Credit:
Reviewed / Timothy Renzi
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Credit:
Reviewed / Timothy Renzi
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
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This food processor excels at a variety of tasks, from chopping to slicing to pureeing. But it needs extra support when it comes to kneading dough. Read More
Excelled at almost every task, chopping and slicing as well as a razor sharp knife, as well as kneading dough into a smooth elastic ball. Shredding mozzarella was the only chore at which it faltered. Read More
For the money, you can’t beat this easy to set up machine. It chops, minces, slices, and even kneads dough beautifully. Read More
GE just reentered the small appliances game, including this moderately priced, great performing, and easy to operate food processor. Read More
This 5-cup food chopper is perfect for small kitchens that lack counter and storage space. Read More
When you’re cooking up a storm, a large capacity, high-quality food processor is a must-have. In mere moments, it can chop vegetables or blitz a bunch of parsley into dust, and some can even knead bread dough for you.
With the best food processors, you’ll have no trouble slicing spuds thinly for scalloped potatoes, shredding carrots for salads, or grinding peanuts and almonds to make your own nut butters.
We've recently retested the best food processors and added new products to this guide, confirming the KitchenAid KFP1318 (available at Amazon for $149.95) is the top food chopper on the market. It gives top-notch performance without hogging too much kitchen counter space. With 13 cups of capacity, it's perfect for home cooks. However, if you’re looking for a more stripped-down experience, we've got plenty of other great options.
This KitchenAid model is the best food processor we've tested.
The Cuisinart food processor can tackle a variety of tasks.
This Black and Decker food processor cut a complete stick of pepperoni into perfectly even rounds.
Chops, slices, and kneads well
Easy to use
All parts dishwasher safe
Small capacity
Minces, slices, and kneads dough exceptionally well
Easy to use
All parts are dishwasher safe
Small feed tube
Battery-powered
Easy to use
Chops and slices well
Small capacity
Lack of accessories
Excels at chopping and mincing
Attractive
All parts store inside bowl
Small capacity
Stalls when kneading dough
Lightweight
Can mince parsley and grind almonds finely
Can't cut meats or tomatoes evenly
Can't knead doughs
Good at all tasks
Includes storage box
Tricky to operate
We pulverized, minced, and chopped our way through lots of food while testing the best food processors.
To find the best food processors, each appliance is run through a variety of tests and rated on how well it chops onions, minces parsley, grounds almonds, slices potatoes, tomatoes, and pepperoni, shredds mozzarella cheese, and cuts potatoes into julienne strips. In those with a kneading attachment, we evaluate its ability to knead pizza dough as well.
Since these machines can be complicated at times—especially if this is your first time food processing—we spend a lot of time poring over each of its manuals. Does it explain how to use the processor thoroughly, or do we still have to experiment to determine how to assemble the parts, use the attachments, and process specific foods?
We also consider whether it's easy to lock the lid onto the work bowl and use the controls, and how much of a racket it creates when running.
While we don't include size in our ratings, we take each food processor's capacity and overall bulkiness into consideration. We also check whether or not these food choppers include a storage case.
A food processor is a kitchen appliance that's known for quickly chopping all your large foods into mini bits. But it can do more than chop—it mixes, purees, emulsifies, grates, and shreds all your ingredients.
Blender or food processor? Or both? The answer comes down to what you need out of your appliances.
Food processors are a go-to tool when doing meal prep. They chop, pulse, and puree ingredients, and they're great for making pesto, pasta sauce, and homemade dough.
Need to slice and grate? Then grab your processor. The same is true for chopping vegetables.
Sure, blenders are great for smoothies, but there are a lot of other reasons to own one. If your dishes or drinks are heavily liquid-based and don’t require different consistencies, then a blender should be your choice. In addition to making crushed ice, they're great for soups, frozen drinks, and pureeing fruits.
Food processors are a versatile kitchen tool that can drastically cut your meal prep time by doing the hard work for you. Here are a few things to consider when shopping for a food processor.
Price: Some food processors cost hundreds of dollars, but those high-end models may also come with more advanced options. You don’t have to splurge to get a good processor, though. Our Best Value pick, the Black and Decker 3-in-1 Easy Assembly 8-cup Food Processor, outperformed some of the pricier models we tested.
Power: There’s a reason that we took power into account when we tested food processors. You want your machine to be able to chop vegetables and mince herbs, while also being able to shred a block of cheese. Processors designed to knead bread doughs shouldn’t jump around while you’re working your ingredients together.
Capacity: The working bowls of food processors can range, but there’s a perfect size for any cook. Mini choppers are great for smaller jobs. Large-capacity processors might be a better fit for people who do more cooking. Some processors we reviewed—like our top pick, the Cuisinart “Custom 14”—come with a big bowl and a smaller one, so they can be right for whatever chopping job you need.
Food processors can take some work to clean. There are a lot of pieces to remove and soak. All the pieces are removable, and many can go in the dishwasher.
However, some units have nooks and crannies that are difficult to fully clean. There are a few easy-to-clean models available if you're not one for careful scrubbing.
Lindsay is a professional chef, recipe developer, writer, and developmental editor. After years of working in restaurant kitchens, she turned to writing to share her passion for local, organic, and seasonal ingredients with home cooks and food enthusiasts.
Sharon Franke
Contributor
Sharon has tested and reviewed kitchen equipment for over 30 years. Before becoming a cooking tools maven, she worked as a professional chef in New York City restaurants.
Kate Tully Ellsworth is the Executive Editor of Lifestyle & Commerce at Reviewed. She oversees editorial partner content that focuses on brands and products our editorial team and tested and loved. She also oversees Pets, Streaming, Sleep, Health & Fitness, Sex Toys, Style, and Parenting. You can find her work on Reviewed, USA Today, Taste of Home, Reader's Digest, and The Family Handyman.
Kate got her degree in English writing from Belmont University and enjoys writing about how to shop, where to shop, and when to shop. Her passions include Star Wars, baking, and the Great British Bake Off. She's based in Nashville, TN, where she lives with her beautiful husband and beautiful daughter.
Monica is Reviewed's Kitchen & Cooking editor and an avid home cook; she's been testing a wide range of kitchen products at Reviewed for three years. Previously the Digital Editor at Culture Cheese Magazine (and a former barista), she's also had her work published in The Boston Globe, Modern Luxury, Boston Magazine, and more.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
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