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Most powerful food processor


The 3 Best Food Processors of 2022

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Photo: Michael Hession

UpdatedNov 2022

FYI

We've revisited this guide and still stand by our picks.

If you’re a cook who needs to get dinner on the table quickly, a food processor can feel like an additional pair of hands in the kitchen. It will allow you to prep a range of food—whether you’re grating cheese, chopping nuts, slicing vegetables, or kneading dough—at lightning speed. We’ve been testing food processors since 2013, and we remain convinced that the simple, sturdy, and powerful Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor is the best choice for most home cooks.

Our pick

Cuisinart Custom 14 Cup Food Processor

This is one of Cuisinart’s most basic models, but it consistently chops, slices, and kneads better than any other food processor we’ve found for under $250.

We like the Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor for its simplicity: This 14-cup model’s pared-down design makes it easier to use and to clean than models with more settings or multiple bowls. It comes with a handful of accessories and disks that are needed to complete common kitchen tasks, but nothing extra. This food processor also has a straightforward interface, with just two buttons, and one bowl. However, its simplicity doesn’t come at the cost of performance. In our tests, the Cuisinart tackled a multitude of chopping, shredding, and blending tasks exceptionally well, and it’s built more solidly than other processors in its price range.

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Budget pick

KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper

This mini, 3.5-cup processor is too small for making bread dough or coleslaw, but it’s the ideal size for chopping one onion or making small batches of mayo or vinaigrette.

We recommend the inexpensive KitchenAid 3. 5 Cup Food Chopper for anyone who wants to make small batches of dips, spreads, or mirepoix. It chopped vegetables more evenly than the other mini models we tested. On top of that, its handled jar with push-button activation was the most convenient to use. And this KitchenAid is a great option for people who don’t want to invest in a $250 machine. You can’t knead dough or shred ingredients in it, but you can grind or chop small portions of vegetables or nuts, which is more tedious to do by hand.

Upgrade pick

Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro

We recommend this large, 16-cup processor only if you’re cooking for a crowd multiple times a week. The Sous Chef is more than twice the price of the Cuisinart Custom 14, and it’s more powerful (and much bigger) than most people need.

The Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro is more powerful than the Cuisinart Custom 14, so it’s the machine you’ll want when you’re cooking for large groups or if you process food several times a week. Its 1,200-watt motor and smart design save you time in use and cleaning. In fact, despite the 16-cup Sous Chef’s many accessories, it was one of the easiest models to clean. That said, if you only use a food processor occasionally, the Breville’s high cost probably outweighs its benefits. And given that this processor is huge—more than 18 inches tall and nearly 20 pounds—you’ll need a big counter to keep it on.

Everything we recommend

Our pick

Cuisinart Custom 14 Cup Food Processor

This is one of Cuisinart’s most basic models, but it consistently chops, slices, and kneads better than any other food processor we’ve found for under $250.

Budget pick

KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper

This mini, 3.5-cup processor is too small for making bread dough or coleslaw, but it’s the ideal size for chopping one onion or making small batches of mayo or vinaigrette.

Upgrade pick

Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro

We recommend this large, 16-cup processor only if you’re cooking for a crowd multiple times a week. The Sous Chef is more than twice the price of the Cuisinart Custom 14, and it’s more powerful (and much bigger) than most people need.

The research

Why you should trust us

To help us suss out the features you should look for in a great food processor, we turned to two best-selling authors of food processing cookbooks: Jean Anderson, the James Beard Award–winning author of Process This, and Norene Gilletz, author of The New Food Processor Bible. Both authors were early adopters, purchasing their first Cuisinarts shortly after the company introduced the appliances, in the 1970s. Combined, they’ve logged thousands of hours on many machines. In our efforts to choose which models to test, we also looked at reviews from other publications, such as Serious Eats, and examined user reviews on Amazon, Macy’s, and other sites.

Michael Sullivan is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter and has covered food processors since 2016. He's spent dozens of hours shredding cheese, chopping vegetables, mixing doughs, and whipping up mayonnaise for this guide. This guide builds on work by Wirecutter deputy editor Christine Cyr Clisset.

Who should get this

Our food processor picks (from left to right): the Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor, the KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper, and the Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro. Photo: Michael Hession

If you find tasks like chopping nuts, slicing vegetables, and shredding cheese too tedious, strenuous, or time-consuming to perform by hand, you should consider getting a food processor. This kitchen tool is also handy for blending dips like hummus, preparing homemade mayonnaise, and mixing pie or bread dough.

To process small batches of ingredients, you may want to consider getting a mini food processor—even if you already have a full-size version. Mini processors are most useful for tasks such as chopping one onion, preparing salad dressing, or making a small batch of pesto. A mini model will process smaller quantities more efficiently than a full-size model, and its diminutive size means a mini model is easier to move around a counter, store, and clean.

If you have an older machine that still works well, stick with it. But if your current machine’s motor base is so lightweight that the appliance stutters across the counter while it’s running, or if the motor seizes while it’s kneading dough, you should consider upgrading to a model that has a heavier build and a better motor.

Food processor vs. blender: Which one should you get?

Although there’s some overlap in what they can do, food processors and blenders aren’t interchangeable appliances. A food processor is the best tool for chopping and mincing, because its wide base allows the blades to slice through more at once, so you can coarsely chop ingredients quickly and evenly. Most full-size food processors also come with blades for slicing and grating, which a blender can’t do. While many people use their food processor for mincing vegetables, this appliance is also your best friend for easily grating cheese, slicing potatoes for a gratin, grinding fresh bread crumbs, or quickly cutting butter into flour to make pie dough.

You can use a food processor for pureeing dips and sauces too, but it will yield coarser textures than a high-powered blender—it’s best for things like hummus and pesto. You’ll need a blender if you want to make silky smoothies or to puree liquids like soup, which can splatter and leak out of a food processor’s doughnut-shaped bowl.

How we picked

We included both full-size and mini food processors in our testing. Photo: Michael Hession

After speaking with experts and spending years long-term testing several models, these are the qualities we look for in a good food processor:

Sharp, useful attachments; few extras: All food processors come with an S-shaped blade for chopping, and most full-size models also include a couple of disks for grating or slicing. In our tests, we looked for blades and grating disks that were sharp out of the box and durable enough to remain sharp over years of use, so that they could chop delicate herbs and tough nuts evenly, grate cheese uniformly, and slice vegetables cleanly.

