As a chef or someone who prefers homemade food, you should know that devices like food processors or blenders are essential as they facilitate food preparation.
Using hand dicing can be stressful as it takes a lot of time before getting your desired result.But what can I use if I don’t have a food processor or blender?
Not having a food processor or blender does not mean cooking would be stressful as other alternatives such as mixer, food mill, immersion blenders, cheese grater, rolling pins and knives can also do the job for you.
Even if these substitutes do not give 100% of the desired results, it’s worth a try!!!
What Are the Substitutes for Food Processors or Blenders?
1. Mixer
A mixer can work well with a liquid and solid combined, whether using a hand mixer, electric mixer, or immersion. Your mixer is the perfect substitute for a blender or food processor – and is very versatile and can be moved around the kitchen while working.
The mixer also works well for mixing ingredients like butter and sugar for baked foods. You can use a mixer to whip mayo and homemade whipped cream.
2. Food Mill
Food meals are mainly used to mash or puree foods manually. A food mill uses a hand crank and a perforated plate that pushes food while passing through the plate. Even if it is not as efficient as a blender, it can still turn your coarse food particles into small and smooth portions.
It is relatively cheap and can be purchased by almost everyone. So, if you’re looking for a better way to puree steamed vegetables or mash potatoes, the food mill is an excellent option to consider.
3. Immersion Blenders
This can also function well as a great blender. You can always mix your solids and liquids to create dips and creams. You can use it to chop soft vegetables and hard nuts to make spaghetti, soups, kinds of pasta, and other meals.
These blenders are versatile and can be used to break down food quickly. It functions very closely to a real blender, and if you’re looking for an alternative that is similar in looks and function, then here it is.
4. Cheese Grater
As surprising as it looks, a cheese grater can function more than peeling potatoes and grating cheese; you can also use it to shred various vegetables such as zucchini, broccoli, and carrot.
They are great alternatives for breaking down vegetables into smaller pieces, and even if it is not as effective as the blender in terms of reducing the size of food, it works quite well.
5. Rolling Pin
This is another great substitute for reducing food particles into smaller pieces. To do this, place the food-like dough in a Ziploc bag and zip it close. They place it on the cutting board before gliding your rolling pin back and forth until it reaches your desired consistency.
6. Boiling The Food and Mashing It with A Fork
This is the simplest, easiest, and quickest way of breaking down your food fast. You can use this method to boil foods, such as mashed potatoes and boiled yam. It involves just using your fork to mash down these foods after the fiber must’ve been made soft through boiling.
7. Knives
Knives are handy in many aspects and have been used for a long time before the food processor or blender came into existence. Using a knife is not complicated, but it takes a lot of physical effort and sweats for you to get your desired results.
Although making a puree with a knife can be almost impossible, you can use the knife to cut your fresh vegetables, fruits, and meats into various shapes of your choice. But be careful when using the knife because you can get severely injured in just one wrong move.
8. Whisk
A whisk can also work, but it involves a lot of energy and can be pretty tiresome. For recipes that can be time-sensitive, using a whisk might not work as it would take a lot of your time, so you should [preferably use an electric mixer.
Not all substitutes perform the same duty that the blender or food processor does; they can mostly perform one or two functions.
For mixing, you have the stand mixer, whisk, hand-held eggbeater, and spoon; for pureeing, the masher, juicer, or knife can work, and for shredding, the cheese grater, food slicer, peeler, and forks can work well.
Can I Puree by Hand?
The easiest way to puree by hand is by using a mallet. To puree your vegetables or knead your dough, kindly put them in a Ziploc bag and strike them severally with your mallet until it is broken down and if you want a super smooth consistency, boiling them first would be a perfect option.
What Can I Use Instead of a Food Processor for Pie Crust?
There are several alternative ways to make a pie crust without using a food processor. You can use your hands, a fork, two knives, a pastry cutter, and a stand mixer.
It is not advisable to use your hands, though, because By using your hands, the heat from your hand can melt the fat, and we wouldn’t want that.
What Substitutes Can I Use Instead of a Food Processor for Pastry?
You can use the mixer, chopper, or grinder for pastry dishes, but the most effective replacement would be a blender. The blender is the closest substitute for a food processor.
However, blenders can only be used in smaller batches, and you may also need to change a few other blender settings to work effectively.
Can I Use Nutribullet as A Food Processor?
Of course, you can, and the nutribullet is used to replace the blender when you want to blend food into fine proportions. You can use it to crush or ground coffee and nuts to your desired texture.