If your food processor won’t turn on, the first step is to take it apart and troubleshoot. Many people assume that their food processor is broken when, in reality, it’s just a simple problem with the assembly. In this article, we’ll explain why your food processor might not be turning on and how to fix it.
The most common reason why your food processor won’t start is a loose assembly when putting the food processor back together. You could have also reversed the direction of the blades, or something could be blocking the blades from spinning. Also, the food processor could have a faulty circuit board or overheating motor.
It’s a frustrating feeling when you try turning on your food processor, but it won’t. You might be tempted to put it away and give up, but don’t do it just yet! There are a few simple things you can do to try and fix the problem before declaring it broken.
How Do I Get My Food Processor to Work?
If your food processor won’t work, the first step is to troubleshoot. Sometimes, I’ll get an email from someone saying their appliance doesn’t start. Then, when we proceed with the discussion, I find out that the appliance actually starts – it just doesn’t start doing its thing.
Meaning; the appliance can be powered on but it won’t work as intended. Down below you will find a list of things to do if your food processor doesn’t start, but also some things that you should do if your appliance can be powered on but doesn’t do its job.
1. Check the Power Supply
Confirm that it is properly plugged into a functioning power source. If it is, check for a bad fuse or tripped breaker.
If it’s not plugged in at all, plug it back in and turn on its power switch. You may need to press the reset button on your wall socket if you have one.
Otherwise, use another appliance with a similar power cord to confirm that your outlet is working correctly.
If your power supply is working as intended but your food processor still won’t start, continue troubleshooting the device. With the information we have, I would say it’s fair to assume that the problem is the food processor itself.
Unless it’s the cord.
2. Check the Power Cord
Inspect the power cord to ensure there’s no evident damage done to it, as this could prevent the unit from starting. The damage to the cable doesn’t have to be massive in order for it to hinder the appliance from working.
Make sure there’s no damage done to the cable and that it is connected to the appliance firmly. Contact customer support or an experienced technician who can replace or repair the cable if there are clear signs of damage to it.
3. Check the Lid
Some food processors won’t start if the lid isn’t properly mounted on the unit. Make sure your lid is connected as intended, and that nothing is preventing it from connecting to the bowl properly.
4. Check the Bowl
Yes, a loosely connected bowl can render the unit useless, just like the lid can. Ensuring that the bowl is properly mounted, lined up, and twist-locked to the base is your next move. If the bowl isn’t properly attached to the base unit, that could be what’s stopping it from turning on.
Remove it and re-attach it and make sure it’s fully connected.
5. Check the Food Processor’s Ventilation
If your processor has been working as intended and then suddenly stopped working, then it could be because the appliance is starting to overheat. Most appliances come with a switch that forces them to turn off to prevent the unit and the people using it from taking damage.
Units that struggle with temperature often jam up or run more slowly. If your food processor did this before it stopped working entirely, then that’s probably an indicator.
The processor is likely overheating because the ventilation is having a hard time keeping the appliance cool. Cleaning the ventilation is a surefire way to aid the appliance in keeping the temperature down.
It’s wise to clean the ventilation once in a while to keep the unit’s systems working. If your processor just stopped working, let it cool down for about 30 minutes before you start it again.
If the unit starts back up when it has cooled down, I suggest you keep an eye on the appliance to get an idea of what could’ve caused it to overheat. Sometimes these processors will work heavy loads for a long time, which can take a toll on them.
6. Check If the Driveshaft Can Spin
When the appliance has been unplugged, carefully grasp the driveshaft at the bottom of the bowl and manually spin it to see if the blades can move with ease or if they’re blocked. Depending on the outcome of this test, it may have given us an answer as to why your processor doesn’t start.
If the blade spins as it was designed to do when moved manually but not when the unit is powered, that may indicate that there’s something wrong with the processor’s capacitor. This can be tested with a multimeter reading.
If you, on the other hand, feel a bit of resistance as you try to spin the blades, and the motor powers on but only makes a humming sound, then there’s most likely something wrong with the motor. There are exceptions to this rule, of course.
Before you consider replacing parts of your food processor, consult a technician or someone who can assist you in that endeavor. This will prevent you from accidentally ordering a part that you might not need.
7. Make Sure the Food Isn’t Too Big
Perhaps you’re trying to run the appliance with large pieces of food in it. Sometimes, the appliance won’t be able to work because the items are just too big for the appliance to gain momentum. Forcing a food processor to power through larger items can damage the appliance.
Feed ingredients through the feed tube accordingly. Be gentle and take your time to avoid overworking the food processor. Larger pieces that have been chopped into slightly smaller pieces can be placed in the appliance and sliced by running smaller bursts rather than forcing the appliance at full power.
Once the appliance can work the food without resistance, it’s alright to go full force.
