With all of the food processors available on the market, it can be hard choosing which is right for you. There is a huge range of features, sizes and prices. You will be glad to know that there is a perfect food processor available for you, once you have decided what you are looking for.
The basic function of a food processor is to chop, puree, shred and dice your ingredients. The common design features of most processor models are the slicing discs and hook-shaped blades, as well as small and large feed tubes that make adding foods to the processor simple.
Once you know what you want in your food processor, you can decide which model is best for you. With that in mind, here are the best food processors available today.
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Food Processor Reviews
Hamilton Beach Food Processor
A food processor is handy to have but can exceed your budget without offering many useful features. The Hamilton Beach food processor is a wallet-friendly unit that can shred, chop, mix and puree just as well as the higher-end models, plus it has an extra feature which makes it unique: a scraper attachment.
Product Highlights
The convenient scraper attachment helps save you time when you are pureeing or chopping as you don’t need to stop and remove the lid to use a spatula. You can use the scraper while the processor is on or off.
The Hamilton Beach food processor has a powerful yet quiet 450-watt motor that features 2 speeds as well as pulse. The 10-cup bowl capacity is big enough that it can tackle most cooking jobs, but small enough that you can easily store it away.
The stainless-steel S-blade allows you to effortlessly puree, chop and mix your ingredients. The reversible stainless steel shredding/slicing disc lets you shred and slice in seconds.
The large feed tube means you can process fruits and vegetables without cutting them into small pieces, and the tube can fit a block of cheese with ease. The lid, blades and bowl are all dishwasher safe, making cleaning up a breeze when you are done.
The Good
The processor’s bowl can hold 10 cups, which means you can do most food processing jobs without having to empty it too often, while it’s still small enough to easily be stored away. The shredding/slicing disc and stainless steel blade fit into the bowl so you don’t have to find space to store the accessories. The large feed tube makes it easy to process whole fruits and vegetables and the lid, blade, and bowl are all dishwasher safe. The low and high speed as well as the pulse add to the versatility.
The Bad
Some users found that the machine has a burning smell when used for more than 30 seconds. Some also claimed that the parts were quite flimsy, especially when used regularly.
Pros
- Large feed tube
- 10-cup capacity
- Attachments are dishwasher safe
- Low and high speed as well as pulse
Cons
- Burning smell with extended use
- Some reported flimsy parts
Cuisinart Food Processor
This nifty appliance is the updated version of the original no-frills Cuisinart food processor. It boasts the same buttons for on, off and pulse which made the original processor so intuitive to use. The beautiful brushed stainless steel body has the same shape as its predecessor, but it has a more modern, sleek finish.
Product Highlights
This Cuisinart food processor has a large capacity that makes cooking a quick and simple process, whether you’re making quick weeknight meals or weekend family feasts. The large 14-cup capacity work bowl has plenty of space to process any ingredients you can think of. The heavy-duty, powerful 720-watt motor makes preparing large quantities of food a fast, easy and convenient process.
The extra-large feed tube can accommodate whole vegetables and fruits so you don’t have to pre-cut any ingredients, saving you time. The consistent and durable stainless-steel blades can power through any preparation task, from heavy dough and family-sized coleslaw ingredients to a single clove of garlic.
This Cuisinart processor does everything you could possibly need. It can chop, mix, shred, slice, knead, puree, emulsify, and mix dough. The on, off and pulse control paddles give you a convenient single-touch experience, while the dishwasher-safe accessories make cleaning up easier than ever.
The food processor comes with a recipe book which has great quick meal ideas, as well as a spatula which makes dealing with your processed food even simpler.
The Good
This food processor has a shredding disc, a slicing disc and an updated chopping blade. The Lexan work bowl can hold 14 cups of ingredients and is perfect for anything from a family picnic’s worth of salsa or coleslaw to a single garlic clove. The small and large pushers and the extra-large feed tube are perfect for whole vegetables and fruits.
The Bad
Some users reported that the materials used for the food bowl were sub-par and that it broke easily. There were also a few users who said that the lid did not fit onto the machine properly.
Pros
- 14-cup capacity
- 720-watt motor
- Stainless-steel blades
- Extra-large feed tube
- Single-touch operation
Cons
- Some machine come with lids that don’t fit
- Easily breakable materials used for food bowl
Oster Pro Blender with Smoothie Cup
This blender boasts a powerful motor that is an asset to any kitchen. You can blend through greens, ice, frozen ingredients, fruit and so much more with the touch of a button. You can continuously and smoothly create the consistency that you want using the Oster Pro Blender.
