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- Last Updated: February 20, 2023
- 1:47 am
Best Food Processor | Food Processors Review & Buying Guide
Food processors are great because they allow you to avoid the tedious task that is manually chopping up your herbs and vegetables. By taking advantage of a food processor’s many different functions such as chopping, slicing, blending, and pureeing, you can open up a whole new world of possibilities in your cooking. Spreads like hummus and pesto can be made with ease in a food processor. Food processors are also great for making breadcrumbs, nut butters, and fillings for meatballs or kebabs. Using a food processor can save you a lot of time compared to manual chopping or hand grinding in a mortar and pestle. According to britannica.com, in the late 1970s hundreds of thousands of food processors were sold, initiating a major shift in the way Americans prepare food in their kitchens.
Whatever your reason is for wanting a food processor, be it saving time or achieving a more even consistency when chopping vegetables or making sauces and spreads, choosing the right food processor is crucial for achieving product satisfaction. We wanted to find food processors that were reasonably priced, easy to use, and offered users multiple functions beyond just one “pulse” feature.
Food processors are great for any person who regularly cooks large quantities of food, since they allow you to save the many extra minutes that you would have spent chopping by hand. Furthermore, since all the chopping is contained to one vessel, cleanup becomes much easier as well.
We researched the best food processors and found the Ninja BN601 Professional Plus Food Processor to be the best overall.
Our top 3 food processors of 2022 are as follows:
- 1. BEST BATCH BOWL - Ninja BN601 Professional Plus Food Processor
- 2. BEST CONTINOUS FEED - Braun 12 in 1 Multi-Functional Food processor
- 3. BEST COMBINATION - Ninja NF701 Professional XL Food Processor
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The 10 Best Food Processors 2022 Reviews
Whether you’re going for a powerful food processor that has separate blades for shredding and slicing or a smaller food chopper that is mainly used for chopping herbs and nuts, one of these food processors could be the exact appliance you need to make your life easier by chopping your ingredients quickly and thoroughly:
1. Ninja BN601 Professional Plus Food Processor
Our top pick for the best food processor is the Ninja BN601 Professional Plus Food Processor.
Ninja is known for its best-in-class food processors and blenders and this product is a testament to that reputation.
With a peak power of 1000 watts, this food processor packs a punch and is capable of handling the toughest of ingredients. Furthermore, it is versatile, with 4 preset programs for chopping, pureeing, dough kneading, and disc mixing.
The varied presets and different levels of operating speed means that this food processor can be used to prepare a wide range of foods, including chopped vegetables, sauces, and pizza dough.
Different blades for shredding and slicing are included, making it possible to shred cheese and evenly slice vegetables in the machine.
Quantity is no concern, as the 9-cup processing capacity is large enough to handle most home kitchen projects.
When you’re done using this appliance, cleanup is a breeze, as the bowl and blades are all dishwasher safe.
Pros
- Large, 9-cup food processing capacity
- Versatile: can be used for chopping, slicing vegetables and mixing dough
- 4 preset programs make it easy to use
- Ninja has a strong brand reputation
Cons
- Some users complain that the feed tube is too narrow
- Design makes it hard to store in smaller kitchen cabinets
2. KitchenAid KFP0718ER 7-Cup Food Processor
If you’re looking for a compact, well-designed, efficient food processor then this is the right product for you.
Available in KitchenAid’s classic “Empire Red” color, this food processor makes for a beautiful addition to any kitchen counter.
The attention to detail put into the design of this product can be felt on multiple levels, from the cord storage wrap to the in-bowl accessory storage space.
While this food processor may be compact, that does not mean that it isn’t versatile. The machine is capable of chopping, pureeing, shredding, and slicing and there are two blades that come with the product: a reversible slicing/shredding disc and a multi-purpose blade.
Finally, we love that the bowl is twist-free, so all you need to do is click the bowl down into the base of the processor before and after using the product.
Pros
- Twist-free bowl design makes it easy to use
- Easy to clean as bowl, lid, and accessories are all dishwasher safe
- Compact design and easy to store components
- One-touch operation
Cons
- Some users complain that there is too much plastic
- Latch requires a lot of pressure to securely lock in place
3. Hamilton Beach Food Processor & Vegetable Chopper for Slicing, Shredding, Mincing, and Puree
The Hamilton Beach Food Processor & Vegetable Chopper is a relatively inexpensive and powerful device that can measurably speed up your cooking process.
There are two main ways that this food processors makes the chopping process quick and efficient.
