Food processors will change the way you cook (and these 7 are the best)

This 26-pound powerhouse is highly praised among culinary enthusiasts. It earns an average of 4.5 stars across most distributors’ websites, and the most common complaint is that the plastic parts aren’t dishwasher safe. Breville’s website says it’s okay to wash them on the top shelf of the dishwasher now and then, but constantly running them through will damage the plastic.

The feed chute on this processor is one of the widest; there’s enough space to drop a potato in sideways. For smaller vegetables, there’s a second, leaner tube. But the blade will only spin if you use the food pusher, a common safety feature.

Most food processors pulse without many tech features, but this one has a timer to make recipes succinct. It can count down if you know how long you want it to spin, or make the timer count up to measure how long is just right. This can be key for making the perfect dough.

The Breville Sous Chef has the delicacy to handle a flaky pie crust but also the power to chop potatoes cleanly and quickly. Its consistency will cut down on waste and wow your guests — you no longer have to call your coleslaw “rustic.”

The BFP800XL holds 16 cups, but there are smaller models in the series if you don’t have quite enough cabinet space. For a smaller batch, Breville includes a 2.5-cup processing bowl that goes inside the larger one. It’s also the perfect size for making dips and sauces.

“I do a lot of window shopping before I decide on something. My SO goes nuts because it takes me three months to decide on a kitchen knife. That being said, I did my usual amount of research before buying this thing and my due diligence did not fail me yet again. The scraper is seriously so useful. Being Korean, I make kimchee every couple of months or so - which means a lot of friggin' garlic. This thing is awesome for mincing up some serious amounts of garlic because bigger chunks tend to get stuck at the top and not get minced evenly. The scraper solves that problem. I also tried using it to process crab meat to make it flaky to make California rolls and the motor can handle dry and dense foods like crab meat. I also tried processing chicken breast for chicken salad with it and no problems there either. The control options are pretty basic but if you can handle your own around a kitchen then gadgets with crazy settings only get in the way. With this product, there is absolutely no need to hesitate. The amazing price is just that - an awesome deal.”

The standout feature is a manual side-scraper attached to the lid of this food processor. As the machine blends your sauce or dip, you can keep the sides clear by twisting a dial on top. This saves time fumbling with the lid on other models.

The price is the main reason for purchasing this unit. Few processors under $50 have the capacity and slicing/shredding discs of the Hamilton Beach food processor. Plus, the wattage is impressive for a low-end appliance.

The average review on Amazon is 4.5 stars, with a few complaints of a short lifespan. Many of these complaints were after using the product for a year or more. To extend its life, we'd suggest you hand wash the components of the food processor.

Amazon reviewer Josh W. says:

“I do have the full size version of this and I live it, but pulling it out and cleaning is a pain. I bought this smaller version primarily for baby foods. It's small enough that I can leave it on the counter and cleanup is relatively easy as there are only 3 pieces. For normal cooking purposes it won't replace my fill size, mostly because it doesn't have a cheese grater or slicing blade but for everyday use like chopping fruits or veggies, this does the trick.”

I usually cook for one, so most food processors seem excessive for my lifestyle. But this one could fit among my shelves of mismatched plates and bowls. It’s less bulky than family-sized processors, but it doesn’t feel flimsy.

The base is die cast metal, making it sturdy enough to avoid wiggling around the countertop. The white and black models have plastic bases, so avoid those if you want the weight of metal.

The blade, which rotates between chopping and grinding, spins and hits the food with the blunt side on the chopping setting while the grinding side should be utilized for harder foods, like almonds.

The blade locks into the base, keeping it safe from tumbling out. It has to be tight for the processor to start up too, so you don’t have to worry when cooking with a little helper.

Amazon reviewer C. Drennan says:

“I did some research before buying this food processor. It's large enough to drop whole apples or potatoes in. It shreds, slices, and chops. Easily cleaned. Comes with everything you need. It doesn't come with a dough blade. The dough blade is pointless, so I wouldn't advise buying one. The regular blade does a better job with dough. It comes with a spatula that fits the inside shape of the work bowl. The shred blade and the slice blade has a counter weight that helps balance as either blade spins. The shred and slice blade should by putting just enough pressure on whatever is being processed to keep in contact with the blade. The blades are sharp and do a very good job, so you don't need to mash down on the food to get it to slice or shred. Just put the food into the feed tube and lightly press on the plastic pusher piece with enough pressure to keep the food in contact with the blade and let the machine do all the work. It's a stable machine that wont hop around on your counter. It's easily cleaned and does a good job.”