8. Remove Food Jams
Food jams can hinder the food processor from starting. The appliance will power up but the blades won’t be able to spin. Unplug the appliance and dislodge any food jams around the driveshaft.
9. Reset the Appliance
Most kitchen appliances of this type come with a reset button or a method of resetting. You should be able to find information about your model on the internet or in the instruction manual. Resetting the appliance is a wild card, which I think is worth trying.
Understanding Food Processor Parts and Accessories
The best food processors deploy straightforward tech, so users find it easy to make all sorts of dishes. The key is to understand the parts and accessories first so users can get an idea of where the problem could be:
- The Power Base
It houses the cord that plugs into a standard wall outlet.
- The Work Bowl
This bowl fits inside the base, with a lid that has an opening for ingredients and measurement markings on the side. It also has blades at its center.
- A Cover Fits over the Top
The cover needs to snap in place. It has feed tubes, pushers, and a chute for adding ingredients.
- A Pusher
This part holds ingredients near the blades.
- Blades or Discs
These parts sit at the bottom of the work bowl and slice, chop, or grate food items as they spin around. They are also responsible for mixing batters and blending smoothies. A good processor has various cutting options for users to create a wide array of dishes.
- Gaskets
The gasket is what seals the work bowl and lid together, preventing leaks from forming when blending or chopping items. It also prevents liquids from running into the motor housing area underneath. The best food processors have sealed motors that are water-resistant in case of liquid spills onto them accidentally during use.
Removing the Bowl from a Food Processor
In theory, you can use any food processor bowl for all models available in the market. If your current bowl doesn’t fit, try getting an aftermarket one that fits better. You won’t have to worry about compatibility issues either, as they are designed to work with each other seamlessly.
If you have a Cuisinart®, KitchenAid®, or similar food processor, first remove the lid by pressing down on it and sliding it off towards your right-hand side. Press the release button at this point to unlock it from its position.
Proceed to pull up on a plastic ring that holds everything together, including the bowl itself, so nothing spills out when in use. The ring has tabs that fit into notches on the work bowl.
How to Put a Food Processor Back Together
Once the bowl is out, inspect the cutting blades to see if anything is obstructing their movement. You could also need to replace the cutters if they are too blunt to shred food pieces.
Afterward, confirm that there are no obstructions in the feed tube.
Then, place the pusher inside the work bowl, sitting it at the bottom while facing the blades. This step is important as pushing ingredients towards the blades with your hands could result in injury.
Now it’s time to put the lid back on. First, place back feed tubes in the correct position, and ensure the cover is sitting flat. If it doesn’t fit correctly, you might have to realign as the pusher should move through without any obstruction.
Once everything looks good, lock the lid into place by pushing it downward. Then, turn it towards your left-hand side. Finally, push down again to secure it into position, so nothing leaks out when in use.
After replacing any faulty parts, your food processor should be working once more. Remember, every component needs to click into the right place, and any loose connections could cause it not to work.
Turn it on, and watch as the blades spin. They should be moving fast enough to slice and dice.
Can the Safety Switch Cause My Food Processor Not to Turn On?
You could accidentally turn the processor on during your preparations, leading to spills, shorting, and potential injuries. The safety switch prevents the motor from running if it’s not locked.
Unlike blenders and other appliances, processors don’t have an indicator light. Thus, there’s no way to tell if it’s already plugged in or not unless. You would have to twist the lid and attempt to start it up with your hands.
Fortunately, some modern food processors come equipped with a safety switch that requires both the cover and pusher to be in place before they can turn on. If any of these components are missing, they won’t work as intended because there’s no way for them to get power from the wall outlet.
If your current food processor doesn’t have this feature, you might want to consider getting a newer model that does. It’s an important safety precaution that can help prevent potential injuries.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, food processors are one of the top five appliances that cause injuries in the kitchen. Between 2002 and 2012, they received more than 37,000 reports of people being injured by these machines.
About 33,000 of the total injury cases involved lacerations to the hands and fingers.
It’s essential to exercise caution when operating any appliance to protect yourself against these accidents. Always ensure the safety switch is in place.
What to Do with Jammed Food Processor Cutters?
If your food processor’s blades seem to be jammed or not working properly, there are a few things you can do to clear the obstruction. First, remove any large chunks of food that might have become lodged in the blade area.
Next, use a blunt object such as a butter knife or spoon to try and dislodge anything else stuck between them. If this doesn’t work, try removing the cover and pushing down on the blades until they rotate freely again before putting everything back together properly.
If you’re still having trouble, it’s likely that the cutters got worn out over time due to normal wear and tear. You might have to replace the cutters if they are too blunt to shred food pieces.
When all else fails, take your food processor to an authorized technician for further assistance. The circuit board could have also gone bad and needs to be replaced. Take care to check the warranty before sending it in for repairs.