The first is the unique bowl scraper attachment, which scrapes the sides of the bowl while the processor is running, so ingredients stay close to the blade and you don’t have to interrupt the machine’s function to manually move your ingredients off of the sides of the food processor bowl.
The other driving feature is the large feed chute, into which you can fit whole blocks of cheese or whole vegetables, ultimately saving you prep time by avoiding the need to chop larger vegetables into chunks.
If you want to switch between slicing and shredding, that is no problem, since the appliance comes with a helpful, reversible stainless steel disc that both slices and shreds.
You can alternate between the two speeds and pulsing option through the use of a simple and stylish stainless steel dial.
Pros
- Stainless steel finishes give the unit a clean look
- Bowl-scraper attachment saves you time and effort
- Can easily switch between speeds and modes with the dial
- 10-cup capacity is large enough for most jobs
Cons
- There could be more power settings
- Lid can be difficult to position perfectly
4. GE Food Processor | 12 Cup
The GE 12 Cup Food Processor comes with all the specialized blades and discs that you need to get the most out of a food processor.
Not only is this food processor capable of chopping tough fruits and vegetables with 550w of power, it can handle other, more unique tasks such as kneading dough, emulsifying sauces, and slicing potatoes for french fries.
Between the included stainless steel processor blades, grating disc, French fry disc, dough blade, and emulsifier tool, no stone is left unturned.
In addition to being incredibly versatile, this food processor has a large bowl that can accommodate up to 12 cups of food. The ergonomic handle of the cup makes it easy to remove from the base of the food processor, with minimal risk of dropping the cup.
All the blades are made of stainless steel, so you can be assured that you’re purchasing a high quality product. With so many features and its highly durable design, the $100 price tag on this GE food processor is very reasonable.
Pros
- Many additional blades are included for the price point
- 12-cup capacity is very large
- Stainless steel finish makes product attractive and durable
- Large feed tube reduces need for pre-cutting
Cons
- Takes up considerable storage space
- Some reviewers question the longevity of the product
5. Ninja NF701 Professional XL Food Processor
As with their other products, Ninja did not settle for less when designing the NF701 Professional XL Food Processor.
This food processor is insanely powerful, with a peak power of 1200 watts.
The food processor is capable of chopping the hardest of vegetables into small and even pieces, and always does so with incredible precision.
The precision that the unit achieves can be attributed to the Auto-IQ preset programs, that have preset pulse and pause patterns to perfectly chop, puree, and knead ingredients.
Slicing with this food processor is a breeze, and it even has adjustable slicing, so you can slice vegetables all the way from thick to paper thin.
The large feed tube is equipped with a 3-part pusher, so adding any type of ingredient to the food processor bowl is a smooth process.
Pros
- Powerful; 1200-peak-watt base
- Auto-IQ presets are calibrates for perfect pulsing and pause patterns for optimal results
- Large feed tube
- Precise; can adjust the thickness of sliced vegetables
Cons
- Expensive
- Does not come with a spiralizer disc
6. Cuisinart DLC-8SY Pro
We like this food processor because it strikes the perfect balance between simple and powerful.
Simple on/off pulse food processors do have a place among the best food processors, and we believe this Cuisinart model is one such appliance.
While the product boasts a large 11-cup work bowl capacity, it is still quite compact and easy to store, designed with a unique compact cover for the work bowl.
The blades are very well-crafted, and included are three additional discs: a 2mm slicing disc, a 4mm slicing disc, and a shredding disc.
These additional discs, along with the chopping/dough blade, combine to give you a range of functions that include chop, shred, slice, puree, knead, and emulsify.
When using the food processor, ingredients can easily be streamed in through the extra-large feed tube, and a smaller feed tube insert is also included to securely pass through smaller foods.
Pros
- Stainless steel blades are crafted for precision
- Compact cover is easy to clean
- Easy to operate, just on/off pulsing
- Extra-large feed tube with smaller feed tube insert gives you stability and saves pre-cutting time
Cons
- Some users have complained about Cuisinart's customer service support
- Instruction manual is confusing
7. Nutribullet NBP50100 Food Processor
“Small but mighty” would be the right words to describe the nutribullet NBP50100 Food Processor.
Nutribullet is a brand known for making powerful, compact products and this food processor is no exception.
The seven-cup capacity is sizeable enough for many kitchen jobs, but small enough so that it is easy to store and thus a great option for home cooks who live alone or tend to cook smaller meals.
There is no tradeoff in size for functionality, as this food processor comes with multiple attachments to give you a complete food processor experience. Disc attachments are included for functions such as chopping, slicing, shredding, spiralizing, and kneading.
