Mini chopper Tefal or Silvercrest?

sandypas76

Hello,

Trying to decide between two minichoppers:

One is the Tefal MQ714140


http://www.littlewoodsireland.ie/tefal-mq714140-minipro-multi-function-chopper-white-collection/1600008265.prd?Ntt=chopper

500w - 500ml capacity with 3 blades and seems to be able to make soups and sauces beside chopping, mincing, grinding, mixing etc. I think it whips cream. It's got 2 buttons: 1 normal and 1 turbo. Not sure if it's got a parg that csn be used as a lid.


The other one a Silvercrest minichopper:

http://www.lidl-service.com/cps/rde/SID-41635CB7-C926FAE4/lsp/hs.xsl/product.html?id=8383386&rdeLocaleAttr=en&title=Mini%20Chopper

260w - 500ml capacity with 1 blade to mince, chop, grind, mix + 1 beater to whip cream. It works by pressing down the motor head. For turbo speed there is a button to press (so in this it differs from the Tefal one). Not sure if I could make also soups, sauces and smoothies/milkshakes with this as with the Tefal model above. Can anyone confirm this? I hsve the feeling the Tefal one is more versatile. The base can be used as a lid (not sure if the Tefal model has the same feature).

I'm wondering if 260w is good enough or should I go for the more powerful for a few extra euros? Also, which system is more practical: the 2-button system or the press-down + turbo button system?
Does 1 blade (Silvercrest) work as well as a 3 blade system (Tefal)?

Anyone who used either or both could please leave me their feedback?

Thanks.

Cheshire Cat

I was looking at mini choppers years ago and ended up getting this:

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/4087012/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CKitchen+and+laundry%7C14418476/c_2/3%7C19780844%7CFood+preparation%7C29619252/c_3/4%7Ccat_29619252%7CHand+blenders%7C29619278.htm

You have more options and you can definitely make soup. If the bowl of the choppers is plastic you have to wait until your soup has cooled down a fair bit and you can't fill it more than 2/3 otherwise the soup will spill over. With a 500 ml capacity, that's not a lot.
I use the chopper bit most often to chop nuts, "grate" cheese. I use the stick to blend soups and the balloon whisk attachment is brilliant for cream and egg white.

Alun

Forget making soups with something like that, it's way too small, they're meant for chopping small amounts of stuff like onions, ginger, garlic, chillies etc.

For soup, either get a stick blender and blend it in the pan, or a proper jug blender like this, fore example ...

http://www.argos.ie/static/Browse/ID72/14418604/c_1/1|category_root|Kitchen+and+laundry|14418476/c_2/2|19780844|Food+preparation|29619252/c_3/3|cat_29619252|Blenders+and+smoothie+makers|14418604/r_001/5|Brands|Bosch|1.htm

I prefer a stick blender to be honest, as it avoids having to pour the contents of a hot pan into the blender jug which has caused a few accidents in the past, not to mention the mess that occurs if you forget to attach the lid properly!

You can also get combined units that combine a stick blender with a mini chopper and other things like a whisk such as this one ...

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/3237564/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CKitchen+and+laundry%7C14418476/c_2/3%7C19780844%7CFood+preparation%7C29619252/c_3/4%7Ccat_29619252%7CHand+blenders%7C29619278.htm

sandypas76

Thanks for your comments.

I should have mentioned that I also have a blender and a food processor.
Ok, yes, no soups with either a minichopper or a blender (unless the jug is made of still).

Yes, I noticed that it's a bit elaborated to cook veggies then put them in the blender once they're cool, blend them and finally pour them back in the saucepan or in the plates. .. not practical. Let's forget about the soups for a second. ...

I'm mainly interested in the MINICHOPPER in itself because my food processor doesn't have a chopping blade. So I have to decide wherever I change my food processor or just add a minichopper.

NEW QUESTION: Does the power make much difference?
I saw second hand choppers at 260W, newer ones seem more powerful (for example 550W).
Does it really matter?
I mean, I suppose with a 260W chopper you might need to work it for a little longer than woth a 500W chopper? Or is there a substantial difference in the results ?
Thanks