Imagine spending your hard-earned money on an electric food chopper that fails to live up to expectations. How would you feel seeing your investment go down the drain? Purchasing the right food chopper is crucial, so you need to know a few essential things.
How an Electric Food Chopper Works
These food choppers work much like food processors, but they are much smaller and are more specialized units. They have a motor that runs on electricity. The motor spins the blade that helps to chop and mince vegetables and other ingredients. Most high-quality electric food choppers feature one push button, which, when pressed, helps the unit perform its function. Electric food choppers are available in different price ranges. Many units are compact and lightweight, so you can store them easily when not in use.
Maintaining Your Electric Food Chopper
Before buying a food chopper, make sure that you are aware of ways to maintain its performance. After all, there is no point in getting an electric machine if you can’t keep it perfect for years.
- Since most electric food choppers are dishwasher-safe, make sure that you remove every part and clean it properly before using the machine again.
- Don’t use the chopper until it is entirely dry.
- Avoid using alkaline cleansers, as they often result in pitting.
- If you want to restore the sharpness of the blade, send the machine back to its manufacturer. If that’s not possible, a honing stone might help to sharpen the blades.
- Lubricate all the moving parts with some drops of mineral oil for consistent performance.
- Reassemble your chopper right after each part has dried. This is important to prevent any damage.
- Finally, don’t prolong the poor performance of the chopper. If you notice any issues, consult a professional right away.
Choosing the Right Electric Food Chopper
Here are some essential factors to consider before you choose your favorite chopper.
Motor performance
Do you want an efficient chopper? If so, get one with a powerful motor that generates an excellent output. Since an electric chopper’s performance depends on the quality of the motor, you must inspect this part correctly. A powerful and efficient motor moves the blade quickly and ensures faster performance every time. It is also low maintenance and works for as many hours as you want. In short, the quality of the motor can make or break the performance of your chopper. So, always read customer reviews before investing. You can also physically test the motor before bringing the chopper home.
Quality of the blade
An electric chopper is nothing without its blade. This component does all the work, be it chopping, mincing, or dicing. Your chosen chopper must have a sharp, high-quality blade that retains its qualities for a long time. Most blades are made of stainless steel, but some manufacturers use low-quality materials to make these blades. Please ensure that your electric food chopper comes with a high-quality and low-maintenance blade, so you don’t have to send it frequently to an expert for repair.
Operation
Luckily, most electric food choppers have easy operations. They have a one-touch control that starts the machine and lets it work according to your selected speed. If you have a reasonable budget, you can invest in a unit with various speed levels, so you can attain many different textures for your sauces and dips.
Durability and design
If you want to purchase an electric chopper for your everyday use, get a compact one. It is not only easy to store but also convenient to work with. You can keep it on your kitchen countertop while preparing things for lunch or dinner. Also, invest in a highly durable unit. There is no point in buying a chopper with a weak lid or bowl. Ensure that all the parts are made of high-quality materials that are strong enough to withstand pressure. Most choppers come with interlocking lids. This excellent safety feature keeps the top intact regardless of the blade’s speed.
Cup capacity
The capacity of the chopper helps you understand the number of ingredients you can add in one go. If you are usually only cooking for yourself, a smaller chopper is suitable. If you host large dinners and lunches now and then, it is better to invest in a unit with substantial capacity to save time.
Cleaning and maintenance
Like any other machine, an electric food chopper requires thorough cleaning and maintenance to keep performing for a long time. If you can’t afford to clean the unit daily after use, do yourself a favor and invest in a dishwasher-safe option. Also, make sure that all parts of the chopper are removable for a quick and effortless cleaning session.
Price
Not all electric food choppers come with the same price tag. Some are pretty affordable, while others are a little pricey. Evaluate your budget first, and then shortlist your favorite units before picking the final chopper.
