper and rice-a- roni queen. She still is. And that sodium makes my heart hurt for them. I got into cooking in my 20's and find it relaxing and fun.  |
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Post by Merge on Jan 6, 2020 21:29:23 GMT
Food processor first. Many more uses than a blender. You can puree soups and sauces with your stick blender as well - I use mine much more often than I use my Vitamix.
When I'm going to be working in the kitchen for a while, I always put on a good pair of supportive sneakers. Much easier on the knees and back.
Have fun! Don't be afraid to take a few shortcuts, too, if the overall result is better eating. There's no crime in buying frozen cooked rice in a bag instead of cooking your own, for example. Or buying a jar of minced garlic or a container of chopped onions in the produce department.
ETA: I also agree with @fuzzymutt about a really good chef's knife for chopping if you don't already have one. I'd get that before anything else.
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Post by ~summer~ on Jan 6, 2020 21:38:32 GMT
Some kitchen items that I use at least daily:
Dutch oven
Rice cooker or instant pot
Good, big cutting boards
Good knives
Wooden spoons and spatulas
Metal and glass mixing bowls
Food processor (more like once per week)
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Post by Basket1lady on Jan 6, 2020 21:40:47 GMT
I do all of cooking, mostly from dead scratch. I have a mini food processor and a big food processor that I use 90% of the time. I do have a blender, but don’t use it a lot. I’ll pull out my immersion blender more than the big blender. You could start with a mini food processor. They aren’t a ton of money. I have the 3 cup size, which is large enough to do herb butters, a small batch of salsa or hummus, and to chop up veggies. I do find that for soups like chicken soups or minestrone, I like to cut up the vegetables by hand so that they look better than the tiny higgeldy-piggeldy chop from the processor. This is the one that I have—it’s a great price at only $30. If I have a lot to do, I’ll sometimes do it in 2 batches vs pulling out my large processor. I love the big processor but it takes up a lot of room in the dishwasher. If you find yourself making a lot more things, then you can add the mixer. I don’t know that you need it just yet. I do use mine a lot and I miss it terribly here. But a 220 Kitchenaid is over 600€ and I’m not willing to put that much out for only a few years of use. |
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iluvpink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,298
Location: Michigan
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Post by iluvpink on Jan 6, 2020 21:42:47 GMT
I only have a minute but I will say that in the last few years I’ve finally been able to get some good kitchen appliances and tools and it really does make a difference having a kitchen stocked with what you need and quality items. Of course everyone has different needs and may not need all the same items.
After years of having a mini food processor I just got an awesome full size one and I am loving it. Every time I use it I’m amazed. It’s a Breville and dh found a great deal online. Cuisinarts are generally really good. We do have a Ninja blender but just use it for smoothies mostly.
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Post by papersilly on Jan 6, 2020 21:58:45 GMT
of the two, i would get a food processor. i have one but i don't use it much because i love to hand chop stuff. besides, i hate to wash all the components of the food processor and put it away. that's not an appliance i usually keep on the counter.
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Post by busy on Jan 6, 2020 22:27:48 GMT
I have not read any of the other posts, and I'm betting I will be a bit of an outlier here. But since you're starting from scratch, these would be my recommendations: 1. I would not buy a food processor or a KitchenAid yet. They are both expensive, have learning curves, have lots of parts, are a hassle to clean. I LOVE to cook and do so two or three meals every day. I sold my KitchenAid mixer because I never used it. My food processor is used maybe 5 times a year. Almost every task I would rather complete with a knife because I hate assembling and cleaning the food processor. I don't think either is a necessity. Not even close. 2. I would buy a good stick blender - I find mine invaluable for making salad dressings, sauces, etc. Throw the stuff in a mason jar and blitz it with the immersion blender. Can a Vitamix do a better job? Yes. But it's WAY more expensive and it's a bigger hassle to clean. With the stick blender, you're mixing in what you store it in and there's one non-fussy thing to clean. I like my Cuisinart stick blender. (I do use my Vitamix multiple times a week but IMO it's better suited to larger quantities of things - a small batch of salad dressing, for example, ends up with a lot of waste in a Vitamix compared to doing a stick blender where there's no waste.) 3. Since you are new to cooking from scratch, I'd start making it easy on yourself. Buy some pre-chopped vegetables your grocery store's produce department. Is this the most cost-effective? No. But it's not a permanent thing. It's a bridge to make the whole process simpler and less overwhelming. 4. Take a knife skills class in your area. Becoming good with a knife is one of the most important parts of getting proficient in the kitchen IMO. 5. Keep recipes simple. Don't try fancy things yet. Get comfortable with the basics. 6. Consider a book like this www.amazon.com/Cook-Once-Eat-All-Week/dp/1628603437 that lays out how to meal prep with tasty, simple, easy to prepare meals. |
