All About Kitchen Grinders

With the help of a kitchen chopper, you can significantly speed up and facilitate the cooking process. Such an electric household appliance was invented back in the 30s of the 20th century, but became available to the mass consumer only in the 21st century. Now modern housewives in a matter of minutes can chop, grind, whip in mashed potatoes and grind a large amount of products into minced meat. The free time helps them save energy and devote themselves to a hobby or family.

The principle of operation of the universal kitchen food grinder is quite simple - the ingredients are placed in a bowl and covered with a lid.

If necessary, you can also prepare homogenized puree.

The design of any kitchen appliance of this type consists of the following components:

• a bowl into which food is immersed;
• rotating shaft;
• attachments that are attached to the shaft and process food into pieces (knives or graters);
• a lid that covers the bowl so that its contents do not scatter outside the container;
• trigger mechanism, electric motor.

To cut vegetables into equal pieces or thin slices, you can use different attachments that are equipped with kitchen appliances. In simple grinders, there are no more than two of them, and in more functional forms there are several varieties:

• sharp mesh with knives for cutting into cubes;
• knives for processing to a pasty state;
• nozzle for chopping meat, nuts, herbs, herbs, meat, spices;
• extra strong knives for crumbling ice;
• metal graters for cutting vegetables into strips of different thicknesses;
• nets for forming ingredients with bars, wedges, etc.;
• vertical knives for cutting vegetables into circles;
• disc for chips for French fries;
• disc for shredding and slicing;
• mesh filter for juice extraction.

The professional food chopper is equipped with the maximum number of functions. Its capacity is sufficient for a large volume of products, but its dimensions require more space for placement. Home appliances are more compact and less agile.

Shredders are of two types.

In mechanical (manual) rotation of the shaft is carried out under the influence of muscular force on the handle of the device. This primitive shredder has its own advantages and disadvantages.

The advantages can be considered:

• low price;
• lack of noise during operation;
• no power connection required for shredding;
• easy maintenance: all components are dishwasher safe;
• takes up a minimum of space in the kitchen.

There are also disadvantages:

• for grinding, it is necessary to apply muscle strength, which can cause fatigue;
• limited functionality;
• significantly inferior to the electric analogue in terms of grinding speed.

In electrical appliances, work is done using an electric motor. Just press a button - and in just a minute the food is crushed to the desired state. The undoubted advantages are:

• high efficiency in a minimum time of work;
• multifunctionality with the ability to cut into slices, cubes, figured, grind meat into minced meat, chop ice, mix and beat.
• Minuses are minor, but for some consumers they matter:
• higher price;
• devices are more demanding for storage, they cannot be stored in a damp place due to the risk of failure of the motor and other electrical components;
• performance entails electricity consumption;
• quite noisy operation of the motor.

Like mechanical counterparts, electrical appliances are fairly easy to clean.

If machine washing is prohibited by the manufacturer, this is necessarily reflected in the instructions.

The shredder is, in fact, a universal name that summarizes the different subgroups of kitchen appliances.

Appliance with glass bowl, knives and lid. There are mechanical and electrical types. Cuts solid food into small pieces using a wing knife. You can whip soft ingredients in a chopper like in a blender. The longer the appliance is turned on, the finer the slicing is.

The knives in the bowl can be positioned differently, which also affects the quality of food processing. - if the rotating knife is at the bottom, then the products will puree, and with the attachment in the upper part of the appliance, large pieces will be obtained. The chopper is more suitable for grinding meat, coffee beans, herbs, cheese, peppers and spices, ice than a stationary blender.

Essentially, it is the same thing as a vegetable cutter. The device crushes food thanks to different attachments. The bowl can contain knives in the form of a drum with different notches for cutting pieces of different shapes, for shredding cabbage and getting thin slices. But such a device is not suitable for whipping or mixing soft food, since the bowl is not provided for this.

The cylindrical ones resemble a meat grinder, but the cutting knives are located in the side outlet cylinder, from which the chopped products are removed. Cutters with circular knives are similar to old manual vegetable cutters-mills, but with an electric drive, which makes tiring kitchen work easier and faster. This appliance is used for solid foods. The manual multi-cutter is more suitable for cooked vegetables.

