Best Food Processors for Every Cook and Kitchen

Food processors are your kitchen’s unsung heroes. They perform tedious tasks like chopping onions and shredding cheese helping save you time on everyday meal prep. Beyond slicing and dicing ingredients, these powerhouse appliances can also turn heavy cream into butter, make the perfect pie crust, and grind meat.

“As much as I love preparing ingredients by hand, some things actually come out better using a processor,” says Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz, author, cook, and curandera. “One example is sofrito,” she says, “I make mine with purple onions, garlic, fresh herbs, and peppers. The paste is uniform and it is done in half the time.” 

Food processors are a worthy investment that can last for years (or even decades) and nearly everyone I interviewed had very strong opinions as to why their food processor was THE BEST. So whether it’s to make pesto, hummus, baby puree, or pizza dough, your ideal food processor awaits.

What to consider when buying a food processor

Space and capacity

“I’ve lived in tiny kitchens over the course of my life that did not allow for bulky appliances,” says Ruiz. “So, even though you may desire a large workhorse, you need to have a place to store it. That said, if you have the room, choose a medium or large processor (with more cup capacity) that has attachments to process smaller things when needed. You can usually size down, but you cannot size up.”

Power

A food processor’s power is measured by the wattage of its motor, with most appliances averaging between 450 to 2000 watts. You need the power to pulverize nuts into creamy nut butter, for example, or to handle bigger quantities of foods to chop, but consider what you need as more power can cost ya. 

Quality and warranty

“Look at the quality of parts: whether they put plastic on plastic, metal on metal or a combination of both,” says Matt Dugan, corporate executive chef at Vitamix. “You want this to be your workhorse in the kitchen, so having quality parts and not being afraid to pay for them should be a heavy consideration.” He also suggests looking at the warranty. “If anything ever does go south, are you able to easily get it repaired/fixed without the hassle of lengthy customer service delays.”

Functionality

This brings us to our next question: what are you gonna do with your food processor? Chef Tim Katz, a private chef in the Hudson Valley of New York, says he uses his food processor almost every day.

“The food processor shreds, chops, blends, and can create a type of binding. I use my food processor for pie dough and potato pancakes, pâté, making all kinds of nut butter, grating cheese, dressings, pesto, dog food-—and more.”

Food processors come with different attachments in addition to the standard, all-purpose S-blade that allows you to shred, slice, spiralize, knead dough, and more. Be sure to check out what’s included and have fun experimenting with all the attachments instead of just storing them away. 

Budget 

Food processors can range from $40 to over $500, so consider what you need it for, how much space you have, its power and capabilities, and what kind of warranty it comes with when determining how much you want to invest.

Our top picks for the best food processor

Best blender food processor combo: Vitamix A2300 SmartPrep Kitchen System

When you don’t want to choose between a blender and a food processor, opt for this machine that combines the powerful blender base Vitamix is known for with a food processor attachment, meaning you can make smoothies and dough and basically anything you want in one machine. Fans rave about its 2.2 peak horsepower, which makes it super fast, with one reviewer saying they made strawberry ice cream in 45 seconds. I like the variable speed dial which allows you to manually control the speed from 1 to 10, allowing greater versatility and textures. Parts are dishwasher safe, so easy to clean, and it comes with a nice variety of blades and a storage case for extra safety. 

Specifications:

• Material: BPA-free Tritan plastic and stainless steel
• Power: 2.2 peak HP
• Accessories: Simply Blending cookbook, S2 low-profile tamper, two food pushers, two reversible slice/shred discs, one multi-use blade, disc storage case, work bowl lid, food processor recipe booklet
• Bowl capacity: 12 cups
• Dimensions:  Blender base: 11 x 8 x 17 inches, food processor attachment: 11.75 x 8.5 x 12.75 inches
• Settings: 2 (variable speed control and pulse)
• Warranty: 10-year full warranty for the base, 3-year full warranty for the food processor attachment
• Price on publish: $699.95

The bottom line: 

This is a powerful two-in-one food processor from a name I trust.

Get it here: Vitamix A2300 SmartPrep Kitchen System

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Best small food processor: Nutribullet 7-Cup Food Processor

Nutribullet is known for being small and mighty, and its food processor version delivers. It features a 450-watt power motor and plenty of blade accessories, including a dough blade, a spiralizer disc, and the ability to shred and slice in both thick and thin. Reviewers report that it’s a quiet machine and it has a nice, minimal design that looks good on the counter.

Specifications:

• Material: BPA-free plastic and stainless steel
• Power: 450 watts
• Accessories: Lid with feed chute, dual-size food pusher, blade adaptor, chopping blade, dough blade, spiralizer disc, reversible thick slice/shred disc, reversible thin slice/shred disc, recipe book, user guide
• Bowl capacity: 7 cups
• Dimensions: ​​ 7.4 x 11.5 x 15.75 inches
• Settings: 3 (low, high, pulse)
• Warranty: 1-year limited
• Price on publish: $99.99

The bottom line: 

This is a powerful food processor with a small footprint.

Get it here: Nutribullet 7-Cup Food Processor

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Best budget food processor: Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor With Bowl Scraper

Hamilton Beach consistently rates high in the budget appliance category and this popular food processor has garnered over 30,000 five-star Amazon ratings with people gushing about it’s large 10-cup capacity, versatility to chop, mix and puree, and its unique bowl scraper feature that keeps pushing food toward the center (and away from the sides) for better action with blades.

Specifications:

• Material: BPA-free plastic and stainless steel
• Power: 450 watts
• Accessories: Reversible shredding/slicing disc, S-blade, bowl scraper 
• Bowl capacity: 10 cups
• Dimensions: 8.43 x 10.25 x 15.47 inches 
• Settings: 3 (low, high, pulse)
• Warranty: 1-year limited
• Price on publish: $54.99

The bottom line: 

A budget food processor that’s as powerful as those twice the price. 

Get it here: Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor With Bowl Scraper

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Best mini food processor: Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus 24 Ounce Food Processor

This sturdy mini food processor is ideal for small kitchen use. It’s easy to assemble and clean and can quickly chop veggies, cheeses, and herbs with its patented reversible stainless-steel blade. Weighing in at only 2.2 pounds it has a small footprint, and it comes in pretty pink, red, white, and gray colors nice enough to leave out on the counter for everyday use. Shopping tip: Cuisinart also makes some of the best chef knives.

Specifications:

• Material: BPA-free plastic and stainless steel
• Power: 250 watts
• Accessories: Spatula, instruction/recipe book
• Bowl capacity: 3 cups
• Dimensions: 7 x 9.25 x 5 inches
• Settings: 2 (chop and grind)
• Warranty: 18-month limited
• Price on publish: $39.95

The bottom line: 

An affordable machine from a trusted brand for small kitchen needs.

Get it here: Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus 24 Ounce Food Processor

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Best food processor for baby food: KitchenAid 3.5-Cup Mini Food Processor

This adorable chopper from KitchenAid has a special puree button ideal for making your baby’s first meals. In addition, it’s a versatile machine that can also meet all your small-batch chopping needs. The 3.5 cup capacity takes up minimal counter space and comes with a manual lever so you can get just the right food consistency you want for baby and you. This would make an ideal baby shower gift.

Specifications:

• Material: Polycarbonate plastic and stainless steel
• Power: 240 watts 
• Accessories: None
• Bowl capacity: 3.5 cups
• Dimensions: 5.95 x 7 x 8.74 inches
• Settings: 3 (chop, puree, pulse)
• Warranty: 1-year limited
• Price on publish: $59.99

The bottom line: 

A cute and effective processor for baby puree needs and more.

Get it here: KitchenAid 3.5-Cup Mini Food Processor

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Best food processor for nut butter: Cuisinart Elemental 13-Cup Food Processor with Dicing

So the challenge with nut butters can be finding a machine that has power and nuance, and this Cuisinart has both and more. It is a larger capacity machine (13 cups) that comes with 550 watts of peak power, but it also comes with a smaller 4-cup bowl you can use to combine the small batch and power you need for quickly making nut butters creamy. In addition, it comes with a 3-in-1 feed tube to accommodate all kinds of veggies and foods, and an adjustable slicing disc to get your desired thinness or thickness. Overall, a great, versatile machine.

Specifications:

• Material: BPA-free plastics and stainless steel
• Power: 550 watts
• Accessories: Adjustable slicing disc, dicing kit with cleaning tool, refrigerator lid, reversible shredding disc, dough blade, storage caddy
• Bowl capacity: 13 cups
• Dimensions: 11.25  x 21.75  x 17.5 inches
• Settings: 3 (high, low, pulse)
• Warranty: 3-year limited
• Price on publish: $159.99

The bottom line: 

A powerful machine for making creamy nut butters that can also serve other kitchen needs.

Get it here: Cuisinart Elemental 13-Cup Food Processor with Dicing

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Best compact food processor: Kitchen Aid 7-Cup Food Processor

 

At only 6.6 pounds this solid machine is a kitchen catch-all that can do just about anything. We like the easy assembly and how the 300-watt motor can still whip up most things like dough and nut butters. Comes with easy blade storage and is a cinch to clean. Makes cooking fun. 

