Installation of extra nozzles
Possibility of turning a planetary mixer into a food processor. Such devices have several shafts, when installed on which the relevant nozzles (available separately), you can add extra functions of a blender, food processor, meat grinder, etc. Accordingly
, the installation of additional nozzles allows you to turn the planetary mixer into a food processor in the future.
Bowl capacity
The volume of the food bowl provided in the food processor. Most often the full volume is indicated, not the working volume. It should be noted that you can not use the bowl completely when cooking, the working volume is approximately 70% of the total. Thus, about 4 liters can be used in a 6 liter bowl. And if you go into the recipes and power modes of the food processor (see the instructions), then smaller numbers are acceptable for preparing a particular dish (kneading dough, mixing salad, etc.).
Note that a large capacity affects the dimensions and weight of the unit, and also requires a more powerful engine — which affects energy consumption and price. So when choosing a bowl by capacity, you should not chase the maximum capacity, but take into account the planned volumes of work.
Power
Rated power of the food processor. Most of this power comes from the engine — the rest of the unit consumes very little energy. Usually, the
more power, the higher the productivity of the unit, and the less time it takes to process products.
Note that the optimal power value directly depends on the volume of the bowl (see the relevant paragraph): for example, for a 1.5 kg bowl, at least 300 W is desirable, for a two-kilogram bowl — 400 W, a three-kilogram bowl — at least 700 W. And with the same bowl capacity, a more powerful unit will be more productive, it will work faster and better cope with high loads (for example, a full load). On the other hand, an increase in power affects energy consumption and price.
Number of speeds
The number of fixed speeds of rotation of the attachments provided in the design of the food processor. The more of them, the more accurately you can choose the required speed for each specific mode of operation. It is worth noting that some devices do not have fixed speeds — the control is carried out smoothly (see Stepless speed controller)
Main bowl material
The bowls of modern food processors can be made of plastic, glass, or metal.
The plastic bowls are the most common due to their low cost and durability. They are lightweight, resistant to falls and can withstand quite large loads, they can be both transparent and opaque. The disadvantage of plastic is an increased tendency to scratches.
The glass bowls are scratch-resistant, and they allow you to monitor the products processing through transparency. However, the glass is a fragile material, and such bowls are very sensitive to falls, shaking, and bumps.
Metal (usually stainless steel) is the strongest and most durable material. However, it is opaque, in addition, the
metal bowl usually significantly affects the cost of the device.
Body material
The main material used for the body of the unit.
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Plastic. The main advantage of plastic is the relatively low cost. In addition, this material can have almost any colour, including quite bright ones. In terms of strength and reliability, the plastic is inferior to metal, but this difference does not play a special role in normal use, it becomes noticeable only in various emergency situations (during falls, overheating, etc.). Also, plastic bodies are relatively easy to scratch, but this point mainly affects the appearance of the unit and does not affect the functionality. In light of all this, only plastic is the most popular material for the bodies of modern food processors.
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Metal. Metal bodies are distinguished by their solid appearance and high strength. On the other hand, this material is noticeably more expensive than plastic, and therefore is less common — mainly in middle and high class food processors.
Section for cord
A special section in the body of the device for storing the power cord. Often such sections are also come with devices for uniform winding of the wire, which prevents bending and possible fractures.
The cord section is especially useful if the food processor is used relatively rarely and stands idle for a long time outside the kitchen.