Beyond the main blade and one disk each for shredding and slicing, you don’t need much else. Many food processors also come with a dough blade made of plastic, but we found that a metal blade mixed dough just as well, so we don’t think the dough blade is essential. You can usually purchase everything from a juicing attachment to julienne disks separately, but such extras often go unused. Both cookbook authors we spoke with essentially said these add-ons were a waste of money, so we didn’t test any.

Large capacity or mini, nothing in-between: In the past we tested food processors ranging in capacity from 11 to 14 cups, which cookbook authors Jean Anderson and Norene Gilletz told us was the ideal size for most home cooks. But after a couple rounds of testing, we decided to focus on full-size models that were 14 cups or larger, which we found to be more effective and useful. As Gilletz said, “It’s always better to go a little bigger than a little smaller. It’s one investment that’s going to last you a lot of years. You’ll regret getting one that isn’t big enough.” If you cook for a family or simply cook a lot, a bigger machine makes more sense.

That said, we also looked at mini food processors (also called mini choppers). Some full-size models come with an extra, smaller bowl that essentially acts as a mini food processor, but in most cases, we found that a dedicated mini processor did a better job. Mini food processors have bowls ranging in capacity from about 1½ cups to 6 cups, but we focused on those with a capacity of about three cups. Models smaller than that are too limited, and if you think you need one that’s larger than three cups, you’re probably better off with a full-size model.

Some feed tubes were too wide, such as that on the Magimix by Robot-Coupe 14-Cup Food Processor (left), which caused carrots to fall sideways and cut unevenly. The narrow feed tube insert on the Cuisinart Custom 14 (right) kept carrots upright while shredding. Photo: Michael Hession

Some processors, such as the Magimix by Robot-Coupe 14-Cup Food Processor (pictured above), have a wide gap between the shredding disk and the bowl lid, which allows large pieces of food to slip into the bowl. Photo: Michael Hession

Some feed tubes were too wide, such as that on the Magimix by Robot-Coupe 14-Cup Food Processor (left), which caused carrots to fall sideways and cut unevenly. The narrow feed tube insert on the Cuisinart Custom 14 (right) kept carrots upright while shredding. Photo: Michael Hession

Easy to use: Most food processors we looked at were relatively simple to operate, with not much more than an on/off button and a pulse button (good for roughly chopping things). But the way the bowl is put together can make a huge difference in how easy a processor is to use. Bowls with fewer parts and accessories are easier to assemble and clean, as are bowls with fewer nooks and crannies between the parts.

The size of the feed tubes in the lid (used to insert potatoes, carrots, or other hunks of food to be sliced or shredded) also makes a difference. Most full-size processors come with a wide feed tube that’s fitted with a food presser, which has a narrower feed tube (with its own presser) in the center. The larger tube should be big enough to easily fit a block of cheese or a potato, so you don’t have to spend time cutting food into pieces that are small enough to fit. But the smaller tube needs to be narrow enough to keep carrots and other thin items upright during slicing.

Heavy base: A good food processor will have a strong motor and a heavy base that anchors it to the counter so the processor can mix sturdy yeast doughs. Low-quality machines, which are typically lighter, often skid across the counter when processing dough, or the motor may even seize up.

How we tested

We chopped 1 cup of whole almonds in each processor to gauge evenness of texture. From left to right: Cuisinart Custom 14, Breville Sous Chef (using mini bowl), Breville Sous Chef, Breville Sous Chef 12-cup, Magimix 14-cup, Magimix 14-cup (using mini bowl), Cuisinart FP-13DGM Elemental, Cuisinart FP-13DGM Elemental (using mini bowl). Photo: Michael Hession

To start, we tested how evenly each food processor could chop a variety of ingredients, including onions, fibrous carrots, soft tomatoes, delicate parsley, and whole almonds. We also made a 1-cup batch of mayonnaise in the processors to see how quickly and evenly they could produce a stable emulsification. We made pizza dough in each full-size processor to see if the motor could withstand the rigors of kneading. With the processors that came with a disk for grating, we also tried shredding both carrots and soft mozzarella cheese (which can turn to mush if the grater blades aren’t sharp). Finally, we cleaned the bowls, lids, disks, and food pressers of each model by hand—eight times. This test revealed more difficult-to-reach nooks and crannies than we’d expected to find in some machines.

Our pick: Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor

Photo: Michael Hession
Our pick

Cuisinart Custom 14 Cup Food Processor

This is one of Cuisinart’s most basic models, but it consistently chops, slices, and kneads better than any other food processor we’ve found for under $250.

The Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor has been our top pick since 2013 because it does everything a great food processor should do, without any unnecessary extras. With one blade, one grating disk, and one slicing disk, this 14-cup processor excelled at nearly every chopping and shredding task we attempted, working as well as or better than costly machines with more attachments. Unlike those of some other models we tested, the Cuisinart’s base remained stable on the counter, even when processing double batches of dough. This model is easy to clean, and the attachments store neatly inside the bowl, preventing clutter.

In our tests, the Cuisinart evenly chopped almost everything, including juicy tomatoes. (The only exception was almonds—more on that in the Flaws but not dealbreakers section, below.) The grating disk also shredded soft mozzarella cheese without getting gummed up. And we made a firmer, more stable mayonnaise in the Cuisinart than in any other full-size model we tested.

The Cuisinart has a strong motor and a heavy base (roughly 18 pounds with the bowl on) that keeps it stable. Though its 750-watt motor is less powerful than those on some other models we tested, such as the 1,200-watt Breville Sous Chef (our upgrade pick), this didn’t negatively affect the Cuisinart’s performance. Making pizza dough was our most motor-intensive test, and the Custom 14 kneaded it effortlessly, without wiggling across the counter like some other processors we tried.

The Cuisinart Custom 14 comes with a small but well-chosen set of attachments: slicing and shredding disks, a regular chopping blade, and a spatula. Photo: Michael Hession

We also appreciated the Cuisinart’s large, 14-cup work bowl, which offers a lot of room for grating cheese or shredding big batches of coleslaw ingredients. By comparison, we found that the 11-cup Cuisinart we tested was a little too small, particularly when processing wet ingredients. (Liquid tended to leak out of the Prep’s bowl. )

We made a batch of mango salsa in the Cuisinart Custom 14 in about 20 to 30 seconds. Photos: Michael Hession

At first the Cuisinart seemed kind of puny next to some other models, which boasted nesting bowls, taller bases, and big boxes of attachments. But after years of using it in our test kitchen and our homes, we continue to be won over by the Cuisinart’s simplicity. We love that it comes with only one bowl and two operating buttons: pulse and on. It also comes with only the most useful attachments: a stainless-steel chopping blade and disks for shredding and slicing. Earlier versions of the Cuisinart Custom 14 included a dough blade, and you can still purchase one through the Cuisinart website. But we find dough blades unnecessary and have successfully prepared doughs using regular chopping blades for years.

