Blending & Processing

Food Processor vs. Blender: When Should You Use Each One?

A food processor can perform some of the same tasks as blender, but not vice versa. A blender has small blades that spin extremely fast, which makes it ideal for liquifying and pureeing. In fact, a kitchen blender needs liquid to function properly. It should be your go-to appliance for making soups, stews, smoothies, and similar food items. A food processor has larger blades that spin more slowly, and it does require liquid. This makes it great for breaking down fruit, vegetables, and other foods into smaller pieces. Most food processors come with multiple blades for slicing, dicing, chopping, and shredding, including a blade for pureeing, and a blade for mixing dough.

An immersion blender, or hand blender, can perform many of the same tasks as a countertop blender but takes a bit longer. The real advantages of an immersion blender are portability and storage. You can easily move it around from pot to pot as needed, and simply tuck it away in a drawer when not in use.