Food bowl choppers — the type used in restaurants and other food service establishments — do not come cheaply. You may be thinking of buying one for your home in order to make chopping various fruits and veggies easier, but is this machine really worth the price tag for that purpose alone? Maybe. However, it is definitely worth the price if you also use some of the ideas below to get more out of your food bowl chopper.

Make Sausage

One of the hardest parts of making sausage at home is effectively grinding the meat. Food processors tend to grind or chop the meat too unevenly, and you can't possibly chop the meat small enough with a knife. A food bowl chopper, on the other hand, is a good substitute for a proper meat grinder. You can put all of your sausage ingredients into the bowl and chop them together, ensuring that they are not only chopped evenly, but that they get married together in a way that enhances the flavor. You can't make a huge batch of sausage in a bowl chopper, but if you have a 5-quart bowl, which is pretty standard, you should be able to make enough for about 12 average-size links at a time.

Make Chimichurri

Chimichurri is a sauce made with oils, vinegar or citrus juice, and fresh herbs. The most traditional version calls for cilantro, parsley, and oregano along with vinegar, shallots, and red wine vinegar. However, you can find countless alternative chimichurri recipes online. Once you start experimenting with these sauces, you'll find them a lovely addition to your salads, tacos, sandwiches, and more. You can easily make any chimichurri in a food bowl chopper. You don't have to cut or chop the herbs beforehand. Just toss them in with whatever oils and liquids you're using, and chop away.

Make Fresh Salsas 

Food bowl choppers are also great for fresh salsas. They save you the headache of having to cut soft tomatoes with a knife or get your fingers all hot from peppers. You can remove the stems from your tomatoes and peppers, and just toss them into the chopper bowl whole, along with any garlic, onions, or other ingredients you want to use. You'll love having such an evenly chopped salsa for chips or tacos.

Food bowl choppers may be expensive, but they're pretty versatile, and you can absolutely make the most of having one in your home kitchen. For more information about food bowl choppers, contact a company like Mainca USA Inc.