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Food processor for dicing vegetables


The best food processors to handle slicing, dicing, and chopping

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My grandma is the authority on food, at least in my family. When I mentioned that I was writing about food processors, she had plenty of input. She once bought my uncle a food processor for his birthday two years in a row. And no, she doesn’t think he uses it.

That’s the problem, she says: so many people get food processors as a wedding present or holiday gift and leave them wedged in the corner of the cabinet. But not grandma. She uses hers a few times a week, even to make apple muffins.

To her, a food processor is a necessity of the kitchen. It saves time chopping and dicing ingredients. But choose wisely, as some may take too much time to clean or are too complicated for your needs.

If you just want smoothies and thin dressing, look for a blender. We have a roundup of the best blenders as well as the best single-serve blenders.

Be honest with yourself as you scroll through this list: What will you actually make with this machine? How many people do you usually serve? Is there enough space in that awkward cabinet above the refrigerator?

If you host people frequently or are a potluck fein, you have a tough choice to make. Do you want a food processor large enough to slice in bulk? Or are you usually just feeding a table of four? There are some impressive (and expensive) machines that’ll get you cooking in no time, and there are small models that require a little less budgeting.

Keep your eye on the wattage. The larger the number, the easier it can cut through food. This can save time and frustration.

Another key feature is the attachments. A standard s-shaped blade comes with every model, but some allow you to swap for different types of cuts. The standard blade can do a lot, even make dough. It chops and grinds perfectly, but won’t slice or julienne. My top pick even has a disc to make waffle fries. But these features usually come alongside hefty price tags.

To create this list, I spent hours combing through reviews and suggestions. I’ve watched a lot of America’s Test Kitchen videos on YouTube, and I’ve even scrolled through the food processor Reddit page. The final step is to get a variety of price points, sizes, and designs. Hopefully one of these will suit you.

Breville BFP800XL (opens in a new tab)

Best Of The Best

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Credit: breville

This 26-pound powerhouse is highly praised among culinary enthusiasts. It earns an average of 4.5 stars across most distributors’ websites, and the most common complaint is that the plastic parts aren’t dishwasher safe. Breville’s website says it’s okay to wash them on the top shelf of the dishwasher now and then, but constantly running them through will damage the plastic.

The feed chute on this processor is one of the widest; there’s enough space to drop a potato in sideways. For smaller vegetables, there’s a second, leaner tube. But the blade will only spin if you use the food pusher, a common safety feature.

Most food processors pulse without many tech features, but this one has a timer to make recipes succinct. It can count down if you know how long you want it to spin, or make the timer count up to measure how long is just right. This can be key for making the perfect dough.

The Breville Sous Chef has the delicacy to handle a flaky pie crust but also the power to chop potatoes cleanly and quickly. Its consistency will cut down on waste and wow your guests — you no longer have to call your coleslaw “rustic.”

The BFP800XL holds 16 cups, but there are smaller models in the series if you don’t have quite enough cabinet space. For a smaller batch, Breville includes a 2.5-cup processing bowl that goes inside the larger one. It’s also the perfect size for making dips and sauces.

Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor (opens in a new tab)

Best Value

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Credit: hamilton beach

The standout feature is a manual side-scraper attached to the lid of this food processor. As the machine blends your sauce or dip, you can keep the sides clear by twisting a dial on top. This saves time fumbling with the lid on other models.

The price is the main reason for purchasing this unit. Few processors under $50 have the capacity and slicing/shredding discs of the Hamilton Beach food processor. Plus, the wattage is impressive for a low-end appliance.

The average review on Amazon is 4.5 stars, with a few complaints of a short lifespan. Many of these complaints were after using the product for a year or more. To extend its life, we'd suggest you hand wash the components of the food processor.

Amazon reviewer Josh W. says:

“I do a lot of window shopping before I decide on something. My SO goes nuts because it takes me three months to decide on a kitchen knife. That being said, I did my usual amount of research before buying this thing and my due diligence did not fail me yet again. The scraper is seriously so useful. Being Korean, I make kimchee every couple of months or so - which means a lot of friggin' garlic. This thing is awesome for mincing up some serious amounts of garlic because bigger chunks tend to get stuck at the top and not get minced evenly. The scraper solves that problem. I also tried using it to process crab meat to make it flaky to make California rolls and the motor can handle dry and dense foods like crab meat. I also tried processing chicken breast for chicken salad with it and no problems there either. The control options are pretty basic but if you can handle your own around a kitchen then gadgets with crazy settings only get in the way. With this product, there is absolutely no need to hesitate. The amazing price is just that - an awesome deal.”

