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Usha’s food processor is more than a glitzy gadget—it's a kitchen magic trickster in disguise. From chopping onions without crying to making homemade nut butter in a flash, this multitasking workhorse can facilitate cooking and reduce the mess. Many home cooks, however, don't maximise its potential or use only the bare essentials. The secret? Your food processor is capable of doing much, much more than you might imagine. From tear-free preparation to genius shortcuts for sauces, batters, and doughs, the following are 7 genius food processor hacks to simplify your cooking life—and make it a whole lot more entertaining.
Grate Cheese Without the Arm Workout
Shredding cheese by hand can be tedious (and wrist-wearying). But your food processor will do it in less than a minute. Simply load the shredding disc, add in cold blocks of cheese, and behold the puffy goodness poured out. Extra tip: Hard cheeses such as Parmesan shred neater when chilled just slightly, and soft cheese such as mozzarella won't clog the blades if you freeze it for 10-15 minutes first and then grate.
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Instant Breadcrumbs from Stale Bread
Don't chuck that almost-used-up loaf away—don't. Put the slices in your food processor and pulse into breadcrumbs. Best to use fresh or lightly stale bread, and you can get the texture just the way you like it: coarse for cutlets, fine for coating. Mix in dried herbs, garlic powder, or chilli flakes to make your own seasoned breadcrumbs. Store leftovers in the freezer for increased shelf life.
Make Quick Dips and Spreads (With Whole Ingredients!)
Whether you're making hummus, chutney, baba ghanoush, or pesto, your food processor whips whole ingredients into magic with no effort. Forget labouring to finely chop—just add in the garlic, herbs, spices, and base (such as chickpeas or spinach), and puree. These spreads double as salad dressings, sandwich fillers, and pasta sauces. The best part? You get to determine flavour, spice, and salt levels.
Chop Onions Without Tears
Adieu to puffy eyes and blurred kajal. Just peel the onions, halve them, and pop them into the processor. A few swift pulses and you have wonderfully chopped onions—no drama, no tears. The secret is to keep the lid closed tightly and not over-process, which lets out more of the tear-causing enzymes. An extra pro tip: refrigerate the onions for 15 minutes in advance to minimise the eye-stinging chemicals further.
Speedy Dough for Roti, Pizza, or Pie
Hand-kneading dough is a Zen-like experience. Unless you're in a hurry. Let your food processor do the work. Insert the dough blade (or even the standard blade as a last resort), add liquid and flour, and pulse until it holds together. It creates a smooth, elastic dough in less than two minutes. From roti to pizza crusts and even samosa pastry, you'll never know why you used to hand-knead.
Instant Breadcrumbs from Stale Bread
Don't throw away that almost-expired loaf—don't. Throw the slices into your food processor and pulse into breadcrumbs. Fresh or slightly stale bread is best, and you can set the texture: coarse for cutlets, fine for coating. Mix in dried herbs, garlic powder, or chilli flakes to make your own flavoured version. Save extras in the freezer for improved shelf life.
Make the Smoothest Tomato Puree (No Boiling Necessary)
Avoid the boiling and peeling—just chop your tomatoes coarsely and process them into a bright, smooth puree in your processor. Want it very smooth? Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or muslin cloth. Add some garlic cloves or herbs if you're making a curry or pasta base. It's a huge time-saver and tastes much fresher than commercial paste.
