topic Re: I broke my food processor in Kitchen

I broke my food processor

IamMrsG — Mon, 01 May 2017 20:48:51 GMT

I tried to make my old processor work too hard, so now I am looking for a replacement. I am presently interested in and specifically asking about the Ninja Mega Food System BL770.

Do you have one? If so, would you please share your opinions -- good and bad? Also, I am trying to find out if the lid to the food processor bowl has a feed / drizzle chute. That would be one of the determining factors for me as I frequently make emulsions.

Thank you for any information you can share. --Mrs. G.

Re: I broke my food processor

ID2 — Mon, 01 May 2017 21:38:49 GMT

I've never owned a food processor and get along quite well without one.

Re: I broke my food processor

lork — Mon, 01 May 2017 22:19:57 GMT

I cook a lot; I also can/preserve from my home garden. I would not be without my Cuisinart Custom 11 food processor. I have replaced the bowl, base, and food feed tube several times. Recently I found a "barely used" one on our local buy/sell/trade for $30 and made it mine! This model is rather compact and only has 2 "buttons", but I see it on all of the Food Network's assorted shows. It does everything I need, and while I know it will not last a lifetime (I use it/never put it out of sight) I will replace it when needed and it is what I've recommended to friends!

Re: I broke my food processor

Poodlepet2 — Mon, 01 May 2017 22:26:29 GMT

Hello Mrs.G! When we bought our weekend place, I bought that Ninja system, and while there are aspects I like about it-and I use it on occasion, with the way you cook, I think a real processor would be a better option. I do see many chefs using the Breville because you don't need the top on.

....or get a standard Kitchen Aid, and for emulsions, and dressings, honestly, the little bullet blenders work well-even for small amounts of bread crumbs, grated cheese etc.

The Ninja is nice...but when you are used to power, it just didn't deliver the way I wanted it to.

I like the ability to mix doughs and batters, and t h e Ninja is ok with batters, but not so good with bread doughs (small capacity and lower power).

It might suit your needs....but then, it might not.

I love the adjustable slicing features on processors these days, and Breville has that and that wonderful huge feed tube...and then the shredding features....

It's funny because DD had some formal training in Culinary skills....she ended not continuing, but she still loves to cook...and for all the appliances I have, she still uses a box grater, and a knife for slicing.

Alas, with nerve damage and weakness in my hands, I need my appliances!

Poodlepet2

Re: I broke my food processor

Razzy 7 — Mon, 01 May 2017 23:13:27 GMT

About a year ago when I was in the market for a new food processor, I did a TON of research and chose the Breville. Haven't been sorry. Would not choose the Ninja because I just don't think it has the quality.

Re: I broke my food processor.

Pooky1 — Tue, 02 May 2017 00:27:57 GMT

we have an older ninja, works well for somethings but not others. we allso have a kitchen aid fp with dicing kit. good luck on whatever you go with. making doght in the ninja. no way. i do pie crust in ka and pizza dought in ka mixer.

Re: I broke my food processor

IamMrsG — Tue, 02 May 2017 01:54:06 GMT

@Poodlepet2 Thank you for your opinion and solid reasoning. You gave me something to consider as I am like your daughter.

To slice, dice or shred, I will reach for my chef knife, box grater and, if the job is large, the mandoline. I make bread doughs in a bread machine and pie doughs by hand. Cake / cookie batters are done with a stand mixer, other types generally with a whisk.

Now that I think about it, I use the food processor for blending dressings or grinding nuts for Christmas cookies. The blending that killed my processor today was something from a frozen state; should've known better, but I was impatient.

Your mention that the Ninja didn't have the power you wanted surprised me as they claim it has 1500 watts, equal to 2 horsepower. That seemed like plenty to me, so I suppose I had better do some more homework.

Re: I broke my food processor

sandraskates — Tue, 02 May 2017 02:53:54 GMT

I had one of the early Ninja systems. It had 3 different size cups and blade configurations. It never lived up to it's demos and sold the whole kit-and-kaboodle at a yard sale.

I still like my traditional Cuisineart with it's various blade attachments. My favorite is the attachment that lets me shred large amounts of cheese - fun, fun, fun!

Re: I broke my food processor

tiny 2 — Tue, 02 May 2017 04:35:08 GMT

@IamMrsG wrote:
@Poodlepet2 Thank you for your opinion and solid reasoning. You gave me something to consider as I am like your daughter.

