There are certain gadgets many of us come to heavily rely on in our homes. This could be the family iPad that we use for entertaining our child when we’re busy as well as Googling recipes on, or it could be our smart thermostat that we use to maintain a comfortable and affordable temperature in our homes. But sometimes, it isn’t just about these fancy new modern technologies. Often older gadgets have stood the test of time – and even though recent versions have come into play, the concepts behind the product are still what make them so vital to our lives. One such example is the trusty food processor – a fixture in pretty much every kitchen across the country. But did you know that there’s a strong possibility you could not be using your food processor to its full advantage. Whether you are the proud owner of a brand new model or you’re still whirring away with an old hand-me-down, there are plenty of amazing things you can do in the kitchen with this relatively simple gadget.

Making homemade baby food

 

If you’re all about the natural, holistic approach to parenting, you’ve probably thought before about making your baby food for your child. Even if you’re not concerned about holistic parenting measures, you may even want to try your hand at making your baby food simply because it tends to work out cheaper than buying it from the store. You can either choose classic ingredients that mimic the mass-produced baby food flavors, or you can even just blend up what you are having for dinner and serve that to your baby – depending on what the meal is, of course! Simply pop it all in your food processor and blend until smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add water bit by bit until it reaches a consistency you are happy with.

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Making juices

If you’ve been anywhere near either A) a kitchenware store or B) Pinterest lately, you will know that juicers are all the rage. As we are a nation practically obsessed with getting our daily intake of fruits and vegetables, it’s no wonder that so many people have capitalized on juicers. But, with the eye-watering price tags that are often attached to them, are they worth it? Often, investing in something such as the Cuisinart 14 cup food processor instead (which has very similar functions to a juicer) can do the job just as well. Plus, with a blender, it’s not just juices you are limited to either – you can also try your hand at smoothies and milkshakes for an even sweeter treat.

Dicing and chopping ingredients

If you’ve yet to master the knife-skills shown off by every competent cook, don’t fear. Knife work can be tricky and even intimidating for some people, so having a secondary tool to help you out can often be very useful. Many food processors come with a selection of blades, which you can (carefully) exchange to chop food to the size and shape you want.