The Best Food Processors Reviewed and Compared

The Cuisinart DFP-14 got a somewhat bad rap when it was first released. Here, we’re talking about the slightly updated model, which is now BPA-free like most food processors, and has chopping blades with fewer nooks and crannies that allow food to get stuck.

Though it has no truly outstanding features like a built-in wall scraper, it really does everything you’d expect and can be expected to last for several years. Once you start spending more on optional add-ons, its range of functionality expands greatly and we can even start comparing it to a machine like the KitchenAid KFP1466ER.

This machine’s blocky stainless steel base looks a little severe and like something you’d expect in a restaurant’s kitchen. If this puts you off, rest assured that a number of styling options are available.

The whole thing seems reassuringly solid, which is pleasing. The way the discs attach to the motor seems a lot sturdier than many other models, too. On the other hand, putting all parts together every time you want to use the appliance does require a little finesse and patience, but this is pretty much the norm for all food processors.

One unique feature of this food processor, at least among those that made the cut to be featured on our list of the best food processors, is that the motor housing is off to one side instead of underneath the working bowl.

Another, which is no less important, is that it has separate control knobs for speed and activation (either pulsed or continuous). Since slicing at the correct speed has a pretty important influence on the results, this level of control will appeal to someone who is used to using a food processor and wants to do more than just turning large chunks into smaller ones.

It is also, despite a decent power rating, one of the quietest food processors around. This is partly because you’re able to adjust the speed to such a fine degree and partly due to its belt-coupled design. If you’re planning to make fresh baby food on a regular basis, this low noise level is an important consideration. For this, the Braun would definitely be our top pick.

The Breville BFP800XL is certainly not the cheapest food processor on the market, but definitely worth its price once you figure in all its functions and attachments. Heavy duty and capable of a variety of tasks other processors simply can’t handle, it also comes with a smaller 2½-cup work bowl with its own S-blade for small batches.

Not many people ever need to make more than a cup or so of mayonnaise at a time, yet a food processor that’s under-filled often performs poorly. The inclusion of a smaller vessel for whipping up small batches of sauces and garnishes is therefore a major plus that saves you from having to buy a separate, smaller food processor.

In terms of processing options, your go-to tool will probably be the variable-thickness slicing disc that can be adjusted to cut from 0.33mm to 8mm (0.13 to ¹/₃“). This is backed up with a reversible shredding disc, a julienne disc, a wavy emulsifying disk, and a french fry disc. A plastic dough kneader transfers energy from the powerful motor to enable you to knead even stiff, dense types of dough.

The Hamilton Beach 70730 model is pretty much a standard 10-cup food processor at a decent price, but with a couple of extra quirks that make it worth looking at. The first of these is a built-in (but removable) three-spatula bowl scraper that can be accessed from the outside. Three spatulas are necessary, as the feed chute prevents you from rotating the connected lever through 360°.

This scraper does not extend all the way to the bottom of the bowl, but that part will generally be covered by food anyway. In other words, you won’t have to remove the lid and twiddle a spatula around when making purees, dips, etc. (or not nearly as often, anyway). With some sauces, leaving in chunks by being too hasty can be a real problem. This functionality also makes this food processor a good choice if you plan to make tons of baby food.

In terms of functionality, you can choose between one reversible disc that slices on one side and shreds on the other, and an S-blade used for chopping, mixing, and pureeing.

As far as its appearance goes, this machine is aptly named: kind of aggressive-looking in a sexy way. In terms of functionality, it can create milkshakes and smoothies, knead dough, crush ice, and chop, slice, shred or puree vegetables fit for a shogun.

It also hits kind of a sweet spot in terms of the balance between capacity and compactness. More interestingly, this is the only food processor we’ve selected that doubles as a blender – you’d think there would be more, but it turns out that combining these two distinct functions into one machine is actually not straightforward. This is the only model we’ve found that doesn’t have some pretty serious drawbacks.

Despite the suction feet on the bottom, without which this 9-pound appliance would be in danger of tipping over, the powerful motor does mean that it’s on the loud side even for a food processor. As far as quality in general goes, everything is reasonably well-built, but bear in mind that only the motor and base is covered under warranty.

This 5-cup food processor is very like the Cuisinart DLC-2ABC – in fact the 3½ cup version is practically identical in every way except appearance. Both food choppers are very fast and work best when preparing small quantities of things like marinades, salad dressings, and garnishes. Each can finely chop a couple of garlic cloves in less time than it takes to scrape the result out of the bowl.

Both, again, come in various colors and are good for chopping and pureeing but cannot slice, shred or grate. Each has an oil funnel for making sauces like mayonnaise and vinaigrette. This KitchenAid, however, looks a little like a French press coffee maker. It comes with both a mixing/dicing blade and a special whisk accessory, so you can make whipped cream instead of butter.

