Food chopper instead of a knife!

RavensGryf · Apr 2, 2014

I really need to get a chopper again for vegetables - this instrument where you place the 'cup' part over the food you want chopped, and it has a stem coming out of the top of the cup with a knob that you press down on as many times as you want depending how finely chopped you want the food. If you're not familiar with this, I HOPE I was at least half way competent in giving you a visual picture :52:

I used to have one with my ex, and now I'm dying for one again. I'm DONE cutting vegetables daily using a knife! 1) it's too tedious and time consuming once you compare it to a chopper 2) I'm tired of the bloodshed... being in a hurry in the morning and cutting myself. Thank God the knife I use isn't too terribly sharp, and I keep it that way for that reason...

Anyone ever use one of those choppers? In fact, is that even what you call it? Does it have an official name?! I think I'll see if Target sells them. Once you have one, I guarantee you'll NEVER go back to the knife for your bird veggies!!

I'm miserable every morning without one, and I've finally decided enough is enough!

MonicaMc · Apr 3, 2014

LOL! I've considered one multiple times before, but keep backing out as I'd hate to clean the dang thing! My mother actually did buy one, and TBH I found it messy! (re: cleaning)

Saying that, I'm still considering getting something like one of these....

Vidalia Chop Wizard - BedBathandBeyond.com

For the most part though, I still do things by hand and/or using a (electric) food processor

Food processor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

RavensGryf · Apr 3, 2014

That's pretty cool too! I like that it puts it into a container on the bottom. I'll look into that next time I'm near the Bed Bath and Beyond.

Actually the one I used before was easy to clean. You just have to be careful of the blades. So easy to use it was worth it.

khaiqha · Apr 3, 2014

Just some advice on knives: dull blades cause more cuts than sharp ones. Dull blades slip which cause the cut, while sharp ones will go into whatever you're cutting.

Also, when slicing hold the blade part of the knife with your thumb and index finger, as opposed to having all Tyne fingers wrapped around the handle. This causes the knife to act as an extension of your hand, making it harder to cut yourself.

Also, on really slippery things like tomatoes, if my knife isn't super sharp to make a clean cut, I poke a small hole with the tip of the blade, and then insert my knife slightly and make the cut from that.

strudel · Apr 3, 2014

They have those things on tv called slap chop. Tupperware also has a little mini food processor type chopper.

I do a huge pile (edit: in the big food processor) and freeze it in portions.

lucy1 · Apr 3, 2014

This sort of thing?

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0090JIAA4/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1396510591&sr=8-3&pi=SY200_QL40"]KitchenAid Classic Food Chopper, Black:Amazon:Kitchen & Dining[/ame]

I've seen them for a fraction of the cost in shops over here, never bothered buying one, but my birds prefer big pieces anyway... Might consider getting one for myself if they're as good as you say!

mtdoramike · Apr 3, 2014

I think they are talking about the whopper chopper

labell · Apr 3, 2014

I agree that you are less likely to cut yourself with a sharp knife than a dull one. I keep mine sharp enough to shave the hair on my arm!

I use a couple different things depending on what I am cutting, a knife, small food processor or a mandolin. The mandolin is great when I want the same thickness even cuts especially for when I am making zucchini or carrot chips to dehydrate. I do have a large food processor but it was a pain to clean so I found one of the small ones at Bed Bath and Beyond and use that one instead.

I am a little addicted to useful kitchen gadgets, I eat and feed the birds so many raw fruits and veggies that anything that makes the process easier...I'm in!

Kiwibird · Apr 3, 2014

I have one, and I use it for all kinds of things. It makes quick work of otherwise long processes. Though, with Kiwi being a single bird, I don't make chop mixed for him because I only have to consider his preferences and I don't need to make big batches of anything. Things that he's picky about, I grate with a cheese grater and mix in with his food. Everything else, he just gets a chunk or slice of.

jenphilly · Apr 3, 2014

We have both that slap chopper (ours from Pampered Chef) and a food processor. Love my food processor!! There also is another product that you should consider, I had seen them before but never thought they work til I saw Jeanne at the shelter buzz thru a huge bowl of chop using one... No clue what its called, but here is the pic... We picked up one at Walmart for like $15. Is great for slightly softer stuff, it went thru carrots, but carrots had to be cut down first, but guess that's true for the slap chopper too.