Specifications:

• Material: BPA-free plastic and stainless steel
• Power: 500 watts
• Accessories: Multi-purpose blade, reversible medium slicing/shredding disc
• Bowl capacity: 7 cups
• Dimensions: 7.87 x 9.65 x 15.35 inches
• Settings: 3 (high, low, pulse)
• Warranty: 1-year limited
• Price on publish: $99.95

The bottom line: 

This is a good overall machine for compact kitchens.

Get it here: Kitchen Aid 7-Cup Food Processor

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Best value food processor: Ninja Professional Food Processor

With a name like Ninja, you know it will be strong and stealthy. This popular model with over 7,000 five-star Amazon ratings boasts a powerful 1000 watt motor that handles the toughest jobs without overheating. The big 9-cup bowl can hold big batches of veggies for soups and recipes, and I like its special dough button.

Specifications:

• Material: BPA-free plastic and stainless steel
• Power: 1000 peak watts
• Accessories: Feed chute lid and pusher, quad chopping blade, dough blade, reversible slicing and shredding disc, and 20-recipe inspiration guide
• Bowl capacity: 9 cups
• Dimensions: 7.76 x 9.88 x 16.02 inches
• Settings: 3 speeds (low, high, pulse)
• Warranty: 1-year limited
• Price on publish: $99

The bottom line: 

A powerhouse machine coming in at just over $100. 

Get it here: Ninja Professional Food Processor

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Best home food processor: Cuisinart Core Custom 13-Cup Food Processor

This machine was the most recommended by my experts for its ease of use, straightforward (intuitive) design, and uniform consistency. Ruiz loves making dough in the 13-cup bowl, but it also comes with a 4.5 cup bowl for smaller tasks. The slicing disc adjusts to seven levels, offering ultra-thin options, and it comes with a storage hub to safely hold all the included attachments.

Specifications:

• Material: BPA-free Tritan plastic and stainless steel
• Power: 950 watts
• Accessories: Chopping/mixing blade, reversible shredding disc, adjustable slicing disc, Tritan bowl and lid with seal, medium and small pushers
• Bowl capacity: 13 cups
• Dimensions: 7.5  x 11 x 15 inches
• Settings: 4 (mix, high, low, pulse)
• Warranty: 3-year limited
• Price on publish: $249.95

The bottom line: 

This is the best overall food processor for the home cook.

Get it here: Cuisinart Core Custom 13-Cup Food Processor

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Best food processor for grating cheese: Cuisinart 9-Cup Continuous Feed Food Processor

This is a solid processor from a beloved brand that can tackle your everyday chopping and dicing needs. But it’s easy-to-assemble shredder attachment goes to town on all types of cheeses in seconds. If you need large batches of cheese for a party or make-ahead recipe, the handy continuous feed attachment allows you to take the work to another larger bowl while still utilizing the power and precision of its powerful motor and shredder. 

Specifications:

• Material: BPA-free plastic and stainless steel
• Power: 950 watts
• Accessories: F​​ine and medium reversible shredding/slicing disc, universal blade, continuous feed attachment, small and medium pushers, in-bowl storage hub snap-fit lid, lid with seal
• Bowl capacity: 9 cups
• Dimensions: 7.5 x 9.0 x 15.0 inches
• Settings: 3 (high, low, pulse)
• Warranty: 3-year limited
• Price on publish: $129.95

The bottom line: 

This multi-use machine shreds like a pro. 

Get it here: Cuisinart 9-Cup Continuous Feed Food Processor

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Best professional food processor: Magimix by Robot-Coupe 14-Cup Food Processor

The French brand Robot-Coupe launched the food processor back in 1963 for commercial kitchens and introduced the Magimix for home cooks in 1971. Today the Magimix is still handmade in France, and all the Sabatier stainless steel blades and discs are made in Thiers, which is known as the knife-making capital of the world. I love the powerful motor that comes with a 30-year guarantee and the Quiet Mark seal of approval. This would make a great food gift for the chef in your life.

Specifications:

• Material: Metalized plastic, BPA-free plastic, and stainless steel
• Power: 950 watts
• Accessories: Extra-large feed tube, triple pusher, mini bowl/mini blade, midi bowl, main bowl, knife blade, stainless steel Sabatier knife blade, blendermix, dough blade, egg whisk, slicing discs (2 and 4 mm), grating discs (2 and 4 mm), stainless steel Sabatier disc, spatula, instruction/recipe book
• Bowl capacity: 14 cups (plus 12-cup midi bowl and 6-cup mini bowl) 
• Dimensions: 10 x 8.25 x 16.75 inches
• Settings: 3 (stop, auto, pulse)
• Warranty: 30-year guarantee on the motor, 3 year on parts
• Price on Publish: $449.95

The bottom line: 

Magimix is the consumer version of the coveted French brand that introduced the food processor.

