Cuisinart DLC-2007NC manual Techniques for Chopping and Puréeing with the Metal Blade

Grab the blade hub, and remove the metal blade before tilting the bowl, using a spatula to scrape off any food. Then carefully lift the blade out of the work bowl. 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 work bowl with your thumb. Or hold the blade in place with your finger or spatula while pouring out food.

TECHNIQUES FOR CHOPPING AND PURÉEING WITH THE METAL BLADE

To chop raw fruits and vegetables:

First cut the food into

1-inch (2.5 cm) 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 table inside front cover). Lock the cover in place. Press the PULSE button at the rate of 1 second on, 1 second off, until the food is coarsely chopped. For more finely chopped results, hold the PULSE button, letting the machine run continu- ously until the desired consistency is reached. Check frequently to avoid overprocessing. Use the spatula to scrape down the sides of the work bowl if necessary.

To purée fruits and cooked vegetables:

First, cut the food into 1-inch (2.5 cm) 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 table inside front cover). Lock the cover in place. PULSE to chop coarsely, then press the ON button and process continuously until food is puréed. (NOTE: Cooked potatoes are an exception to this procedure. They develop a gluey texture when processed with the metal blade.)

When making soup, you will want to purée vegetables that have been cooked in liquid. Don’t add the liquid to the work bowl, just the cooked vegetables; remove vegetables with a slotted spoon. They will purée faster and smoother without liquid. Then add just enough liquid to make the purée pourable, return to the soup liquid and stir to combine.

To dislodge food:

Occasionally, a piece of food may become wedged between the blade and the work bowl. If this happens, unplug the machine, remove the cover, lift the blade

out carefully and remove the wedged piece. Empty the bowl, reinsert the blade and lock the cover and pusher in place. Press the ON button and drop the food pieces through the small feed tube opening while the machine is running. After adding a cupful this way, add the remaining food to the bowl and process in the usual manner.

To chop hard foods:

To chop hard food like garlic and hard cheese, assemble the unit, remove the small pusher, press the ON button and drop the food through the small feed tube while the machine is running.

Small foods like garlic can be dropped in whole. Large foods like hard cheese should be cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) 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.

IMPORTANT: Never try to process cheese that is too hard to cut with a knife. You may damage the blade or the machine.

To chop parsley and other fresh herbs:

The herbs, the work bowl and the metal chopping blade must all be thoroughly clean and dry. Remove stems from herbs. Add leaves to bowl and process, using the PULSE button until chopped as fine as desired. The more herbs you chop at a time, the finer chop you can obtain. If completely dry when chopped, parsley and other herbs will keep for at least 4-5 days, stored in an airtight bag in the refrigera- tor. They may be frozen for months, stored in an airtight container or bag.

To chop peel from citrus fruit or to chop sticky fruit like dates or raisins:

For citrus, remove only the peel with a vegetable peeler, not the white pith which is bitter tasting.

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