Finally, the Cuisinart Custom 14’s work bowl was easier to clean than the bowls of most of the other models we tested. We cleaned each model eight times, so we were achingly familiar with the gunk that can get trapped in more-complicated lids. We also appreciate the Cuisinart’s hollow handle, which doesn’t trap food particles and moisture as much as the Breville Sous Chef’s enclosed handle.

With some careful layering, you can store all of the Cuisinart’s blades and disks in its work bowl, with the lid on, which saves a bit of storage space (and keeps you from gouging a hand on a loose blade in a drawer). By contrast, our upgrade pick, the Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro, comes with a plethora of disks and accessories, requiring more storage space. At only 15 inches tall, the Cuisinart should also fit under most cupboards. We like its slightly retro, sleek design, and the base is also available in several colors (each of which has a different model number).

The Cuisinart’s three-year warranty on parts and five-year warranty on the motor aren’t the best among the models we tested, but they’re still pretty good. And Cuisinart’s food processors have a solid reputation for overall durability—anecdotally, we know of some that have lasted for decades.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The only task the Cuisinart Custom 14 didn’t excel at was chopping nuts. Most were evenly chopped, but there were a handful of nuts that remained in large pieces. Since the Cuisinart mastered every other task, we don’t think this is a dealbreaker.

We read a few reviews by people who disliked how the Cuisinart Custom 14’s lid locks with the feed tube in the back rather than in the front (which is standard for most models). However, we think it’s actually easier to see the ingredients in the bowl when the feed tube is positioned in the back of the lid.

The Cuisinart’s slicing disk isn’t adjustable like the Breville Sous Chef’s slicing disk, which has multiple settings, similar to a mandoline. But you can buy additional slicing disks through Cuisinart if you want them. The included slicing disk makes approximately 5-millimeter slices, which is fine for most tasks, but you’ll probably want the 2-millimeter slicing disk for making homemade potato chips.

The Cuisinart doesn’t come with a storage case for its attachments. If you don’t want to store the attachments in the bowl, it would be worthwhile to purchase a case for about $30.

Long-term testing notes

We’ve been long-term testing the Cuisinart Custom 14 since 2013, and it remains a workhorse in the kitchen. Year after year, we’ve made slaws, grated cheese, blended dips, chopped nuts, and kneaded pizza dough in it—and it continues to work well. The 14-cup bowl doesn’t leak, and the controls are exactly what you need. The bowl has scratched a bit (because we’ve stored the sharp blades inside it), but otherwise it looks like new. We’ve found that it’s slightly annoying to clean under the on/off buttons, but a damp sponge or paper towel makes the task easier.

One Wirecutter staffer, who was initially skeptical of the large, 14-cup bowl capacity, has said that so far their Cuisinart hasn’t been too small or too large for any preparations. Another staffer (who admitted to being a little rough on her machine) replaced her Cuisinart with a new one after 11 years of use. Meanwhile, senior kitchen and appliance editor Marguerite Preston still uses a decades-old Cuisinart Custom 14 that she inherited from her parents.

Budget pick: KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper

Photo: Michael Hession
Budget pick

KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper

This mini, 3.5-cup processor is too small for making bread dough or coleslaw, but it’s the ideal size for chopping one onion or making small batches of mayo or vinaigrette.

For small chopping tasks, the inexpensive KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper offers the best value and performance we’ve found in a mini processor. It evenly chops a range of ingredients, including tough jumbo carrots. This machine is a good supplement to a full-size model, or it’s a great alternative, if you don’t want to spend a lot. In our tests, this processor even performed better than the mini bowl attachments that come with some of the larger processors. It’s too small for kneading bread dough and lacks the attachments to shred or slice, but it’s great for completing basic tasks quickly, and it’s easier to clean and store than a full-size model.

The Food Chopper looks almost identical to a full-size processor, except that it has a knob you can adjust to either “chop” or “puree.” The chop setting moves the blade at a slower rpm, and the puree button operates at a faster rpm. Like the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus (our former mini chopper pick), this model runs only while you hold the “on” button down. But the KitchenAid’s design makes it particularly easy to do so. To operate it, you squeeze a tab on the top of the handle, which we found more comfortable to do than holding down buttons on the base of the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus.

The placement of the “on” button at the top of the handle makes the KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper easy to use. Video: Michael Hession

The KitchenAid chopped more evenly than the other mini processors we tested, and it did so quickly. It diced onions more consistently than the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus, and it chopped a quartered tomato evenly—we had to cut a tomato into smaller pieces to get the same results using other models. The Food Chopper also minced parsley cleanly, whereas the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus tore it, causing it to oxidize faster. One task this processor doesn’t excel at is chopping whole almonds evenly, but that’s typical of most mini choppers. Full-size processors are best for chopping nuts.

Most mini choppers don’t have hefty bases like full-size processors do, and the Food Chopper is no exception. However, at just under 2 pounds, it has a slightly heavier base than other mini models, which helps keep it stable. And we didn’t notice any straining or stuttering of this model’s 240-watt motor, even when it was chopping a fibrous jumbo carrot. As long as you don’t try to use the Food Chopper for heavy tasks, such as making nut butter, we don’t think there’s much risk of burning out the motor.

This KitchenAid also excels at emulsifications. In fact, of all the food processors, blenders, and immersion blenders we’ve tested for various guides, we found making mayo easiest in a mini food processor like the Food Chopper. That’s because its lid has a small indent to hold oil and a small hole that allows the oil to pour directly onto the blades so you have a consistent, measured stream. With this method, the mayonnaise comes together without your having to control the flow of oil.

Making mayonnaise in the KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper was exceptionally easy due to the lid’s small well and hole for adding oil. Photo: Michael Hession

This KitchenAid comes with relatively few parts and it disassembles easily for cleaning. We especially appreciate that the bowl has a handle, since we struggled to remove bowls that didn’t have one, especially when we were working with greasy hands. The Food Chopper is covered by a one-year warranty, which is standard for appliances in this price range, and you can get the base in a wide range of colors.

Long-term testing notes

We’ve been long-term testing the KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper since 2017. Besides being a bit loud—and having hard-to-clean crevices underneath the blade’s core and around where the cord is stored—it’s easy to use and continues to chop evenly. The Food Chopper has handled tough jobs, too: One Wirecutter staffer who owns this machine (and who doesn’t have room for a larger machine in his tiny kitchen) has successfully used it to make pie dough in small batches.