To slice, dice or shred, I will reach for my chef knife, box grater and, if the job is large, the mandoline. I make bread doughs in a bread machine and pie doughs by hand. Cake / cookie batters are done with a stand mixer, other types generally with a whisk.

Now that I think about it, I use the food processor for blending dressings or grinding nuts for Christmas cookies. The blending that killed my processor today was something from a frozen state; should've known better, but I was impatient.

Your mention that the Ninja didn't have the power you wanted surprised me as they claim it has 1500 watts, equal to 2 horsepower. That seemed like plenty to me, so I suppose I had better do some more homework.

Don't feel bad, I killed one trying to grind up lobster shells for stock and it caught on fire. I could not remember what it was that you threw on a fire to put it out only that it was white. Before I thought it through, I dumped a whole canister of flour on the flame and in a second my upper cabinets were blazing. My husband loves telling the story of me burning up half the kitchen.

Re: I broke my food processor

Poodlepet2 — Tue, 02 May 2017 11:57:12 GMT

Good morning Mrs. G! You did ask about this-yes, the lids do have spouts you can pour ingredients into.

On the power issue: This probably is not fair, but my gold standard is the Vitamix. I make emulsions, grind my own flours, make my own nut milk, hot and cold foods, frozen drinks....and the Ninja came up short.

I think you would be fine with the Ninja for emulsions. It can execute basic functions, but beyond....

For example, I needed to make a chick pea flour. I can do it in three minutes in the Vitamix but in the Ninja, I gave up after 1/2 hour and felt the need to give the machine rest to avoid burning up.

Stiff cookie doughs didn't do so well-although that's not something I would do in my VM.

Capacity for bread doughs is limited: it's not like a large capacity processor.

If those are not things you are going to be doing, then I would go with the Ninja. I do use my bullet blender frequently for salad dressings etc-and it's a little power house.

All of my technology has its uses for me, the home cook. My daughter has the heart of a chef, and I think one day, she will return.

You are indeed a chef, so your training and skills surpass the typical home cook by a landslide: you never would have graduated if you couldn't peel a potatoes in seconds or make a meringue using a whisk and bowl-in seconds. No doubt, if we had the skills you did, this technology wouldn't be needed!

If you have no problems with strength or motor skills, then stick to them-and go with the Ninja. I don't think you would regret it.

A final thought: I have a Kitchen Aid wide-mouth large capacity processor-that I love....but I do wish I had gotten the Breville because you can actually take off the top and use it, but if you are slicing, it has the largest feed tube I have ever seen...

On t h e other hand, the KA feed tube is large, but it also has an adaptation on its feed tube that allows me to quickly slice little tomatoes and mushrooms paper thin in seconds....I don't know if the Breville has that.

I would love to know what your decision is....by the way, what were you attempting to do that it "killed" your machine?

Hugs,

Poodlepet2

Re: I broke my food processor

RollTide2008 — Tue, 02 May 2017 12:57:35 GMT

I have that Ninja and am quite happy with it. I'm very satisfied with the power and the quality. It is much more limited than a traditional food processor. It doesn't slice, dice, or shred. I don't care, I do those things with a knife or box grater. I make pie crust in it, but make yeast doughs by hand. It does not have the chute in the top. I make salad dressing in the small smoothie cups though. I mostly use it for things like black bean burgers, pureed soups, smoothies, and things like that.

I don't use a blender enough to justify the expense of a Vitamix. This machine does what I want it to do at a fraction of the price.

Re: I broke my food processor

KatieB — Tue, 02 May 2017 13:44:41 GMT

America's Test Kitchen recommended Cuisinart Custom 11 as the best food processor on the market....

Re: I broke my food processor

Poodlepet2 — Wed, 03 May 2017 13:32:42 GMT

@RollTide2008, after I had bought my Ninja, I caught the tail end of an in commercial that said "Order now and get the food processor attachment free...".

I called Ninja-and the sales number given on tv, and nobody knew anything about it. It was a brilliant idea, because it had they body and function of basic food processor s.....and it sat on the power base.

Do you know if they ever started selling it?

For the money, the Ninja is a great little machine, but with my flours and butters, it just didn't measure up to "free-standing"machines.

I also love the fact that all processing components are dishwasher safe and you don't have a million pieces like a standard processor does.

