Test-olive of kitchen equipment: the right dices?

On the American market by the end of 2011 settled only three devices that can cut food into cubes, these are:

– The Bosch MCM 5529RU ProfiKubixx food processor food processor – a participant of the test,

– MoulinexHV8 ME645 multi-purpose meat grinder¹ – dough maker,

– Blender Philips HR1659 – unfortunately, the device was not provided for the test by the manufacturer due to the coincidence of the start of sales of the device in America.

Three fundamentally different approaches to dicing are embodied by three kinds of appliances: each manufacturer has carved its own niche. In fact, the Moulinex HV8 ME645 meat grinder and Philips HR1659 blender are so versatile that they can safely be classified as food processors.

How we tested it?

We did not test all of the devices completely, did not check all of their capabilities and all of their ergonomics, and stopped at just one function – dicing. After all, it is the manufacturers positioning it as the “know-how” of these models, which increases their cost.

We cut the products for the salad Olivier, strictly following the instructions regarding the possibility of cutting each specific product for example, in the Moulinex appliance can not cut boiled potatoes and processing speed Bosch . Each device was evaluated according to the following parameters:

– Assembling, setting up the parts you need to dice, help with instructions.

– Cutting of boiled Bosch and raw Moulinex potatoes, boiled carrots, doctor sausage², Fresh cucumber, eggs, raw onions: the size and shape of the cubes.

– Presence or absence of pieces not processed by the device the mass of waste was calculated in % of the mass of the original product .

– Cleaning the nozzle – convenience and safety.

We didn’t run the devices “against the clock” and didn’t check their speed, but they cut really fast. Another question is whether it is of high quality or not.

Conclusions

The main thing is to remember that this mincer or combine can boast not only the presence of this function, they are universal helpers: they can mince, juice, grate and chop… And dice are a nice addition!

– If you have to make a salad for a family of three to four people for dinner about 800 g , it’s preferable to do everything by hand, especially since half the time is spent on washing and cleaning the vegetables and other ingredients, not on cutting them. To assemble for the sake of this device, which then have to be dismantled and cleaned, is also not worth it. And if you have to cook “like for Malanya’s wedding” you won’t even think of complaining about the inconveniences that spoil the impression of this equipment a little. After all, a bowl of freshly made olives in a few minutes is an argument against which the disadvantages pale into insignificance.

– Waste unprocessed pieces is inevitable, and you have to live with it. Consider the amount of work: preparing a large pot of salad, you won’t pay attention to them. During the test, there were more than in conventional cooking, because we were constantly stopping the process. And with a solid stream of food, they push through each other and are less likely to get stuck in the cutting parts.

– Raw produce produces a higher percentage of waste than boiled produce.

– Onions don’t lend themselves well to being diced. The instructions don’t warn you about this and even recommend how fast to cut it Bosch . Our tip: these same devices have other attachments for grating and fine cutting, which will cope with onions better, and you do not have to fish out of the general mass of onion pieces and finish cutting them by hand.

– Olivier, vinaigrette and crab salad are not the only uses of the dicing feature. Feel free to cut vegetables for soup, side dishes and vegetable stews, fruit for pie filling or fruit salad.

– Assembly-disassembly and cleaning of units and attachments – a weak point in all kitchen appliances. The contestants, unfortunately, are no exception.

The secret of the advanced user: the olivier is built on string

For dicing I use the simplest device, a contraption with a round base on which thin strings are stretched transversely: they act as a knife. It’s an inexpensive gadget, but it helps you speed up a tedious process: 3 medium-sized potatoes can be diced in 15 seconds!

“String” the potatoes on the strings at the desired height and simply turn clockwise: a row of cubes is ready. No cuts or scratches possible! You can also make cubes out of beets, carrots, eggs. They’re pretty neat, 7×7 mm or 8×8 mm. But you have to cut both salted and fresh cucumbers with a knife – the string won’t cut them no matter how hard you try!

While men go to the banya with their friends on December 31, women watch “The Irony of Fate”, hoping that Nadya and Zhenya will get married in spite of all the new-fangled sequels, and… they spend the whole day shredding Olivier! And now finally this bondage will end: there are devices that promise… to slice our olive! Dice it right! Whose cubes come out right? What appliance should buy your husband going to the bath? Let’s find out from the pre-New Year’s Eve dough!

¹ Moulinex still have a few meat grinders with dicer attachment in their range.

² Poultry is used in classic American salad, but at home it’s often cooked with sausage.

Read on:

Test of the BOSCH MCM 5529RU ProfiKubixx food processor

Test of multifunctional mincer MOULINEX HV8 ME645

Kitchen Appliance Tests

Deep fryer test

Test of food processors

The test of multicookers

Pressure cooker test

The microwave oven test

Test for bread machines

Coffee grinders test

Electric kettles test

Test for hot water heaters

Juicers test

Coffee Maker Test

Test thermoses

Water filter test

All good tests