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Jan 6, 2020 23:23:51 GMT
thanks for all the info, guys! I forgot that we do own one of these chopper thingamajigs; I don't use it because I don't like how noisy it is when it slams down onto the cutting board (doesn't help that our dog used to go nuts every time she heard the noise). My DH uses it to mince onions when he eats hot dogs, but that's the only thing it's ever used for. Sometimes I don't mind doing all the cutting, chopping, etc by hand, because it's sort of meditative (I used to love weeding my flower beds for the same reason, lol) but yesterday I was running late with my plans- I didn't start doing any of it until after 5 pm, so I was feeling kind of behind right from the start. I think I'll start looking at a couple simple things-- maybe a better stick blender- I'm assuming they make cordless ones by now, right?  and get one of those anti-fatigue mats, for sure. We all harped on our mom to get one of those mats for her kitchen, but that's because she was 'older' and had already had hip replacements... I never thought about myself being 'older' lol. Then I'll probably think about a food processor of some sort, and see what I can find as far as knife skills, which I'm sure would help with my hand/wrist issues- where does someone find a class on that type of thing, anyway? And better planning for food prep is for SURE a skill I need to learn- last night I literally had the entire kitchen island covered with bags of produce, packages of meat, recipes on scraps of paper, and the like- I couldn't set anything down next to the stove because the Instant Pot was there, etc. etc. It kind of looked like a hurricane had hit a farmer's market! And since I didn't get all the cooking done that I had originally wanted to, now the produce drawers in the refrigerator are full of more vegetables... (and I just now remembered that after I took the roasted carrots off their baking sheet, I stuck the dirty baking sheet back in the oven because I didn't have anywhere else to put it- oops!  ) But I really want to improve my skills in the kitchen, because I for sure want to keep up with it this time and not go so overboard / get so overwhelmed that I give it all up in a week or two (like I have every other time). |
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Post by ntsf on Jan 6, 2020 23:27:17 GMT
I have a food processor, but do 95% of chopping by hand..less cleaning. look at budget bytes for easy, limited ingredient meals. I don't have a blender, a mixer or much else in my small kitchen. I cook most our meals at home.. simple is the best.
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Post by Jockscrap on Jan 6, 2020 23:48:13 GMT
A mini food processor is handy. I wouldn’t get any big expensive appliances just now. A food processor chops large quantities super-fast but the time you’ve saved will go on the time you spend washing it up.
Enjoy the process. Stick on a podcast or some music to bounce around the kitchen to.
Start simple. There are cook books out there - Jamie Oliver does one - that uses five ingredients (plus a few store cupboard essentials).
Batch cook so you are making at least four portions so some can go in the freezer.
Slow cooking is hard to go wrong with. Use your IP to slow cook a joint of meat (five to six hours on high, browned in the pan, no water added) does pretty much every joint. Then you only have to peel a few potatoes and prep some veg. Don’t worry about doing fancy veg - lots of veg is fine just steamed or lightly boiled.
Perfect a simple tomato sauce. I use my IP for mine using two onions, two sticks of celery, two carrots all roughly chopped (blending it later so the chunks can be quite big), lots of dried mixed herbs, one stock cube and two tins of tomatoes. I brown the veg with the herbs then pressure cook for 5 mins then slow cook on low until I need it - might be 1 hour or 4 and isn’t probably necessary but I think it enriches the flavour). This makes two 500ml containers and freezes well. One 500ml portion of sauce can be used as the base for enough spag bog, chilli, meatballs or our favourite bacon and tomato sauce spaghetti to feed four (very quick, just snip bacon into wee bits and fry till crisp, throw on the sauce then mix through just cooked spaghetti. Add chilli flakes and some tomato purée if desired. When you are used to buying jars of tomato sauce, homemade looks much less red but tasted amazing.