Cuisinart CH-4DC Elite Collection 4-Cup Chopper/Grinder (opens in a new tab)

Best Small Food Processor

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Credit: Cuisinart

I usually cook for one, so most food processors seem excessive for my lifestyle. But this one could fit among my shelves of mismatched plates and bowls. It’s less bulky than family-sized processors, but it doesn’t feel flimsy.

The base is die cast metal, making it sturdy enough to avoid wiggling around the countertop. The white and black models have plastic bases, so avoid those if you want the weight of metal.

The blade, which rotates between chopping and grinding, spins and hits the food with the blunt side on the chopping setting while the grinding side should be utilized for harder foods, like almonds.

The blade locks into the base, keeping it safe from tumbling out. It has to be tight for the processor to start up too, so you don’t have to worry when cooking with a little helper.

Amazon reviewer C. Drennan says:

“I do have the full size version of this and I live it, but pulling it out and cleaning is a pain. I bought this smaller version primarily for baby foods. It's small enough that I can leave it on the counter and cleanup is relatively easy as there are only 3 pieces. For normal cooking purposes it won't replace my fill size, mostly because it doesn't have a cheese grater or slicing blade but for everyday use like chopping fruits or veggies, this does the trick.”

KitchenAid KFP0933WH (opens in a new tab)

Best Features

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Credit: KitchenAid

KitchenAid makes a line of food processors with what it calls the “exact slice system.” It’s a sliding adjustment for the slicing disc, located on the base of the processor instead of the disc itself. This way, you can make a slice thicker or thinner without having to disassemble the processor.

The feed tube is split into three sizes, thus eliminating the need to precut the ingredients.

The processor comes with a nine-cup bowl and a 2.5-cup bowl with corresponding blade. It’s great to whip up something quickly for lunch or for the picky eater of the family. My grandma uses smaller bowls when she needs to alter a portion of a meal for someone with food allergies. The group can have the original recipe, but allergies still get accommodated. Use her strategy when dealing with your one keto-dieting friend.

Amazon reviewer Shari B. says:

“After 30 years with a very small "food processor" I tried this actual food processor. It is wonderful! Quiet, quick and easy to clean. I have done items from slicing carrots, celery & napa cabbage to pesto. Cannot wait to try those recipes that I bypassed because of lack of proper food processor.”

Cuisinart DFP-14BCNY (opens in a new tab)

Most Popular Food Processor

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Credit: CuisinarT

When I asked around about food processors, I heard that a lot of people look for Cuisinart. It’s a brand that balances quality with affordability for a lot of consumers. It doesn’t out-perform the Breville (my top pick), but it’s about half the price.

The main drawback is that there are two slicing discs, but neither are adjustable. At this price range, you can usually customize the size of the slice. If you’re as indecisive as I am, it’s nice to not have to worry too much about the thickness of the slice.

The feed chute is wide, a good indication that the processor can handle full vegetables. Usually, you chop things into sections before the machine dices it further. The 720 watts powering the Cuisinart enable it to slice through thicker pieces.

Amazon reviewer Salena Lettera says:

“I did some research before buying this food processor. It's large enough to drop whole apples or potatoes in. It shreds, slices, and chops. Easily cleaned. Comes with everything you need. It doesn't come with a dough blade. The dough blade is pointless, so I wouldn't advise buying one. The regular blade does a better job with dough. It comes with a spatula that fits the inside shape of the work bowl. The shred blade and the slice blade has a counter weight that helps balance as either blade spins. The shred and slice blade should by putting just enough pressure on whatever is being processed to keep in contact with the blade. The blades are sharp and do a very good job, so you don't need to mash down on the food to get it to slice or shred. Just put the food into the feed tube and lightly press on the plastic pusher piece with enough pressure to keep the food in contact with the blade and let the machine do all the work. It's a stable machine that wont hop around on your counter. It's easily cleaned and does a good job.”

Brieftons Express Food Chopper (opens in a new tab)

Best Manual Food Processor

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Credit: Brieftons

Specs

Buying Options

$32.99 from Amazon (opens in a new tab)

It’s okay, Goldilocks. Chopping your produce into bits is too hard. Electric food processors are too bulky. This one may be just right.

