I exploit my meals processor on a weekly foundation to make all the pieces from home made hummus to shortly chopping veggies for salads to making nut butters. I contemplate it my sous chef within the kitchen! The perfect meals processors make simple work of quite a lot of kitchen duties, and know the way vital it’s to decide on one which works constantly and reliably.
Whereas all meals processors supply the identical fundamental perform of chopping and grinding or slicing and shredding, they don’t all carry out the identical. I’ve personally used and beloved my Cuisinart 14-Cup Meals Processor for years, however I’ve discovered a number of different worthwhile choices which may work higher in your kitchen To slim down the record, I thought of capability, ease of storage, and sturdiness, in addition to my private expertise from utilizing others prior to now.Â
Beneath are one of the best meals processors that can assist you out within the kitchen.
My High 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
- Greatest Funds: Hamilton Seashore 10-Cup Meals Processor – $44.97 at Amazon
- Greatest Primary: Ninja Skilled XL Meals Processor – $119 at Walmart
- Greatest Massive Capability: Breville Sous Chef 16 Professional – $374.99 at Amazon
- Greatest Blender and Meals Processor Combo: Vitamix A3500 SmartPrep Kitchen System – $899.95 at Amazon
Evaluations of The Greatest Meals Processors
1. What’s in My Kitchen: Cuisinart 14-Cup Meals 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 clean sauces and creamy nut butters, nevertheless it’s sufficiently big to accommodate bigger portions and has massive, paddle-style controls that make it simple to make use of. There are solely two settings—on and pulse—so it’s good for newbies and no-fuss residence cooks. There’s a big feed tube that makes it simple so as to add components, and it consists of an ordinary slicing disc, a medium shredding disc, and a chrome steel chopping and mixing blade, so you should utilize 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 attenuate prep
- Glossy, stainless-steel design
The Cons:
- No velocity settings
- Costly
What Others Are Saying:
The Cuisinart 14-Cup Meals Processor was named one of the best meals processor by Wirecutter, The Spruce Eats, and Bon Appetit. It additionally has greater than 19,000 opinions on Amazon, with a median ranking of 4.6 stars.
Purchase the Cuisinart 14-Cup Meals Processor:
2. My Favourite Mini: Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Meals 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 perfect dimension for chopping greens or making dressing. It solely has two settings—chop and grind—so it’s fairly simple to make use of. The motor is much less highly effective than the full-size fashions, so this isn’t your best option for making nut butters or chopping via tougher meals, nevertheless it’s nice for fundamental prep and simple to retailer.Â
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 finest small by Good Housekeeping. It additionally has nearly 30,000 opinions on Amazon with a 4.6-star ranking.
Purchase the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Meals Processor:
3. Greatest Funds: Hamilton Seashore 10-Cup Meals Processor
For those who don’t plan to make use of your meals processor each day like me, you may want a inexpensive possibility. 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, nevertheless it has a superb 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 function I actually love is the built-in scraper attachment. This repeatedly scapes the perimeters of the bowl when you’re utilizing it, so that you don’t need to cease to scrub the perimeters with a spatula.Â
Its rounded design does make it a bit bulkier than a number of the different sleeker fashions, however when you plan to retailer it in a pantry or cupboard as an alternative 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 velocity 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 ranking from greater than 40,000 opinions on Amazon.Â
Purchase the Hamilton Seashore 10-Cup Meals Processor:
4. Greatest Primary: Ninja Skilled XL Meals Processor
Ninja makes nice user-friendly kitchen home equipment which can be glorious for newbies or anybody who doesn’t need a whole lot 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 applications (chop, puree, dough, and disk), plus three handbook settings (low, excessive, and pulse). The additional-large feed chute means you may drop bigger items of meals in with out chopping an excessive amount of, and the 12-cup dimension can accommodate massive recipes and household meal prep.Â
- Capability: 12 cups
- Dimensions: 17.5 x 10.7 x 8.7 inches
- Weight: 10.9 kilos
- Settings: 4 preset applications (chop, dough, puree, disc) and three handbook settings (low, excessive, pulse)
The Professionals:
The Specs:
- Versatile settings
- Further-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 one of the best energy and Meals Community named it one of the best worth possibility. The Ninja XL Meals Processor additionally has over 11,400 opinions on Amazon and a 4.7-star ranking.
Purchase the Ninja Skilled XL Meals Processor:
5. Greatest Massive Capability: Breville Sous Chef 16 Professional
When you’ve got a giant household, when you meal prep, or when you usually entertain, you might wish to contemplate a larger-capacity meals processor that may make a giant portion of home made pesto without delay.. Whereas this meals processor is a bit dear, it has a whole lot of helpful options. For starters, it has a beneficiant 16-cup capability and a particularly highly effective motor that may reduce via 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 one of the best improve, Meals Community named it finest general, and Meals and Wine named it finest splurge. The Breville Sous Chef 16 Professional additionally has a median 4.6-star ranking from over 2,600 opinions on Amazon.
