Food processors are handy little kitchen gadgets that seem to do everything, from crumbling cookies for cheesecake bases to shredding vegetables in seconds. Sometimes, however, the blade on your food processor will get stuck, and it can be incredibly annoying trying to figure out why.
If your food processor blade is stuck on the stem because of the heat produced by using it for a prolonged time, let it cool off before trying to remove the blade. If the blade is stuck because of some food debris, use oven mitts to give the blade a firm pull, or use hot water to melt the scraps.
Continue reading for more information on why your food processor blade might be stuck and our handy advice on how to fix the problem. We’ll also give you tips on how to take good care of your food processor.
Why Is My Food Processor Blade Stuck? How Do I Fix It?
Your food processor blade could be stuck for several reasons. You might be having trouble getting the blade off the stem when you want to change blades or clean the food processor. Alternatively, you might be having problems with actually getting the blade to spin.
Below are the most common answers to why your food processor blade is stuck and what you can do to fix it.
The Food Processor Blade Is Stuck on the Stem
Sometimes, you might go to remove the blade from your food processor and find that it just won’t budge – it’s stuck on the stem with what seems to be superglue! Don’t fret, though, as your food processor isn’t broken. Chances are the blade has just gotten stuck to the stem with some food debris or through the friction caused by overuse.
The processes to fix a blade stuck on the stem are relatively simple once you know what you’re doing. But always make sure you turn off your appliance before trying to remove the blade from your food processor.
Check for a Button or a Release Lever
Some food processors will require you to press a button or use a small release lever to get the blades off. If this is the first time you’re using your new food processor, just check that you’re not missing this step when trying to get your food processor blade off the stem.
Let the Food Processor Cool Off
Sometimes, when you’ve been running your food processor for a long time (especially if you’ve been pulsing it a lot), the friction of the blade spinning against the shaft will heat up enough to cause the blade to get stuck.
If this happens, let the food processor sit for a little while, and then try again to remove the blade. Once it cools off, you should then be able to remove it using the regular method.
Give the Blade a Firm Pull
In most cases, the blade of a food processor has just gotten stuck because of food debris. This is especially likely to happen if you were making something like a dip or whipped cream.
It’s best to wear something like oven mitts or wrap a dishcloth around the blade when you pull it to not risk cutting up your hands. This also means that you can get a firmer grip on the blade. But you might need to put a bit of elbow grease into pulling on the blade, and don’t give up if it doesn’t come off on your first try!
Use Hot Water To Soak the Food Debris Away
For more stubborn food debris, you can try using boiling water because it’ll melt anything sticky that’s gumming up the works in your food processor. What you should do next is:
- Fill up the bowl of the food processor.
- Leave it to soak for a few minutes.
- Empty the bowl when the water has cooled.
- Then try to remove the blade again.
If plain boiling water doesn’t solve the problem, try adding dishwashing liquid:
- Mix a little dishwashing liquid with the hot water in your bowl.
- Leave it to soak for a little longer.
- Then when the water has cooled, try to remove the blade again.
And don’t forget to rinse the bowl before the next use!
The Food Processor Blade Will No Longer Turn
There’s nothing worse than being halfway through whipping up a delicious new recipe using your food processor, and suddenly the blades stop turning. It’s easy to assume that the blades have stopped spinning because the food processor is broken, but that might not be the case.
Before trying any of the advice below, make sure you turn your food processor off at the power.
Don’t Overfill the Food Processor
Too much food in a food processor can stop the blades from turning. This is because the food builds up under the blades, essentially jamming them.
There’s an easy fix to this problem – simply tip or scoop out a little bit of the food in the food processor’s bowl and see if the blades start spinning. Keep doing this until the problem is fixed, and then process the rest of the ingredients in smaller batches.
Don’t Process Food That’s Too Large
This is a similar problem to having too much food in the food processor – if the ingredients you’re trying to process are too large, the blades won’t turn.
Empty the food out of the food processor bowl, chop or break it into smaller pieces, and then try again. If the blades won’t turn immediately, pulsing the food processor a few times can help to release them.
What To Do When You’ve Tried Everything, and the Blades Are Still Stuck
If you’ve tried all of the advice listed above and your food processor blades still refuse to cooperate, your machine has a bigger problem.
You’ll now have to try calling customer service and asking for advice, sending your food processor back to the manufacturer if it’s still under warranty, or purchasing a new food processor to replace your broken one.
Food processors can break for a variety of reasons:
- Overuse
- Continuously trying to process food that’s too big
- Continuously trying to process too much food
- Bad luck
It’s important to use your food processor properly to avoid anything going wrong with it. It’s also important to make sure you keep your food processor in good condition so that it lasts as long as possible.
How To Look After Your Food Processor Properly
Properly looking after your food processor is vital because if it’s not kept clean, you’re more likely to have problems with it. Food processors should be kept on the kitchen counter or stored in a cupboard when not in use. Ensure there’s not too much moisture getting into the food processor as this can cause problems like rusted blades.
Cleaning your food processor is easy and should be done after each use.
What You Need
Here are the things you need:
- Dishwashing liquid
- Baking soda
- Small cleaning brush (toothbrush works well)
- Dishtowel
- Cleaning cloth
Instructions
Here are the steps on how to clean your food processor quickly and easily:
- Remove the blades and wash them carefully in warm water with dishwashing liquid. Rinse them with clean water, and then dry them with a dish towel to prevent any rusting.
- The bowl and lid of the food processor are easy to clean. All you have to do is fill the bowl with some warm water and a small squirt of dishwashing liquid and pulse it a few times. Then, rinse the bowl with clean water and stand it upside down to dry.
- If the bowl of your food processor is particularly dirty, you can also use a mixture of water and baking soda to eliminate any tough mess. You can use this the same way as you would water and dishwashing liquid. Put it inside the food processor bowl, then pulse it a few times. Then, you can use a cleaning brush to scrub the inside of the bowl. Rinse it with clean water when you’re done and leave it upside down to dry.
- The center of the blade and the handle of the food processor can be tricky. Clean them with a toothbrush or another kind of small scrubbing brush. You can use water and dishwashing liquid or baking soda if the stains are stubborn.
- Use a cloth on the outside of the food processor. Usually, it shouldn’t be very dirty, but clean messes as they arise; otherwise, the food can dry and become hard to get off.
Final Words
It can be frustrating when the blades of your food processor suddenly don’t want to turn, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s broken.
There could be some food debris from the dip you made, or you’ve been running your processor for longer than advised, causing the blade to get stuck to the stem.
Troubleshoot the problem by working through our advice, including letting the processor cool off after prolonged use and using hot water to remove food debris. Treat your food processor right, and it’ll help you make delicious recipes for many years to come!
Hi all! I’m Cora Benson, and I’ve been blogging about food, recipes and things that happen in my kitchen since 2019.