Whether you’re slicing, dicing or pureeing, a food processor is an indispensable partner in any kitchen. However, not all are created equal, and there are a ton of options on the market these days. With this in mind, join us as we slice through the jargon and find the best food processors for all kinds of home cooks.
The Best Food Processors of 2024
- Best Overall: Ninja 9-Cup Professional Plus Food Processor
- Best User-Friendly: Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor
- Best for Large Batches: Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor
- Best for Convenience: KitchenAid 3.5-Cup Food Chopper
- Best Budget-Friendly: BLACK+DECKER 8-Cup Food Processor
- Best for Kitchen Prep: GE 12-Cup Food Processor
- Best Splurge: Breville Sous Chef Pro 16-Cup Food Processor
- Best for Versatility: Ninja Mega Kitchen System
- Best for Home Chefs: Braun 12-Cup Food Processor
- Best Compact: Proctor Silex 1.5-Cup Mini Food Processor
Best Overall: Ninja 9-Cup Professional Plus Food Processor
Key Specs
- Capacity: 9 cups
- Power: 1000 watts
- Dimensions: 7.76″D x 9.88″W x 16.02″H
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Multiple preset functions
- Includes accessories
Cons
- Takes up a bit of counter space
Why We Chose It
Meet the Ninja Professional Plus Food Processor, a silver powerhouse that’s turning heads in kitchens. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a home cook, this gadget promises to be your new countertop companion. The Ninja shines with its four Auto-iQ intelligent preset programs, tailored to make food prep a breeze. Imagine transforming raw ingredients into a smooth puree or a fine mince with just a touch of a button — that’s the Ninja for you.
Its large 9-cup work bowl means you can handle large batches without breaking a sweat, making it perfect for family dinners or entertaining guests. The included dough blade and slicing/shredding disc add to its versatility, making it a top pick for those who love to bake or enjoy fresh salads. Plus, for the busy bees, its dishwasher-safe parts are a godsend. Just a quick rinse, and it’s ready for your next culinary adventure.
Despite its prowess, the Ninja offers only four slicing/shredding functions, which might feel limiting for the creative cook. For those looking to experiment with a wider variety of cuts, this could be a bit of a letdown. Also, its size, while great for large batches, might be a tad cumbersome for smaller kitchens or minimal countertop space.
Best User-Friendly: Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor
Key Specs
- Capacity: 10 cups
- Power: 450 watts
- Dimensions: 8.5″D x 10″W x 16″H
Pros
- Large feed chute
- Generous capacity
- Dishwasher-safe parts
Cons
- Not ideal for liquids
Why We Chose It
Looking for a kitchen workhorse? The Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor might just be your new countertop bestie. With a generous 10-cup capacity and a powerful 450-watt motor, it’s ready to tackle anything from hummus to pizza dough.
The heart of this food chopper lies in its versatility. You can puree, knead, dice, and slice to your heart’s content. It’s a real game-changer for meal prep, especially with its large feed chute that swallows whole veggies and cheeses, saving you precious prep time.
Think of it as your mini sous chef, quietly and efficiently slicing and dicing while you focus on the finer details of your culinary creations. With its dishwasher-safe parts, cleanup is a breeze, making it a top pick for busy home cooks.
However, it’s not all smooth sailing. The Hamilton Beach processor isn’t the best pal for soups or smoothies. If you’re blending liquids, you might encounter the culinary equivalent of a mini flood on your countertop.
Best for Large Batches: Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor
Key Specs
- Capacity: 14 cups
- Power: 720 watts
- Dimensions: 11″D x 7.9″W x 14.8″H
Pros
- Extra large capacity
- Powerful motor
- Stainless steel construction
Cons
- Small feed chute requires extra prep work
Why We Chose It
When it’s about tackling the big jobs in your kitchen, the Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor steps up with a blend of power and capacity. Its 720-watt motor is like a culinary Hercules, muscling through everything from hummus to pizza dough. With its sleek stainless steel design, it’s a countertop statement piece.
This Cuisinart model is the superhero of food processors. Its large 14-cup work bowl is perfect for when you’re cooking in batches or dicing up a storm for family feasts. The power is impressive; whether you’re kneading dough, chopping veggies, or pureeing soups, it does so with the ease of a seasoned chef.
The included slicing and shredding discs, along with a chopping blade, make it versatile enough for any recipe. And let’s not forget the ease of cleaning — dishwasher-safe parts mean you spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying your culinary creations.
The lid design seems to have taken a detour through a legal department, prioritizing safety to a fault. It requires items to be pre-cut to smaller sizes to fit the feed tube, adding an extra step to your prep work.
Best for Convenience: KitchenAid 3.5-Cup Food Chopper
Key Specs
- Capacity: 3.5 cups
- Power: 1000 watts
- Dimensions: 5.95″D x 7″W x 8.74″H
Pros
- Compact size
- Dishwasher-safe parts
- BPA-free work bowl
- Comes in multiple colors
Cons
- Not ideal for large batches
- Plastic build may feel flimsy
Why We Chose It
For those who appreciate a blend of style and functionality in their kitchen gadgets, the KitchenAid 3.5-Cup Food Chopper in ice blue might just tick all the right boxes. It’s not just about its charming color — this compact powerhouse is perfect for small batches, whether you’re whipping up a quick pesto, a smooth hummus, or zesty salsa.
