Food Processors Vs. Juicers

Food Processors Vs. Juicers

By Sean Russell, eHow Contributor

Food processors and juicers often look similar and take up about the same amount of space on the kitchen counter. The similarities end there, however. Since these two products don't produce the same end result, a strict comparison isn't possible. Yet, food processors and juicers each feature several advantages and disadvantages that determine how often, and in what situations, you use them.

Reduction

Both the food processor and juicers reduce the food put into them. Food processors, which have several settings, can reduce cubed potatoes to mashed, and reduce soft vegetables, such as peas, to the consistency of baby food. Juicers, on the other hand, are designed to drastically reduce fruits and vegetables by spinning them over blades at a high velocity. The result is a pulpy and heavy liquid along with a large amount of wasted pulp and strained fruit material.

Size

The size of the feed opening is another chief advantage of the food processor. Although food processors aren't designed to handle whole fruits and vegetables of any large size, these processors have openings that allow you to spread food out evenly. When processing multiple foods at once, this allows for better blending. Additionally, food processors are set-and-forget items, processing the job automatically once activated. Many electric juicers are plunger/feeder style; this means you feed each piece into the machine one-after-another.

Range

Juicers are designed for one primary purpose: juicing. Still, the by-products of juicing fruits and vegetables can be used as soup stock and even pie filling. This doesn't compare to the variety of products created by the food processor. From mashed potatoes and guacamole to whipped cream and meringue, the food processor can help at every step of the food production process. Many food processors can even toss and cut salad.

Clean-Up

During the juicing process, fruits and vegetables are reduced to very fine pulp and then strained through a filter basket. This pulp then sets very quickly on the basket, making it difficult to clean. Food processors feature largely dishwasher safe parts.

Waste

Food processors leave about the same amount of residual waste as is left on a plate at the end of a meal. This is because a food processor's job is to reduce the food to a more palatable consistency. Juicers, however, are designed to separate the liquid of a food from its solid parts. This creates a large amount of waste product that must either be designated for an unrelated use or thrown out.

Original article from: http://www.ehow.com/info_7926373_food-processors-vs-juicers.html