The Food Processor

By:   Carl Hanson

One Great Gadget

Like your own personal prep chef, this versatile contraption slices, chops, shreds, grinds, purees, juices and kneads dough in a jiffy.

Making Adjustments

Food processors come with standard blade attachments that get you through the basics of chopping and slicing. From there, you can go bonkers with attachments that let you juice, knead, whip and more.

Mastering Mise en Place

The best way to work with a food processor is to handle like tasks together. Therefore, a little recipe reconnaissance is in order. Start with ingredients that need chopping, then switch attachments to shred or mince.

Creating the Cuisinart

While traveling in France, American Carl Sontheimer observed an industrial blender at a cooking show. Inspired, he developed a modified version for home cooks--christening it "Cuisinart" in 1973.