Food processors are the bulwark against morning rush hours and busy evenings. The commercial food processor truly is the one size that fits all in the world of kitchen equipment. Be it at home or in large commercial operations, commercial food processors make life easier by performing the most versatile functions. Slicing, dicing, kneading, blending, mincing, grinding, or pureeing, you name it. The humble commercial food processor has your back.
Blender vs. Processor: What's the Difference?
Blenders: The primary purpose of blenders is to liquefy and emulsify ingredients. This comes from the design of the blender, as most of the blade's function is concentrated into a narrow area of action at the base, coupled with the vertical body of the container.
Food Processors: On the other hand, food processors deal with both solid and liquid varieties of foods, and can modify the outcome based on the blades and accessories used. Food processors have a wider base and a broader container that even out the action of the blade. Commercial food processors can puree, dice, knead, blend, chop, and mince food based on your requirements.
While the application of blenders is limited to drinks, smoothies, and sauces, the versatile food processor can be used for all the functions a blender performs, and then some.
Types of Commercial Food Processors
Food processors come in a variety of ranges, and sizes, functionality, and capacity vary based on the extent of your operation. The smaller food processors are reserved for household usage, whereas larger commercial and industrial food processors are used by restaurateurs and food production companies. Several mechanisms, sizes, and accessories are employed in varying combinations to provide customers with a diversity of choices. However, there are five prominent food processors:
Batch Bowl Food Processors
These are the most commonly found food processors in both domestic and commercial settings. The food processor contains a plastic or stainless-steel bowl that's capable of holding between one and six quarts. Larger bowls are available in industrial variants. The food-in-batch bowl processors are deposited in the same container that includes processors. Though efficient, this limits the operation to batches that vary between small and medium in size. However, this limitation can be easily addressed by purchasing additional bowls to keep the workflow constant in your kitchen. Slicing, dicing, pureeing, blending, chopping, grating and kneading are all possible with the batch bowl processor.
Continuous Feed Food Processors
These food processors are found in industrial operations. They dispense the processed food into a container different from the area of function. Productivity is not limited to batches, and the material can be fed into a chute for the food to be processed. A range of functions like grinding, mincing, shredding, dicing, slicing, and chopping can be undertaken by the processor. The precisely diced material is fed into a separate container outside of the main setup. Continuous feed processors can be kept operational indefinitely so long as you have containers to collect the processed material. Some of the continuous feed processors also come with pushers that help you apply pressure in the chamber.
Dual/Combination Food Processors
Combination food processors give you the best of both worlds. If you want to work seamlessly but also would like to limit the extent of the operation to small batches, then combination food processors are the answer. These ingenious machines come with a detachable batch bowl and a continuous feeder chute. Depending on the size of the batch, you can alternate between the two. If you're looking at continuous food processing for busy evenings, then the continuous feeder head would be the obvious choice. However, the smaller batch bowl comes in handy for more exotic cuts. A variety of accessories are also provided with these versatile food processors to help you make a range of different cuts and slices.
Vertical Mixer Cutters
Vertical mixer cutters are similar to combination commercial food processors and use both bowls as well as chutes. They handle both small and large batches of food. The primary advantage of vertical mixer cutters is that they're more compact than other food processors. However, they're also available in a vast size range, from three quarts to sixty quarts. These commercial food processors also feature tilting seals to ensure effective maintenance and better cleaning.
Revolving Bowl Cutter/ Chopper
This commercial food processor involves an assembly of a large rotating bowl placed on an axle. It employs multi-bladed knives, discs, and a knife aligned along the long-axis placed at the rear to do the cutting. This contraption is primarily used to make fine, precise, and quick cuts with meats. Various sizes ranging from five pounds up to twenty-five pounds are available. These devices are tailormade for industrial and commercial operations. The knife and bowl speed can be adjusted based on the type of cut needed.
Types of Food Processor Disks & Blades
Commercial food processors come with a variety of discs and blades to help you prepare any type of dish. Most of these discs and blades specialize in a particular function, and different blades and discs are usually mixed and matched depending on the nature and ingredients of the dish.
S Blades: These accessories are often included with batch bowls. They're used for slicing, mincing, pureeing, and kneading, depending on the type.
Smooth blades: Used to finely chop and cut meats & vegetables.
Perforated blades: Blends and mixes fluids. Best used to prepare sauces.
Serrated blades: Used primarily for pureeing.
Dough blades: These blades come either in plastic or stainless steel. However, they're blunt and are used to knead dough.
Discs: These accessories, in contrast to blades, are placed higher. Discs slice, dice, cut, grate, and chop up food into different shapes and sizes based on their design. They're a must-have for foods requiring good presentation.
Shredder/ Grater: These discs are used to grate cheese and shred vegetables or meat into long and thin strips.
Brunoise Discs: These discs make fine dicing simpler and faster.
Slicing Discs: Used to slice vegetables, sausages, and certain meats.
Julienne Discs: Used to cut vegetables, meat, or cheese in long sticks.
Whipping Discs: Used to whip emulsions and fluids.
Before You Buy
Be sure to have the exact purpose of your operation in mind and select your commercial food processor based on the following features:
Size: Smaller-sized processors are limited by batches. Larger processors cut down the time consumed per batch.
Revolutions per minute: Faster food processors save time and give you a finer product. Certain processors give you the option of adjusting the RPM.
Horsepower: Larger food processors should have a horsepower rating of at least 600. Higher horsepower ensures better kneading, slicing, and grinding.
Chef Buyer brings you the best commercial food processors from well-known names in the market. Our seamless customer service, support, and quality assurance are unmatched. Be sure to refer to our buying guides before making your decision about all your commercial kitchen needs.