This food processor is certainly the odd one out on this list, but it deserves to be here just as much as the electric appliances. The sharp blades slash through fruits and vegetables like the others, only this one is powered by a manual button. Keep pressing until the chop is small enough and voilà, you’re done.

The key benefit of this device is that you can store your food in the bowl. Remove the blade and the handle, and your chopped salad is potluck ready. It’s like Tupperware with a super power.

The downside is that the cuts are less precise than electric models, and it can’t make sauces that require a lot of blending. It can stir and chop, but it will never make you fries.

Amazon reviewer Ronald Kirk says:

“If you have never used one of these, you are missing out. I use this all of the time. We had a food processor and it took up space on the counter, was bulky, and took time to clean it. This thing does the truck in a couple of pulls. The more you pull the finer the chop is...We won't go without one. The best part is when I have to chop onions...no more irritated eyes!”

Ninja Express Chop (opens in a new tab)

Best Compact Design

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Credit: ninja

Ninja expands beyond blenders and brings clever design to food processors with the Express Chop. The power is stored at the top of this device rather than at the base, and food is chopped as it whisks around and through the blades.

It’s a quick and simple approach to food processors, which is perfect for some kitchens. The cuts aren’t going to achieve the precision of more complicated processors, but it should work if your dinner guest isn’t Gordon Ramsay.

Amazon reviewer Zachary Long says:

“This Ninja is surprisingly efficient! We made some homemade hummus finally after being addicted to the premade stuff, and it's ridiculously easy if you have the ingredients you'll wonder why you were paying $5 a tub before. So we made our hummus in the blender, which is the only thing we had, and it came out good, but there's a reason the food processor was invented. The blender is great for a smoothie but it doesn't circulate something more chunky like hummus so we were left with a lot of stirring and hassle, so we grabbed this little Ninja Express to bridge the gap since we haven't had a need for a food processor before and just want it for hummus. On the first blend last night, our chunky hummus came out smooth and silky just like the premade stuff! The blades on this thing are super sharp and made short work of blending a full batch of hummus (about 1.5 cups of beans). The cup and a half of beans pretty much filled this entire ninja so you could probably do about 2 cups at a time max, so this is great for small jobs but check out the larger Ninja offerings for more robust kitchen work. Great for the occasional hummus or other dip!”

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Best food processor 2023: expertly tested models from the best brands

(Image credit: KitchenAid)

The best food processors make life easier when you're cooking for a crowd or simply prepping for a meal for one. They effortlessly blitz through dicing, slicing, grinding and kneading.

We've thoroughly tested a wide range of food processors from leading brands, such as Ninja, KitchenAid, Cuisinart, NutriBullet, and Magic Bullet. Our tests put the best food processors through their paces, judging their functionality and efficiency through performance, cleaning, and ease of use. 

If you want to double up your food processor with one of the best blenders, we've also included models that come with blending cups to make smoothies as well as dips or sauces. 

The best food processor deals

Why you can trust Homes & Gardens Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

NutriBullet NBP50100 7-Cup Food Processor | was $119.99, now $96.74 at Amazon
A versatile addition to your kitchen, the NutriBullet NBP50100 7-Cup Food Processo is voted our best food processor for attachments. This model comes with blade and disc attachments for chopping, slicing, shredding, spiralizing and kneading dough, it also features three precision speeds: high, low, and pulse.

KitchenAid Cordless 5 Cup Food Chopper KFCB519 | was $99.99, now $79.99 at Amazon
Available in seven different finishes, the KitchenAid Cordless 5 Cup Food Chopper is voted our best cordless food processor. A lightweight, portable design that can be easily transported round the kitchen, enjoy a saving on this versatile, 5-cup design.

GE 12-Cup Food Processor with Accessories| was $159.99, now $99.99 at Best Buy
This GE food processor has a generous 12-cup capacity and comes with a variety of stainless steel attachments including a Grating disc, French fry disc, Dough blade, and an Emulsifier disc. It also comes with a mini-chopping bowl for smaller portions and a Spatula so hands never need to go near the blades.

Bella Pro Series 8-Cup Food Processor | was $79.99 now $39.99 at Best Buy
The Bella Pro Series 8-Cup Food Processor is a Best Buy exclusive with A 500-watt motor and reversible shredding disc. 

