Though they seem similar, food processors are actually quite different to blenders and juicers,” says Feast columnist Yotam Ottolenghi. “Blenders mash and mix; juicers extract from fruit and veggies; but food processors slice, dice and mix ingredients faster and more efficiently than by hand, making tasks like chopping veggies or kneading dough much easier.” Essentially, these gadgets are the real kitchen workhorses – but they aren’t always cheap.
That said, if you get the right one, it will stand the test of time. Georgina Hayden, author of Greekish, has had her trusty Magimix for 19 years. “It’s still going strong,” she says. “I have bought one new bowl and blade over the years, but they are incredibly sturdy.” So which food processors, blenders and mixers are worth the storage space, or will a hand blender do the job? We asked some of the UK’s top chefs for their picks.
“I’ve only ever bought one: a Magimix 3200 Compact, and that was a decade ago. I’d recommend it because it gets the job done (the job being slicing and chopping), and it has never let me down.”
Magimix 3200XL food processor, £289.99
nisbets.co.uk
“Magimix will always win the Great Food Processor Debate. They’re a staple in professional kitchens because of their power and durability, so much so that Magimix has become practically synonymous with the term ‘food processor’. While you’ll find robust, large-scale models in our kitchens, Magimix also offers smaller (rather sweet) options.”
Magimix 5200XL premium, £490
magimix.co.uk
£369.98
johnlewis.com
“Every time we open a new restaurant, we empty the old kit from our home to the new kitchen – I don’t know how many KitchenAid’s we’ve dragged around. We have a dark green and copper one under the counter, which we only take out when we bake, which is about six times a year at home. But a stick blender with all the attachments is essential and all we ever need: I think the best one we’ve had is Bamix.”
Bamix Classic hand blender, £109.99
lakeland.co.uk
KitchenAid artisan mixer, £599.25
kitchenaid.co.uk
“I buy hand blenders like I buy toothbrushes, and I even travel with one. People are always asking, ‘what’s in your bag?’. At home, I’ve got a Ninja, which is amazing, but for work, I use a Thermomix. It’s really worth investing in a good one.”
Ninja immersion blender and mixer, £79
johnlewis.com
Vorwerk Thermomix, £1,675
amazon.co.uk
“A Thermomix is probably the best; we use them in all our kitchens. They’re expensive, but they blend, they stir, they fold, and they last. For a tabletop mixer, though, I love a KitchenAid (the old-school metal one with a slightly smaller bowl). Shark Ninja ones work well, too.”
Ninja food processor and blender with auto IQ, £169
johnlewis.com
KitchenAid artisan mixer, £499
kitchenaid.co.uk
Vorwerk Thermomix, £1,675
amazon.co.uk
“My cherry red Magimix and KitchenAid are a dream to use (and look very jolly on the counter), but the everyday workhorse is the Nutribullet; less pretty but it gets used several times a day for smoothies, pesto, and the like. And it makes the smoothest, most velvety soup.”
Magimix 5200XL premium, £490
magimix.co.uk
£369.98
johnlewis.com
KitchenAid artisan mixer, £469
kitchenaid.co.uk
Nutribullet 600 series blender, £69.99
currys.co.uk
“I don’t use a food processor because I’m jealous of my bench space. I have a hand blender, and Bamix is a terrific brand. They’re expensive, but it’s my one super luxury and I use it for everything.”
Bamix Classic, £109
bamixuk.com
“My Magimix is my pride and joy; I’ve had that thing for 19 years and it’s still going strong (I have bought one new bowl and one new blade over the years). They’re incredibly sturdy, they chop well, and I don’t think you get better.”
Magimix 5200XL premium food processor, £490
magimix.co.uk
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Mitch Tonks
Founder of The Seahorse in Dartmouth, Devon and the Rockfish group of restaurants
“I’ve got an old-fashioned Kenwood Chef with all the attachments. I can make bread, I can beat things for cakes, I’ve got an electric pasta attachment, which is good fun (even though doing it by hand is better), I’ve also got a mincer on the front which I like to mess around with for ragu. I like plugging in all the attachments.”
Kenwood Chef mixer, £419.99
kenwoodworld.com
£287.99
amazon.co.uk
“I have an old Cecotec tritatutto (chop all) mini blender, which is great for small amounts of pesto and green sauces, nuts and crumbs. It’s neat, easy to get out, and to clean. It’s also the only one I have any experience of.”
Cecotec electric chopper, £219
ebay.co.uk
11
Ravneet Gill
Feast columnist, pastry chef and judge on TV’s Junior Bake Off
“I love my KitchenAid, and I use it nearly every day. It looks so nice and isn’t an eyesore, but it’s not as robust as the Kenwood.”
Kenwood kMix stand mixer, £259.99
kenwoodworld.com
KitchenAid artisan mixer, £499
kitchenaid.co.uk
“I love a Magimix; I grew up with them and they’re great. I have also just bought the most incredible Kuvings juicer from Borough Kitchen, now we’re whacking down all these vegetables. It was super expensive, but the texture and smoothness is amazing, and it’s easy to clean.”
Kuvings Evolution cold press juicer, £479
boroughkitchen.com
Magimix 5200XL premium food processor, £490
magimix.co.uk
“A Thermomix is such a versatile piece of equipment. They’re expensive, but if you cook two to three times a week, then I’d say it’s worth it.”
Vorwerk Thermomix, £1,675
amazon.co.uk
14
Paul Ainsworth
Chef-owner of Paul Ainsworth at No 6, Padstow, Cornwall and author of For the Love of Food
“We use Kenwood food processors and mixers across the Ainsworth Collection, which says a lot about their durability. I have a rose gold kMix at home, and it’s a fabulous piece of kit.”
Kenwood MultiPro XL food processor, £199
kenwoodworld.com
Kenwood kMix special edition rose gold stand mixer, £259.99
currys.co.uk
“I have a trusty Nutribullet (the NB101V), and I put everything through it. It’s slightly higher spec and more powerful than the entry-level one. Sometimes, I would love the cutting action of a larger food processor, but I can’t think of a time where I haven’t just put in smaller amounts and whizzed them up if I’m doing a cake or cheesecake, it doesn’t take any longer. Mixers aren’t critical, I could live without one.”
Nutribullet 600 series blender, £69.99
nutribullet.co.uk
“I really like my KitchenAid; it’s nothing complicated, but it does the job properly and it’s not difficult to use.”
KitchenAid artisan mixer, £387.14
amazon.co.uk