cheap food chopper?

[Adasmommy]

I want to get a small food chopper, but it will be one of those things that I may find out I never use and then want to get declutter. I've never had or used a food chopper so I don't know, but I would LOVE to have one that made my life easier!

So . . .

should I just buy the food chopper carried at the health food store? Are all food choppers approximately the same, or is there ONE that I should be looking for?

What is a cheap price for a small food chopper?

Which is the best?

Oh, and what can I use it for?? Veggies, nuts, what else?

Any opinions as to whether a food chopper will save me lots of time or just be another gadget in my kitchen??

Thanks!

[Benji'sMom]

You mean a food processor or just the little chopper things that are supposed to cut up veggies? Don't get the food chopper, it's too small to fit anything and you'll have to cut the veggies in small enough pieces to fit in it anyway. And the blade doesn't really cut very good. It's just a dumb gadget that doesn't even work.

[jessjgh1]

Diane, I'm just subbing because I've wondered about those gadgets too.

I do have a mini food processor and when I remember to use it for things it can be a nice time saver (mincing lots of garlic, chopping cranberries or nuts for breads). I probably could use it for more things if I remembered to!

Jessica

[Spastica]

I agree with the previous posts - the manual food choppers don't really chop up any crunchy veggies, a small food processor will work nicely. Black and Decker is usually one of the cheapest brands (I want to say $35ish), a KitchenAid is high quality, high-durability, but I think the cost is about $50-ish. Bigger processors cost more. If you're on a tight budget, try a thrift store or Goodwill. Otherwise, you can try Target, Best Buy, etc. There's teeny processors, a smidge bigger ones and the grand-daddy ones. I would go with the smidge bigger or larger since the teeny ones, you can't make enough for a family meal. Those are more like salsa bowl sized servings.

[jessjgh1]

You know, I bet the magic bullets or even some mini-food processors might be found if you have a local FreeCycle, too.

Which reminds me, I need to get my act together to post some FreeCycle 'offers' so I can post some 'wants'!

Jessica

[cynotgirl]

if you mean the little food chopper that only chops a handful at a time... don't waste the money.

However: with this sort of thing, going cheap is a bad idea. We have finally learned after all this time... just pay more for more quality. You DO get what you pay for!

For around $80 you can get a cuiseneart food processor/blender. That may seem like a lot, but it does EVERYTHING and you only have to buy one. My mom still uses the cuisneart she got when she got married 33 years ago.

Or, get a smaller 4 cup food processer, around $30.

Or, get a good knife and cutting board

[3boysmom]

http://www.shopkitchenaid.com/produc...=KTA+KFC3100WH

This kitchenaid chopper is marvelous! (QVC has them in more colors and cheaper). I love it so much that I got one for my MIL (a great cook) for Christmas and she is already raving about it! It allows you to pulse so you can chop to any consistency you need without turning your ingredients to mush.

[moderngal]

IMO, the choppers aren't worth it. I don't personally care or the mini food processors either even though I *had* to have one.
The best investment I would recommend is a knife skills cooking class. Chopping stuff with a knife is way faster and easier to clean up if you know how to do it right. Plus it can be very therapeutic.

[JessicaS]

Dh bought me one of those bullet things for Christmas last year. It just obliterates everything into mush. Not much of a chopper but it is ok if you are making sauces, dip or soup.

I have one of those WHAM WHAM WHAM WHAM things that you just mash the handle too.

I use my french chef knife more than any gadget.

[Spastica]

I have one of those! It's teensy Black and Decker that I use for garlic, herbs, tiny bit of chopped veggies or onions for an omlette, or making a cup of hummus. I got it at Goodwill!

I don't think it would make full meal or make good chopped veggies though. Just handy for little things and is for mincing.

Good point, what the heck are those called anyway??!??

LOL at the WHAM WHAM WHAM WHAM. Very descriptive

[mightymoo]

I am subbing because I would really like to find something that chops onions well. The one thing i hate about cooking is chopping onions. My kitchenaid food processer is horrible at it, I put in some onion, quartered, etc and I end up with onion puree and giant chunks. I love it for shredding cheese though. I do the once a month cooking, so sitting and chopping veggies for an eternity by hand is really tedious.

Anyone have something that chops onions well? I honestly don't care if its super expensive, I'll bargain hunt for it so long as I don't have to sit and squint through another cooking day trying to chop a dozen onions up.

[frogguruami]

I have the food chopper from Pampered Chef and it works really well. BUT, I would suggest just improving on your knife skills. Pretty soon you will be able to chop up anything by hand in less time. I would spend the money on good knives instead.

[frogguruami]

Originally Posted by frogguruami

I have the food chopper from Pampered Chef and it works really well. BUT, I would suggest just improving on your knife skills. Pretty soon you will be able to chop up anything by hand in less time. I would spend the money on good knives instead.

Oh GODDESS! I just realized that my son's obsession for Alton Brown has worn off on me. BANISH THE UNITASKER

Sorry, Don't know what came over me. Back to your regularly scheduled thread.

[mightymoo]

I have really good knives, but the knives don't seem to affect the smell of the onions and how much I can't stand chopping them by hand.

[swimswamswum]

I just got a heavy duty KitchenAid food processor for Christmas from my mom and OMG!
http://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KFP...&s=home-garden

DH and I have been having so much fun watching it cut veggies into perfect little pieces. Wow! We got one of those little mini choppers as a wedding gift and it's kind of cumbersome- it only chops a little bit and you can't control the size of the pieces. We've only used it to chop herbs and make salsa. This Kitchenaid thing is amazing! It can make dough, puree, chop, shred and more. If you're really interested in de-cluttering, you might think about something like it because it does so much. It wasn't cheap, though.

[ashleyhaugh]

i have this one

http://www.shopkitchenaid.com/produc...T1=KTA+KG304OB

and its pretty good.... i dont use it as much as i used to though, because i am getting better with my knife skills. i like it for onions cuz i dont cry as much, lol

[Adasmommy]

I'm officially talked out of trying a small chopper. I will put "quality food processor/blender" on my list of things to get when I have that money. Afterall, I own a blender taking up space, so why not a super-blender instead. One item in, one item out . . .

Thanks for all your chopping experiences!

[Spastica]

A blender and food processor does two different things

You cannot make smoothies in a food processor. Food processors are for chopping, slicing, and mincing. Blenders shred, blend, puree and mix.

Good to keep both. If you have a nice looking food processor, you can keep it on the countertop. KitchenAids are very fashionable.

Otherwise, see if you can empty out some bottom cabinetry and keep your appliances in one cabinet.

[JessicaS]

If you have a nice looking food processor, you can keep it on the countertop. KitchenAids are very fashionable.

I would not be as dismissive of a Kitchen Aid as I am of my silly chopping gadgets.

A Kitchen Aid is a Precious Artifact meant to be adored and worshipped.

A Kitchen Aid subs for several different things.

I don't have one, they cost too much. :

[Spastica]

I used to do product demos for KitchenAid, so I have a stand mixer, stick blender, regular blender, some pans, some silicone spatulas, measuring cups, and some other stuff....free from working there a few years.

The mixers and blenders RULE.