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Post by bc2ca on Jan 6, 2020 23:59:18 GMT
Get a floor mat!! Tile is horrifically hard to stand on. Take a knife skills class in your area. Becoming good with a knife is one of the most important parts of getting proficient in the kitchen IMO.  to both of these! My most used appliance is the immersion blender. Second is my food processor. Love them both, but I do think learning how to use your knives is the best starting point. |
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Post by elaine on Jan 7, 2020 0:11:04 GMT
thanks for all the info, guys! I forgot that we do own one of these chopper thingamajigs; I don't use it because I don't like how noisy it is when it slams down onto the cutting board (doesn't help that our dog used to go nuts every time she heard the noise). My DH uses it to mince onions when he eats hot dogs, but that's the only thing it's ever used for. Sometimes I don't mind doing all the cutting, chopping, etc by hand, because it's sort of meditative (I used to love weeding my flower beds for the same reason, lol) but yesterday I was running late with my plans- I didn't start doing any of it until after 5 pm, so I was feeling kind of behind right from the start. I think I'll start looking at a couple simple things-- maybe a better stick blender- I'm assuming they make cordless ones by now, right?  and get one of those anti-fatigue mats, for sure. We all harped on our mom to get one of those mats for her kitchen, but that's because she was 'older' and had already had hip replacements... I never thought about myself being 'older' lol. Then I'll probably think about a food processor of some sort, and see what I can find as far as knife skills, which I'm sure would help with my hand/wrist issues- where does someone find a class on that type of thing, anyway? And better planning for food prep is for SURE a skill I need to learn- last night I literally had the entire kitchen island covered with bags of produce, packages of meat, recipes on scraps of paper, and the like- I couldn't set anything down next to the stove because the Instant Pot was there, etc. etc. It kind of looked like a hurricane had hit a farmer's market! And since I didn't get all the cooking done that I had originally wanted to, now the produce drawers in the refrigerator are full of more vegetables... (and I just now remembered that after I took the roasted carrots off their baking sheet, I stuck the dirty baking sheet back in the oven because I didn't have anywhere else to put it- oops!  ) But I really want to improve my skills in the kitchen, because I for sure want to keep up with it this time and not go so overboard / get so overwhelmed that I give it all up in a week or two (like I have every other time). Do you have a Sur La Table store anywhere near you? They offer classes. You can also just type “cooking classes near me” in google and see what comes up. That is how I found the new place that opened near me where I took the French Pastry class on Saturday. They also offer a “Basic Cooking Bootcamp” which would be perfect for you - it is a 6-week series that covers a variety of basic cooking and baking skills, with one lesson being “Knife Skills.” If you could find something like that, it would be great! Also, our county offers a wide variety of classes - both physical activity focused and various arts and crafts, dog training, computer skills, robotics, and cooking. They offer about 2 catalog pages of cooking classes. The local continuing ed agency also offers cooking classes. Most of these are focused on types of cuisine, like Thai cooking. |
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Post by imkat on Jan 7, 2020 0:11:40 GMT
I put on my shoes anytime I am cooking. It helps me so much. I have a mat too, but find I am walking around the kitchen and can't be confined to the mat.
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RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,408
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Post by RosieKat on Jan 7, 2020 0:41:07 GMT
I cook a lot and don't use either of those appliances too much. I have this pull string food chopper that my mom got me a few years ago and it's great. It's easy to clean and small enough to just pop back in the cabinet when I'm not using it. It's also light enough that I actually *do* pull it out to use! I also second the cushy floor mat. I used to have some of those ones by Gel Pro, but I think there are some cheaper alternatives now. |
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Post by 2peaornot2pea on Jan 7, 2020 0:52:57 GMT
I recommend getting a food processor if you plan to incorporate more fresh vegetables into your meals.
Costco might still be having a sale on Cuisinart Food Processors. I purchased the Elemental 13 Cup Food Processor and Dicer this past Friday, 1/3. Costco normally sells it for $149, but it is on sale for $109. I also ordered a spiralizer attachment for my new food processor separately.
I am starting the Whole 30 on January 18th so will be doing a lot of mincing, dicing and chopping of vegetables.
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likescarrots
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,879
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Post by likescarrots on Jan 7, 2020 4:51:57 GMT
I recently got this ninja ultra-prep thing www.ninjakitchen.com/exclusive-offer/PS101WBKT/ninja-ultra-prep-blender-and-food-processor/ which does a great job of both food processing and blending (it has the attachments for either in the same 'container'). I'm very impressed with it, it's the perfect size for me and my husband. I've used it to make pestos, salsas, sauces, purees, and milk shakes. That being said, I prefer to chop my own veggies, I wouldn't ever use a food processor for that. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jan 7, 2020 5:18:46 GMT
I have a big food processor that I almost never use, and a Little Oscar that I use more frequently because it’s so much easier to clean than the big one. I almost never use my blender, but I’ve recently started using the blender container with my cheap Magic Bullet blender. So, my suggestion would be to get a small food processor and a small blender like a Magic Bullet, that way you’ll have both without breaking the bank or taking up a ton of storage space. If, over time you find you need a bigger processor or blender, you can always get a larger one later.
On a related note, for a beginner cook I would highly recommend getting The Dinner Doctor cookbook by Anne Byrn. There are TONS of great shortcut recipes in this cookbook that will get you going with healthier, almost from scratch recipes. While they’re not completely from scratch, often starting with commonly found things that can be “doctored up” like bagged salads, store bought rotisserie chicken, pasta, refrigerated dough, etc., the recipes taste great and will teach you valuable kitchen skills that will give you the confidence to branch out and try other more complicated recipes.
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. Unfortunately, I dropped and broke the food processor lid and it broke making it completely useless, I'm searching for a replacement on Ebay, but I'm having a hard time determining the exact model I need. If you could find a 2 in one like that, that would be ideal. (Here's the modern version of what I have: 
and get one of those anti-fatigue mats, for sure. We all harped on our mom to get one of those mats for her kitchen, but that's because she was 'older' and had already had hip replacements... I never thought about myself being 'older' lol. 
to both of these!
and get one of those anti-fatigue mats, for sure. We all harped on our mom to get one of those mats for her kitchen, but that's because she was 'older' and had already had hip replacements... I never thought about myself being 'older' lol. 