A multipurpose kitchen chopper that chops a bowl of fruit and salad ingredients in a minute. There is a household version and an industrial type of harvester for large-scale work in the food sector. The device is universal and is equipped with a lot of useful attachments for preparing preparations for the winter, meals for the whole family and food for baby food. It replaces many different devices: a blender, a meat grinder, a vegetable cutter - everything you need for food cooked without stress and unnecessary movements.

Used for mixing ingredients and chopping food. Suitable for making puree soup, for dried fruits and nuts, sauces and pates from legumes and boiled meat. Manufacturers offer stationary and submersible models. The first ones resemble a mixer, food is placed in the bowl, the container is covered with a lid, the start is carried out by pressing a button. Shredding is done by rotating knives. On submersible models, the knives are located on the attachment, which is attached to the handle. Hooks, whisks, mashed potatoes can be supplied as an additional set to the blender.

There are manufacturers of kitchen appliances that have proven themselves from the best side.

• Tefal 5 second chopper. Manual mini-harvester for slicing fresh and boiled vegetables, chopping fruits, nuts, etc. To operate the device, you just need to pull the handle. The small volume of the bowl is convenient for traveling and for preparing small amounts of food. The cost of the device is from 1 thousand rubles.

• VITEK VT-1639. A similar mini-format model with a half-liter bowl.Power of 400 W is enough for elementary operations such as cutting and mixing soft ingredients.

• Salad Gourmet TK 0029 BRADEX. Mechanical vegetable cutter with replaceable attachments. The universal grinder will not only cut food, but also grate cheese and chocolate, peel the peel on vegetables, and make mashed potatoes. Equipped with a container for collecting finished products. The device is indispensable when preparing a large number of products. The cost of a budget model is from 800 rubles.

• SLR-9005 from GFGRIL. Chopper equipped with sharp knives to perform many actions with different types of food: cheese, vegetables, fruits, cereals, meat, etc. The set includes a nozzle for whipping cream and eggs. A large volume of food can be cooked in the 900 ml bowl at once. The drive in the device is powered by a mains connection. 5 blades arranged in two levels for fast and even chopping of food. The bowl is made of durable plastic and can be used in a microwave oven. It is very easy to work with the device. The lid tightly fitting to the container ensures tightness and excludes splashing of the crushed components. The collapsible design and detachable attachments are extremely easy to clean. Accessories and blades are dishwasher safe. Convenient to store the device due to its compact size and shape.

• Moulinex DJ900 Fresh Express Cube. Practical model with five functions for quick grinding of different ingredients. The sleek and ergonomic design allows for convenient handling and storage of components. The set includes multi-colored cassettes for shredding food into cubes, wedges, slices, etc. Thanks to the fast operation and 280 W power, you can prepare a light salad in a matter of seconds. The slicing speed is set automatically. A special brush is included for thorough cleaning of the attachments. The cost of the device is about 5500 rubles.

• Bosch MMR 08A1. A high-quality shredder from a well-known brand that uses only high-quality components and materials for its models of household appliances. The 800 ml plastic tank allows you to grind many foods in one go. With a power of 400 W, the device is lightweight, compact and fits into the interior of any kitchen. Among the advantages is the sufficient length of the power cord (1.2 m). A practical, sharp knife made of steel to handle all kinds of food. The device can be easily disassembled into components for cleaning and reassembled. The only disadvantages are the noise produced by the motor during operation. Approximate cost - from 1800 rubles.

• Sinbo SHB-3042. A functional and compact device made in Turkey. In a 1000 ml bowl, it is convenient to prepare simple meals in a matter of minutes. The device is easy to handle, easy to assemble, easy to clean and store. Power of work is 300 W in two high-speed modes. The glass bowl is sufficient for cooking for a family of 4. The small-sized appliance weighs up to 2 kg and fits on a shelf in any corner of the kitchen area. Additional advantages include an affordable price, a stand with rubberized inserts, and the quality of plastic. Consumers consider a disadvantage only the small length of the power cord. On average, the cost of a product is about 1200 rubles.

