Whats the difference between a blender and a food processor?

September 27, 2004 5:51 PM

Whats the difference between a blender and a food processor? Seems to me the only difference is that a blender has more speed options, but I could be wrong. Please let me know.
posted by thebwit to food & drink (5 comments total)

A blender just has a little set of blades at the bottom of a jar.

A food processor has several different kinds of interchangable blades at the bottom of a shorter container, as well as slicing and grating wheels.
posted by majick at 6:10 PM on September 27, 2004

This is just based on personal observation, rather than any scientific definition, and are just general characteristics for most examples of each category that I've noticed:

Blender:
- "pitcher" shape - taller than it is wide, usually with a handle on the side, always removable from base
- tiny blade is built in to the bottom of the pitcher
- lid is flimsy piece of rubber, sometime with hole for dropping stuff in, does not affect operation

Food processor:
- column shape - usually wider than tall, doesn't always have a handle, may not be easily removed from base
- large blades that are usually removeable/interchangeable with graters, shredders, etc.
- lid is built into the unit somehow, usually *must* be closed for operation, often has a feeder tube with a thing to press stuff down into the tube

[on preview: what majick said]
posted by rorycberger at 6:11 PM on September 27, 2004

A blender is a fixed thing, with only one set of non-changeable blades and a glass container thing, with very few settings. You can't switch blades or safely put stuff into it while it's going.

A food processor lets you switch blades for different jobs, and lets you add stuff in the middle of mixing/blending/etc..

or what everyone else said : >
posted by amberglow at 6:13 PM on September 27, 2004

A blender is necessary for making iced drinks only. A food processor can do everything else (blend, mix, puree) and shred stuff too.

amber, you can pour things into the top of a blender while it's going: oil for vinaigrette for example.

I have a nifty combo version - there's a single base along with a processor bowl and a blender that you can attach to the base depending on what you need to do.
posted by CunningLinguist at 6:41 PM on September 27, 2004

I have a nifty combo version - there's a single base along with a processor bowl and a blender that you can attach to the base depending on what you need to do.

Is it one of those shiny Bosch kitchen machines? Those things rule.
posted by rorycberger at 10:50 AM on September 28, 2004