Product Highlights
The Oster Pro has 7 speed settings that include 3 pre-programmed settings which are the most commonly chosen settings for blender creations. The Smart Settings technology also adds to this blender’s ease of use.
The dual direction blade technology gives you extra blending power when grinding and chopping with the extra-wide precision 3.5-inch blade system. This system allows the ingredients to easily move down into the blade for fast, smooth results.
This powerful blender boasts 1200 power watts as well as 900 watts of ice crushing strength. The pulse feature also gives you more precision and control over your processing. The extra-large smoothie cup has a 24-ounce capacity, and the 6-cup dishwasher-safe glass jar can withstand thermal shock thank to its Boroclass glass construction. This Oster Pro blender has a 10-year warranty which speaks to its quality and durability.
The Good
The smart settings offer convenience when blending smoothies, milkshakes and salsas with just one touch. The wide base lets food flow to the blade with ease, while the dual direction technology spins the blade in a forward and backward motion, optimizing the blade’s power.
The Bad
The blender is very powerful, which results in it being quite noisy when used with the high power settings. Some users also claimed that the jug started to leak with prolonged use.
Pros
- 6-cup Boroclass glass jar
- 24-ounce smoothie cup
- Powerful motor
- Sharp blades
- 7 speeds
Cons
- Very noisy with high power
- Jug can leak occasionally
KitchenAid Mini Food Processor
If you have modest food processing needs, this mini food processor may be just what your kitchen needs. It is ideal for making salad dressings and salsas, chopping vegetables and herbs, and other smaller tasks. It also has a drizzle basin which allows you to slowly add oil to your dressing for proper emulsifying.
Product Highlights
Daily meal preparation and quick food creation are made simple thanks to the 3.5-cup BPA-free work bowl which boasts a handle and spout for easy serving and a locking blade to ensure your safety. The stainless-steel blade is uniquely designed to precisely chop and puree your ingredients.
You have precise control over your food processing with the 2 speed functions and the pulse setting which allow you to produce fine or coarse results. This is ideal for making anything from creamy hummus and smooth sauces to chunky guacamole and pico de gallo.
The lightness and compact size of this mini food processor make it perfect to use every day, but you can also easily store it away when needed and the cord simply wraps around the processor. The lid, blade and work bowl are all easy to clean thanks to their dishwasher-safe build.
The Good
This food processor is lightweight and compact for easy storage. The pouring spout makes transferring your food simple and mess-free. The two speeds give you complete control over your blending, mixing, chopping and pureeing. The lid, blade and bowl are dishwasher safe, allowing you to quickly clean up. There are also a variety of colors to choose from to suit your kitchen’s décor.
The Bad
The plastic parts can be a bit flimsy, making it hard to take apart and put together the processor. Some users also reported that the lid is difficult to put on and take off.
Pros
- Lightweight and compact
- Two speeds
- Attachments are dishwasher safe
- Variety of colors
Cons
- The container is quite small
- Plastic parts are flimsy
Black + Decker Electric Food Chopper
This one-touch food chopper allows you to make your favorite side dishes and prepare your ingredients in just seconds. The pulse control operates the stainless-steel blade, allowing you to mince and chop with ease. Plus, all of the removable parts can be washed in your dishwasher for easy cleanup.
Product Highlights
This one-touch food chopper makes meal preparation a breeze thanks to the one-touch pulse control. The 1.5-cup bowl capacity means you can make dips, sauces, salsa and pesto in just seconds.
The bi-level stainless steel blades are super sharp and provide a long-lasting performance, no matter how often you use the processor. The 70-watt motor provides enough power to evenly mince, chop, slice and dice a variety of ingredients.
The drizzle holes allow you to easily add oil to your salad dressings, hummus and vinaigrette so it can properly emulsify without any mess. All of the removable parts are completely dishwasher safe, making cleaning up a quick and convenient process.
The Good
The pulse control gives you all the power you need to create the recipes you want with ease thanks to its one-touch setting. The bi-level blade ensures that your food is processed evenly, and the dishwasher-safe parts mean that you can enjoy your meal without worrying about cleaning up afterwards.
The Bad
As this is only a 1.5-cup processor, you can only make small amounts of food with it. Some users also reported that there are air holes around the lid of the chopper, so liquid may end up spitting out.