When I asked around about food processors, I heard that a lot of people look for Cuisinart. It’s a brand that balances quality with affordability for a lot of consumers. It doesn’t out-perform the Breville (my top pick), but it’s about half the price.

The main drawback is that there are two slicing discs, but neither are adjustable. At this price range, you can usually customize the size of the slice. If you’re as indecisive as I am, it’s nice to not have to worry too much about the thickness of the slice.

The feed chute is wide, a good indication that the processor can handle full vegetables. Usually, you chop things into sections before the machine dices it further. The 720 watts powering the Cuisinart enable it to slice through thicker pieces.

Amazon reviewer Salena Lettera says:

“After 30 years with a very small "food processor" I tried this actual food processor. It is wonderful! Quiet, quick and easy to clean. I have done items from slicing carrots, celery & napa cabbage to pesto. Cannot wait to try those recipes that I bypassed because of lack of proper food processor.”

KitchenAid makes a line of food processors with what it calls the “exact slice system.” It’s a sliding adjustment for the slicing disc, located on the base of the processor instead of the disc itself. This way, you can make a slice thicker or thinner without having to disassemble the processor.

The feed tube is split into three sizes, thus eliminating the need to precut the ingredients.

The processor comes with a nine-cup bowl and a 2.5-cup bowl with corresponding blade. It’s great to whip up something quickly for lunch or for the picky eater of the family. My grandma uses smaller bowls when she needs to alter a portion of a meal for someone with food allergies. The group can have the original recipe, but allergies still get accommodated. Use her strategy when dealing with your one keto-dieting friend.

Amazon reviewer Shari B. says:

“If you have never used one of these, you are missing out. I use this all of the time. We had a food processor and it took up space on the counter, was bulky, and took time to clean it. This thing does the truck in a couple of pulls. The more you pull the finer the chop is...We won't go without one. The best part is when I have to chop onions...no more irritated eyes!”

It’s okay, Goldilocks. Chopping your produce into bits is too hard. Electric food processors are too bulky. This one may be just right.

This food processor is certainly the odd one out on this list, but it deserves to be here just as much as the electric appliances. The sharp blades slash through fruits and vegetables like the others, only this one is powered by a manual button. Keep pressing until the chop is small enough and voilà, you’re done.

The key benefit of this device is that you can store your food in the bowl. Remove the blade and the handle, and your chopped salad is potluck ready. It’s like Tupperware with a super power.

The downside is that the cuts are less precise than electric models, and it can’t make sauces that require a lot of blending. It can stir and chop, but it will never make you fries.

Amazon reviewer Ronald Kirk says:

“This Ninja is surprisingly efficient! We made some homemade hummus finally after being addicted to the premade stuff, and it's ridiculously easy if you have the ingredients you'll wonder why you were paying $5 a tub before. So we made our hummus in the blender, which is the only thing we had, and it came out good, but there's a reason the food processor was invented. The blender is great for a smoothie but it doesn't circulate something more chunky like hummus so we were left with a lot of stirring and hassle, so we grabbed this little Ninja Express to bridge the gap since we haven't had a need for a food processor before and just want it for hummus. On the first blend last night, our chunky hummus came out smooth and silky just like the premade stuff! The blades on this thing are super sharp and made short work of blending a full batch of hummus (about 1.5 cups of beans). The cup and a half of beans pretty much filled this entire ninja so you could probably do about 2 cups at a time max, so this is great for small jobs but check out the larger Ninja offerings for more robust kitchen work. Great for the occasional hummus or other dip!”

Ninja expands beyond blenders and brings clever design to food processors with the Express Chop. The power is stored at the top of this device rather than at the base, and food is chopped as it whisks around and through the blades.

It’s a quick and simple approach to food processors, which is perfect for some kitchens. The cuts aren’t going to achieve the precision of more complicated processors, but it should work if your dinner guest isn’t Gordon Ramsay.

Amazon reviewer Zachary Long says: