For many, a food processor is an essential piece of kitchen equipment. So, when you find the appliance to be leaking it can be a source of frustration.
There’s a number of reasons as to why your food processor may leak, these include; overfilling, using an incorrect blade, a broken lid, a faulty seal or bowl damage.
Each of these faults are relatively easy to spot and can be repaired without having to replace the entire unit which is an easy way to save both time and money.
In this article, I’ll help you to understand how to prevent, diagnose and repair a leaking food processor so you can get back to using your appliance without worry.
Can You Put Liquid In A Food Processor?
If you have a food processor, you may be thinking whether you should put liquid in the unit or not. Well, food processors can handle soup, for example.
Still, there are considerations to keep in mind – for instance, you shouldn’t add more liquid than necessary. You should only fill the container until you reach the “fill” line on its side. If you pass that line, you risk having the liquid go beyond that, which will cause it to leak out the sides, or even the top.
Despite the rule above, adding liquid in the food processor is not usually recommended. Remember that the food processor doesn’t work the same way as a blender does. So, you should leave soups and other liquids for the blender instead.
Basically, with a food processor, you would have to blend the soup in multiple batches, as you cannot overfill the unit. Moreover, even if you don’t overfill it, the food processor will still be quite “harsh” when mixing the ingredients, which could cause some leaks.
Blenders have much smaller and sharper blades that spin at a faster speed, which allows soup to mix evenly as it’s flowing. As for food processors, they have multiple blades, but they are overall flatter and broader, and they are used to chop solid foods instead.
They work much slower and only cut the food in medium-sized pieces. Therefore, they won’t do such a great job at mixing.
It also depends on the type of food processor that you own. A top-notch food processor may be good with soups too. Still, unless you have a quality model that specifically says it can handle liquids, you should refrain from adding soup inside the food processor.
Why Does My Food Processor Leak?
It is not uncommon for a food processor to leak. It is an issue that many people deal with and it becomes quite frustrating at some point.
So, if you have experienced this problem, you must find its source. Here is why your unit may start leaking:
Overfilling
If you have a good food processor, you probably thought that adding some soup inside is not a bad idea. But if you end up filling the bowl more than necessary, it does become a terrible idea.
Every food processor has a “fill” line that indicates where you should stop when filling the bowl. Going anywhere above that line would cause leaking as the liquid will get agitated by the unit.
Therefore, if you are using the food processor for preparing soup and it starts leaking, stop the unit and check the bowl. Is the liquid going beyond the fill line? If it is, that’s definitely the cause.
Broken Lid
Food processors come with lids, which are meant to make sure the contents are kept inside, and the unit doesn’t make a mess in the surrounding area. However, lids may not last forever.
In some situations, they crack, which could then lead to leaks, especially if you add liquids inside.
If you know for sure that you didn’t overfill the food processor, then check the lid and find out if there is any crack in it. If you notice any crack, then it must be the lid causing the problem.
Dry Seals
Food processors have seals, and they can also become the reason why your unit is leaking. As time goes by, they tend to become dry and brittle and leaks may occur.
In this situation, what you have to do is simply disassemble the unit and inspect the seals. If they are dry, then that is why your unit may have started leaking.
Incorrect Blade Usage
Sometimes, people don’t know that some things can only be used inside the food processor if the right type of blade is in usage at the time of processing. When you decide to add soup in your food processor, you should use the multipurpose blade. If you use a different type of blade such as the egg whip, then leakage is more likely to happen.
So, in case your processor leaks, it’s best to turn it off and check the blade you’re using. If you’ve connected the wrong type, it may be the reason why you’re seeing the device making a mess everywhere.
Bowl Damage
Even the bowl may experience damage or cracks if it is not handled with care – and the same goes for storing it in the wrong place. So, if you notice that your unit is leaking, take a good look at the bowl and check every area.
Do you notice any crack? If you do, that must be why the liquid is coming out of the unit.
How To Fix A Leaking Food Processor?
Did your food processor start leaking for any of the reasons listed above? In that case, you need to fix the issue and make sure it stops happening. Here are fixes for the problems listed earlier:
Overfilling Issue
If you overfilled your unit, then it’s not surprising that it started leaking, since the “fill” line is there for a reason.
Therefore, make sure you get rid of some of the liquid from inside by pouring it in another container – do this until you see the liquid reaching below the fill line.
Once you do this, you can rest assured that the food processor will not leak anymore.
Broken Lid
Having a broken lid can be an annoying issue, whether you overfilled your food processor or not.
Cracks can instantly cause leaks, and it’s important to fix the problem as soon as possible. This is why a cracked lid should be replaced with a new one in proper condition.
Remove the large and small pushers of the food processors and take off the lid. Then, add the new one accordingly and put the pushers back how they were.
Dry Seals
Dry seals or the seal ring will also require replacement from time to time. Otherwise, the unit will keep leaking and make a mess everywhere.
If you need to change these parts, then unplug the unit first and remove the screws.
These are the ones holding the base cover in place, which is why you have to remove them if you want to get rid of the old seals and add new ones. After the new ones are added, you can put the screws back.
Wrong Blade
As mentioned, it is also possible to be using the wrong type of blade and cause the food processor to leak.
In this situation, you should stop the unit from operating and check the blades. If the wrong ones are connected, then unplug it, empty the bowl and change the blades (you can learn more about the dough blade here).
After you add the right ones, assemble everything back and the unit will be ready to be used without experiencing leaks.
Cracked Bowl
A cracked or damaged bowl can be a very common reason why the food processor is leaking. The bowl is one of the key parts of the food processor since this is where you’re adding the food, so you can’t expect to keep a broken container without experiencing leaks when pouring liquids inside.
Replacing the bowl is necessary. If you’re not replacing it soon enough, leaking will not only make a mess but the liquid may also reach the mechanical components of the processor. This will inflict more damage and your food processor will require more reparations.
Remove the pushers and the lid, as well as the blades, and get a new bowl. Then, put everything back where it should be and your unit will be ready for use with the new bowl.
How To Prevent Your Food Processor From Leaking
The simplest solution to prevent any leaks is to not add any liquid inside the food processor. Especially if you don’t have a high-quality machine, you should only use the processor for solid foods. Instead, you can use a blender for your liquids. This is the best way to prevent leaks.
If you do want to add liquids inside the food processor, you must be extra careful when doing this. Pour the liquid slowly and always look at the fill line. If you make sure that you don’t go over the limit, then you won’t have to worry about any leaks.
Other than that, you should frequently inspect the parts of the food processors – this will help you detect a potential problem early on. At the same time, always make sure you’re using the right utensils and blades to prevent any leaks.
In case you notice any damage, such as cracks, dry seals, etc., make sure you fix and/or repair the parts as soon as possible. This way, you prevent further damage and there will be no liquid leaking everywhere in your kitchen.
Last, but not least, be sure to check the manual that comes with your product and follow the instructions before you add any liquid inside. This is a surefire way to prevent any leaks.
Hi all! I’m Cora Benson, and I’ve been blogging about food, recipes and things that happen in my kitchen since 2019.