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Slicing, Dicing, Chopping - Best Tool?

Discussion in 'Spotless Kitchen' started by Bubbles, Nov 6, 2019.

  1. Bubbles

    Bubbles Silver IL'ite

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    I want some tool that can help me quickly:
    • dice onions finely : 2 large onions at one go
    • julienne carrots
    • shred carrots like the handheld shredder commonly used in Indian kitchens / fine shred onions for raita
    • chop : green beans, okra (tricky?)
    • thin slices of onions
    I currently do all this with a knife, and reasonably fast. But looking for what to buy that can help me do these quickly, at one go or something like that because we always cook from scratch at home (sob!).

    Should I go for a food chopper/processor, or a mandolin or a combination or something else? What do you use at home / are eyeing?
    Black Friday is coming, so detailed discussions are welcome! :):smilingimp:

    P.S: I'm eyeing this one..
     
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  2. deepthivinayak1

    deepthivinayak1 Gold IL'ite

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    For dicing and shredding. The one u said will b good. It won’t julienne carrot or chop okra or beans. I have similar one like you said. I use t very rarely, when shredding cabbage or carrot . I prefer to chop onion by hand than using this gadget and time to clean it. I also bought a gadget to chop veggies julienne thick or thin for French fries or anything but I don’t use it often and it is somewhere in my kitchen. if you really neeed one, buy that Hamilton one you chooses to chop onion, shred carrot n cabbage. Slice potato.
     
  3. mangaii

    mangaii Finest Post Winner

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    From your post looks like you work at a great speed. In that case you will never be happy with the tools. Why not handover the chopping work to MIL/FIL ? They have a whole day to do this. You need to learn to outsource your work so everyone in the family is involved.
     
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  4. armummy

    armummy Platinum IL'ite

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    Except for dicing , my cusinart 7 cup food processor does all that you are looking for and more .

    I think the more expensive versions have dicing and thickness adjusting blades.

    I use mine for

    slicing beans , tindora, bhindi, carrot , beetroot , onions ,lauki etc - this takes little bit of practice for thin veggies like beans etc

    shredding mooli , cabbage , carrots, lauki

    Mincing chicken , mutton , ginger , garlic

    It also Kneads atta .

    l also have a mandolin but I don't use it often because of sharp Teeth but I find food processor is very easy to use and clean up
     
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  5. Laks09

    Laks09 Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    How do you do all this in the Cuisinart! I have this one and it’s gathering dust. I tried to enthusiastically use it for a week and then used it only for onions and atta. Now I use this for everything and knead atta by hand. Please share some chopping tips.

    I just felt it was annoying to clean the FP’s outer and inner bowl, the lid that has things that go into it and the various blades - all of which won’t go in my dishwasher. Do you put it in the dishwasher? Does it get clean(inside edges of the lid)?
     
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2019
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  6. Amulet

    Amulet IL Hall of Fame

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    FP is tough to use for thin long vegetables, like french green beans. Here is a lady (one piece nightie :( on the video) demonstrating how difficult it is:


    Bindi, Tindora would also be tough to cut reasonably uniformly with a FP.
     
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  7. armummy

    armummy Platinum IL'ite

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    The links in your posted did not open so can’t see what you have.

    for hard veggies like beetroot , Alu , carrot , mooli , I cut into half’s or quarters depending on the size you are looking for and put it in small shoot ... you will get thin slices. If you don’t cut it then you will have roundels . Same with lauki , I do moon halfs and use it in sambar or quarters for quick curry.

    for beans , tindora , bhindi , if you have patience you can arrange it standing on big shoot or do multiple rounds with small shoot , this will yield small and thin rounders. If you want to cut length wise it is much easy , just dump horizontally in large shoot and will be done in few seconds.

    Shread using small shoot , I shred carrot and mooli very often which makes it easy to make my stuffed parathas .

    Cabbage or Lauki shredding makes it easy for veg koftas

    I also use slicer for slicing spinach , shredding makes it too small

    I just rinse the bowls and blade plates under water , just aim water into groves and any residue will come out and then use dishwasher top rack for washing. It just takes more space in dish washer

    When I use it , I just make sure I have two or more things to do with it. It does not make sense to use it just for cutting 1 veg.

    The new ones have thickness adjusting blades which I think is very useful but I did not find any for mine.
     
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2019
  8. armummy

    armummy Platinum IL'ite

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    It takes little practice but it will work.beans and bhindi much easier in small shoot , tindora better if you arrange tightly in large shoot.

    you need enthusiasm and patience to learn how to use it and then later it becomes easy
     
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  9. shravs3

    shravs3 IL Hall of Fame

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    I have Cuisinart. It does shredding, slicing, kneading dough, onion and tomatoes chopping. I find it very useful especially for shredding.
    But I’m lazy for cleaning it so I hardly use it nowadays. But for larger crowd food processor is very useful.
     
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