Purchase the Breville Sous Chef 16 Professional:
6. Greatest Blender and Meals Processor Combo: Vitamix A3500 SmartPrep Kitchen System
I really like my Vitamix blender, and when you 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.Â
As a result of the meals processor works from the identical base because the blender, you’ll get all the identical settings, like variable velocity management and pulse, so you have got 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 velocity management, pulse
The Professionals:
- Variable velocity management
- Versatile and handy
- Consists of many slicing discs
The Cons:
What Others Are Saying:
The Spruce Eats named the Vitamix Meals Processor Attachment one of the best attachment, and Severe Eats calls it one of the best space-saving meals processor.
Purchase the Vitamix A3500 SmartPrep Kitchen System:
Different Meals Processors to Think about
KitchenAid 7-Cup Meals Processor
KitchenAid makes high-quality small home equipment, and it is a nice meals processor. It has three-speed choices, and the equipment neatly stack inside for storage, which is a pleasant contact. Finally, 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 possibility. The KitchenAid 7-Cup Meals Processor is obtainable at Amazon for $55.71.
Black + Decker 8-Cup Meals Processor
 For those who’re solely utilizing your meals processor often, this budget-friendly meals processor might be a superb possibility for you. However when you plan to make use of it usually, I like to recommend investing slightly extra in a single that can final you for a very long time. This one additionally tends to offer uneven cuts, which is probably not a giant deal, nevertheless it relies upon what you’re utilizing it for. The Black + Decker 8-Cup Meals Processor is obtainable at Amazon for $39.99.
GE 12-Cup Meals Processor
This GE 12-Cup Meals Processor has rather a lot going for it. It consists of 4 slicing discs and stackable feeding tubes that allow you to modify the scale of the chute. Plus, it has a strong motor and a 12-cup capability that can 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, nevertheless it might be a superb possibility for residence cooks, particularly at this affordable worth. The GE 12-Cup Meals Processor is obtainable 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 efficient possibility. It has three chute sizes, a variable slicing disc, and a security cease function. Nonetheless, in my view, it doesn’t stand out amongst different fashions on this dimension vary. Plus, it’s pricier than similar-size choices with out a whole lot of further options to justify the upper value. The Breville Sous Chef 12 is obtainable at Amazon for $251.10.
Why You Can Belief Me
I’m Gina, the writer and recipe developer behind Skinnytaste, which options my favourite wholesome, family-friendly recipes made with actual meals. I really like discovering methods to make cooking and meal prep simpler, and my Cuisinart 14-Cup Meals 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 of capability, general dimension, and model status. For meals processors that I haven’t tried myself, I relied on opinions from actual customers on Amazon and the outcomes from skilled product testers at main cooking publications.
Every part to Know Earlier than Shopping for a Meals Processor
What to Think about Earlier than Shopping for a Meals Processor
Meals processors serve the identical fundamental goal of mixing and chopping, however all of them have options that make them stand out from each other. Listed here are crucial issues to contemplate when deciding which one is finest in your kitchen.
Capability: Meals processors include totally different bowl sizes. You need the bowl to be sufficiently big to deal with all of your wants, however bigger isn’t all the time higher. For those who go too large, it won’t have the ability to successfully course of smaller portions of meals because the blade may also be bigger. Most residence cooks ought to purpose 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 when you’re planning to maintain it in your countertop. Examine the scale of the meals processor you’re contemplating and ensure you’re snug with the area 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. Think about your most typical cooking wants and slim down your selections that method. Typically, extra options imply the next value, so when you don’t want all of the bells and whistles, you may skip them in favor of a cheaper price tag.
Equipment: Meals processors sometimes include various sorts of blades and a few even have totally different dimension bowls to accommodate different-size kitchen duties. Take into consideration what equipment you’ll have to make the kitchen equipment only for you, and select an possibility that covers these bases.
What’s a Meals Processor?
A meals processor is a flexible kitchen equipment that helps velocity up meals prep and may 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?Â
You need to use a blender instead of a meals processor for some kitchen duties, however you received’t get the very same outcomes. Blenders are designed to liquefy components, so that they’re finest for wetter recipes and liquid-based components. Meals processors can shred and slice dry components, which a blender can not do, and will also be used to puree. For those who solely have a blender, ensure that to make use of a pulse perform or manually pulse the machine to keep away from turning your components into soup.
What Does a Meals Processor Do?Â
Meals processors chop, shred, slice, and grind various kinds of meals. For instance, they’ll shred carrots or recent cheese or shortly chop onions. Some meals processors even have attachments that may knead dough, they usually can mix and puree meals, just like a blender.
Can You Grind Espresso Beans in a Meals Processor?
Sure, you may 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 scale of the grind, so it may be troublesome to get precisely what you need for a French press versus an automated drip machine. For those who do use a meals processor to grind your espresso beans, ensure you use the heart beat perform and verify on them each 3 to five seconds till you attain your required consequence. Simply be aware that the espresso scent could linger.Â
The Greatest Recipes for Meals Processors
Meals processors generally is a useful kitchen device for therefore many recipes. I exploit mine usually to shortly chop greens, put together dressings and sauces, and make nut butters. Listed here are a couple of of my go-to recipes, however you should utilize this versatile kitchen device for prep too:
Costs had been correct at time of publication.Â