Upgrade pick: Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro

Photo: Michael Hession
Upgrade pick

Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro

We recommend this large, 16-cup processor only if you’re cooking for a crowd multiple times a week. The Sous Chef is more than twice the price of the Cuisinart Custom 14, and it’s more powerful (and much bigger) than most people need.

In terms of pure performance, the Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro was hands down the best food processor we tested. It offers extra power; a larger, 16-cup blending bowl; and nicer features compared with the Cuisinart Custom 14. And it performed well in every test, especially excelling at slicing. The Sous Chef powered through an entire russet potato in less than a second—noticeably faster than any of the other models. And despite its power, the Sous Chef was the quietest of the bunch at kneading dough. But it’s oversized and significantly more expensive than the Cuisinart, and it comes with a bulky bundle of accessories that you may not need.

The Breville Sous Chef diced tomatoes and onions evenly, and it chopped nuts to a more consistent texture than the Cuisinart. The Sous Chef’s grater disk shredded soft mozzarella cheese easily. And though we’re not huge fans of the mini bowls on most of the big processors, we liked the Sous Chef’s 2½-cup bowl best among the ones we’ve tried. Deeper than the others, this bowl has a design that seemed to make uniformly mincing fresh parsley easier.

Both the mini and large bowls on the Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro produced evenly minced parsley. Photo: Michael Hession

The Sous Chef’s thoughtful design was what really sold us on this machine. We love how the bowl fits flat on the motor base. Other machines require you to fit the bowl over a shank on the base, but the Sous Chef has a flat attachment, with the shank attached to the inside of the work bowl. This means that, if you like to cook by ratio, you can put the bowl on a kitchen scale and measure ingredients into it with the blade attached, and then seamlessly connect the bowl to the motor base. If you’ve ever struggled to fit a blade over a pile of flour in a processor bowl, you’ll appreciate this design feature.

We also like that you can remove the work bowl with the lid attached. The KitchenAid 13-Cup Food Processor with ExactSlice System and the Cuisinart FP-12DCN Elite Collection Food Processor also have this handy feature, but most models (including the Cuisinart Custom 14) require that you loosen the lid before removing the bowl.

Breville clearly put a lot of thought into other design elements as well. The Sous Chef is the only model we tested that had an LCD timer (which counts up and down), and this model also has retractable cord storage. In addition to the standard blades, the Sous Chef comes with a reversible shredding disk and an adjustable slicing disk that goes from a whisper-thin 0.33 millimeters to a generous 8 millimeters (it’s a true alternative to using a mandoline). We didn’t try the machine’s french fry disk, julienne disk, or emulsifying disk attachments, but we did use the handy cleaning brush, which did a great job of getting trapped bits out of the slicing disk. The obvious drawback to all of these attachments is that they take up a lot of space, and they may not get much use (how often do you make fries, for example?). We appreciate that Breville provides a storage case for the attachments, but the box takes up almost as much cupboard space as the machine itself.

The Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro comes with a plastic case to store loose attachments, but it takes up a lot of cupboard space. Photo: Michael Hession

Another drawback to the Sous Chef is that it made a slightly looser mayonnaise than the Cuisinart Custom 14 and the mini processors we tested. Also, its mini bowl insert did not chop almonds evenly, so we recommend using its 16-cup bowl for this task.

The Sous Chef is solidly built, with a hefty base that weighs about 15½ pounds (excluding the bowl). This processor also comes with a limited one-year product warranty and has a 25-year warranty on the motor—by far the longest warranty on a motor of any of the models we tested.

Care and maintenance

Food processor blades are not designed to be sharpened. Yours should last you a long time. But, as Cuisinart told us, if you’re using the blade “more aggressively or more frequently than the average consumer it can become dull.” If that happens, both Cuisinart and Breville sell replacement blades.

As for cleaning, The New Food Processor Bible’s Gilletz recommends putting water and a few drops of dish soap into the work bowl and running the machine. A bottle brush is handy for cleaning around the feed tube, inside the food pressers, and along the sharp blades. Never submerge the base of a food processor in water; only wipe it down with a damp cloth or sponge.

After testing models with storage boxes, we found that such boxes are convenient for keeping attachments organized, and they’re worth investing in if your model doesn’t come with one. You can also organize blades and disks in a designated Tupperware-style container, basket, or other receptacle. We store the Cuisinart Custom 14’s extra blades and disks inside the processor’s work bowl, but be advised that this can scratch the bowl.

Most brands sell replacement parts, which may come in handy after the limited warranty on parts expires. You’ll find replacement bowls, food pushers, blades, and various other attachments for the Cuisinart Custom 14 and the Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro (though we should note that they can be quite expensive). You can sometimes find cheaper, secondhand parts on eBay, but just be sure you get the right model number.

The competition

Full-size food processors

The Cuisinart Complete Chef chops, slices, and cooks food all in one 18-cup stainless steel bowl (it comes with attachments and built-in recipes for cooking things like risotto or beef stew). We were eager to see how it would compare to the Thermomix (a wildly expensive blender that cooks, and which has something of a cult following outside of the US), but we weren’t able to get it to work. We probably just got a lemon, but that doesn’t bode well for a $700 appliance (at the time of this publishing). An error consistently appeared on the screen each time we attempted to run it, even when the correct lid and blade attachment were in place. The customer service representative we spoke to wasn’t able to offer much guidance since they weren’t familiar with the model (they even confessed it doesn’t sell often).

This error appeared on the Complete Chef’s screen any time we tried to operate it. Photo: Michael Sullivan

In spite of this malfunction, we were still able to explore the recipe database, which was easy to navigate. The preprogrammed recipes seemed straightforward, but there are only 201 total. That may sound like a lot, but this model lacks the capability to add more recipes to its digital database down the road (something the Thermomix can do), so you’re stuck with what you get at the time of purchase. This model also takes up a ton of counter space and weighs 30 pounds; it’s definitely not something you’ll want to lug around your kitchen often. Ideally we’d like to test a working model in the future, but we feel we can dismiss The Complete Chef for now due to its size, weight, hefty price, limited recipe database, and lack of customer support.

The Breville Sous Chef 12 BFP660SIL food processor did well in our tests, but it didn’t outperform the Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro or our top pick, the Cuisinart Custom 14. The Sous Chef 12 wasn’t able to chop tomatoes or almonds as evenly as the Sous Chef 16 Pro. Its smaller, 12-cup capacity was also more limiting than the Cuisinart’s 14-cup bowl.