This KitchenAid model is a shining star in the world of mini food processors. Its small footprint makes it a countertop favorite, especially for kitchens where space is a luxury. The 3.5-cup work bowl comes with a locking blade, ensuring safety and ease when pouring your culinary creations.
Its dishwasher-safe parts make cleanup a breeze, a blessing for any busy home cook. The 2-speed setting, along with a pulse function, provides versatility, allowing you to achieve the right texture, be it chunky or smooth. The added drizzle basin is a nifty feature for those who love to get creative with dressings and sauces.
The lightweight design is great for storage, but it might raise some questions about durability. Users who are accustomed to more high-quality kitchen appliances might find its plastic build a bit underwhelming.
Best Budget-Friendly: BLACK+DECKER 8-Cup Food Processor
Key Specs
- Capacity: 8 cups
- Power: 450 watts
- Dimensions: 9.7″L x 9.4″W x 15.2″H
Pros
- User-friendly control panel
- Dishwasher-safe parts
- Generous capacity
- Wallet-friendly price point
Cons
- Motor isn’t powerful enough for harder foods
Why We Chose It
The Black + Decker 8-Cup Food Processor is a modern gadget for anyone seeking to simplify their cooking. Its user-friendly design ensures you won’t be wrestling with assembly — it’s as simple as setting and locking. The generous 8-cup capacity is ideal for those larger batches of salsa, hummus, or nut butters, making it a go-to appliance for entertaining or meal prep.
This food processor is a dream for the busy home cook. The intuitive assembly means you can go from zero to salsa in no time. With a sturdy stainless steel S-blade, it chops and mixes with remarkable efficiency. Craving thinly sliced vegetables or shredded cheese? The reversible slice/shred disc has you covered, saving your forearms from the usual workout.
However, this food processor is not without its limitations. If you’re looking to process harder foods like nuts, this model might leave you a bit underwhelmed due to its 450W motor.
Best for Kitchen Prep: GE 12-Cup Food Processor
Key Specs
- Capacity: 12 cups
- Power: 550 watts
- Dimensions: 10.3″D x 12.2″W x 16″H
Pros
- Multiple accessories included
- Large feed chute
- Stainless steel design
Cons
- Takes up a bit of counter space
Why We Chose It
The GE 12-Cup Food Processor has a sleek stainless steel design, and it’s a true workhorse. And talk about capacity! Its 12-cup jar means you’re all set for big batches of whatever’s on the menu, be it soups, smoothies, or salsa.
The standout feature of this GE model is its versatility. You get a bunch of stainless steel accessories — grating disc, French fry disc, dough blade, and more. The 550-watt motor is strong enough to tackle everything from kneading pizza dough to dicing veggies for your stir-fry. Plus, the large feed tube is a real timesaver, handling whole foods easily, so you can skip the pre-chopping. And after all that cooking, cleanup’s a breeze thanks to dishwasher-safe parts.
If you’re short on counter space or prefer a more compact kitchen setup, its size and the assortment of accessories might feel a bit overwhelming.
Best Splurge: Breville Sous Chef Pro 16-Cup Food Processor
Key Specs
- Capacity: 16 cups
- Power: 1200 watts
- Dimensions: 12.2″D x 12.91″W x 6.5″H
Pros
- Large-capacity bowl
- Powerful motor
- Dishwasher-safe parts
- Stainless steel construction
Cons
- Steep price point
- A bit bulky on the counter
Why We Chose It
This is a food processor that’s not just a gadget but a true workhorse in your kitchen. The Breville Sous Chef Pro is a top pick for those who adore cooking but not the prep work. Its generous 16-cup bowl can handle large batches of dough, veggies, or whatever your culinary heart desires, making it a godsend for meal prep.
The Breville Sous Chef is a power-packed performer with a 1200-watt motor, powerful enough to knead pizza dough, puree soups, or mince herbs with ease. Its solid die-cast metal base adds to its durability, while the stainless steel blades slice through ingredients like a hot knife through butter.
The small and large food pushers offer improved control, whether you’re shredding zucchini or slicing potatoes for French fries. The wide feed tube is a real timesaver, letting you skip the tedious chopping. And when it’s all over, the dishwasher-safe parts mean cleanup is a breeze, a feature often overlooked but always appreciated.
Occasionally, the Breville Sous Chef might gift you with oddly angled slices if the feed isn’t just perfect. A minor annoyance, but it’s there. While its large capacity is a boon, it also means the unit demands a fair bit of counter space.