Best food processor 2023, according to our experts

(Image credit: Future)

1. Cuisinart Core Custom 10-Cup Food Processor

The best food processor you can buy

Specifications

Power: 500W

Capacity: 10 cups

Programs: Low, high, pulse

Cleaning: Dishwasher safe

RRP: $179.95

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Sealed work bowl 

+

Easy, neat storage

+

A range of colors available

+

Two sizes of pushers

+

Optional added attachments

Reasons to avoid

-

No way to tell if it's switched on

Why you should buy it: Effective; easy to use and store; lightweight; versatility: base can be used for other accessories.

The Cuisinart Core Custom 10-Cup is our top buy and we think you will be hard-pressed to find a better food processor. Our tester Camryn found that it was lightweight, but felt secure, with a bowl that fully seals to prevent any messes while mixing liquid ingredients. 'I think this appliance is worth the splurge if you’re going to use it regularly,' Camryn reports. 'Details like the sealed work bowl make this appliance easy and enjoyable to use, plus you can buy additional attachments to use on the same base.' 

One of our favorite things about this food processor is that everything can be stored inside the main mixing bowl. That includes the blade (which comes with its own protective cover) and the reversible shredding and slicing discs. You can also expand its capabilities by investing in a blender jar, juice extractor or dicing accessory.

The controls are on the simple side, you can either mix on low or high, or pulse. However, we didn't find that this food processor lacked power when we made everything from energy bites to guacamole. The removable parts are all dishwasher-safe, and you can even choose from a range of colors when you buy. 

Our Cuisinart Core Custom 10-Cup Food Processor review has more details

(Image credit: Nutribullet)

2. NutriBullet NBP50100 7-Cup Food Processor

The best food processor for attachments

Specifications

Power: 450W

Capacity: 7 cups

Programs: Low, High, Pulse

Cleaning: Dishwasher-safe

RRP: $119.99

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

In-bowl storage

+

Dishwasher-safe design

+

Comes with a spiralizer attachment

Reasons to avoid

-

Food opening is quite small

Why you should buy it: Versatile; in-bowl storage; lightweight.

If it's a versatile food processor you're looking to use on a daily basis, the NutriBullet NBP50100 7-Cup Food Processor is it, thanks to its do-it-all attachments, which include a dough hook, a chopping blade, two reversible slicing and shredding discs (one thick, one thin), and a spiralizing insert, which our tester Camryn was particularly impressed with: it was very easy to get set up and produced long spirals of carrot and potato. There are three speeds: low, high, and pulse, and Camryn used all to make everything from shakes to the dough. 'After weeks of testing, I think it’s an ideal everyday food processor for any household,' she reports.

Despite this huge selection, the attachments can be easily stored in the bowl – other than one disc, which doesn't fit inside. This is important to note since food processors that don't allow for in-bowl storage take up more valuable storage space. At just six pounds, the Nutribullet 7-Cup Food Processor is also very lightweight – a need to know if you are not storing it on the countertop. 

Camryn also found it easy to clean: most of the removable parts are dishwasher-safe and the plastic is BPA-free. As with a lot of Nutribullet products, it comes with a comprehensive recipe book that is great to get you started using the machine. 

Our Nutribullet 7-Cup Food Processor review has more details

(Image credit: Breville)

3.

Breville Sous Chef 12 Food Processor

The best premium food processor

Specifications

Power: 1000W

Capacity: 12 cups

Programs: On, Pulse

Cleaning: Hand-wash advised

RRP: $299.95

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Huge range of attachments

+

5-inch wide feed chute

+

Quality results

+

Variable size slicing

Reasons to avoid

-

Hand-washing is recommended

Why you should buy it: huge capacity; excellent, consistently good results.

The Breville BFP660SIL Sous Chef has the standard 12-cup capacity we see in many of the best food processors. Our tester Camryn found the controls very intuitive, and was able to get started as soon as she took it out of the box. The very powerful motor breezes through chopping larger and more dense items, and Camryn found it delivers some of the most consistent results of all the machines she tested.  

Worth noting: the chute is very wide, so you can turn food on its side and slice in different sizes, ideal for julienning; the shredding disc is also reversible, and the slicing disc is fully adjustable with 0.3mm to 8.0mm in size – overkill for some, perhaps, but if you take great pride presentation, it's a brilliant feature. 

