mounted motor that drives the blade via a belt. Failing at
even the easiest of tasks, those processors aren’t worth the
box they come in. Instead, look for models with a solid-state
motor attached directly to the blade shaft, with no
intermediary belt or chain. These take up a little extra space
in terms of height, because the motor must be placed
underneath the processor bowl, but that’s an easy trade-off.
The two best processors that fit all this criteria at a
reasonable price are the KitchenAid 12-cup Food Processor
($199.95) and the Cuisinart Prep 11 Plus 11-cup Food
Processor (about $165). And at such similar price points
(admittedly much more expensive than many useless
models), it all comes down to bowl design, and in this
category, the Cuisinart wins: it’s got a larger feed tube, as
well as straight sides that ensure that all your food falls back
down into the blade. For some reason, the KitchenAid has
sloping sides. Ingredients can ride up the sides more easily
and may not be chopped or emulsified properly.
- Stand Mixer, with Meat Grinder Attachment
A good stand mixer is a true workhorse for anyone who
bakes more than occasionally. When selecting one, there are
a few criteria that I look for:
- It should have a dough hook attachment and a motor
powerful enough to mix at least 2 pounds of bread dough
without straining, shaking, or burning out. - It should have a whisk attachment to whip cream and to
whip egg whites quickly and efficiently into frothy
meringues and foams.