Among all the small kitchen appliances, blenders and food processors are the most essential kitchen appliances. Though they look alike, they have some significant differences between them.
In most cases, a blender can do all the things that a food processor can do. But a food processor can’t do a few things like kneading dough or making pastry dough. Blenders can do both of those.
However, the most important difference between blenders and food processors is that a blender is more versatile. You can use it to make smoothies, soups, sauces, dips, and much more.
So if you’re looking for a versatile kitchen appliance that can help you make delicious, nutritious dishes quickly and easily, a blender is a perfect choice.
Anyway, in this article, I will inform you how to use a blender as a food processor. So, let’s begin.
Key Tasks & Differences
Blenders and food processors have many similarities, but there are a few key differences that should be considered before making a purchase.
Blenders tend to have a wider range of speeds and capabilities than food processors, allowing for more precise blending tasks. They also tend to be less expensive than food processors.
Food processors typically have more functions than blenders, such as slicing and dicing. They can also make sushi, bread dough, and other types of dough.
This table shows some of the key tasks each of these products can be used for:
| Blender: | Food Processor: |
| Smoothies | Chopping vegetables |
| Soups | Mixing dough |
| Sauces and dressings | Blending cream and butter |
| Nut butter and pastes | Pureeing fruits and vegetables |
| Frozen drinks and desserts | Grating cheeses |
| Baby food | Shredding Nuts |
How to Use Ninja Blender as a Food Processor?
The Ninja blender is a popular food processor that can be used to make smoothies, soups, sauces, dips, and more. So, If you have a , the first thing you need to do is to remove the lid. This will allow you to access the food processor bowl.
After that, place the ingredients that you want to process in the food processor bowl. Make sure that the ingredients are properly chopped or processed before adding them to the blender.
Now turn on your Ninja blender and wait for it to come up to speed. Once it’s up and running, start blending your ingredients until they are smooth. Be careful not to over-process your ingredients or they will become tough and unpalatable.
Once your ingredients are processed, use a spoon or an immersion blender (available at most kitchen stores) to blend any excess liquid from your mixture into smaller particles. This will help to create a smoother texture in your final dish.
So, these are the basic steps you need to follow if you want to use a Ninja blender as a food processor. Remember, always be careful not to over-process your ingredients or they will become tough and unpalatable.
Now Enjoy Your Delicious Results
Now enjoy your delicious results with a blender as a food processor. A blender can help you make quick, nutritious meals or smoothies that are perfect for on the go. You can also use a blender to make soups, sauces, and gravies. Simply add ingredients and blend until smooth.
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Bread Crumbs
First, you have to make two to three slices of dried bread into pieces. Then, throw the pieces into the blender jar. Run the blender on or press the pulse button for 30 seconds until you get your desired consistency of bread crumbs.
For best results, store the bread crumbs in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Salsa
- Ingredients:
- 1 tomato, diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
In a medium bowl, combine all of the salsa ingredients. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix until everything is evenly mixed. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
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Baby Food
You can make baby food using a blender like a food processor. Just you need to use the blender at the highest speed until you get your desired smooth mixture.
You can also add different fruits, vegetables, or proteins to baby food recipes. So, by using a blender as a food processor, you can easily create nutritious and delicious dishes for your little one.
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Shredded Cheese
To make Shredded Cheese, you have to place dicing hard cheeses with a chef’s knife into 2- to 3-inch chunks in the blender. Then, just turn the blender on or pulse at the highest speed for 30 seconds to get the desired result.
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Pesto
Now you can prepare a delicious homemade pesto using a blender like a food processor. You just need to collect 3/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil,3 cloves of garlic,3/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup of pine nuts, and 2 cups of basil leaves. Then, place them into the blender jar. Switch the blender on and use it at medium speed until you get properly smooth and creamy.
You can also add different spices to your pesto recipe for more flavor. So, by using a blender as a food processor, you can easily create nutritious and delicious dishes for your meal.
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Ice
In fact, to get crushed ice using a blender is very simple. Just keep 4 or 5 ice cubes in the blender jar and then use the blender on high-speed mode till the ice cubes are finely crushed.
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Dough
If you use an industrial blender like the Ninja Bl610 Blender, then you can allow the dough to use a blender. Otherwise, home-use blenders will be unavailable to make the dough for its slender shape as well as sharp blades.
In order to make dough for pizza, you need only flour, salt, olive oil, yeast, water, and a mixer. Place the flour into the mixer bowl and add salt. Then slowly pour in the yeast while mixing on low speed until everything is well combined.
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in enough warm water to form a soft dough. Switch to high speed and mix for 3 minutes or until it forms a sticky ball. Allow it to rest for 10 minutes before shaping into the desired shape like a round or oval.
Can you use a Food Processor as a Blender?
Yes, you can use a food processor as a blender.
A food processor is used for cutting solid foods and the other hand, and a blender is used for combining ingredients to make soup, sauces, or pesto. So, if you want to make soups using a food processor, then you can do it in small batches. But you have to be careful about hot liquids. And ultimately, you will not get the result as smooth as it would do in a blender.
So, Can a blender replace a food processor?
It depends on what you are looking for. A blender is good for making smooth soups or sauces and can also be used to make dough. But a food processor is better for chopping food evenly, making dough quickly and easily, and making larger batches.
Here’s a quick table of some recipes that you can use with food processor or blender:
| Recipe: | Food Processor: | Blender: |
| Smoothie | No | Yes |
| Butter | Yes | Adequately |
| Dressing | Adequately | Yes |
| Soup/ Puree | No | Yes |
| Minced/ Chopped Vegetables | Yes | No |
| Shredded Cheese | Yes | No |
| Dough | Adequately | Yes |
Ultimate Decision on using a Blender as a Food Processor
It’s wise to decide what you want to do with your gadget. If you are looking for a versatile tool that can do multiple tasks, then a food processor is the better choice. But if you just want to make smooth soups or sauces, then a blender will be better suited for the job. However, If you want to make all types of recipes blending liquids or crushing solid items, you require both a blender and a food processor.
FAQs
1. Which one is faster, a blender or a food processor?
Blender is much faster when it comes to processing smoothie ingredients than food processor. The blades inside a blender chop the food more quickly than the chopping action of a food processor, making smoothies and other foods smoother and less likely to contain lumps.
However, blenders can be more expensive than food processors, so if you only need to use the machine occasionally, a food processor may be a better choice.
2. Is there a food processor and blender combo?
There are a number of food processors and blenders that come with a blender attachment. This means that you can make smoothies, soups, and other types of food using one machine. You can use the food processor to chop vegetables or fruits, mix ingredients together, or even grind meat. The blender will help to make the mixture smooth and creamy.
3. What is it called when you put food in a blender?
When you put food in a blender, it is called a puree. A puree is a mixture of liquefied and chopped ingredients that have been blended together.
4. Is it OK to put hot food in a blender?
There are a few things to keep in mind when using a blender to make hot food.
First, be sure to use a thermal-resistant container if you’re going to blend hot food. This will help to prevent any burns that could occur from the heat of the food.
Second, always start out with cold food before you add the hot ingredients. This will help to prevent the blender from overheating and potentially damaging it.
Finally, be careful not to over-blend the food. Doing so can cause it to become lumpy and difficult to consume.
Conclusion:
In the end, it all comes down to what you are looking to do with your blender. If you want to make smooth soups or sauces in small batches, then a food processor will be better suited for the job. But if you want to make larger batches or crush solid items, then a blender is also required. So, which one is best for you? It all depends on what you are looking to do!