'It screams quality,' Camryn says. 'While it costs a cool $300, it outperformed many other models that I’ve tested, delivering consistent results with minimal effort. I especially love the adjustable slicing disc and multiple chute sizes, which make it extremely versatile.' 

The biggest downside? It's big, which may make storage tricky if your space is small.

Our Breville Sous Chef 12 Food Processor review has more details

(Image credit: Ninja)

4. Ninja Professional 9-Cup Food Processor

The best food processor for easy cleaning

Specifications

Power: 850W

Capacity: 9 cups

Programs: Chop, puree, dough, disc, pulse

Cleaning: Dishwasher

RRP: $119. 95

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Not too expensive

+

Very powerful

+

Plenty of programs

+

Easy to clean

Reasons to avoid

-

Only one food bowl

Why you should buy it: Great entry level; easy to use; affordable.

The Ninja Professional 9-Cup Food Processor has a range of intelligent programs and handy attachments, all for under $100. It can chop, puree, dough, and dice, and has a reversible disc for slicing, too. Our tester Camryn found it particularly good at shredding vegetables and used the double-layered dough blades to make cookie dough, which, she reports, came together a lot quicker than many of the best stand mixers (though she did have to scrape down the sides of the cooking bowl). 

Other features Camryn loved include its lightweight, locking lid for safety and the quad chopping blade, which doesn't simply slice what's at the bottom of the bowl. She found it less effective on hard ingredients, however.

Overall, Camryn was impressed with the versatility and high quality of the Ninja, especially considering the price. 'If you frequently process large batches of food, you may be better off with a high-end model like the Cuisinart Custom 14 (below), which has a huge 14-cup capacity, or if you want something more compact, the Nutribullet 7-Cup Food Processor (above) has a fairly small footprint,' she says.

Our Ninja Professional Plus Food Processor review has more details

(Image credit: kitchenaid)

5. KitchenAid Cordless 5 Cup Food Chopper

The best cordless food processor

Specifications

Power: Lithium ion battery

Capacity: 5 cups

Programs: 1.77in

Cleaning: Dishwasher safe

RRP: $99.99

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Perfect for indoor or outdoor use

+

Battery life is impressive

+

Easy to use and clean

Reasons to avoid

-

Small capacity

Why you should buy it: Cordless = portable; lightweight; handy for small jobs.

When our tester Camryn put the KitchenAid Cordless 5 Cup Food Chopper through its paces, it truly converted her to cordless food processing. 'Suddenly I could make sauces and dips while standing outside with the grill, and move around the kitchen with complete freedom,' she says. 

Camryn used this five-cup food processor for blitzing up onions, carrots, tomato sauce, guacamole, and even to make a delicious aioli using the mayonnaise attachment. It impressed her at every turn. 'It delivers strong processing power that can handle most tasks, and includes an awesome whisk attachment, as well as an oil drizzle basin that will come in handy for recipes like pesto or hummus,' she says, 'though it doesn’t do as good a job creating uniform pieces as larger food processors.'

Camryn loved its ease of use and cleaning: you turn it on by simply twisting the lid into place and pressing the perfectly thumb-sized groove at the top (though you need to unscrew and reattach the lid to add new ingredients), and the cup is dishwasher-safe. Of course, she points out that you will need to remember to recharge it, but the battery lasted a long time during testing and she anticipates needing to recharge every month, at most. 

Our KitchenAid Cordless 5 Cup Food Chopper review has more details

(Image credit: Cuisinart)

6. Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor

The best large food processor

Specifications

Power: 720W

Capacity: 14 cups

Programs: On, Pulse

Cleaning: Dishwasher-safe parts

RRP: $249.95

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Generous bowl size

+

Simple to operate

+

Slices, shreds, chops and mixes

Reasons to avoid

-

Fewer smart functions

Why you should buy it: Well-made; easy to use; perfect for big family meals.

What sets the Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor apart is its large capacity: it's got five cups more than the industry standard. 'I can see this appliance being useful for someone who frequently does big-batch cooking. If you regularly double or triple the size of recipes to accommodate a large family or frequent hosting, the extra-large size of this appliance may be worth the splurge,' says our tester Camryn.

