How to Clean a Food Processor

A food processor saves you a tremendous amount of time and effort, slicing brick-hard vegetables, mixing stubborn doughs, and chopping wild garlic cloves that jump every time you come down on them with a knife.

It’s only fair that it deserves a few minutes of attention to get cleaned from the food particles stuck in its nooks and oily residues on its wall. However, some people find the cleaning process tiresome to the point that it holds them back from using this magical appliance. 

Therefore, we’re giving you quick and easy solutions to clean and maintain your kitchen’s lifesaver so that you can try all the mouth-watering food processor recipes you’ve been meaning to tackle.

Steps on how to clean a food processor:

1. First, ensure that the food processor is unplugged from the power outlet to avoid any risk of an electric shock.
2. Gently dismantle the appliance’s parts, taking off the lid, bowl, and pushers. Then remove the blades, taking care not to cut your hands. It’s always advisable to wear a glove when dealing with such sharp objects.
3. Set the blade aside in a safe place, then bring all the other units and soak them in warm water and mild soap for 15 minutes to soften any tough stains.
4. While you’re waiting for the parts to soak, bring a damp cloth and wipe down the motor, paying attention to the locking switch and handle cervices. Make sure not to splash the motor with water to avoid damaging the unit.
5. Back to the drenched parts, dump the dirty water, then pick up each unit and scrub it with a soft foam sponge. Avoid using a scrubby sponge or abrasive chemicals as they can leave corrosive scratches on the units, damage the plastic, and remove its shine.
6. Using soapy water, wash the blades carefully. Then bring a toothbrush or a mini scrub brush with a tall handle and move it up and down the blades to remove all the crumbs and dried food from the spots that are hard to reach.
7. Don’t soak the blades and avoid using hot water to protect their edges from rusting and dulling. 
8. Leave the clean parts to dry in a kitchen dish towel then hand dry them thoroughly by paper towels. 
9. Finally, put all the parts together and store the processor in an accessible and safe location.

Why do You Need to Clean it Regularly?

Basically, your food processor does all the dirty work for you. Hence, it’s an inescapable fact that it’ll eventually get dirty with all the dried food and oily residues that take sanctuary in the lid’s grooves or under the blades.

If you ignore cleaning it regularly, hard stains will build-up, and cleaning the appliance will turn into a nightmare. Besides, foul smells will eventually start to form, which indicates bacterial growth on your equipment. You don’t want to cook unhygienic food for your kids just because it’s irksome to wash the processor after each use.

Regular cleaning will prevent these disasters, prolong your appliance’s life, and ease the whole cleaning process. 

Just remember to stop a couple of minutes after every time you shred some carrots or blend hummus to rinse the processor’s bowl with water and soap. Also, don’t forget to bring a damp cloth, soak it in vinegar or soap and wipe the processor’s outsides.

If you do these simple things, you might not need to do the steps mentioned above more than once every couple of months.  

Stubborn Stains? Here’s How to Get Rid of Them

The golden rule to remove stains is to act fast, but what if you forgot to clean the food processor, and now you urgently need to use it again? 

Stubborn stains on the blades can be removed by baking soda paste. Make a paste of two parts baking soda to one part water, then grab a toothbrush and rub the paste on the stain. Leave it for a few minutes, then rinse it with water and mild dish soap. 

Moreover, baking soda works to absorb nasty smells, as it has antibacterial activity, so you can use it if you detect any foul odors from your appliance.

As for persistent grime on the processor’s lid, dip a cloth in white vinegar and wipe the groves thoroughly. 

Finally, always remember to dry the processor’s parts well before reassembling and storing it to prevent mold growth.

Tips to Extend Your Food Processor’s Life

Apart from cleaning, there are a few tips you should bear in mind to keep your food processor in mint condition for many years.

Check this maintenance must have’s to get the scoop on how to treat your food processor well:

• Always check the manual to know which food can and can’t be used in your food processor.
• To prevent the lid from forming grime after multiple uses, wrap it with a plastic sheet before you use the processor and dump the sheet when it gets dirty.
• Cut the food into small pieces before adding it to the processor and avoid exceeding the recommended maximum volume.
• Don’t use hot water when inside the processor or when cleaning it.
• Always add the food in small quantities and use the pushers to guide the food instead of your hands.

Final Thoughts

All in all, regular cleaning can help your appliance run smoothly, prevent mold growth, and keep it functioning for longer, saving you a lot of cash in the long run.

The cleaning process is super easy and won’t take more than a few minutes. Just remember that only the lid, pushers, bowl, and accessories are washable. Keep the electric part away from the water and avoid submerging the blades in water for a long period.  

Finally, prevention is better than cleaning up the mess, so always remember to rinse the bowl with water and soap after each use.