Unless you’re a private chef or you work in a commercial kitchen, then chances are you have never used a food processor. If that is the case, then it’s about time to go out and buy yourself one.
This kitchen appliance will do all the heavy lifting of prepping food for you with just the press of a button. If you’ve been using a blender or a coffee grinder to blend certain food items, then stop. The best food processor will allow you to do all of this in seconds. There are even some that come with attachments that will do a number of different applications like slicing vegetables and grinding meat.
So, put your worries aside while we provide you with everything you’ll need to know to purchase a new food processor.
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1. The Best Food Processor Overall
Cuisinart Pro Custom 11-Cup Food Processor (9.5 out of 10)
The Cuisinart Pro food processor is one of the most powerful and fastest appliances on the market today. It does cost a little more than most others but it has a very strong track record. It’s also covered by a warranty that will cover you on any damages for the foreseeable future.
Features and Benefits
- Dishwasher safe and easy to use.
- Comes with chopping blade, three slicing discs and a spatula.
- 5-year warranty included.
- Large 11-cup container for large families.
- Larger feeding tube for adding liquids and vegetables.
Pros
- Covered by a 5-year warranty for all damages and defects that may occur.
- Comes with three slicing/shredding discs for multi purposes.
- Has a large container for large amounts of food and a feeding tube for adding extra while in use.
Cons
- Does come at a higher price than most other units.
Editorial Review
If you’re looking for the best food processor, then look no further than this appliance right here. It comes with everything you could want in a unit such as a strong chopping blade that will not dull or rust over time.
It also has three different shredding/slicing discs to cut literally any vegetable or cheese. The container is very large at 11 cups which is a lot to pulse at one time. The motor is also extra strong and will not wear out with a larger amount of food in the pot.
And if it does happen to break or the motor burns up, you’re covered by a 5-year warranty for all damages and defects that may occur while in use. The unit is easy to use with a locking lid and the press of a button for continuous use or pulse rate.
What Others Are Saying
Positive – Users love how great this machine works. It’s able to grate, shred or grind food in a matter of seconds. Sure, you’ll pay a little extra, but it will work better than any other cheaper machine out there, which is more than worth the extra cash.
Negative – There really are not that many complaints out of so many reviews posted, but the one or two complaints seem to be the same every time. Most people have a problem with the locking mechanism, which is the safety switch. Most likely they forced the lid closed and broke it instead of reading the directions first. Others also said that the warranty does not cover professional use, only home cooks’ use which should be easy to get around when exchanging the model for a new one.
2. Best Mid-priced Food Processor
Hamilton Beach Food Processor & Vegetable Chopper (9.0 out of 10)
For how cheap this Hamilton Beach machine is and for everything that comes with it, you just can’t beat it. The inside wall scraper is probably one of the best features of this unit. No other food processor will have this feature which comes in handy more often than you would think.
Features and Benefits
- Dishwasher safe and easy to use.
- Comes with a sharp chopping blade and a slicing/shredding reversible disc.
- Comes with a special bowl scraper attachment.
- Large 10-cup container capacity.
- 2 separate speeds and a pulse mode.
Pros
- Comes with an inside wall scraper to release food from the container without opening the lid or using a spatula.
- The 450-watt motor is super-fast and efficient with 2 different speeds and a pulse.
- The large 10-cup capacity makes it easy to grind just about anything.
Cons
- Does have a tendency to overwork itself and possibly break down if overused.
Editorial Review
This unit is really not all that expensive when compared to other machines coming in at less than $50.
It also comes with a lot of great extras that most higher-end models have such as a reversible shredding and slicing disc. It has a really cool attachment that allows you to scrape the inside of the container’s walls without having to open the top or use a spatula. The container capacity is also quite large at 10 cups.
With the 450-watt motor and two different speeds, the machine will power through just about anything placed in it.
What Others Are Saying
Positive – This food processor has changed people’s lives by how great it works, and that’s not an overstatement. It’s very fast and very powerful! For how cheap this machine is, it works better than they ever could have imagined.
Negative – There have been some complaints that the machine will work too fast and that the higher speed is not needed. Also, if you use the higher speed for an extended amount of time, the motor will wear out and sometimes begin to smoke if overused too much.
3. Best Budget Food Processor
Ninja Food Chopper (9.5 out of 10)
When you get down to it, the Ninja Food Chopper is supposed to be used for very specific applications. If you stay within those areas and try not to add things in the machine that it can’t do, then this will be the best appliance you will ever use and should last a lifetime. If it does happen to break within the first year, at least you have a warranty to cover it.
Features and Benefits
- 1-year warranty.
- 200-watt powered motor pod.
- Small and compact, 2-cup capacity.
- Dishwasher safe.
Pros
- Comes with a 1-year warranty to protect it.
- The machine is very fast and efficient with its 200-watt motor.
- The processor is easy to use and dishwasher safe.
Cons
- Only to be used for small dicing, mincing and purees.
Editorial Review
The Ninja Food Chopper is a top-selling product that’s only about $20 and is also very compact. Despite its smaller size (only able to hold up to 2 cups), the processor is very fast and efficient.
The 200-watt powered motor sits on top of the container and will only do pulse mode, meaning you have to hold the button down for it to work. Ideally, this appliance works best for sauces, dressings, drinks, purees and minces.
What Others Are Saying
Positive – Customers love how awesome this processor is, for its small size and inexpensive tag. It’s way faster and efficient than they ever thought it would be. Very worth the money spent.
Negative – There really are not many bad reviews, but for the most part they seem pretty petty when you get down to it, such as the machine seems cheap or it could be stronger.
4. Best Commercial Food Processor
Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor (9.0 out of 10)
The Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup food processor is made of high-quality materials with a strong construction that will last forever. And even if it doesn’t last forever, there’s a 5-year warranty that comes with the original purchase along with an option to extend the warranty once it has ended.
Features and Benefits
- Extra-large 14 cup capacity with 2 sized pushers.
- Comes with 3 discs for shredding and slicing.
- Powerful 720-watt motor with pulse and on switch.
- 5-year warranty included.
- Dishwasher safe.
Pros
- Has a very powerful 720-watt motor to help break down just about anything.
- Made with quality materials to ensure the machine lasts forever.
- Comes with a 5-year extended warranty.
Cons
- It is much pricier than any other food processor on the market.
Editorial Review
If you’re a professional chef or just looking for a very large and powerful food processor, then this is the machine for you.
It’s one of the most powerful machines on the market with its 720-watt motor and 14-cup container capacity. The machine comes with heavy-duty stainless-steel discs to shred or slice just about anything you throw at it.
Out of all the heavy-duty food processors available for purchase, this one takes the cake. It is basically designed to be a workhorse and power through any and all foods placed in it. The warranty that covers the machine also solidifies just how great the product can be. It is much more expensive to purchase, but that is what you get when you want a quality machine.
What Others Are Saying
Positive – Users love how strong and powerful the actual motor is on the device. It has never overheated after 5-10 minutes of continuous use or multiple rapid pulses. They also love that the machine is easy to use and clean. It has been highly recommended to anyone and many users have reported that they would definitely buy it again.
Negative – Negative remarks are purely user errors from people who do not know how to use the machine properly. Such as the parts not lining up correctly and needing to force them, the locking mechanism breaking when the lid is forced open and the machine just stopping working. But there’s a warranty to fix all of this anyway.
Buyer’s Guide to Food Processors
How to Choose the Best Food Processor
When choosing your new unit, it’s best to make sure there are a few details included with the appliance. You want to make sure the machine is made with quality materials and has a strong construction so that it will last forever.
These machines can get somewhat pricey so it’s best to choose one that won’t break after a few uses. In case that does happen though, make sure the appliance comes with some sort of a guarantee or warranty. This will protect your food processor from any and all damages that may occur while in use.
Try to buy one that’s not only easy to use but also easy to clean. Most are dishwasher safe so make sure you get one that is, otherwise you may be doing some washing by hand and these appliances can be kind of hard to clean by hand.
What to Look for When Purchasing a New Food Processor
This all depends on what you plan on using the food processor for. If you’re just wanting to purchase a unit that will act as a food blender, then the more basic model will be fine for you. But if you’re wanting an appliance that will go the extra mile and grind meat, slice vegetables and shred cheeses then you might want to look at a machine that comes with the extra attachments.
You also need to determine how much food you’ll be preparing at once. If you’re just going to be using the processor for yourself, then a smaller compact unit will be best. But if you plan on doing a lot with the appliance and cooking for many people on a regular basis, then look at a larger unit that will hold 12+ cups.
If you plan on using the machine a lot more than every once in a while, then you want to make sure that the motor is strong and able to handle larger amounts of food at a time. This will make sure it does not burn out after several uses. Usually, these types of units are used in larger commercial kitchens but can be used at home as well.
Construction and Design
There are basically two different types of designs when it comes to food processors. The kinds that have the container sitting on top of the motor base which is usually the larger or stronger units. And then there are the types that have a smaller motor that connects to the top of the container and usually start when it’s connected or by pressing a pulse button.
Almost all of the containers are clear because you want to see what’s going on inside. With the type where the container sits on top, these can usually have an opening that allows you to add liquids and more food while it is in the process of blending. The smaller units that have the motor on top do not have this option.
Again, with the container on top, these usually have the options for adding different attachments for grinding, slicing and shredding. Basically, the smaller units with the motor on top are almost exclusively used for blending and that is it. There are some models that will also have a retractable cord that rolls up inside the base, which is helpful to save on space.
How to Care for Your Food Processor
For the most part, all the parts of the food processor are dishwasher safe, except for the electrical base units. It’s very important to wash the non-electrical parts of the unit after every use. If the food processor is not dishwasher safe then make sure to wash all the parts with warm water and dish soap and then dry immediately.
To clean the electrical base of the unit, just wipe clean with a damp cloth and then dry. Place all the pieces back together and store as one whole piece to save on space. When using the food processor, make sure to not try and grind extremely hard food items. A food processor will chop and grind just about anything, but it is wise to stay away from nuts, seeds and very hard vegetables like turnips, beets, and jicama. These types of food items will wear out the motor and possibly break it. It will also dull or damage the blade, possibly even preventing it from working again.