It tackled just about everything Camryn threw its way with ease: 'The pesto I made was evenly chopped and there was no need to go in and scrape any un-mixed ingredients into the sauce; my energy balls came out very well mixed and I found that it was easy to add and remove the blade because the bowl was so large,' she says.

For those who want a sturdy workhorse in the kitchen, look no further: it's outfitted with a slicing disc, shredding disc, and chopping/dough blade, and you can buy other shredding and slicing discs as well as a whisk attachment separately. Its uncomplicated design means it doesn't take up more space in the kitchen than it needs to, but it is heavy, so think twice about buying it if you'll need to transfer it from cabinet to countertop regularly.  

Our Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor review has more details

(Image credit: Ninja)

7. Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System with Auto-IQ

The best food processor blender combo

Specifications

Power: 1500W

Capacity: 8 cups

Programs: Dough, blend, crush, pulse

Cleaning: Dishwasher safe

RRP: $219.99

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

The ultimate multipurpose machine

+

Incredibly powerful

+

Personal and family-sized pitchers

Reasons to avoid

-

Large space requirements

Why you should buy it: Versatility! It operates as a portable blender, large batch blender, as well as a food processor, all on one smart base.

The Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System with Auto-IQ is a great investment if you want a blender and food processor in one, its 1400-watt motor tackles everything from blending morning smoothies to chopping dough to shredding veg with ease. Worth noting: there are manual modes for low speeds, too.

Its size is a plus if you have the storage space for its bulky base and three attachments: the food processor bowl is 64oz and the large blender is 72oz, perfect for soups and large drinks. You can even prep your soup ingredients in the food processor bowl and finish them off in the pitcher. 

Included is a dough blade and two levels for larger portions. There's also a chopping blade that simply slots into the top of the bowl. I was impressed by the food processor attachment in particular, which was speedy and chopped evenly using the double-layered blades. The various Auto-IQ settings are excellently timed with differing strengths and intermediate pulsing. This was particularly useful when blending a large smoothie or soup because it meant I could leave the setting to work unassisted while I went about making breakfast. 

Our Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System with Auto-IQ review has more details

(Image credit: Cuisinart)

8.

Cuisinart Elemental 13 Cup Food Processor

The best food processor for dicing

Specifications

Power: 550W

Capacity: 13 cups

Programs: High, low, pulse

Cleaning: Removable parts are dishwasher safe

RRP: $199.95

Today's Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Dicing attachments

+

Mini work bowl

+

Easy to clean

+

Attachment kit

Reasons to avoid

-

No multi-layer blades

-

Lots of storage space needed

Why you should buy it: Great for dicing.

If you take your cooking seriously, you'll know that sometimes dicing is just better than chopping for making tasty soups and the bases for stews. That's why I love the Cuisinart Elemental 13 Cup Food Processor and its dicing attachment.  

A powerful 550-watt motor keeps it on top of sizeable tasks, which is a good thing given the large size of the bowl. There is also a mini 4.5-cup work bowl that makes cleaning easier when preparing smaller dishes. The dicing attachment pushes vegetables and cheese through a grid insert and then slices the ingredients into evenly-sized square shapes. I did find that this attachment took a bit of muscle to get through every last piece of potato or cucumber, but the results were impressively consistent. 

Although there are a lot of extra attachments to contend with, Cuisinart does provide a large storage case to keep these organized. It even has a lock to keep it away from kids. There is also a storage case that contains the multiple slicing, spiralizing and chopping inserts, so only opt for this one if you have plenty of storage space to offer. The dicing grid comes with a special tool to clean out the remaining ingredients without putting your fingers at risk. All removable parts are dishwasher-safe.

This food processor is still being put through its paces – these are our first thoughts.

Where to buy the best food processors

These are the best places to buy food processors for a breadth of choice and great deals. 

What is the best food processor?

After our extensive trials of the best food processor, the Cuisinart Core Custom 10-Cup blew us away for its overall ease of use and performance. It's also a nice bonus that all the parts neatly nest inside when not in use to not take up extra space.

Meanwhile, if you're after something absolutely premium, the Breville BFP660SIL Sous Chef is absolutely worth the splurge with its quality build and consistent results. However, it did take up more space to store.

For those after something compact, we thought the NutriBullet NBP50100 Food Processor was lightweight and easy to store, and it comes with loads of attachments for extra versatility when it comes to slicing and dicing. It's also a well-priced item that hovers around the $100 mark in price, making it a great value too.  

