I exploit my meals processor on a weekly foundation to make all the pieces from homemade hummus to shortly chopping veggies for salads to making nut butters. I take into account it my sous chef within the kitchen! One of the best meals processors make simple work of quite a lot of kitchen duties, and know the way essential it’s to decide on one which works persistently and reliably.
Whereas all meals processors provide the identical fundamental operate of chopping and grinding or slicing and shredding, they don’t all carry out the identical. I’ve personally used and cherished my Cuisinart 14-Cup Meals Processor for years, however I’ve discovered a number of different worthwhile choices that may work higher in your kitchen To slender down the record, I thought-about capability, ease of storage, and sturdiness, in addition to my private expertise from utilizing others prior to now.
Beneath are the perfect meals processors that will help you out within the kitchen.
My Prime Picks:
- What’s in My Kitchen: Cuisinart 14-Cup Meals Processor – $199.50 at Amazon
- My Favourite Mini: Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Meals Processor – $36.71 at Walmart
- Finest Funds: Hamilton Seashore 10-Cup Meals Processor – $44.97 at Amazon
- Finest Fundamental: Ninja Skilled XL Meals Processor – $119 at Walmart
- Finest Massive Capability: Breville Sous Chef 16 Professional – $374.99 at Amazon
- Finest Blender and Meals Processor Combo: Vitamix A3500 SmartPrep Kitchen System – $899.95 at Amazon
Opinions of The Finest Meals Processors
1. What’s in My Kitchen: Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor
The Cuisinart 14-Cup Meals Processor has been a staple in my kitchen for a number of years, and I exploit it on a regular basis! Not solely does it make easy sauces and creamy nut butters, however it’s large enough to accommodate bigger portions and has giant, paddle-style controls that make it simple to make use of. There are solely two settings—on and pulse—so it’s good for learners and no-fuss house cooks. There’s a big feed tube that makes it simple so as to add substances, and it consists of a normal slicing disc, a medium shredding disc, and a stainless-steel chopping and mixing blade, so you need to use it instead of a mandoline slicer or field grater, too.
The Specs:
- Capability: 14 cups
- Dimensions: 11 x 7.9 x 14.8 inches
- Weight: 16 kilos
- Settings: On, pulse
The Professionals:
- Constant outcomes
- Massive feed chute to reduce prep
- Smooth, chrome steel design
The Cons:
- No pace settings
- Costly
What Others Are Saying:
The Cuisinart 14-Cup Meals Processor was named the perfect meals processor by Wirecutter, The Spruce Eats, and Bon Appetit. It additionally has greater than 19,000 evaluations on Amazon, with a median score of 4.6 stars.
Purchase the Cuisinart 14-Cup Meals Processor:
2. My Favourite Mini: Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor
I like utilizing my Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Meals Processor for smaller duties, like chopping cucumbers to make Tzatziki Sauce. With its 3-cup capability, it’s the best dimension for chopping greens or making dressing. It solely has two settings—chop and grind—so it’s fairly easy to make use of. The motor is much less highly effective than the full-size fashions, so this isn’t the only option for making nut butters or chopping by tougher meals, however it’s nice for fundamental prep and straightforward to retailer.
The Specs:
- Capability: 3 cups
- Dimensions: 5.0 x 7.0 x 9.25 inches
- Weight: 2.5 kilos
- Settings: Chop, grind
The Professionals:
- Easy operation
- Simple to retailer
- Funds-friendly worth
The Cons:
What Others Are Saying:
The Cuisinart Mini-Prep Meals Processor was named greatest small by Good Housekeeping. It additionally has virtually 30,000 evaluations on Amazon with a 4.6-star score.
Purchase the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Meals Processor:
3. Finest Funds: Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor
Should you don’t plan to make use of your meals processor each day like me, you may want a cheaper choice. This budget-friendly 10-cup meals processor from Hamilton Seashore does the trick for infrequent use. The motor isn’t as highly effective as some others, however it has capability, plus three settings—two speeds and a pulse mode—that make simple work of most kitchen duties. It features a chopping blade and a slicing/shredding disc, however one characteristic I actually love is the built-in scraper attachment. This repeatedly scapes the perimeters of the bowl whilst you’re utilizing it, so that you don’t need to cease to scrub the perimeters with a spatula.
Its rounded design does make it a bit bulkier than a few of the different sleeker fashions, however if you happen to plan to retailer it in a pantry or cupboard as a substitute of in your counter, that shouldn’t be an issue.
The Specs:
- Capability: 10 cups
- Dimensions: 15.47 x 10.25 x 8.43 inches
- Weight: 4.7 kilos
- Settings: Two speeds, pulse
The Professionals:
- Various pace settings
- Constructed-in scraper attachment
- Funds-friendly worth
The Cons:
What Others Are Saying:
The Hamilton Seashore 10-Cup Meals Processor has a median 4.6-star score from greater than 40,000 evaluations on Amazon.