All of the major components, including the work bowl, lid, food pusher, blade adapter, and dough blade are BPA-free and top-rack dishwasher safe. Additionally, the Power Base can be cleaned with a damp cloth.
This product is easy to clean, it is powerful, and is an attractive addition to any small kitchen.
Pros
- Easy to clean since all major components are dishwasher safe
- 5 different types of blades and discs are included
- Recipe book and user guide help you get started quickly
- Has a dual-sized food pusher so it adjusts to the size of add-in ingredients
Cons
- Power Base has a plastic exterior
- Some reviewers complain that it cannot make a fine paste puree
8. KitchenAid 5 Cup Food Chopper - KFC0516
This food processor is particularly well-suited for purees and soups.
Its body resembles that of a kettle, and it has a pour spout making it easy to pour liquidus and semi-solid mixes into other vessels once you are finished using the food processor.
The drizzle basin makes it to easy to incorporate liquid ingredients into the food processor, so this product is great if you like to make emulsified dressings and sauces.
The compact design is enhanced by the fact that the accessories can be stores inside of the bowl.
We love that this food processor comes with a whisk blade, allowing you to make whipped cream in just 30 seconds.
This product weighs just under 4 pounds, so it can easily be taken in and out of the kitchen cabinets.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Ideal for sauces and dressings
- Whisk blade allows you to make whipped cream and fast
- Spout makes it easy to pour finished product into jars, bowls, or cups
Cons
- Too many plastic parts
- Longevity is questioned by reviewers due to durability concerns
9. Braun 12 in 1 Multi-Functional Food processor
The Braun 12 in 1 Multi-Functional Food processor truly has it all.
With 8 distinct blades, there is almost nothing you can’t do with this appliance. The different blade attachments allow you to grate, shred to coarse textures, shred to fine textures, slice, whip, knead, chop, and even cut potatoes for french fries.
The product is divided into two bowls that sit over one elongated base: one small bowl with a .75L capacity and another, larger bowl with a 2.8L (12 cup) capacity.
While using the product, you have maximum control over the consistency and speed of processing through a speed dial that has 11 numbered speed settings.
In addition to the many conventional features this product offers, there is also a juicer attachment, increasing the number of use cases of the appliance.
Pros
- Impressive dual-design allows for large quantities of food processing
- Can control the speed with 11 speed settings
- Very versatile as there are 8 blade attachments
- Powerful motor with ultra-quiet operation
Cons
- Expensive
10. Ninja Express Chop Professional
This ultra-compact food processor is an ideal choice for people with small kitchens or students.
This product is capable of all major functions found in the best food processors, including mincing, dicing, chopping, blending, and pureeing.
When you need to clean the food processor, all you need to do is place the removable parts in the dishwasher.
The product is equipped with an anti-spill splash guard and the base is designed to resist slippage, so even though this product is small it is sturdy.
If you wish to make small batches of salsas, dressings, or any other sauce/topping, and don’t wish to spend on a larger, bulkier food processor then the Ninja Express Chop Professional is a winner.
Pros
- Low price point
- Compact and lightweight; weights under 3 lbs.
- Designed with a no-slip base for stability
- Capable all all major food processor tasks
Cons
- Hard to achieve even consistencies
Best types of Food Processor
The type of food processor you buy matters as the use cases vary.
Best Batch Bowl Food Processor
The best batch bowl food processors include the Ninja BN601 Professional Plus Food Processor and the KitchenAid KFP0718ER 7-Cup Food Processor. Both food processors have components that are dishwasher safe, making them easy to clean after chopping, slicing, grinding, etc.
Best Continuous Feed Food Processor
The Braun 12 in 1 Multi-Functional Food processor is one of the best continuous feed food processors on the market. It has two bowls that are capable of processing different quantities of ingredients, and the large tube allows you to incorporate ingredients seamlessly while the food processor is running.
Best Combination Food Processor
The Ninja NF701 Professional XL is a fantastic combination food processor. It has an XL feed tube and a massive 12-cup capacity, allowing you to add in large quantities of whole ingredients while chopping or pureeing with the appliance.
Best Buffalo Chopper Food Processor
The Hakka Commercial 5.5 L Multifunction Meat Bowl Cutter Mixer and Buffalo Chopper is one of the best buffalo choppers available. For a professional machine, it is remarkably quiet and it is energy efficient, optimally designed for short chopping times.
Best Vertical Cutter Food Processor
The Robot Coupe R8 is the best vertical cutter food processor. With its see-through lid, you can monitor the cutting process from start to finish, and the lid is fitted with a seal so it is leakproof.
Functionality of a Food Processor
The functionality that you should expect from a food processor includes even chopping, easy and adjustable speed controls, dishwasher safe attachments, and convenient storage options for the attachments. Many food processors have multiple processing options to accommodate different types of foods and consistencies, such as dedicated options for grating, slicing, pureeing, kneading, or chopping. Choosing the right option on your food processor will increase the likelihood of your food turning out perfect. The speed settings allow you to customize the degree to which you chop/grind/puree your food. Sometimes, all you need is a quick chop or a short grind, and sometimes, food processors have preset settings to run for specific time periods with calculated pauses in pulsing. Food processors may also have built-in bowl-scrapers, eliminating the need to scrape food of the sides of the bowl in between uses of the appliance. Some food processors even have spouts if they’re specifically designed for liquids, so you can easily empty the food processor of its contents after each use.
Food processors can be capable of many functions, from slicing potatoes for French fries to slicing cucumbers paper thin. The different blade attachments that come with your food processor will dictate the overall functionality of your unit. However, all food processors have motors which enable you to chop food into smaller bits with controlled pulses or pulsing periods.
A food processor’s feed tube may be split into two components. Some units have large tubes specifically meant for large, whole ingredients and within that tube a smaller tube that is meant for keeping smaller chunks of food stable as they are inserted into the tube.
What to Know for Buying a Food Processor
There are several things to consider when buying a food processor. The most important thing to look at is the type of food processor being purchased. This is important because different food processors are better suited for different tasks. A batch bowl food processor is better for those who mainly use their food processors to chop vegetables or make breadcrumbs. A continuous feed food processor may be better for people who like to make sauces and dressings, as they allow you to stream in ingredients while the machine is running, which is often required when making liquid foods. If you like making dressings and dips, then choosing a food processor that comes with an emulsifying blade is helpful. Combination food processors are the best choice for home cooks who like to wish to use a food processor to prepare liquid and solid foods.
The overall price is another factor to consider. No matter the price point, finding a good balance between cost and features assures you value for money. This does not necessarily mean going for the priciest or cheapest option available.
Ease of cleaning and storage are important factors to consider. Food processors are great because by using them you contain the chopping process within a smaller vessel, ultimately reducing your clean-up. However, washing the bowl by hand can be a tiring task, so it is best to find a food processor that has dishwasher safe components. Also, food processors typically don’t get used enough to live on kitchen counters, so finding a unit that can be stored easily inside your kitchen cabinets is critical.
Additionally, it is important to select a food processor that is adequate for your use cases. Some style cases to be mindful of are whether you want a multitude of blade attachments or just need basic pulse functions. Do you need all of the different uses of a food processor?
Features such as built-in cord storage are also helpful, since they make the appliance easier to store.
Price Ranges for the Best Food Processors
The best food processors come at a price range of $30-$250. Food processors with many pulse cycle options, advanced blade technology, and juicer attachments tend to be more expensive than food processors that operate with a single on/off pulse mechanism. Food processors with larger capacities are also considerably more expensive than smaller bowl food processors. The material of the food processor is also factored in the price. Food processors with stainless steel housing at their base are typically more expensive than those with plastic housing.
Main Difference between a Food Processor and a Chopper
The main difference between a food processor and a chopper are the construction and use cases of the two types of item. Food processors typically have feed tubes that allow you to stream or drop-in ingredients while you operate the machine. Choppers, on the other hand, are not equipped with such tubes and thus can only chop what is placed within the bowl prior to operating the chopper. Also, food processors often come with multiple blade attachments suited for different functions, such as pureeing, mixing, kneading, and even whisking. Choppers only come with one blade and will thus not perform a variety of cuts. For this reason, choppers are typically less expensive than food processors.
Food Processor Types
Here are 5 types of food processor:
Batch bowl food processor: Batch bowl food processors are ideal for small to medium-sized ingredients. They work by adding a single batch of ingredients to the bowl to process. Batch bowl food processors have functions available for chopping, slicing, shredding, grating, whipping, and pureeing.
Continuous feed food processor: A continuous feed food processor allows you to continually add ingredients to the food processor. They are ideal when you have a lot of ingredients you need to process. Continuous feed food processors are capable of heavy-duty slicing, shredding, grating, and precise dicing.
Combination food processor: A combination food processor has both a batch and continuous feed option.
Buffalo chopper: A buffalo chopper food processor is good for chopping dense ingredients, like meats.
