Food processors & mixers.(Kitchen, Bath & Laundry: More Style, Less Money)(Buyers guide)

Match the machine to the way you prepare foods. But you may find you need more than one.

Which food-prep appliance best suits your style and the foods you prepare? Food processors are versatile machines that can chop, slice, shred, and puree. Mini-choppers are good for small jobs such as mincing garlic and chopping nuts. Hand mixers can handle light chores such as whipping cream or mixing cake batter. And powerful stand mixers are ideal for cooks who make bread and cookies from scratch.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE

Food processors. Several brands have introduced multifunction models designed to do the job of two or more machines--for instance, an interchangeable food-processor container and a glass blender jar and blade. Either attachment fits on a motorized base.

Another design trend is a mini-bowl insert that fits inside the main container for preparing smaller quantities of food. Newer designs tend to be sleek, with rounded corners. Dominant brands are Black & Decker, Cuisinart, Hamilton Beach, and KitchenAid. Mini-choppers such as the Magic Bullet have become popular due to infomercial advertising. Price: $20 to $400.

Stand and hand mixers. The big push in mixers is for more power, which is useful for handling heavy dough. You'll find everything from heavy-duty models offering the most power and the largest mixing bowls to light-service machines that are essentially detachable hand mixers resting on a stand. Models vary in power from about 200 to 800 watts. Sales of light-duty, convenient hand mixers have held their own in recent years.

KitchenAid owns over half the stand-mixer market; GE, Hamilton Beach and Sunbeam are the next best-selling brands. Price: $60 to $500.