Purchase the Hamilton Seashore 10-Cup Meals Processor:
4. Finest Fundamental: Ninja Professional XL Food Processor
Ninja makes nice user-friendly kitchen home equipment which can be wonderful for learners or anybody who doesn’t need loads of fuss. I like this meals processor as a result of it’s versatile—there are two blades in addition to slicing discs—but it’s simple to make use of. It comes with 4 preset packages (chop, puree, dough, and disk), plus three guide settings (low, excessive, and pulse). The additional-large feed chute means you’ll be able to drop bigger items of meals in with out chopping an excessive amount of, and the 12-cup dimension can accommodate giant recipes and family meal prep.
- Capability: 12 cups
- Dimensions: 17.5 x 10.7 x 8.7 inches
- Weight: 10.9 kilos
- Settings: 4 preset packages (chop, dough, puree, disc) and three guide settings (low, excessive, pulse)
The Professionals:
The Specs:
- Versatile settings
- Additional-large chute for much less prep
- Can accommodate bigger recipes
The Cons:
- Bigger footprint than others
What Others Are Saying:
The Spruce Eats named it the perfect energy and Food Network named it the perfect worth choice. The Ninja XL Meals Processor additionally has over 11,400 evaluations on Amazon and a 4.7-star score.
Purchase the Ninja Skilled XL Meals Processor:
5. Finest Massive Capability: Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro
You probably have a giant household, if you happen to meal prep, or if you happen to frequently entertain, you might wish to take into account a larger-capacity meals processor that may make a giant portion of homemade pesto directly.. Whereas this meals processor is a bit dear, it has loads of helpful options. For starters, it has a beneficiant 16-cup capability and a particularly highly effective motor that may minimize by just about something you throw at it. There are two feed chutes to get exact cuts for different-sized meals, and it features a variable slicing disc that has 24 settings, from further skinny to eight millimeters thick. It additionally comes with a 2.5-cup mini-processing bowl for smaller jobs, so that you’re getting the equal of two machines in a single.
The Specs:
- Capability: 16 cups
- Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.9 x 17.5 inches
- Weight: 19.7 kilos
- Settings: On and pulse
The Professionals:
- Massive capability
- Versatile with two feed chutes and variable slicing
- Comes with a smaller processing bowl
The Cons:
What Others Are Saying:
Wirecutter calls it the perfect improve, Food Network named it greatest general, and Food and Wine named it greatest splurge. The Breville Sous Chef 16 Professional additionally has a median 4.6-star score from over 2,600 evaluations on Amazon.
Purchase the Breville Sous Chef 16 Professional:
6. Finest Blender and Meals Processor Combo: Vitamix A3500 SmartPrep Kitchen System
I like my Vitamix blender, and if you happen to want a blender and a meals processor, the Vitamix A3500 SmartPrep Kitchen System is a winner. It’s an funding, however you’re getting the ability and reliability of a Vitamix, and two kitchen home equipment in a single. The set consists of the A3500 sequence base and motor, which is the blender I exploit, plus a 12-cup meals processor bowl and a 64-ounce blender jar. You’ll additionally get 4 slicing blades, which is greater than different choices on the record, that allow you to make all the pieces from small shreds to thick slices.
As a result of the meals processor works from the identical base because the blender, you’ll get all the identical settings, like variable pace management and pulse, so you may have extra management over consistency. All whereas saving on storage!
The Specs:
- Capability: 12 cups
- Dimensions: 11 x 8 x 17 inches
- Weight: 12 kilos
- Settings: Variable pace management, pulse
The Professionals:
- Variable pace management
- Versatile and handy
- Consists of many slicing discs
The Cons:
What Others Are Saying:
The Spruce Eats named the Vitamix Meals Processor Attachment the perfect attachment, and Serious Eats calls it the perfect space-saving meals processor.
Purchase the Vitamix A3500 SmartPrep Kitchen System:
Different Meals Processors to Take into account
KitchenAid 7-Cup Food Processor
KitchenAid makes high-quality small home equipment, and this can be a nice meals processor. It has three-speed choices, and the equipment neatly stack inside for storage, which is a pleasant contact. In the end, it didn’t make the record as a result of the 7-cup capability could also be limiting for some, and it’s not fairly a mini meals processor, so it’s not compact sufficient for these searching for a smaller choice. The KitchenAid 7-Cup Meals Processor is on the market at Amazon for $55.71.
Black + Decker 8-Cup Food Processor
Should you’re solely utilizing your meals processor often, this budget-friendly meals processor could possibly be choice for you. However if you happen to plan to make use of it frequently, I like to recommend investing somewhat extra in a single that may final you for a very long time. This one additionally tends to provide uneven cuts, which will not be a giant deal, however it relies upon what you’re utilizing it for. The Black + Decker 8-Cup Meals Processor is on the market at Amazon for $39.99.