Best for Versatility: Ninja Mega Kitchen System
Key Specs
- Capacity: 8 cups
- Power: 1500 watts
- Dimensions: 15.75″D x 11.1″W x 18.07″H
Pros
- Functions as a food processor and a blender
- Affordable price point
- Powerful motor
- Dishwasher-safe parts
Cons
- Can get noisy while in use
- You’ll need significant space to store all the parts
Why We Chose It
If you’re on the hunt for both a food processor and a blender, opt for the Ninja Mega Kitchen System. This versatile and cost-effective set consists of a 1500-watt motor base and multiple attachments that turn it into an 8-cup food processor, a full-sized 72-ounce blender and a 16-ounce personal blender.
To use this multipurpose machine, simply choose the appropriate vessel and attach it to the motor base — it’s that simple. Use the food processor bowl for things like mixing dips and doughs, and use the blender jars for more heavy-duty tasks like crushing ice and pureeing produce. You’ll also get an “Inspiration Guide” with a total of 31 recipes to try with the Mega Kitchen System.
Our only complaint? You’ll need a good bit of storage space to house all the different attachments, so this might not be the best choice for those with smaller kitchens. Some users have also noted that this appliance can get a bit noisy while in operation, so if you’ve got some light sleepers in the house, maybe don’t use it in the early morning hours.
Best for Home Chefs: Braun 12-Cup Food Processor
Key Specs
- Capacity: 12 cups
- Power: 600 watts
- Dimensions: 11.3″D x 14.9″W x 15.4″H
Pros
- 11 versatile speed settings
- Large-capacity bowl
- Easy to use
Cons
- Bowl may become warped in the dishwasher
Why We Chose It
In the world of kitchen wizardry, the Braun 12-Cup Food Processor stands out as a versatile performer. Whether you’re whipping up smoothies, kneading pizza dough, or dicing veggies for your next culinary masterpiece, this gadget is like a sous chef in your countertop arsenal.
The Braun 12-Cup Food Processor is a kitchen workhorse, making it a top pick for home cooks. With its powerful 600-watt motor and 11-speed DualControl system, it offers precision and control for everything from pureeing soups to mincing herbs. Its large capacity is perfect for handling big batches, be it for hummus or pesto.
The ease of use is a standout feature — it jumps right to the speed you need without the hassle of ramping up. Plus, the convenience of dishwasher-safe parts (barring the motor base) means cleanup is a breeze, which is a boon for any busy kitchen. However, the multitude of blades and attachments can be a bit overwhelming, and there may be a slight deformation in the bowl after dishwasher use. If this happens, it becomes a tussle to engage and disengage.
Best Compact: Proctor Silex 1.5-Cup Mini Food Processor
Key Specs
- Capacity: 1.5 cups
- Power: 150 watts
- Dimensions: 4.72″D x 7.09″W x 5.12″H
Pros
- Compact size
- Budget-friendly price point
- Great for cooking for one
Cons
- Motor isn’t very powerful
Why We Chose It
The Proctor Silex Mini Food Processor saves you vital countertop space while making short work of your culinary adventures. Size matters in a small kitchen, and this Proctor Silex model is a champion of compact convenience. Ideal for single servings or small batches, it’s the perfect ally for quick, small-scale meal preps.
You will really appreciate how this little gadget takes on a variety of kitchen tasks with ease. Whether it’s whipping up a creamy hummus or perfectly emulsifying a sauce, its sharp blades and adjustable texture settings are a big win.
Despite its prowess with smaller tasks, don’t expect it to replace your larger food processors when it comes to handling more substantial jobs like kneading pizza dough or processing large batches of veggies.
The Bottom Line
Our top 10 best food processors are sure to make your search easier. From the compact Proctor Silex for quick tasks to the mighty Breville Sous Chef for large-scale culinary endeavors, there’s something here for every home cook.
How to Choose a Food Processor
Power and Capacity
From a nimble mini chopper to a 14-cup workhorse, find a powerful motor and the right bowl size for your kitchen needs.
Versatility
Look for food processing models that can knead, chop, shred and slice with ease.
Ease of Use and Cleaning
Prioritize dishwasher-safe parts and intuitive controls for the best user experience.
Additional Features
Keep an eye out for handy extras like dough blades, shredding discs and large feed tubes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a food processor?
A food processor is a kitchen appliance that is used to break down ingredients when prepping food. Most food processors can chop, slice, shred and mix, and some are even powerful enough to blend and puree.
What’s the difference between a food processor and a blender?
Both blenders and food processors are electric appliances that feature a motor base, sharp blades and a vessel that attaches to the base. However, while most blenders have only one set of fixed blades, food processors often feature removable blades and discs designed for things like grating or dicing. Additionally, each appliance is best suited for different kitchen tasks. Food processors are best for prepping ingredients — think chopping nuts, shredding cheese or mincing veggies for salsa. Meanwhile, blenders are best for pureeing and liquefying ingredients, and the blades are often designed for tougher tasks like crushing ice.
Why Trust Us?
Our team of writers, editors and shopping experts evaluated dozens of popular food processor brands before coming up with our final picks for this list. When choosing the best food processors, we factored in the price point, specifications (such as capacity and motor power), extra features and the overall quality and performance of each model. We also considered customer reviews and ratings when determining if the food processors we selected were up to par.