• Household Rotaryn Cutting. Practical manual multi-slicer for fruits and vegetables. This shredder has many advantages: compactness, you can easily take it with you to the country, on vacation, comfort and safety in use, fast and convenient cutting of any shape. The device comes with 3 graters that help to process vegetables, cheeses, turn chocolate into crumbs, grate crackers, nuts, garlic. With a convenient and fast kitchen assistant, you can mix all kinds of spices, herbs, herbs for a delicious and healthy homemade sauce. The practical plastic bowl makes it easy to store prepared food.The average cost of a shredder attracts the attention of consumers and is only 1000 rubles.

• Binatone MFP-075. The 700 watt chopper is perfect for large families. Optimal for cutting salads, preparing blanks for future use, vitamin frosts and seaming for the winter. The device operates in 2 modes: the first speed is started by lightly pressing the button, and to switch to the second, you need to press the button harder. The body of the MFP-075 is made of plastic and metal; the manufacturer used thick glass for the bowl. Stainless steel knives guarantee high-quality cutting and a long service life without additional sharpening of the blades. The device has a lot of functions: mixing, grinding to the consistency of mashed potatoes, grating cheese, processing sugar into powder and ice into crumbs. All functions are pulsed. The average cost of equipment is 2,000 rubles.

What should you pay attention to in order to choose a quality device? What features will be useful and what shouldn't you overpay for? These questions often confuse potential consumers at the shredder selection stage.

The main factors affecting the operation of such kitchen appliances are discussed below.

• Appointment. All subsequent nuances depend on the purpose of the application. If the shredder is needed for one person, a simple model equipped with a minimum of options will do. In practice, even manual options are convenient. In this case, a compact device will also work, because it will require cutting ingredients for one person. If the shredder is bought for a family (even for two), it is better to choose a powerful and efficient one. Therefore, the priority is electric models that quickly cope with large volumes.
• Bowl capacity. For two or one, a 300 ml device is enough, but if you have to cook often and for several people, it is recommended to focus on models with a bowl volume of about 1.5 liters. It should be borne in mind that the grinder bowls are not allowed to be filled to the very edge. It is important for yourself to determine the approximate volume of products that you plan to process, estimating this to be about 40%. Then you will definitely be able to select the device of optimal capacity.
• Steps to rotate the shaft. An important point for those who wish to purchase a manual chopper for the kitchen. For electric models, the start occurs by pressing the power button or holding it. Both the one and the other option are simple. In manual versions, not everything is so simple. Some models have a handle with a cable, which will have to be rhythmically pulled towards you and returned back, driving the shaft. It's not too stressful if you need to cut into few ingredients or soft foods. Otherwise, you will have to make an effort. This is not suitable for everyone, as it can cause muscle tension. It is recommended that you first try a mechanical technique in order to understand how suitable it is. If this is not possible, you should at least watch the video instructions and reviews from real consumers.
• Power. The higher this parameter, the more often the shaft rotates and the more resistance the cutting blades can overcome. In fact, power determines the capabilities of each specific model. If you want to purchase an apparatus only for cutting vegetables, grating cheese and mixing soft products, a device with a power of up to 500 watts is acceptable. Let's say a chopper with a power of at least 600 watts is suitable for solid components. If you want not only to cut something, but also to knock down the dough or bring the products to a homogeneous mass, you need to keep the benchmark for powerful models from 900 watts. Devices with such an indicator can also be used for production purposes, since it is permissible for them to operate virtually without stopping.
• Number of attachments. Here you can choose according to the principle: the more, the better. It is important to understand what this or that nozzle is intended for.They are divided according to the shape of the notches and are selected according to the type of product: some are for cutting raw vegetables, others are only for boiled vegetables, the next are for chopping ice, nuts, and the like. In addition, it is important to pay attention to the quality of the components. They must be made of stainless steel, otherwise the blades will quickly deteriorate.

Even those who have not previously understood small household appliances will be able to make the choice of a shredder according to these parameters and recommendations. With such a useful purchase for the kitchen, the menu will become much more varied!