Why do the blades in my chopper seem blunt or ineffective?

If the chopper seems to bruise food instead of cutting it cleanly, the blades may be blocked by residue, loaded with the wrong ingredients or worn from heavy use. Stop using the appliance if the blade assembly is damaged, loose or makes a scraping sound.

1. Unplug the chopper and remove the blade unit carefully. Check whether food residue is wrapped around the blades or caught under the blade mount.
2. Clean the blades and bowl thoroughly, then dry them before reassembly. Expected result: the blade should move freely and the bowl should be clear of build-up.
3. Test again with a small batch of suitable food cut into even pieces. If the result improves, the issue was likely residue, overload or poor preparation.
4. Avoid very hard items that the manual does not list as suitable, and do not run the appliance continuously for longer than the stated time on the manual for your model.
5. If the blades still do not cut properly after cleaning and correct loading, stop using the chopper and contact the retailer or store where the product was purchased.

Sharp blades should be handled with care during cleaning and emptying. The supplied manuals emphasise cleaning after use, short operating periods and cutting ingredients into small pieces before chopping.