How we test the best food processors

(Image credit: Future)

Our food processors have been tested by me (Millie Fender), Homes & Gardens' Reviews Editor in our test kitchen, and by professional appliance tester Camryn Rabideau, in her own kitchen – more on both of us below. You can read longer reviews of each in separate guides, but know that our testing process is continuous, so you can be sure only the top choices feature in this guide. Alongside our hands-on testing, we also research online user reviews and ask experts to ensure we can present you with a balanced view of each food processor. 

If we have included a food processor in this guide, it will have a rating out of five stars and we will clearly state this in the summary of each product. You will see that some with four stars are higher up the list than those with five stars; this is because, from position two downwards, we list the product by popularity amongst you, our readers. However, we are confident that all food processors listed are really good buys.

When testing the best food processors we made sure to use every attachment on offer, meaning we will often slice, chop, grate, spiralize, and even make pizza dough. We also like to work with a mixture of personal and brand-supplied recipes. A lot of brands include recipes with their products, which can be a great way of getting to know a food processor, but it's also important that the machine will work with our own recipes. We also test each food processor for weeks, not once, to ensure we offer you more than just a first impression.

For more insight into our hands-on review process, refer to our Homes & Gardens review guidelines. 

Reviews Editor

Millie Fender is the Reviews Editor on the Homes & Gardens Ecommerce team. Millie specializes in reviewing cooking appliances, and has built up a deep knowledge of food processors, mixers and blenders in particular. Millie loves to bake, so she will take any excuse to review stand mixers and other baking essentials. All of Millie's reviews are conducted at home, meaning she uses these products in her own kitchen, the way they're designed to be used. 

Contributing Editor

Camryn Rabideau is a product reviewer who has been testing small kitchen appliances (as well as other home goods) for several years. She’s tested everything from toasters to oil infusion machines, and as an avid baker, she loves trying out any gadgets that promise to make her creations more delicious or easier to bake, especially food processors. Camryn does her product testing from her small homestead in beautiful Rhode Island. 

What size food processor is best

Our advice is to never buy something your kitchen can't accommodate. Yes, it's tempting to buy the largest and most impressive food processor out there, but if it won't fit onto crowded counters or in kitchen cupboards, you'll grow to resent it very quickly.

Not all food processors take a lot of space though. Both of the KitchenAid options in our guide have a small footprint, even though there's a 9-cup model that will cater to even large families.  

Often it's the motor found in the base of a food processor that makes it so space-consuming, so opting for a mighty Ninja food processor could be costly in terms of space, but worth it for the high-powered functions. 

(Image credit: Future)

Food processor vs blender: what's the difference?

If you've ever tried to make a smoothie in a food processor or chop veggies in a blender, you'll know they're very different machines. Because food processors have flatter bowls they're best suited to chopping dry ingredients, whereas the vertical design of a blender's pitcher means you'll have perfectly smooth drinks in seconds.

If you're trying to choose between a blender versus a food processor, there's always the option of buying the best food processor blender combo in our guide, the Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System with Auto-IQ.

How much does a food processor cost?

The best food processor doesn't have to cost much. In fact, the models in our guide start at around the $100 mark, which really isn't bad for a powerful kitchen appliance that will last you for years. As they get smarter though, food processors also get more expensive. The typical food processor could cost as much as $250 for a truly multi-functional and high-end model. 

Round up of today's best deals

Nutribullet Food Processor

£29.99

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Ninja Professional 9-Cup Food Processor

£79.99

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KitchenAid cordless 5 cup food chopper

£135.50

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Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor

£483

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Reduced Price

Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System

£199. 99

£147.09

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Millie Fender is Head of Reviews on the Homes and Gardens Ecommerce team. She specializes in cooking appliances, such as the best kettles, and also reviews outdoor grills and pizza ovens. Millie loves to bake, so she will take any excuse to review stand mixers and other baking essentials. When she's not putting products through their paces in our dedicated testing kitchen, Millie's reviews are conducted at home, meaning she uses these products in her own day-to-day life. 

With contributions from

Diced food processor: the best models of 2020

An impressive range of kitchen gadgets offers users a wide variety of options. A separate category is a food processor with diced vegetables or fruits. The option is very useful, because it will save a lot of time on preparing various salads, preparations and even soups, and these dishes make up a large part of the population's menu.

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