Oster FPSTMC3321 3-Cup Mini Chopper with Whisk Instruction Manual

1. Introduction

This manual provides essential instructions for the safe and efficient operation, maintenance, and care of your Oster FPSTMC3321 3-Cup Mini Chopper with Whisk. Please read all instructions thoroughly before first use and retain this manual for future reference.

The Oster FPSTMC3321 Mini Chopper is designed for various food preparation tasks, including chopping, slicing, dicing, and pureeing. Its compact design and versatile attachments make it suitable for a range of kitchen needs.

2. Important Safety Instructions

WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, or injury, always follow these basic safety precautions.

• Read all instructions before operating the appliance.
• Do not immerse the motor base in water or other liquids.
• Close supervision is necessary when any appliance is used by or near children.
• Unplug from outlet when not in use, before putting on or taking off parts, and before cleaning.
• Avoid contact with moving parts. Keep hands and utensils away from the cutting blade during operation to prevent personal injury and/or damage to the food chopper.
• The blade is sharp. Handle with care when removing, inserting, or cleaning.
• Do not operate any appliance with a damaged cord or plug, or after the appliance malfunctions or has been dropped or damaged in any manner.
• Do not use outdoors.
• Do not let cord hang over edge of table or counter, or touch hot surfaces.
• Do not use attachments not recommended or sold by the manufacturer.
• Do not attempt to defeat the lid interlock mechanism.
• Ensure the lid is securely locked in place before operating the appliance.

3. Parts and Components

Familiarize yourself with the components of your Oster Mini Chopper:

• Motor Base: Contains the motor and control buttons.
• Work Bowl: 3-cup capacity container for processing food.
• Chopping Blade: S-shaped stainless steel blade for chopping, dicing, and pureeing.
• Whisk Attachment: For whipping cream or eggs.
• Lid: Secures the work bowl and features a drizzle opening.
• Spatula: For scraping food from the sides of the work bowl.

Image 3.1: The Oster FPSTMC3321 Mini Chopper fully assembled, showing the motor base, clear work bowl, and lid with control buttons. This illustrates the complete unit ready for use.

Image 3.2: A black spatula, designed for use with the mini chopper to scrape down ingredients from the sides of the work bowl.

4. Setup and Assembly

1. Before First Use: Wash the work bowl, lid, chopping blade, whisk attachment, and spatula in warm, soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and dry. The motor base should be wiped with a damp cloth.
2. Place Motor Base: Position the motor base on a clean, dry, and stable surface.
3. Insert Blade/Whisk: Carefully place the chopping blade or whisk attachment onto the center post inside the work bowl. Ensure it sits securely.
4. Add Ingredients: Place your desired ingredients into the work bowl. Do not overfill beyond the maximum fill line indicated on the bowl.
5. Attach Work Bowl: Place the work bowl onto the motor base, aligning the tabs on the bowl with the slots on the base. Twist the bowl clockwise until it locks securely into place.
6. Secure Lid: Place the lid onto the work bowl, aligning the lid tab with the handle of the work bowl. Twist the lid clockwise until it locks into place. The unit will not operate unless the lid is properly secured.
7. Plug In: Plug the power cord into a standard electrical outlet.

5. Operating Instructions

5.1 General Operation

1. Ensure the chopper is assembled correctly with the desired attachment (chopping blade or whisk) and ingredients are in the work bowl.
2. Secure the lid firmly. The chopper will not operate if the lid is not locked.
3. Press and hold either the HI (High) or LO (Low) button on the motor base to begin processing. Release the button to stop.
4. For best results, use a pulsing action (press and release the button repeatedly) to achieve desired consistency and prevent over-processing.
5. Always unplug the unit before removing the lid or work bowl.

5.2 Using the Chopping Blade

The stainless steel S-blade is ideal for chopping vegetables, fruits, nuts, herbs, and pureeing ingredients for sauces or baby food.

• Cut larger ingredients into approximately 1-inch pieces for even processing.
• Do not overload the work bowl. Process in batches if necessary.
• Use the LO setting for coarser chops and the HI setting for finer results or pureeing.

Image 5.1: The Oster Mini Chopper containing freshly chopped tomatoes and herbs, demonstrating its capability for preparing ingredients like salsa or bruschetta.

5.3 Using the Drizzle Hole

The lid features a small opening that allows you to add liquids like water or oil while the chopper is running, ensuring smooth and consistent results for dressings, mayonnaise, or purees.

• With the chopper operating, slowly pour liquid through the drizzle hole.
• Do not remove the lid while the unit is running.

Image 5.2: A hand carefully drizzling olive oil into the Oster Mini Chopper through the lid's opening while the unit is in operation, ideal for emulsifying or creating smooth mixtures.

5.4 Using the Whisk Attachment

Replace the chopping blade with the whisk attachment for tasks requiring aeration, such as whipping cream or beating eggs.

• Ensure the whisk attachment is securely placed on the center post.
• Use the HI setting for optimal whipping results.

Image 5.3: The Oster Mini Chopper with the whisk attachment in use, demonstrating its ability to whip cream to a fluffy consistency.

6. Maintenance and Cleaning

Proper cleaning ensures the longevity and hygiene of your mini chopper.

1. Unplug: Always unplug the appliance from the electrical outlet before cleaning.
2. Disassemble: Remove the lid, then the chopping blade or whisk attachment, and finally the work bowl from the motor base.
3. Wash Parts: The work bowl, lid, chopping blade, whisk attachment, and spatula are dishwasher-safe (top rack recommended) or can be washed by hand in warm, soapy water. Rinse thoroughly.
4. Clean Motor Base: Wipe the motor base with a damp cloth. Do not immerse the motor base in water or any other liquid.
5. Dry: Ensure all parts are completely dry before reassembling or storing.
6. Handle Blades Carefully: The chopping blade is very sharp. Exercise extreme caution when handling and cleaning to prevent injury.

7. Storage

For convenient and safe storage:

• Ensure the unit is clean and dry before storing.
• The power cord can be neatly tucked away into the cord storage area located at the base of the unit.
• Store the chopping blade and whisk attachment safely within the work bowl to prevent loss and protect the blades.
• Store the assembled unit in a dry place, away from direct sunlight and heat.

8. Troubleshooting

9. Product Specifications

• Brand: Oster
• Model: FPSTMC3321
• Bowl Capacity: 3 Cups
• Motor Wattage: 150 Watts
• Number of Speeds: 2 (Hi/Lo)
• Blade Material: Stainless Steel
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.8 x 8.1 inches
• Item Weight: 2.59 pounds
• Special Features: Cord Storage, Drizzle Hole on Lid
• Product Care: Dishwasher Safe parts (Work Bowl, Lid, Blade, Whisk, Spatula)
• Included Components: Chopping Blade, Whisk Attachment, Work Bowl, Lid, Spatula

10. Warranty and Customer Support

For information regarding product warranty, please refer to the warranty card included with your purchase or visit the official Oster website. If you have any questions, require technical assistance, or need to report a problem with your Oster FPSTMC3321 Mini Chopper, please contact Oster customer support through their official channels.