6 Best Food Processors to Prepare Food Easily

Cutting food into uniform shapes and sizes can ensure even cooking and making good-looking dishes. But for most people, it is a challenge to cut food evenly. For this reason, if you regularly cook at home, a food processor is an excellent investment in the kitchen.

A food processor is a time-saver when you are preparing fresh vegetables and other ingredients that need to be chopped, sliced, or minced. Therefore, it is useful for making homemade salsas or dips.  It can also grate cheese so that you can buy blocks of cheese rather than expensive pre-shredded bags. A food processor can be used to make your own mayonnaise and salad dressings. You can also make cream-based dessert fillings in many cases. It is the best choice if you need a tool that can make fruit and vegetable juice, make doughs, or mix thick batters.

Best Food Processors

1. Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Stack and Snap Food Processor (70725A)

$59.99 $64.99 in stock
4 new from $59.99
10 used from $47.39
Free shipping
Amazon Amazon.com
Last update was on: December 6, 2023 10:49 pm
Lightweight but powerful

PROS:

  • Lightweight but powerful
  • Chop and slice veggies fast and evenly
  • Very easy to set up, operate, and clean
  • Big mouth feed chute

CONS:

  • The sound in use is on the loud side.

2. Ninja BN601 Professional Plus Food Processor

$119.95 in stock
6 new from $114.97
7 used from $91.95
Free shipping
Amazon Amazon.com
Last update was on: December 6, 2023 10:49 pm
Multi-purpose and efficient

PROS:

  • Very easy to operate with the auto one-touch presets and multiple speed controls
  • Effectively chop and slice veggies, shred cheese, mix dough and sauces
  • Generous capacity for most households
  • Locking lid for safe and clean use

CONS:

  • Not for frozen and very hard food. But cut regular carrots well.

3. Cuisinart DFP-14BCNY 14-Cup Food Processor

$249.95 in stock
23 new from $249.70
3 used from $209.99
Free shipping
Amazon Amazon.com
Last update was on: December 6, 2023 10:49 pm
Sturdy and powerful

PROS:

  • Large bowl for large family
  • Perform well for chopping and slicing
  • Quiet and fast processing
  • Easy to clean

CONS:

  • A bit heavy to lift for some people.

4. Breville BFP800XL Sous Chef 16 Pro Food Processor

Free shipping
Amazon Amazon.com
Last update was on: December 6, 2023 10:49 pm
Processor from a trusted brand

PROS:

  • Stable standing and quiet use
  • Require less pre-cut food with wide feed chute
  • Come in 5 multi-functional discs, 3 blades, and 2 bowls
  • Auto timer on the LCD display
  • Easy to clean, especially for small areas.

CONS:

  • Bowls are not dishwasher safe. Hand washing the bowls can extend their service life.

5. KitchenAid KFC3516IC 3.5 Cup Mini Food Processor

$54.00 $59.99 in stock
4 new from $54.00
Free shipping
Amazon Amazon.com
Last update was on: December 6, 2023 10:49 pm
Basic mini food processor

PROS:

  • Compact and lightweight chopper for small tasks
  • Easy to use
  • Convenient cord warp around storage
  • Perfect size for singles that have a tiny kitchen, apartment
  • Works well with various food

CONS:

  • No on/off button.Need to plug on/off

6. BLACK+DECKER 8-Cup Food Processor

$41.00 in stock
13 new from $41.00
5 used from $30.00
Free shipping
Amazon Amazon.com
Last update was on: December 6, 2023 10:49 pm
Bargain pick

PROS:

  • Operate with safety as the blade only work after the lid is well-attached to the bowl.
  • Easy to put together and use for new users
  • Dishwasher safe
  • The sharpness of blades lasts long
  • Bottom suctions make the device stand stably on countertop

CONS:

  • Noisy use
  • The bottom suction is sometimes too tight to move.

What to Consider When Buying a Food Processor?

The choice of a food processor is often based on your cooking preferences and financial budget. When you are looking to add this versatile tool to your cooking arsenal, we have some suggestions.

Food Processor Types

Although we often think of a food processor as a kitchen appliance that cuts, slices, shreds or minces food, it can actually have many applications. Because they all processed food in one way or another, it can be combined with a variety of food processing equipment. Although they may look similar, not all food processors are the same. This is why it is important to understand what each one does when you’re looking at buying one.

Manual Food Choppers

This type of chopper allows you to place small amounts of food either inside the unit or on a cutting board. A hand touch on the top of your tool will activate the blade assembly and allow you to chop. These are best used for cutting and dicing small amounts of food. Some models include a rotary hand-turn function. These small choppers are inexpensive, portable, and easy to use for small, quick chopping/dicing jobs.

Potato Ricers

This tool was once used to ricing potatoes. But creative cooks have taken advantage of this long-standing kitchen tool and made it more versatile by pushing through soft-cooked vegetables and fresh noodles. These tools can also be useful if you are a fan of mashed potatoes, or if making large batches of homemade baby food.

Hand-Held Salad Slicers

These types of hand-held electric slicers can save your time while you cut vegetables into salads or other dishes. They are easy to use and store.

Cheese Graters

They are mostly manual and can be purchased in a variety of styles. They are used to grate cheese and other foods, such as vegetables. Many households have multiple sizes and shapes. Most people use the box style, where the cheese is deposited in the middle of the grater. However, the fun rotary style is popular for hard cheeses like parmesan. A disc may be available for large-scale cheese grating in electric food processors.

Coffee Grinders

Coffee grinders are only meant to be used for fresh coffee beans, due to the design and shape of the cutter. These are small and economical appliances that can be used to grind your own coffee beans. Some coffee makers have a built-in coffee grinder.