Poodlepet2

Re: I broke my food processor

sandraskates — Thu, 04 May 2017 00:58:28 GMT

@Poodlepet2 wrote:
@RollTide2008, after I had bought my Ninja, I caught the tail end of an in commercial that said "Order now and get the food processor attachment free...".

I called Ninja-and the sales number given on tv, and nobody knew anything about it. It was a brilliant idea, because it had they body and function of basic food processor s.....and it sat on the power base.

Do you know if they ever started selling it?

For the money, the Ninja is a great little machine, but with my flours and butters, it just didn't measure up to "free-standing"machines.

I also love the fact that all processing components are dishwasher safe and you don't have a million pieces like a standard processor does.
Poodlepet2

@Poodlepet2- My Ninja system had at least 10 different pieces! Granted they stashed together a bit easier than those of a food processor but still - they took up a lot of space. :-)

The other thing I didn't like about my Ninja system was the little clear washer would not stay in place. If that got lost I don't think the components would work properly. Perhaps the newer models are better.

Re: I broke my food processor

IamMrsG — Thu, 04 May 2017 12:48:55 GMT

Good morning, All, and thank you for coming forward to help me in my decision making.

@Poodlepet2, thank you, but your assessment of my culinary skills is too generous. I am just a home cook. I was accepted into a culinary school in my younger days, but, pulled out after considering the long hours it would require away from our baby boy. I had quit a good job with a promising future to be a stay-at-home mom, and ultimately decided to remain one. Then, many years later I worked alongside the chef in a winery, and quickly learned, by that time, I was too old to work so hard. Working in a restaurant kitchen is demanding and stressful work.

Anyway, I made my processor purchase two days ago. As is generally the case, DH was the most influential in my decision. He pushed for the Ninja, impressed by the 1500 watt, 2 horsepower, motor. Looking for a processor bowl with a feed chute, I found a system that should actually surpass my need, a "Ninja Kitchen System with Auto IQ." It will go right back if it fails to meet expectations, but I surely do not look forward to re-packing it. It took nearly an hour to unpack, wash, and store all the components.

I have not used it yet, but DH is expecting a smoothie for breakfast this morning.

Again, I thank each of you for your opinions and advice. I came here for direction because I knew I could count on this community of cooks.

Re: I broke my food processor

chickenbutt — Thu, 04 May 2017 17:47:46 GMT

Hey Mrs G!

I saw your thread the other day but didn't say anything since you were only interested in reviews on that one brand/model and I don't have any experience with it.

But I wanted to stop by and say, now that you have made your purchase, I hope you enjoy your machine and it gives you many years of service!

Re: I broke my food processor

IamMrsG — Fri, 05 May 2017 16:49:47 GMT

Hello, @chickenbutt! Thank you for the good wishes for my processor decision. For future reference, your input would have been welcomed.

I used the Ninja yesterday to make smoothies. DH and I used to juice a lot, but the novelty quickly wore off because of the labor intensive cleaning of the machine afterwards. That, added to the fact it took a bathtubful of greens to produce a glass of juice, caused the love to wear thin rather fast. So when the Breville broke down, we chose not to replace it.

Yesterday's experience was much nicer. As reviews had warned, the motor was loud, but each glassful in the Ninja took 30 seconds and there wasn't a single shred of fiber to scrape out anywhere.

For anyone interested, here is the smoothie we made:

Sunny Day

1 12 ounce serving

1 medium carrot, cut in quarters
½ small orange
½ ripe banana
1 small celery stalk, cut in quarters
1/4 cup water
2 ice cubes

Place all ingredients into the 24-ounce Tritan™ Nutri Ninja® in the order listed. Select Auto-iQ™ EXTRACT.

Re: I broke my food processor

sandraskates — Sat, 06 May 2017 02:35:55 GMT

Wow @IamMrsG - that is one honker of a Ninja set! You might need to build a little storage unit for all those components. :-)

Glad you're enjoying your purchase.

Re: I broke my food processor

IamMrsG — Sat, 06 May 2017 17:13:12 GMT

@sandraskates I am fairly certain I over bought for my needs. As I've said previously, I can probably slice or dice, then wash and dry the knife in less time than it would take to pull out and set up the equipment.

I am fortunate for storage space, so that wasn't an issue. My biggest concern was hoping I like this set and would not have to re-pack it for return. The wrapping, bagging and boxing involved was remarkable. If this company takes as much care in manufacturing as they do packaging, I'll be set for life with this Ninja.