Found an interesting recipe but failed to put it into practice because it didn't have one of the ingredients listed in it, namely a food processor? Do not worry! In fact, today there are many tools and cooking techniques that can be used to replace the role of a food processor. For example, you can process food in a blender, mixer, or spice grinder, and get results that are just as good as when the food is processed using a food processor. Don't have any cooking utensils at home? Don't be discouraged because even your hands can be powerful and useful tools for cooking!
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using a Blender, Mixer, or Coffee Grinder
Step 1. Use a blender to chop, chop, or grind food
Did you know that a blender has far richer benefits than just making smoothies? For example, if the recipe you're using calls for minced garlic or other ingredients, try putting it in a blender and pressing the button a few times until you get the consistency you want. Meanwhile, to puree the food until it's really smooth in texture, try processing it in a blender for a longer time.
- Finely chop the carrots, garlic, and various spices using a blender.
- Puree the vegetables in a blender before mixing them into soups or sauces for a softer texture when eaten.
- If you're having trouble processing denser or tougher foods like nuts, or high-fiber foods like celery, try sharpening your blender blade. To find out how to sharpen your blender blades accurately, try reading the manufacturer's instructions in the manual.
Step 2. Combine liquid and dry ingredients in a mixer
Regardless of the type of mixer used, be it a hand mixer, sitting mixer, or hand blender, all of them can be used to replace the role of a food processor. The trick, simply put the food to be processed into a bowl made of thick and large enough, then lower the mixer to process all the food ingredients in the bowl.
- The benefits of a mixer are most pronounced if you need to process both liquid and dry ingredients at the same time, such as to make a variety of baked goods. In addition, the mixer can also be used to beat egg whites to be processed into meringues until stiff, beat mayonnaise, and make homemade whipped cream.
- Meanwhile, a hand blender is the perfect option for making homemade mayonnaise or pesto sauce. In addition, its small size makes it easier to store a hand blender in the kitchen, instead of a food processor.
- If you have a mixer that fits in the mouth of the mixer, you can also use a sit-down mixer to knead bread, pie, and cookie dough.
Step 3. Chop up whole foods and seasonings using a coffee grinder, if you have one
For coffee connoisseurs, most likely a coffee grinder is a kitchen utensil that you already have in your home. To use it, simply put the ingredients to be chopped into the grinder, then press the grinder for a few seconds or until the texture of the food is crumbly.
- This method is suitable for chopping nuts and turning them into a variety of delicious desserts.
- If you're working on whole spices, like Jamaican pepper or cardamom seeds, try grinding them first to bring out their aroma and enhance their flavor as they cook!
Tip:
Always clean coffee grinders, before and after use. Otherwise, the taste of coffee or other food ingredients can be mixed into your cooking, and vice versa.
Step 4. Grind foods that are softer in texture using a ricer or special food grinder
If you need to grind food to a consistency that resembles rice or wheat flour, try using a regular food grinder instead of a food processor. To do this, simply put the food in the bowl located on the grinder, then turn on the electric grinder or turn the handle of the manual grinder. The results you get will depend on the size of the hole in the grinder and the type of food being ground.
- This method is the perfect option for making a bowl of “rice” from cabbage, a low-calorie alternative to traditional rice.
- If you want, you can also use a food grinder to grind the cooked potatoes until they are really soft and creamy.
Method 2 of 2: Manually Processing Food
Step 1. Cut up most of the food using a sharp, good quality knife
If you find a recipe that recommends using a food processor, generally the tool will be used to chop or finely chop food more quickly and practically. If you don't have a food processor, actually the same results can also be obtained with the help of a sharp and quality knife, although it will take more time and energy to do so. The trick, simply put the food on a cutting board, then cut it into smaller sizes. Adjust the size of the pieces according to the type of food and its use in the recipe.
- For example, garlic, onions, and celery can be finely chopped manually.
- Of course, you should always be careful when operating the knife. Always grip the handle of the knife tightly with your dominant hand, then grip the food tightly with the fingers of your other hand like a bear gripping its prey. By doing so, the knife will only touch the knuckle even if it accidentally slips out of your hand.
Tip:
Preferably, cut the food in larger sizes first. For example, food can be cut into halves, quarters, or matchsticks, before being sliced thinly with a knife.
Step 2. Use a grater to grate hard-textured vegetables
Instead of using a food processor to grate hard-textured vegetables, such as carrots or potatoes, try grating them using a square grater or a microplane. To do this, simply move the vegetables up and down the holes of the grater until you reach the required amount. If you want to use a microplane, always hold the handle so you don't accidentally cut your fingers.
- A grater is the perfect tool for making coleslaw, lettuce, or hashbrown (fried mashed potatoes).
- A grater can also be used if you need grated ginger to make sauces, stir-fry dishes, or even drinks.
- Always keep your hands away from the grate hole to avoid accidentally cutting or hurting them!
Step 3. Puree the food by pre-cooking it until it's really soft, then crushing it with a fork or potato mash
One of the most popular uses of a food processor is to make purees. However, did you know that the process of mashing food into puree can also be done manually? The trick, try boiling the food to be mashed or heating it on low heat until the texture is really soft. After that, mash the softened food with a fork or potato mash until it is really soft and thick in consistency.
- For a puree with a smoother texture, try sifting the mashed food through a sieve. Don't forget to press down on any remaining pulp with the back of a spoon to make sure there's no puree remaining on the sieve.
- This method is perfect for making fruit purees as a complement to ice cream or homemade tomato sauce!
Step 4. Crumble the food with the help of a plastic bag clip and a rolling pin
If you need to crush food quickly, place the ingredients you want to crush into a plastic clip bag and place the bag on a cutting board. Then, roll the bag with a rolling pin to crumble the food inside. If there are pieces of food that won't crumble or crumble, try hitting them with the flat side of the rolling pin.
- This method is perfect for crushing chips and cookies and then sprinkling them over casseroles and a variety of desserts!
- This method can also be used to mash chickpeas and turn them into hummus.
Step 5. Knead the bread or pie dough manually
Although most bread recipes suggest using a food processor to knead bread dough, in fact the same results can also be obtained even if the dough is kneaded manually, you know! The trick, you just need to put the dough on a table surface that has been greased with oil, then knead it until it's completely smooth.