Blenders

Blenders are great for mixing and blending ingredients. While some blenders have processing functions or attachments that allow for chopping and blending, most blenders are limited to mixing liquids or soft foods. Some blenders can crush ice to make blended frozen drinks, depending on their blade. These tips will help you choose the right blender for you.

Grinders for meat and vegetables

They are available in both electric and manual versions. These are great kitchen tools. They can be used to grind with various discs, fine or coarse. You can either get a fully functioning antique meat grinder, or a grinder attachment for a larger mixer if you plan to use this tool often.

Mandolines

Mandolines can be used to slice, shred, or grate food. They come in a variety of materials, including plastic and stainless steel models that often include different sizes for cutting blades. The vegetables are moved back and forth across the cutting blades. It’s a quick, manual process. It is easy to store and use a mandoline.

Juicers

Because they extract the pulp from fruits and vegetables, juicers are able to process them in a completely different manner. This is something that a food processor can’t do. Because they are easier to use, electric juicers are much more popular than manual ones. However, they are also more expensive.

Mini or Compact Choppers/Processors

These tools can be called processors but their functions are very limited. These appliances can be used to chop onions, nuts, and spices or make small batches of salsa, dressings, vegetables, or condiments.

These are great for chopping, mixing, and making baby food from leftovers. Because they are smaller in capacity and do not include a cutting tube or cutting discs. They usually have less power than a full-size processor, hence,these small choppers are typically not able to slice and shred. These tools are usually more affordable than larger ones and take up less countertop space.

Large Food Processors

When you think about a food processor, it is likely that you will immediately picture a large-sized food processor. You can purchase food processors in different capacities, ranging from 5 to 12 cups. They usually come with at least a disc/circular knife cutter, which allows for at least some slicing and grating.

These units’ prices are based on their power and the number of accessories. Although a large food processor will have more discs and a dough hook, it will cost you more, you can still use it for multiple purposes.

There are a variety of accessories and designs for these food processors. They can cut and slice vegetables easily, grate cheese and make pureed dips. Some models are capable of kneading dough or juicing fruits, vegetables, and other tasks.

For example, a processor that chops only will not have a feeding tube, which is necessary for adding food to be sliced or shredded. Some food processors might only have a few accessories. However, optional accessories may be available to enhance the functionality.

Motor wattage

A food processor of a 500 to 600-watt motor is capable of chopping, shredding, and slicing with minimal power. A food processor with a motor of 700 watts or more is best for heavy-duty tasks like kneading, meat grinding, and other repetitive tasks.

Blades

Different blades are often included in food processors to perform different tasks.

Many include an S-shaped blade that can be used for chopping and mincing as well as slicing or grating blade.

Some larger food processors have at least a disc (circular knife cutter) for vegetable slicing and grating.

A plastic blade is necessary for kneading dough if you intend to use your food processor.

Some specific blades can work with smoothies and crushing ice. However, some blades are not suitable for grinding nuts.

Bowl size

You can choose the suitable food processor bowl size according to your household size and how many people you cook for. The capacity ranges from 5 to 14 cups. The most popular capacity is between 8 and 10 cups.

If you cook for more than four people or make large quantities of food to freeze, you should opt for a bowl that can hold 11 to 14 cups. A bowl that holds three cups will be sufficient if you are only cooking for one person or making small quantities of food with the processor.

Consider a food processor bowl with a maximum liquid limit when looking at them. This will prevent you from adding too many liquids to the machine, which can lead to leaks.

Food chute

A food processor comes with a chute that allows food to be added to the bowl even though the machine is still running.
A wide food chute is a good choice. A wide food chute allows you to place large pieces of vegetables or other foods. You don’t need to precut your ingredients.

Accessories

Many food processors include multiple work bowls that come in different sizes so you can use the machine to process multiple ingredients at once without having to pour out the processed food before processing another one. You may need a food processor that has a whipping attachment, a juicer, a few blades of different designs, or a different disc for slicing food into different shapes and sizes, depending on your needs.

Speeds

There are three settings for most food processors: on, off or pulse. Pulse allows you to control the machine for short periods of time so that you don’t over-chopping, puree, or grind your ingredients.

Some food processors can have higher speeds to handle heavy-duty tasks. Look for models with additional speeds if you intend to use your appliance for more than just chopping, puréeing, and grating.

Controls

For controlling food processors, you can use buttons, levers, or touchpads. Although buttons and levers are simple to use, spills can make them difficult to clean. Touchpads are just as easy to use and wipe clean. It may be well worth the additional investment.

Can I process hot food in the food processor?

No. Hot ingredients can cause discoloration and melting of the plastic blade and bowl. Before putting cooked food in a food processor, make sure they are cool.

Can I add water to the processor bowl?

Yes. Food processors can handle liquid food. But do not add more water than the maximum liquid limits or half of its capacity. Too much liquid can cause the processor to splash or seep out of the sides.

How to process food evenly with a food processor?

When chopping or pureeing, be sure to scrape the sides of your food processor bowl. You may get uneven results if ingredients stick to the sides of your food processor bowl.

If the processor doesn’t have a feed chute, or the chute is small, you should pre-cut the food into smaller pieces before you put them in the food processor’s container.

How to store my food processor?

Food processors are very commonly used in the kitchen. Most people just store it on the countertop. However, if you intend to keep it in a cabinet, the dimensions of the bowl and base will determine how easy it will store.

Mini food choppers can fit into any cabinet. If your food processor is a full-size model, you should first measure your cabinet to make sure it is large enough to store the processor. Take the top bowl down from the base, place them separately in the cabinet. You can use a box to protect the attached accessories.

Accessories

Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com.
Copyright © 2023 OKShop.Com – All rights reserved.

OKSHOP
Logo