Why You Might Not Want To Put Granulated Sugar In Your Food Processor

A food processor is a kitchen appliance that can make your life a whole lot easier. From chopping and mincing vegetables to grinding meat, a food processor can save you a ton of time in the kitchen. But there are some things you should know about using a food processor before you start throwing everything in there. If you want to increase the lifespan of the machine, your should learn the right way to use your food processor.

Not everything is meant to be put in a food processor. Meat, for instance, should always be sliced or ground before being added. If you try to put larger chunks of meat in the machine, they could get stuck and damage the appliance. Almonds and other nuts — more specifically, those that are fresh out of the oven — can also cause certain issues. They can be hard to clean out of the food processor, and hot nuts can discolor and even melt the plastic parts of the food processor's blade (via Lifehacker). Finally, you may want to think twice about using granulated sugar in your food processor. Keep reading ahead to learn why.

As small and innocent as granulated sugar may seem, it can actually cause a lot of problems in your food processor. Granulated sugar is very scratchy and abrasive, which means that it might damage the blades and other plastic parts of the appliance over time. It also tends to stick to these surfaces, further increasing the risk of gradual wear and tear.

Granted, the scratches and damage caused by granulated sugar may not be immediately noticeable. But over time, your pristine food processor could start looking dull and dingy, with the base and blades becoming cloudy or spotted.

If you're hoping to prolong the life of your food processor, try using a spice or coffee grinder to grind up your sugar. This will give you a fine, powdery consistency that is much less likely to cause damage when added to your food processor. You can also use powdered sugar or a similar substitute for sugar, which won't be quite as scratchy and abrasive on the blades of your machine.