11 Food Processor Uses You’ve Probably Never Thought Of

Credit to image used in pin goes to Hamilton Beach, Pinch of Yum, The Brewer & The Baker.  – Changes were made to the original image.

Let’s just face it, food processors are awesome. They can chop, mix, and blend so many recipes and make cooking so much easier!

And if you’ve already got one, then chances are you know how amazing it is and how helpful it can be with food prep.

It lasts for years and does so much work quickly. You really know you’re getting your money’s worth from it. But if you think you’re doing everything that you can with your food processor, then I’m here to prove you wrong. This appliance offers so much more than just mixing and blending.

So here are some ideas for using your food processor that’ll level up your cooking experience!

But First, What Does a Food Processor Do?

Now, if you’ve just gotten a food processor as a gift (or you keep hearing people talk about it) and you wanna know more about this handy tool, then I’ll help you out!

A food processor is a helpful kitchen appliance that comes with multiple types of blades. It simplifies food prepping tasks like shredding, pureeing, and grating, making it a great way to save a lot of time in the kitchen!

And down below are things you can do with your food processor to make things easier and quicker.

1. Preparing Salsas, Pesto, Dips, and Spreads

What could be better than making your own salsas, sauces, dips, and spreads, right?

Honestly, this is one of my top favorite food processor uses!

You’re not just saving money, but you can also make sure that it’ll be great tasting and healthy for your family. Also, you can customize everything, use the freshest ingredients, experiment with different spices, and leave all the work to the food processor.

2. Homemade Butter

The convenience of store-bought butter is pretty nice, but sometimes it can be a bit too pricey. So why not just make your own so you can control the ingredients, make sure it tastes just right, and save money?

And if you’re looking for a quick tutorial on how to make your own butter at home (and feel kinda like Martha Stewart), then here’s a great homemade butter recipe from The Brewer & The Baker.

Honestly, this is probably going to be one of my top favorite uses of a food processor!

3. Chopping Nuts

Yes, you can chop your nuts using an ordinary knife, but why not put your food processor to work and save yourself the time?

Just pop the nuts in, whatever kind you want, push the button, and voila, finely-chopped nuts perfect for a dessert or salad.

4. Grind Your Meat

I bet you’ve never used your food processor for grinding meat. Well, it actually minces, but you get the idea!

It’s such a great way to give yourself the option to try different types of meat for burgers, meatballs, and so much more. So if you ever wanna make your own chicken meatballs or fish patties, then the food processor has got you covered!

Also, Pinch of Yum has an awesome tutorial for grinding meat that you can check out.

5. Crush Your Own Ice

If you’ve run out of time and you realize you don’t have crushed ice for your party, then don’t worry, your food processor is gonna take care of you.

Just put the ice cubes in and grind until they’re the size and texture you want. Then put them in your drink, add a lime wedge, and enjoy the party.

6. Make Your Own Bread Crumbs

Got a hard, stale piece of bread? Throw it in your food processor, pulse it, and you’ll never need to buy breadcrumbs for recipes.

The good thing about making your own is that you can control the size of the crumbs and use any kind of bread you want.

And for extra flavor, I suggest tossing in some herbs and seasoning when trying this food processor use!

7. Shredding Cheese

Calling all cheese lovers! The next time you’re craving some cheesy recipes, keep your cheese grater in the cabinet and use your food processor to shred your cheeses. The food processor gets it done faster, and your knuckles will thank you!

8. Make Healthy Ice Cream

This is probably my favorite food processor use on the list.

Who would think that making ice cream, okay, let me rephrase, a healthy ice cream using your food processor would be possible? And if you’re craving something super creamy and delicious, then here’s how to use your food processor for this hack!

9. Shred Sweet Potatoes Faster

If you love hashbrowns or sweet potato pancakes, then try this food processor trick and save yourself a lot of time in the kitchen. No more manually chopping or grating, your food processor will just do it all.

10. Make Textured Veggies for Salads

Instead of chopping your veggies, try putting them in a food processor to quickly chop and slice them up for your salad. They’ll be ready quickly, and you’ll have more time for dinner.

11. Turn Oats Into Flour

If you’re looking for a healthier gluten-free option for flour, then oat flour is a great place to start! And if you wanna make your own, then just throw your desired amount in and blend until it’s a fine flour. It’s that simple!