Subsitituting a Blender for a Food Processor

Many modern recipes call for a blender or food processor. That's a luxury that not everyone can afford. If you don't have a food processor, a blender can be used in most cases. Since blenders do work differently it's important to know how to transfer the recipe correctly.

Blades

A food processor works by using a few blades in a chopping motion. A blender is designed with 2 blades (in most cases) that whir around the food. This means there are certain foods that aren't going to work very well in a blender. Soft veggies that need to stay solid will be very difficult to control in a blender. If you are making a salsa for instance, the tomatoes will become a mushy mess when placed in a blender instead of a firm dice. If you are using an ingredient like a tomato, it's best to leave those out of the blender and chop them by hand. Very firm foods, especially nuts, won't chop in a blender. You can end up damaging the motor trying to get them right. Instead of putting nuts in the blender, consider either purchasing pre-chopped nuts, or crush them yourself by hand. You can do this with a rolling pin and a cutting board. Put some elbow grease in to it and they will crush without damaging the blades or the motor of your blender.

The blades of a blender also tend to move much faster. It's very easy to liquefy solid foods, so you will need to pay attention to what you are doing to avoid this.

Settings

When you substitute a blender for a food processor, it's important to use the right settings. Some blenders only have 3 speeds, while others may have as many as 6. If you are going to puree food, then the highest setting is okay to use. If you are trying to create a chopped item, use the slowest setting. You may have to play around a little to find the perfect setting. The pulse setting works well for testing. Don't put all of your ingredients in the first time. This way if it doesn't work out you haven't wasted anything. 

Amount

A blender can't handle what a food processor can. If you are using a blender in lieu of a food processor you will likely need to make several small batches instead. of a larger batch. Start with around 1/4 of the ingredients and work with that. Once you have it chopped, pasted, or pureed the way you need, you can work on a second batch. This will ensure an even consistency throughout. If you put too much in a blender, the ingredients towards the top of the pitcher won't have the same texture as the bottom.

A blender can be used instead of a food processor. You will just need to make minor adjustments to the process.