We weren’t impressed with the Magimix by Robot-Coupe 14-Cup Food Processor. It wasn’t able to chop as evenly as the Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro or the Cuisinart Custom 14. The feed tube is very wide, so thin items like carrots fall to the side, and the rounded lid creates a wide gap around the perimeter of the slicing blade, allowing large pieces of food to slip through, into the bowl. The machine also seized up while preparing pizza dough and was noisier than other models we tested.

The Cuisinart FP-13DGM Elemental 13 Cup Food Processor and Dicing Kit didn’t chop as evenly as our picks. Our testers were impressed with the dicing kit, which chopped firm vegetables like potatoes and carrots into even cubes. However, since this was the only task this model excelled at, we don’t think it’s best for most people. The motor on the Elemental was noisy, and the base is very lightweight.

We decided not to test the Braun FP3020 12-Cup Food Processor since, at the time of testing, it was roughly the same price as the Cuisinart Custom 14, but with a smaller capacity. We couldn’t justify paying more for a smaller machine. The Braun FP3020 is also only 600 watts, versus the Cuisinart’s 720 watts.

The Cuisinart FP-12DCN Elite Collection Food Processor performed well in our tests, but it came with a gasket on the lid that frequently trapped flour and sticky ingredients. Our testers also preferred the Cuisinart Custom 14’s 14-cup capacity over the Elite’s 12-cup capacity.

In our tests, we found that a 14-cup capacity food processor bowl was ideal for most people. For this reason—and based on other reviews we’ve read—we were able to rule out many models from Cuisinart, Breville, Braun, Hamilton Beach, Magimix, Proctor Silex, KitchenAid, Oster, and Black+Decker that had bowls with capacities under 14 cups.

Mini food processors

The Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus was our former mini chopper pick. It wasn’t able to chop as evenly as the KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper, and it moved across the counter as it struggled to chop a tough jumbo carrot. It also tore parsley, whereas the KitchenAid produced a clean, even cut.

Sources

  1. Sal Vaglica, The Best Food Processors, Serious Eats, October 17, 2017

  2. Jean Anderson, author, Process This, phone interview, July 2013

  3. Norene Gilletz, author, The New Food Processor Bible, phone interview, July 2013

About your guides

Michael Sullivan

Michael Sullivan has been a staff writer on the kitchen team at Wirecutter since 2016. Previously, he was an editor at the International Culinary Center in New York. He has worked in various facets of the food and restaurant industry for over a decade.

Christine Cyr Clisset

Christine Cyr Clisset is a deputy editor overseeing home coverage for Wirecutter. She previously edited cookbooks and craft books for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and she started reviewing kitchen gear back in 2013. She sews many of her own clothes, which has made her obsessive about high-quality fabrics—whether in a dress or bedsheets.

Further reading

Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing to save people time, energy and money when making buying decisions. Whether it's finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we'll help you get it right (the first time).

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Best food processor 2022: 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, and this is more important than ever with the holidays in full swing.

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 each for their functionality and efficiency through their 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. 

Our hands-on experience means this guide to the very best is unfailingly reliable. Below, we give you a brief overview of each buy, and you can click through and read longer reviews of each food processor to find out more. 

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.

KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper| was $54.99, now $44.99 at Target
For smaller-scale recipes, KitchenAid's 3.5 cup food chopper has two-speed settings and a pulse option to quickly get you through your task.

NutriBullet NBP50100 7-Cup Food Processor | was $119. 99, now $65.99 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.

Ninja Professional Food Processor | was $119.00, now $99.99 at Best Buy
Boasting an extremely powerful design, the Ninja Professional Food Processor is very reasonably priced (even better with this discount) and super easy to use and clean.

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

On sale for Cyber Monday, 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.

KitchenAid 13 Cup Food Processor | was $199.99, now $159.99 at Bed Bath & Beyond

This KitchenAid food processor comes with a handy storage caddy for you to easily store the blades and discs. With 13 cup capacity and three easy-to-use settings, this design can cater to dishes of all sizes and ingredients. Plus,  you may be able to save an extra 20% when you apply Bed Bath & Beyond's sitewide coupon.

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 2022, 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

£27.90

View

See all prices

Ninja Professional 9-Cup Food Processor

£79.99

View

See all prices

KitchenAid cordless 5 cup food chopper

£135.50

View

See all prices

Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor

£483

View

See all prices

Reduced Price

Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System

£199. 99

£149

View

See all prices

powered by

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

KP top 11 rating

Whether you're a seasoned pro or just learning how to cook, food processors are incredibly useful tools. These machines are jack-of-all-trades that can chop and chop many ingredients, as well as take on heavier jobs like kneading dough. They're also good for light work - especially useful when you only need to make a handful of basil or chop up a few nuts.

We have prepared our ranking and determined which models are the best food processors in 2022. Read and leave your opinion! nine0003

Editor's Choice

GARLYN S-500

GARLYN S-500. Photo: garlyn.ru

Thanks to its power and quality, a 5in1 kitchen machine can replace several appliances at once: a planetary mixer, a stationary blender, a meat grinder, a vegetable cutter and a dough mixer.

With its large capacity (5.5 l bowl), this model is one of the most compact and handy. The case itself is made of strong and durable metal, which is very easy to care for. High power is enough to perform all functions, and the speed of work is smoothly adjustable. nine0003

Metal attachments will help you cook a lot of dishes and make cooking tasks much faster, from churning mousses and crushing ice to making homemade minced meat and signature cocktails.

With high power (1200 W), the manufacturer also took care of safety, so you won’t have to worry about overloading and overheating of the motor either.

Editors' Choice

Key Features
9002

Not identified

Top 10 rating according to KP

1. Redmond RKM-4040

Redmond RKM-4040. Photo: yandex.market.ru

This machine is a multifunctional device that combines a meat grinder, a stationary mixer, a vegetable cutter and a blender. The power of Redmond RKM-4040 reaches 1200 W, which allows it to quickly and efficiently cope with the tasks assigned to it. The model is completed with a bowl which capacity makes 5 l. The device provides protection against incorrect use and overloads: if the assembly is incorrect, the device will not turn on, and it will not work if the motor overheats. nine0026

Base Color Black
Pros and cons

Large bowl, metal body

2.

Philips HR7510 Philips HR7510. Photo: yandex.market.ru

If there is a need for healthy homemade food, then you will like the Philips HR7510. The capacity of the bowl is enough for your family, and the power of 800 W will allow you to finish the work in the kitchen quickly. It is not for nothing that the company has created this range of compact devices specifically for those who live in the frantic rhythm of the city.

