5
PRACTICING WITH FOOD
Try practicing with some food before you process
food to eat. A zucchini or potato is a good choice.
First cut it into 1-inch pieces.
Insert the metal blade and put the pieces in the work
bowl. Put on the cover and the pusher assembly;
press the pusher assembly down to lock it into place.
Press and release the OFF/PULSE lever two or three
times and see what happens. Each time the blade
stops, let the pieces drop to the bottom of the bowl
before you pulse again. That puts them in the path of
the blade each time the motor starts.
Using the pulse/chopping technique, you can get an
even chop without the danger of overprocessing.
Check the texture frequently by looking through the
cover of the work bowl. If you want a finer chop,
press and release the OFF/PULSE lever until you
achieve the desired texture. Onions and other food
with a high water content will quickly end up as a
purée unless examined through the work bowl after
each pulse to make sure it is not overprocessed.
Try chopping other food, like meat for hamburger or
sausage. Then make mayonnaise, pastry or bread,
as described in the recipes in this book. To obtain
consistent results:
- Be sure all the pieces you add to the bowl are
about the same size.
- Be sure the amount you process is no larger
than recommended (see table inside front cover).
REMOVING PROCESSED FOOD
Before you do anything, wait for the blade to stop
spinning.
When it does, remove the cover first. You can
remove the cover and pusher assembly in one
operation. Hold the pusher assembly with your
fingers away from the descending tabs and turn it
clockwise. Lift it off, and the cover will come with it.
Never try to remove the cover and the work bowl
together; this can damage the work bowl.
Remove the bowl from the base of the machine
before removing the blade. This creates a seal to
prevent food from leaking. Turn the bowl clockwise
to unlock it from the base and lift it straight up to
remove it.
A locking device prevents heavy dough from driving
the dough blade up the motor shaft. If the blade
holds the bowl locked when the motor stops, move
the handle of the bowl rapidly back and forth – first
clockwise, then counterclockwise.
To prevent the blade from falling out of the work bowl
onto your hand, remove the metal blade before tilting
the bowl, using a spatula to scrape off any food
sticking to it. Or insert your finger through the hole in
the bottom of the work bowl, gripping the blade from
the bottom, and grip the outside of the workbowl with
your thumb. Or hold the blade in place with your
finger or a spatula while pouring out processed food.
Be sure hands are dry.
TECHNIQUES FOR CHOPPING
AND PUREEING WITH THE
METAL BLADE
To chop raw fruits and vegetables
First, cut the food into 1-inch pieces. You get a more
even chop when all pieces are about the same size.
Put no more than the recommended amount of food
into the work bowl (see Capacity Chart, page 2).
Lock the cover in place. Press the OFF/PULSE lever
at the rate of 1 second on, 1 second off until the food
is coarsely chopped. Then hold down the
OFF/PULSE lever, letting the machine run continu-
ously until the food is chopped. Check frequently to
avoid overprocessing. Use the spatula to scrape
down any pieces that stick to the sides.
To purée fruit and cooked vegetables
First, cut the food into 1-inch pieces. You get a
smoother purée faster when all pieces are about
equal in size. Put no more than the recommended
amount of food in the work bowl (see Capacity Chart,
page 2). Lock the cover in place. Pulse to chop
coarsely, then press the ON lever and process con-
tinuously until the food is puréed.
NOTE: Cooked potatoes are an exception to this
procedure. They develop a gluey texture when
processed with the metal blade. (See the recipe for
mashed potatoes at the end of the book.)
When making soup, you will want to purée vegeta-
bles that have cooked in liquid. Don’t add the liquid
to the work bowl – just the cooked vegetables;
remove them with a slotted spoon. They will purée
faster and smoother without liquid. Then add just
enough liquid to make the purée pourable, return it to
the soup and stir to combine.
Occasionally, a piece of food may become wedged
between the blade and the work bowl. If this hap-
pens, unplug machine, remove cover, lift the blade
out carefully and remove the wedged piece. Empty
the bowl, reinsert the blade and lock the cover into
place, first removing the small pusher. Press the ON
lever and drop the food pieces through the small feed
tube while the machine is running. After adding a
cupful this way, add the remaining food to the bowl
and process in the usual way.
To chop hard foods like garlic, hard cheese
Remove the small pusher, press the ON lever and
drop the food through the small feed tube while the
machine is running.
Small foods like garlic can be dropped in whole.
Larger foods like hard cheese should be cut into
1-inch pieces. This method of processing minces
garlic, shallots and onions. Hard cheese and
coconut will have the same texture as if they had
been hand grated.
