You love cooking but let us agree on something here. Everybody hates cutting vegetables. It is just monotonous and does not give you as much fun as the actual cooking procedure. If you are like me, trying to enjoy the cooking by skipping the cutting, you, my friend, need a vegetable chopper.
Having a vegetable chopper will not just reduce your vegetable cutting time, but it will also give you a huge relief. Give you finely chopped vegetables, which otherwise would be all chunky and inconsistent. You can even use this device to mince chicken and other forms of meat too.
And they are of different types which you can choose according to your preference, time and workload.
Here Are 6 Types Of Vegetable Chopper Machines And Their Uses
1. The Spiralizer (Manual/Electric)
The spiralizer tool is simply a vegetable slicer that spirals your vegetables when used. Rather than your vegetables coming out chopped up or sliced, they come out in spirals, similar to what pasta looks like. It’s main use? Turn vegetables into strands so that they can be used as an alternative to pasta. They can also be used to make curly fries.
a. Pros: spiralizer is a fantastic substitute for pasta. Not only does it allow you to go gluten-free, but it also allows you to go low-carb when substituting carrots, zucchini, or squash in. Other than this, it is also a great way to up your vegetable intake, and it is a great way to entertain guests around the dinner table. Catch your guests’ eyes with a fancy looking dish made out of spiraled vegetables or fruit.
b. Cons: unfortunately, spiralizers can be a little bulky due to how large the base and handle are. However, there are more compact versions that you can get for smaller living spaces. Other than this, they can be an expensive tool to purchase if you are looking at a high-quality model made out of the best materials.
2. The Vegetable Sheet Cutter
The vegetable sheet cutter is an attachment product that produces thin sheets. You can use it for apples, sweet potato, beets, cucumber, zucchini and are perfect for substituting pasta and wraps.
a. Pros: a fantastic way to minimize waste for fruits and vegetables. It is the perfect fit for those on the keto diet as you can make low-carb meals like zucchini lasagna and replace gluten-filled wraps.
b. Cons: It is only available for the KitchenAid mixer, so you will have to replace your mixer if you do not have a KitchenAid brand.
3. The Mandoline Slicer
The mandoline slicer consists of two parallel surfaces that are angled and fitted with a blade. You slide your vegetables or fruit down the mandoline’s surface and watch as uniform slices form. The height, thickness, and width can be adjusted.
a. Pros requires very little skill to use and always cuts in uniform shape, width, and size.
b. Cons: It can be very dangerous if you are not paying attention. The blades are very sharp and can easily cut you.
4. Hand-Held Salad Slicers
A hand-held slicer is fantastic for cutting up and chopping your vegetables quickly. Fill the slicer up with your vegetables and fruits, and then cut through the knife slits. Creates a salad very quickly!
5. Mini-Food Processors
A mini food processor is simply a large food processor that has been compacted down. It consists of a base with a bowl, blades inside the bowl, and a lid with a feed tube.
a. Pros: These are fantastic for individuals who live in small apartments or studios as they do not take up nearly as much counter space or cupboard space for storage purposes. Beyond this, they are perfect for those who are not prepping heavy-duty ingredients but need to blend, dice or chop softer ingredients. They are a great starter machine to experiment with and are inexpensive to purchase. They also breakdown and stow away a lot more easily than larger food processors. They are much quieter to run than their full-sized counterparts.
b. Cons: due to their smaller size, they come with a limited capacity amount. They may also need to be replaced more often as their blades will not be as heavy-duty and can wear out faster. The feeding tube is going to be considerably smaller and proportionate to the device, so you may end up having to cut or chop some larger ingredients up first.
6. Full-Size Food Processors
A full-size food processor, which is often driven by electricity, is a kitchen appliance that shreds or slices through ingredients placed into its bowl. Blades whirl around the bowl at high speeds while you feed more food through the feed tube. Processors are fantastic for reducing the time needed to blend or break down food into its smaller components.
a. Pros: if you are the type of individual that blends, chops, and dices the majority of your food recipes, a full-sized food processor is going to be a lifesaver. They are power-horses when it comes to breaking down large batches of food and can tackle any recipe. Beyond saving your hand some tireless effort, they can take on heavy-duty tasks like kneading dough, tackling 8-9 cup sized recipes, and come with high-quality and durable stainless-steel blades. The feeding tube chute will also be massive, and it’ll come with a standard warranty.
b. Cons: full-size food processors are bulky at best and require a lot of storage space for stowaway. They are quite a nuisance to tow around with you because of their size. Make sure to store yours in a place not far from the kitchen counter. A full-sized food processor is going to take a lot more time and effort to clean out properly. They are quite expensive. A larger food processor is also going to be very noisy.
Whether you are just looking to participate in the “Eat Your Vegetables Day” or are truly looking for a unique way to increase your vegetable consumption, definitely consider purchasing a vegetable chopper. They are a fantastic tool for reducing the mundane task of vegetable preparation, and they can be used for other kitchen tasks like grating cheese and grinding coffee beans.