Key features

Power could be more

3. Bosch MUM4657

Bosch MUM4657. Photo: yandex.market.ru

This model of food processor incorporates the Bosch reputation and a wide range of accessories. The device has a large bowl: 3.9 l, and it is also possible to knead up to 2 kg of dough. The kit includes a wide range of attachments: a whisk for kneading batter, a round whisk for whipping cream and egg whites, a nozzle for kneading hard dough, a universal cutter with three discs for different types of cuts and a meat grinder. nine0026

Pros and cons

Reliability, large bowl

4.

Bosch MCM3110W Bosch MCM3110W. Photo: yandex.market.ru

The Bosch MCM3110W food processor is equipped with a multifunctional knife and metal discs. With their help, the harvester carries out cutting, shredding, grater, grinding. All accessories can be easily removed and washed in the dishwasher. The power of the combine is 800 W, the working volume of the bowl is 2300 ml, which allows you to cook a considerable amount of food in one cycle. nine0026

Pros and cons

Manufacturer, design

No overload protection

5. Kenwood KVC5100B

Kenwood KVC5100B. Photo: yandex.market.ru

A kitchen machine is a powerful (1200 W) device that can replace most of your items in the kitchen. The model is equipped with a bowl made of borosilicate glass, along the edges of which there are handles, and a measuring scale on the wall. The harvester is equipped with a soft start, 6 speeds and a pulse mode, which you can easily switch thanks to a convenient regulator located on the side panel of the device. nine0026

Pros and cons

Design, large bowl

6. Redmond RFP-3909

Redmond RFP-3909 . Photo: yandex.market.ru

Using the device, you can grind, squeeze, beat, mix, chop or chop ingredients - just think about how many kitchen appliances you will have in your kitchen in one. The device can operate at a speed of 18500 rpm, while the power of the combine is 1500 W - it will help you make all the preparations for cooking very quickly. The dimensions of the product are 42x21x24 cm - not so much for such a functional device. nine0026

Pros and cons

Power 1500W, high speed

Small bowl

7. Vitek VT-1443

Vitek VT-1443. Photo: yandex.market.ru

This kitchen machine is designed for mixing ingredients, preparing sauces, desserts (whipped cream, puddings, cocktails, mayonnaise), as well as for kneading dough. It is compact and fits perfectly in any kitchen, even the smallest. And the capacity of the bowl will allow you to cook for a large family of 3 or more people. But the lack of a pulse mode can strain some housewives. nine0026

Pros and cons

Price, powerful

No pulse mode

8. Centek CT-1136

Centek CT-1136. Photo: yandex.market.ru

The work of the harvester is carried out with a high power of the electric motor of 1000 watts. Comfortable operation is facilitated by the presence of non-slip rubberized feet. The model is equipped with a metal bowl of 5 liters and a glass container for a blender of 1.5 liters. The functionality is also good - the equipment has six speeds with the possibility of smooth adjustment and operates in a pulsed mode. The device can replace your meat grinder, blender, and is also complemented by a dough attachment and a whisk. nine0026

Pros and cons

Very powerful metal bowl

9.

KitchenAid 5KFP1335ER KitchenAid 5KFP1335ER. Photo: yandex.market.ru

This model is ideal for kneading dough, whipping cream or proteins. The power of the combine corresponds to 300 W, so it does an excellent job with medium-intensity work. The food processor is equipped with a 3.1 liter plastic bowl. You can choose one of two operating speeds. The kit comes with a set of different attachments and discs, including a dough attachment, a whisk for whipping, a sharp utility knife, discs for chopping and slicing. nine0026

Pros and cons

Reliability, large bowl

Price will turn many off

10. Kitfort KT-1320

Kitfort KT-1320. Photo: yandex.market.ru

The food processor is equipped with a grater, a universal knife and a shredding disk. It effectively cuts, shreds and rubs vegetables for all kinds of salads and vegetable dishes. The device is equipped with a power of 500 W, with 2 operating speeds for different cooking modes. The capacity of the plastic bowl of the combine is 1 liter. The weight of the device in 2.2 kg allows you to easily move it around the kitchen (and not only) without problems. nine0026

pluses and minuses

Price, compact dimensions

Small bowl

How to choose a kitchen combine

A couple of tips for choosing a food combine were given to us Dmitry Kravtsov, a sales consultant of the store Biluir .

Be aware that some food processors are quite hefty machines. Make sure you have space to store them in an accessible place. And if noise is an issue for you, ask for a demo at the store first - some models are significantly noisier than others. nine0003

Bowl capacity is the key to a successful purchase. The largest models have a bowl capacity of more than 4 liters, which is enough if you are busy cooking for a small family.

Versatile and efficient, a good food processor will become your indispensable assistant in the kitchen. It can be used to grind cheese, make biscuit dough, baby food puree, grind spices and more. But before heading to the store, consider these factors to make sure you've chosen the best food processor for your business. nine0003

Features

Most food processors have only one motor speed, and some have a small hole in the top to allow easy addition of other ingredients. They usually come with a "pusher" that fits into this tube and helps you add larger items to the machine while keeping your fingers safe.

Make sure the machine you choose has a "pulse" button for giving small pulses of power (suitable for coarse grinding or quick kneading of dough). You'll appreciate a smooth touchpad for controls that's easier to clean than raised buttons, and dishwasher-safe parts. nine0003

Power

Make sure the machine you choose is powerful enough to handle heavy tasks such as kneading hard dough, chopping raw carrots or chopping hard cheese. For a full-sized processor (9 cups or more), look for a motor with at least 600W.

Size and capacity

Food processors come in all sizes, from tiny 3-cup choppers to 20-cup versions that can function in a restaurant kitchen. Which size is best for you depends on the number of people and the recipes you want to make. Whether you're typically preparing meals for a family of four, or making dough for a single batch, an 11-cup processor is sufficient. If you frequently grind small amounts of herbs or nuts, or make small amounts of sauces, find a processor that includes a small work bowl and blade, or invest in a separate 3-cup processor. nine0003

Accessories

Some food processors come with a range of accessories designed to get the most out of your machine. They can include work bowls and blades of various sizes, discs that cut and grate products of various thicknesses. Before you spend extra money on a car with all these "bells and whistles", consider whether you will really use them.

The best food processors, top rated food processors

Food processors are one of the most popular types of household appliances, characterized by a very wide functionality. Typically, such a unit is equipped with a bowl with a chopper, a vegetable cutter, a significant number of nozzles that are designed to facilitate cooking, make it faster and more convenient.