On the negative side, you control it using an awkward slider toggle instead of buttons, and at 6¼ by 7 x 10 inches, it’s a smidgen larger than the Cuisinart DLC-2ABC.

Overall, while the Cuisinart ABC is pretty cool in its own way, the slightly larger capacity and whisk attachment of this miniature KitchenAid wins out for us. Who, indeed, doesn’t like a dollop of whipped cream with dessert?

If you’re looking for the ultimate in compact kitchen convenience, try this model on for size.

As you can see just by looking at it, this is a food chopper and puree maker rather than a “real” food processor, which at a minimum can also shred and slice. If you’re not too concerned about which shape your ingredients end up in, though, it may well be all you need, and it’s not that expensive.

Unlike with most food processors, the lightweight motor housing can be held in your hand and lowered over the bowl. This design makes for easier storage than a fixed base. There are also no buttons to push: you simply push down on it to start. This is also the only safety feature apart from the motor remaining locked if the blades aren’t attached correctly.

The Hamilton Beach 70820 sacrifices some bowl space in comparison to the 70730, but retains the handy side wipers and features a unique and innovative design which eliminates a frustration common in food processors – having to twist, jiggle and finally thump all the fittings into place.

Instead, this “Stack & Snap” food processor uses a metal latch (which doubles as a carry handle) to lock the bowl and lid onto the motor. This will certainly appeal to those of us who’ve owned a food processor with a fiddly, slightly warped lid.

This food processor also includes a bowl scraper that you can turn by twisting the black lever on top of the machine, so you don’t need to use a spatula when pureeing or finely chopping ingredients.

The adjustable slicing blade can produce cuts of between 1mm to 6mm (¹/_32/ to ¼ inches) thick and the two-sided shredding blade, for its part, can produce both thicker and finer strips. If, for example, you want to make coleslaw with finely grated carrots and somewhat more substantial cabbage ribbons, you only have to reverse it. The bowl and attachments can all be placed in the dishwasher.

This machine is very, very similar to the Cuisinart DFP-14; in fact, it’s pretty literally just a scaled-down version. You do get an extra slicing disc, though, and also a flat lid with a small hole instead of a feed tube to make storage easier. With the normal lid attached, it is about 15 inches (38 cm) tall.

It carries a 3-year warranty rising to 5 years on motor, the same styling as its larger sibling, and the same feeder which can be switched from wide to narrow at your convenience.

How much storage space and counter space you have may actually be the major factor influencing your decision between the two. Either is powerful enough to knead dough as long as you don’t overdo it – at least turn it off for a while every few minutes to let the motor cool down. As for the difference in capacity, you can calculate that just as well as I: it’s 3 cups or about 25%.

In contrast to the Breville BFP800XL’s 26 pounds, this Black & Decker weighs a mere 8. It sports a no-nonsense appearance with a black plastic housing, reflective of this brand’s association with power tools.

The manufacturer’s tagline for their range of food processors is “Life made simple”, and this could hardly be more apt. As long as you don’t have any special requirements, it does very well at chopping, pureeing, slicing, and shredding. As far as mixing dough, making nut butter and grinding meat go, well, you will probably have to pay more if getting perfect results is important to you.

As something of a bare-bones design, it is also fairly loud depending on how you use it.

On the plus side, though, the Black & Decker FP2500B PowerPro offers good performance and capacity at a very affordable price. These virtues have to be weighed against what would be serious drawbacks in some eyes.

Why tinker with a classic design? This KitchenAid’s appearance is definitely old school and it’s available in black, silver, or cherry red. Even though it looks a little like something you’d find in a thrift store, it’s actually just as capable as the Breville Sous Chef.

The KitchenAid also comes with a smaller work bowl for sauces, herbs, and garlic, which fits inside the larger jar. The slicing disc’s thickness is adjustable too, but in this case from outside the machine. This requires you only to move the lever in the front just above the oh-so-simple pushbutton controls.

Somewhat unusually, this appliance’s body is made of polycarbonate, which is as strong as steel for all intents and purposes, but much lighter. The base by itself weighs only 8 pounds and the machine as a whole carries a 1-year replacement warranty.

Available in a range of funky colors aside from the standard brushed stainless steel, this tiny 3-cup food processor is perfect for couples or single people who just want to make the process of getting dinner on the table a little simpler. Some of its advantages are its extremely simple operation, compact form factor, and attractive design.

Unfortunately, there is no provision for using a slicing or shredding disc. The single chopping blade can only spin one way to chop or puree and in the other direction to mix or grind. The idea behind this is to give good results with both soft foods (fresh herbs, firm cheeses, raw or cooked vegetables) and harder ingredients (nuts, frozen berries, ice).

The bowl is well sealed and this food processor goes through its contents very quickly. It will, for instance, work well on cooked garbanzo for hummus, but dry beans will probably wreck it in short order.