GE 12-Cup Food Processor
This GE 12-Cup Meals Processor has loads going for it. It consists of 4 slicing discs and stackable feeding tubes that allow you to regulate the dimensions of the chute. Plus, it has a robust motor and a 12-cup capability that may work for many on a regular basis kitchen duties. It didn’t make my record of winners as a result of I’ve extra expertise with the opposite manufacturers and fashions, however it could possibly be choice for house cooks, particularly at this cheap worth. The GE 12-Cup Meals Processor is on the market at Amazon for $112.95.
Breville Sous Chef 12
A smaller model of the Sous Chef 16 Professional, the Breville Sous Chef 12 is an effective choice. It has three chute sizes, a variable slicing disc, and a security cease characteristic. Nevertheless, for my part, it doesn’t stand out amongst different fashions on this dimension vary. Plus, it’s pricier than similar-size choices with out loads of further options to justify the upper price. The Breville Sous Chef 12 is on the market at Amazon for $251.10.
Why You Can Belief Me
I’m Gina, the creator and recipe developer behind Skinnytaste, which options my favourite wholesome, family-friendly recipes made with actual meals. I like discovering methods to make cooking and meal prep simpler, and my Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor is a staple in my kitchen for rushing up my chopping and mixing duties.
In my a few years of recipe creation for Skinnytaste, I’ve used a number of different meals processors, so I do know what to search for and what to keep away from. When narrowing down the choices, I thought-about capability, general dimension, and model popularity. For meals processors that I haven’t tried myself, I relied on evaluations from actual customers on Amazon and the outcomes from skilled product testers at main cooking publications.
All the pieces to Know Earlier than Shopping for a Meals Processor
What to Take into account Earlier than Shopping for a Meals Processor
Meals processors serve the identical fundamental objective of mixing and chopping, however all of them have options that make them stand out from each other. Listed below are a very powerful issues to contemplate when deciding which one is greatest to your kitchen.
Capability: Meals processors include completely different bowl sizes. You need the bowl to be large enough to deal with all of your wants, however bigger isn’t at all times higher. Should you go too large, it won’t be capable to successfully course of smaller portions of meals because the blade can even be bigger. Most house cooks ought to intention for a capability of round 9 to 14 cups for on a regular basis wants, and I like to make use of a mini 3-cup dimension for smaller duties.
Total dimension: Along with the capability, you’ll wish to take into consideration general dimension, particularly if you happen to’re planning to maintain it in your countertop. Examine the size of the meals processor you’re contemplating and be sure to’re snug with the house it takes up.
Settings: All meals processors have fundamental settings—sometimes on/off and pulse choices—however you might discover some with superior options like a dough-kneading blade. Take into account your commonest cooking wants and slender down your selections that means. Usually, extra options imply the next price, so if you happen to don’t want all of the bells and whistles, you’ll be able to skip them in favor of a lower cost tag.
Equipment: Meals processors sometimes include various sorts of blades and a few even have completely different dimension bowls to accommodate different-size kitchen duties. Take into consideration what equipment you’ll must make the kitchen equipment simplest for you, and select an choice that covers these bases.
What’s a Meals Processor?
A meals processor is a flexible kitchen equipment that helps pace up meals prep and might make on a regular basis duties a lot simpler. Relying on the included blades, meals processors can chop, shred, slice, grind, and puree all sorts of meals.
Can You Use a Blender as a Meals Processor?
You should utilize a blender instead of a meals processor for some kitchen duties, however you gained’t get the very same outcomes. Blenders are designed to liquefy substances, so that they’re greatest for wetter recipes and liquid-based substances. Meals processors can shred and slice dry substances, which a blender can’t do, and may also be used to puree. Should you solely have a blender, ensure to make use of a pulse operate or manually pulse the machine to keep away from turning your substances into soup.
What Does a Meals Processor Do?
Meals processors chop, shred, slice, and grind several types of meals. For instance, they’ll shred carrots or contemporary cheese or shortly chop onions. Some meals processors even have attachments that may knead dough, and so they can mix and puree meals, much like a blender.
Can You Grind Espresso Beans in a Meals Processor?
Sure, you’ll be able to grind espresso beans in a meals processor, however you might not get a constant grind such as you would with a devoted espresso grinder. Moreover, meals processors don’t allow you to management the dimensions of the grind, so it may be troublesome to get precisely what you need for a French press versus an automated drip machine. Should you do use a meals processor to grind your espresso beans, be sure to use the heart beat operate and examine on them each 3 to five seconds till you attain your required consequence. Simply notice that the espresso odor might linger.
The Finest Recipes for Meals Processors
Meals processors is usually a useful kitchen software for therefore many recipes. I exploit mine usually to shortly chop greens, put together dressings and sauces, and make nut butters. Listed below are a couple of of my go-to recipes, however you need to use this versatile kitchen software for prep too:
Costs had been correct at time of publication.