It chops the fruit/veg into cubes, great size for chops when you have different size birds. Went thru apples, mangos, cucumbers and such super super easy, but carrots was a bit tougher and needed to put some weight into it... no comments Victoria....

strudel · Apr 3, 2014

MonicaMc linked to one like that above. Over here, they have one similar on the tv advertorials, that one's called nicer dicer. I'm terribly lazy, I can't be bothered cutting stuff up to get it in a chopper. I use the big processor so I can just blitz big bits.

mtdoramike · Apr 3, 2014

jenphilly said:
We have both that slap chopper (ours from Pampered Chef) and a food processor. Love my food processor!! There also is another product that you should consider, I had seen them before but never thought they work til I saw Jeanne at the shelter buzz thru a huge bowl of chop using one... No clue what its called, but here is the pic... We picked up one at Walmart for like $15. Is great for slightly softer stuff, it went thru carrots, but carrots had to be cut down first, but guess that's true for the slap chopper too.

It chops the fruit/veg into cubes, great size for chops when you have different size birds. Went thru apples, mangos, cucumbers and such super super easy, but carrots was a bit tougher and needed to put some weight into it... no comments Victoria....

Jen, that one is called the ONION CHOPPER, I just came from Walmart and saw one there. They sell bigger ones on QVC I believe.

RavensGryf · Apr 3, 2014

khaiqha said:
Just some advice on knives: dull blades cause more cuts than sharp ones. Dull blades slip which cause the cut, while sharp ones will go into whatever you're cutting.

Also, when slicing hold the blade part of the knife with your thumb and index finger, as opposed to having all Tyne fingers wrapped around the handle. This causes the knife to act as an extension of your hand, making it harder to cut yourself.

Also, on really slippery things like tomatoes, if my knife isn't super sharp to make a clean cut, I poke a small hole with the tip of the blade, and then insert my knife slightly and make the cut from that.

Thanks for the tips... I'm sure it's no surprise, but I am no chef lol!

RavensGryf · Apr 3, 2014

jenphilly said:
We have both that slap chopper (ours from Pampered Chef) and

YES!! I recall THAT is most likely what it was. My ex's ex was into that Pampered Chef, so we had tons of their kitchen products. Is it a clear plastic cup that fits over the food, and to clean it, the cup part twists off?

I'm fairly sure I could find something comparable at a retail store. I hope so, as that is my first choice of style since it's what I'm used to, but I'm open to trying the other types suggested too.

crimson · Apr 3, 2014

Julie- I'm sure you fingers are killing you!.... you are very fortunate you haven't really maimed your fingers.....yikes!

My hubby bought me this great *fangdangle* food processor that chops, dices, slices, etc....

I think I've used it twice.

I have a old chopper of sorts that I love to use for the birds, I guess old habits are hard to break.

I honestly don't know what I would do without any sort of chopper/food processor, with all of my birds it would take me forever to chop things with a knife.

I still use knives for cutting things sometimes.

Kiwibird · Apr 3, 2014

This is the exact one I have-

KitchenAid Food Chopper - White : Target

I found it years ago at Ross for $5. It's been beat up pretty well, but it still works great. I use mine primarily for chopping nuts and french fried onions, and it rarely goes a week without being used for one of those things, so the fact it has remained sharp speak very well on the product

Another gadget that may be useful for prepping large batches of fruit/veg for birds is a mandolin slicer. I have this one, and if your birds like slices of things over all chopped up, this is GREAT for saving time cutting with a knife-
Mandolin Slicer - BedBathandBeyond.com

RavensGryf · Apr 3, 2014

Beth, I "try" to be really careful, but I tend to have klutzy tendencies (ask anyone who knows me) and it's from being in a hurry or my habit of moving too quickly.
I don't have too much to chop compared to you or many others here, but I am still feeling lazy about it these days. Years ago I would pre-cut veggies for the next several days. I don't really want to do that anymore though because I'm scared of bacteria growth.

April, is that chopper you have easy to open up and clean? It looks like it's the same "type" of chopper I'm thinking of. I like Kitchenaid products.

Kiwibird · Apr 3, 2014

I've never found it difficult to clean and it's very easy to get open. I will say, the blade parts sometimes require a bottle brush to get little bits of veggies off, but otherwise it's fine. I don't know if it's because I use it for a lot of dry ingredients, but the clear plastic got scratched up, but that's cosmetic, it doesn't affect how it works.

I like Kitchenaid products too

Nice, simple and get the job done.

strudel · Apr 3, 2014

Oh, as you were asking about choppers, I didn't think to recommend the "do-dad" that I have. It's called the Tefal Fresh Express. It doesn't chop, but slices or grates. Very easy to use, clean, etc. If slices or grated veg would do as well as dice, have a look at that one.

RavensGryf · Apr 3, 2014

I just saw the YouTube video of a Tefal Fresh Express. Pretty cool.. That looks like more attachments than is need for the birds, but for cooking it would be nice. I love how the grated carrots kept missing the bowl and going on the counter. Was that supposed to happen? :11: lol

Food chopper instead of a knife!

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