Finding the right device is not easy, however, as combine harvesters vary greatly in a number of ways. Be sure to pay attention to the following points:

To make choosing a food processor even easier, we have compiled a list of the most popular devices. When compiling it, we relied not only on the opinions of users, but also on the opinions of specialists, professional chefs, and so on. We were also interested in the value for money of the device. The top 10 includes only high-quality devices with a long service life. We hope that after studying the rating it will be very easy to choose a combine.

At the top of our review of the best food processors was a model from a well-known Chinese manufacturer that produces inexpensive, but at the same time functional and durable products. The set of nozzles is quite standard - two beaters and a hook for stiff dough. The device is equipped with a capacious bowl, the volume of which is 5 liters. It is covered with a lid with a special hole. Products will not be splashed around the kitchen, and through the opening it will be possible to add the necessary ingredients without interrupting the operation of the device. There are six speeds and a pulse mode, they are selected using a very ergonomic regulator. nine0003

The nozzles rotate not only around their own axis, but also around the entire contour of the bowl, so the texture of the mixture is as homogeneous as possible. It is desirable that the device works without interruption for no more than 15 minutes, after which you need to take a break for about half an hour. This will not allow the motor to overheat and work at its limit, although overheating protection is still provided here. If necessary, you can purchase interchangeable nozzles - a meat grinder and a blender.

Benefits:

  • Powerful enough;
  • Whisks and mixes effectively;
  • Manufactured from reliable components;
  • The attachments and bowl are dishwasher safe.

Disadvantages:

  • Not all required tips are included - some will need to be purchased separately.

Redmond RKM-4030 Food Processor

9. KITFORT KT-1339-3

The unit is placed in a very beautiful black and silver case, takes up a minimum amount of free space in the kitchen, so it is best suited for small spaces. The product is able to organically fit into any interior, regardless of the style of its design. The main task of this combine is to mix, whip all kinds of ingredients, and you can also use it to make dough. The device is quite powerful - it is equipped with a 1200 W electric motor, it has six speeds. The jug of the product has a volume of one and a half liters, so it will be possible to cook a fairly large volume of products in it. nine0003

A bowl with a capacity of 1.5 liters is supplied for kneading dough. It is made from high quality food grade stainless steel. At one time, you can prepare a test base for several pies or a large batch of homemade dumplings at once. All nozzles with planetary rotation, thanks to this, the ingredients are mixed absolutely evenly.

Advantages:

  • Very spacious bowls;
  • High engine power;
  • Suction cup feet - vibration during operation is minimized; nine0635
  • Reasonably priced;
  • Equipped with a dough hook attachment, cream whisk and batter attachment included.

Disadvantages:

  • A small and not very convenient hole for adding ingredients.

Food processor KITFORT KT-1339-3

8. Bosch MCM 3501 M

Another very compact model with which you can easily prepare both everyday and festive dishes, desserts and various pastries. Initially, when developing the device, manufacturers counted on its operation in a compact kitchen. All removable parts can be washed in the dishwasher if necessary. The set comes with a large number of different nozzles, ranging from graters to full-fledged multifunctional tools. They will help to cut or finely chop raw or partially cooked foods within a few seconds. In one approach, you can mix up to 800 grams of any dough, make a cream, an omelette base, or crush ice. Everything you need for full-fledged work is included with the device, there is no need to purchase any additional equipment. nine0003

The most important find was the MultiLevel6 multifunctional knife, which is made of stainless steel and is also self-sharpening. This accessory is designed for chopping nuts or herbs. Along with the combine comes another interesting nozzle, which is designed for grinding spices or coffee. The power cable is stored in a special compartment, and all nozzles can be placed directly into the bowl, which also facilitates storage and transportation of the device.

Advantages:

  • Many different bowls and attachments;
  • Acceptable cost;
  • Very easy to store and use;
  • Also includes recipe book;
  • Does not make too much noise during operation;
  • All detachable parts are dishwasher safe;
  • Long warranty period.

Disadvantages:

  • Incorrect use may cause severe vibration. nine0635

Bosch MCM 3501 M

7. REDMOND RFP-3905

This is a universal food processor that can be used for chopping, grating, chopping any food, including quite hard ones. With it, you can easily prepare salads, soups, desserts, mashed potatoes and so on. The set includes two bowls - a combine and a blender. Each of them is equipped with a special protective cover. There are also several nozzles, thanks to which the process of preparing any dishes becomes much easier. The double-sided grater has well-sharpened blades, so you don’t have to grate vegetables by hand, and you can grate both coarsely and finely. The shredder attachment is also double-sided. Perfectly replaces a meat grinder, grinder, blender, grater, mixer and so on. nine0003

The design has a very spacious bowl - it can fit about 5 kg of dry products, about 3.5 liters of liquid and up to one and a half kilograms of dough. The model is equipped with a plastic case of good assembly, during operation it does not emit extraneous sounds. The combine, despite a significant number of functions, has small dimensions, due to which it will fit perfectly even into the interior of a small kitchen.

The kit comes with several attachments for dicing, for shredding, and all of them are self-sharpening and are made of food grade stainless steel. The bowl is also made of stainless steel, on the body there is a special compartment for storing nozzles. The maximum number of revolutions is 17000 rpm, there are two smoothly switching speeds, as well as a pulse mode, although the power of the device is only 700 watts. nine0003

Benefits:

  • Quickly dices even large quantities of food;
  • Very easy to disassemble and assemble;
  • Easy to clean;
  • Good power combined with economy.

Disadvantages:

  • The grater clogs up very quickly, you have to clean it constantly;
  • High cost;
  • Spare parts not available.

Food processor REDMOND RFP-3905

6.

Braun FP 5160

This device is quite convenient and easy to use, the design has a high-quality microprocessor responsible for the reliable operation of most programs. The combine conveniently kneads the dough, mixes any products, breaks ice well, beats eggs or cream. The device has a DualControl system that will automatically select the required speed and operating time, due to which a positive result is achieved quickly.

The kit includes a large number of different nozzles, each of which is of high quality and long service life. The combine can be used for squeezing juice due to the presence of a centrifugal type juicer. It has small overall dimensions, beautiful appearance. All attachments are dishwasher safe. The case and other plastic elements are made of materials that are safe for human health and do not contain toxic plastic stabilizers. The motor power is 1000 W, electronic type control, there are 11 speeds of operation, there is a pulse mode. nine0003

Advantages:

  • Good functionality;
  • Large number of included nozzles;
  • Security;
  • High build quality.

Disadvantages:

  • The gears are made of plastic, which causes them to fail quickly.