Vertical cutter processor: A vertical cutter processor has a heavy-duty motor with the ability to chop large ingredients at one time.
Common Use Mistakes of a Food Processor
The common mistakes you can make when using a food processor include running the food processor with the wrong blade. A blade that is meant for slicing will not chop vegetables into tiny bits, and standard blades are not suited for slicing vegetables. Another mistake is adding too many ingredients into the feeding tube at once. To avoid overloading the food processor, it is important to incorporate add-ins in reasonable quantities, or otherwise the blades and the machine may get damaged. Equally important as the quantity of ingredient is the type of ingredient. Bones and very tough meats should not be placed in a food processor, since home food processors are not powerful enough to handle those hard textures.
Cleaning the food processor is another important element of maintenance, and is one that often gets overlooked. One should clean the interior of their work bowl after every use, and this can be accomplished with a mild soap wash. Similarly, you should clean the base of your food processor every few uses, as debris and grease can wear down the product.
In addition to the mistakes listed above, it is always important to use the right quantity of ingredients in your food processor and make sure that you are not exceeding the capacity of the bowl, as that can cause the food processor blades to get stuck during operation. Using food processors properly gets easier as you learn how to use food processors.
Standards to Determine the Best Food Processor
The criteria for the best food processor include the strength and precision of the blades, the number of blade attachments, evenness of cutting, and ease of cleaning. There are several things to consider when selecting the best food processor. The most important question to answer is, “How evenly will this cut my ingredients?” This may be difficult to determine without trying the range of devices available. Functionality and reliability can be established by leaning on the experiences of other users.
You can do this by reading customer reviews. This will also help you gauge the lifespan of a food processor.
Common Complaints for Food Processors
Common complaints for food processors mainly revolve around the food processor not chopping vegetables and other ingredients as evenly as desired.
Furthermore, users may complain about cheap or flimsy parts. If the base for the food processor or the handle is flimsy, users may write a note about this in their product reviews.
Food processors are also sometimes criticized for making too much noise when running, and this can be particularly frustrating if you have to pulse large quantities of food.
Many reviews we read noted longevity as a major concern in their overall food processor owning experiences. The blades of food processors, while usually made of stainless steel, do get worn down with repeated use.
The size of the feeding tube is another major factor that can make or break your food processor experience. If the tube is too narrow, it may be difficult to add whole vegetables and fruits, and this is undesirable as the point of the feeding tube is to reduce the cook’s need to pre-cut.
Best kitchen tool brands
Below are some of the best kitchen tool brands that also make food processors.
- Breville: They have an excellent range of high-end, advanced food processors. They have many kitchen appliances that include kettles, coffee machines, espresso machines, sous vides, bread makers, and microwaves.
- GE: They have a few excellent food processor units. They mainly have large sized kitchen appliances but also produce tools that include ice makers, toasters, blenders, and kettles.
- Cuisinart: They have a wide variety of food processors. Their brand is well known and praised for being best-in-class. In addition to food processors, they also sell kitchen tools like bread makers, can openers, deep fryers, grills, hand mixers, and juicers.
- Black and Decker: They are well known for their heavy duty kitchen products. In addition to producing food processors, other kitchen tools that they produce include bread makers, freezers, fridges, and ice makers.
Top Food Processors Lifespan
The lifespan of the food processor will vary depending on what it is made of and how it is used. A moderately used food processor with a durable design will have a lifespan of up to seven years. This can be stretched to ten years with some care.
Food processors that are not well maintained have lifespans lower than five years.
Buy a Food Processor
Nowadays, food processors are widely available both online and in stores. These are some of the best places to buy them:
Walmart: Average Prices range between $44.96 and $169.80. Delivers in 1-3 days.
Amazon: Average Prices range between $46.39 and $249.95. Delivers in 1-3 days.
Target: Average Price ranges around $19.99 and $249.99 Delivers in 3-5 days.
Bed Bath & Beyond: Average Price ranges between $34.99 to $449.99. Delivers in 2-5 days.
Other Best Kitchen Tools besides Food Processors
We have covered plenty of food processors in this post. There are other kitchen tools that you can use together with your food processor. These include:
- Blenders
- Spice Grinders
Brands such as Cuisinart sell both blenders and spice grinders.
Abigail Clemente
To say that Abigail is passionate about gardening and landscaping would be an understatement. Abigail came to Your House Your Garden team with an already exceptional portfolio as an experienced writer.
Abigail Clemente
To say that Abigail is passionate about gardening and landscaping would be an understatement. Abigail came to Your House Your Garden team with an already exceptional portfolio as an experienced writer.
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