Pros
- Sharp bi-level stainless-steel blade
- Dishwasher-safe parts
- One-touch operation
- Drizzle holes to add oil
Cons
- The container is very small
- Air holes around the lid
Buyer’s Guide
There is a wide variety of food processors to choose from in the market, all with their own features and price ranges. You need to consider the types and quantities of food you will prepare using your processor as well as the features you would like and the budget you have allocated. Here are some of the most important features to consider when buying a food processor:
Key Feature #1: Power
The more watts a processor has, the more powerful it will be and the better it will perform. It is vital that you select an appliance that is a minimum of 600 watts if it is full sized so it can perform well, even with the toughest processing jobs. Tasks like chopping hard fruits and vegetables or kneading dough call for a powerful processor. If your food processor is not strong enough, you will wear down and eventually burn out the motor.
Key Feature #2: Size/Capacity
There are many sizes available, from a 1.5-cup work bowl sized capacity up to a 20-cup bowl size which is ideal for cooking for large numbers of people. You need to choose the size of your processor based on the number of people you usually cook for as well as the space you have available on your countertop. A 10-cup work bowl is perfect for a 4-person family. If you crush herbs or chop nuts often, a small 1.5-2 cup processor is a great choice.
Key Feature #3: Speed Options
Most food processors have one or two speed functions and a pulse setting for instant bursts of high power. One speed option is enough to complete most processing tasks, but you must ensure that the processor you select also has a pulse option too.
Key Feature #4: Brands
It is important that you spend your money on a product that has been manufactured by a reputable company so you can rest assured that your food processor will last for many years to come and that the features promised are delivered. A good warranty also gives you further peace of mind when using your new appliance.
Key Feature #5: Attachments
Top-quality food processors normally come with a range of attachments that make preparing your food even simpler. Choose a processor that has the attachments that you need. Some of the attachments you will find included with your food processor are grating and slicing discs, various sizes of work bowl, a citrus press and a dough blade. Consider whether you will use the included attachments. If you aren’t going to use them, save some money and don’t buy them.
Food Processor FAQs
Question 1: What Size Food Processor Do I Need?
Food processors are available in many different sizes, with capacities from 1.5 to 20 cups. Depending on how big your family is and what you plan to use your processor for, the food processor size that you need will change.
If you are a single person who rarely entertains, a 1.5 to 3-cup processor is perfect. If you are a 4-person family, a 10-cup processor should do the job, and if you are a larger family or entertain regularly, a 20-cup food processor is ideal.
Question 2: What Does a Food Processor Do?
Food processors are very versatile kitchen appliances that can shred cheese, chop fruits and vegetables into small pieces, grind nuts, mince meat, puree various ingredients, mix bread dough, blend up dips and dice up salsa. A food processor works by spinning its sharp blades to cut up anything you feed into the machine. Food processors have wide bowls which allow you to easily add your ingredients. Food processors make many cooking jobs a lot easier and faster to do.
Question 3: What Should I Look For in a Food Processor?
Look for stainless-steel blades, dishwasher-safe attachments, BPA-free parts, a pulse function and at least 600 watts of power. Most food processors will come with a variety of other attachments and features, but these should be a minimum requirement. Attachments that are worth considering with your purchase include grating and slicing discs and a dough blade.
Question 4: How Do I Use a Food Processor?
Using a food processor is very simple. Attach your S-blade to the processor and close the lid on your processor bowl. Feed your fruits, vegetables or other ingredients into the processor through the feed tube. While there will normally be one or more speed options, pulse is your best friend. By using pulse, you have better control over the size of the chop.
Question 5: Can You Use a Food Processor Instead of a Blender?
Blenders are normally better to use for liquids such as soups, sauces, smoothies and milkshakes. Food processors are better suited to more heavy-duty processing tasks such as chopping vegetables and mixing dough.
For some tasks such as chunky soups, purees and dips, you can use both a blender and a food process with similar results. Smoothies and sauces cannot be made with a food processor and should be made with a blender. If you plan to chop vegetables and fruit, shred cheese and mix dough, a food processor is needed.
Final Verdict
Buying a food processor isn’t a difficult task, but purchasing the best food processor at an affordable price with high efficiency is a bit harder. You should not only consider the features of the processor but also the quality of the build. With the affordable yet high-quality food processors on this list, you should have no problem selecting an appliance that will save you many hours of cooking time.
Any of the food processors featured here will serve you well, saving you plenty of time. However, with all things considered, our recommendation is the Cuisinart Food Processor because of its 14-cup capacity and powerful yet quiet 720-watt motor.
The stainless-steel blades easily process any ingredients you put into the machine through the extra-large feed tube, and the single-touch operation makes using this machine a breeze. Plus, cleaning up afterwards is really easy thanks to the dishwasher-safe parts.