Combine harvester Braun FP 5160

5. Kitfort KT-1320

The body of this device is made of combined materials - it is made of metal and plastic inserts. Overall dimensions are small - 16x16x19cm with a mass of 2.1 kg, so this device is perfect for small kitchens. There are four suction cup type rubber feet on the bottom surface of the motor unit. They easily dampen the vibration of the device during operation, and also reduce the noise level. The length of the power cable is 75 cm - it seems to be not too much, but it will be quite enough for comfortable work with this device. There is a speed controller on the front panel, there are only two of them, there is also a pulse mode, which is a short-term switching function. Assembling the device is quite simple. nine0003

The bowl is made of completely transparent plastic and has a capacity of 1 liter. On the front side there is a measuring scale with notches. The kit includes two attachments - a chopper knife with very sharp stainless steel knives, they are self-sharpening. With it, you can even grind hard foods such as nuts, cook minced meat. In addition to it, a double-sided shredding disc is provided. You can rub hard foods - vegetables, fruits and cheese.

Benefits:

  • Compact overall dimensions;
  • Pretty stylish look;
  • Very functional device;
  • Inexpensive;
  • Decent bowl size.

Disadvantages:

  • Motor power is small - only 500 watts.

Kitfort KT-1320 food processor

4. Bosch MUM54A00

The machine is equipped with a 900W motor. It is optimally suited for fast mixing of products, whipping, it works easily even with heavy types of dough, for example, for pizza and dumplings. The principle of rotation of the nozzles is planetary, which allows for high-quality, uniform and very efficient mixing. There are no food residues on the walls or bottom of the bowl. The dough is elastic, the cream is only airy, the proteins are tight. Included with this machine is a special set for confectionery products - a durable hook for kneading heavy types of dough, a whisk for mixing and a whisk for whipping. With the help of this machine, you will be able to cook meringues or very tasty cakes in the shortest possible time. nine0003

All attachments are made from high quality stainless steel and are dishwasher safe. The design has seven individual speed settings, so you can choose the most suitable operating mode almost instantly. It provides a pulse mode, there are rubber feet that protect well from slipping. The kit comes with a handy bag for nozzles, and it can be stored directly in the bowl of the device. The case has a compartment for storing the power cable. nine0003

Benefits:

  • Ideal for making meringues, cakes and other culinary delights;
  • Decent power;
  • Has all the necessary accessories for comfortable work;
  • Stainless steel bowl;
  • Nozzles can be stored in the bowl itself.

Disadvantages:

  • Power cable a bit short.

Bosch MUM54A00 Food Processor

3. Bosch MiltiTalent 3 MCM3201B

This high-quality device is multifunctional, and it performs all the tasks assigned to it quickly and with the utmost accuracy. The device will knead the dough, chop or cut products into neat identical pieces. Now you don’t have to rub the dough from your hands, wash them from beets or the smell of onions. The design is characterized by compact overall dimensions - it is convenient to use it even in confined spaces, the engine power is 800 watts. This allows the device to crush ice, chop even such hard vegetables as carrots, beets, cabbage or potatoes, it can even work with greens, it is designed for making smoothies and milkshakes, chopping berries for jam or confiture. nine0003

The device has two modes of operation, the speed of the cooking process can be changed, it is also possible to select the density and density of liquids, the size of the pieces when shredding. To ensure maximum user safety during operation, a convenient pusher is included in the kit. The equipment does not make too much noise during operation.

Benefits:

  • Takes up very little space;
  • Performs a significant number of functions;
  • Manufactured from high quality and durable materials;
  • Features a reliable and powerful engine.

Disadvantages:

  • The motor gets very hot when running for a long time;
  • Ice is crushed over time.

Bosch MiltiTalent 3 Food Processor MCM3201B

2. MR9401A Morphy Richards

The compact Morphy Richards food processor stands out with its all-metal profile. The motor block and bowls are made of SU 304 stainless steel. The robust body is matched by powerful functionality - the combine can be used as a meat grinder, turning meat into small minced meat in 6 seconds. This is possible thanks to the heavy-duty serrated blades of the Serrator Blade. They stay sharp and effective up to 12 times longer than conventional blades and form an S-shaped blade design in 2 rows. nine0003

Complete with everything you need:

  • 3 interchangeable bowls for working with meat, vegetables, baby food - 0.8-1.5 l
  • 2 attachments: main knife that is suitable for meat and the hardest ingredients - made of stainless steel, as well as a garlic peeler - made of food-grade plastic
  • Stylish anti-slip rubberized mat

Automatic protection will protect the device from overheating and engine idling. And a truly compact storage of all the elements at the bottom of the largest bowl will save the kitchen interior from clutter. nine0003

Benefits:

  • Robust steel body;
  • Powerful pure copper motor;
  • Serrator Blades;
  • Simple operation - 1 button;
  • Choice of slice thickness;
  • Clear lid;
  • Quick disassembly, assembly, cleaning;
  • Silicone non-slip parts + mat;
  • Automatic protection;
  • Compact storage.

Drawbacks:

  • Not diced. nine0635

MR9401A Morphy Richards Food Processor

1. Garlyn S-350

The Garlyn S-350 food processor is basically a powerful and spacious planetary mixer with a set of attachments. The device is maximally thought out both from a technical point of view and from the point of view of convenience.

The design is based on a really high power motor (1500 W), which makes the harvester handle various tasks quickly and easily. At the same time, you also don’t have to worry about the durability of the motor, since the Garlyn S-350 is equipped with a double protection system. nine0214 The 5.5 liter bowl is designed for various tasks: whipping, kneading, dough preparation. This volume will be enough even when preparing a large number of servings in 1 application. One of the advantages of this combine is that even when mixing or whipping a small amount of ingredients, the result will be of high quality. Planetary mixing technology and nozzle design are responsible for this.

Optimum speed can be selected for various tasks, a wide setting range allows this. Everything is smoothly regulated, which also benefits the engine. nine0214 Optionally, you can expand the functionality of the combine with a meat grinder, a stationary blender, a vegetable cutter or a pasta attachment. At the same time, the manufacturer did not immediately include all this in the basic package, and the user always has a choice of which nozzles are useful to him, and which are not needed. At the same time, in comparison with analogues, additional nozzles for this combine will not hit the budget.

Advantages:

  • High power motor with overload protection;
  • Quality metal tips; nine0635
  • Large bowl volume 5.5 l;
  • Wide speed range;
  • Functionality can be extended to your liking.

Flaws:

  • Not found.

Garlyn S-350

We hope that this review has helped you decide on a food processor model that will be optimal for you in all key parameters.

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