Get it here: Magimix by Robot-Coupe 14-Cup Food Processor

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Best food processor for hummus: Ninja Professional XL Food Processor

With a 1200-peak-watt motor base, this sleek machine can easily whip up the creamiest hummus in no time flat. I love that it comes with an extra-large feed shoot for bigger veggies like eggplants, and it comes with a reversible shredding disc that offers both fine and coarse results. The processor bowl, lid, and accessories are BPA-free and dishwasher-safe.

Specifications:

• Material: BPA-free plastic and stainless steel
• Power: 1200 peak watts
• Accessories: XL feed chute lid with 3-part pusher, chop/quad blade, dough blade, adjustable slicing disc, reversible shredding disc, 10-recipe inspiration guide
• Bowl capacity: 12 cups
• Dimensions: 8.7 x 10.7 x 17.5 inches
• Settings: 3, also comes with 4 programs (Chop, Dough, Puree, Disc)
• Warranty: 1-year limited warranty
• Price on publish: $169.99

The bottom line: 

A versatile machine that gives a lot of power without a big price tag.

Get it here: Ninja Professional XL Food Processor

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Best food processor for dough: Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor

As additional products enter this category with even more attachments and capabilities, the simplicity and efficiency of this classic Cuisinart 14-cup food processor makes it even more of a draw. I love how fast you can whip up dough while the sturdiness of the base stays steady. And though it’s a whiz at all types of dough (from pizza to empanada), its sturdy blades can easily tackle all your meal prep needs. 

Specifications:

• Material: BPA-free Tritan and stainless steel
• Power: 720 watts
• Accessories: Stainless steel standard slicing disc, medium shredding disc, stainless steel chopping/mixing blade, spatula, instruction manual, recipe booklet
• Bowl capacity: 14 cups
• Dimensions: 11 x 7.9 x 14.8 inches
• Settings: 2 (on and off/pulse)
• Warranty: 5-year full warranty for motor and 3-year limited for parts
• Price on publish: $249.95

The bottom line: 

This Cuisinart is a solid food processor that easily does the job, especially with doughs that can get heavy.

Get it here: Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor

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Best large capacity food processor: The Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro

Versatile is the word most associated with this popular food processor. Its attachments include a slicer with 24 different options so you can cut to the perfect thinness or thickness, an extra-wide feed chute that allows you to drop in entire uncut veggies and cheeses, a mini-feed chute for long, thin ingredients like carrots, and five cutting discs including the popular french fry cut.

Specifications:

• Material: BPA-free plastic and stainless steel 
• Power: 1200 watts
• Accessories: S Blade, adjustable slicing disk, micro-serrated disk, julienne disk, whisking disk, French fry disk, dough blade, mini bowl, mini blade, mini spindle, main spindle
• Bowl capacity: 16 cups plus 2.5-cup mini bowl
• Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.9 x 17.5 inches
• Settings: 4 (start, stop, pulse, timer)
• Warranty: 1-year limited product warranty plus 25-year induction motor guarantee
• Price on publish: $374.99

The bottom line: 

This is a well-designed, multi-faceted machine.

Get it here: The Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro

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Why use a food processor

Food processors were created to help professional chefs prep and quickly cut bulk ingredients like veggies. In addition, their fast motors and sharp blades easily create consistencies that would be arduous and time-consuming, like that of nut butter, pesto, salsa, dough, and more. Food processors save home cooks tons of time on everyday meal prep, help at-home chefs get next level/restaurant-style results creating intricate sauces and textures fast, and are rock stars when creating larger or special occasion recipes for parties and holidays.  

How to use a food processor effectively

I recommend reading the manual for setup and trying out all the attachments instead of just storing them, as they can bring a lot to your table. In terms of some tips and techniques, I reached out to Verena Carmona, a senior product manager at Hamilton Beach, who offered these tips for maximizing your food processor:

For the best chopping results, Carmona recommends pulsing on and off in one-second increments, ensuring ingredients are uniformly sized before chopping. “Many food processor owners use a continuous speed instead of pulsing,” says Carmona, “which can result in mushy ingredients, especially when chopping onions, which only require a few pulses.”

For the best shredded cheese results, Carmona says to chill your cheese in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before shredding. She adds, “Soft cheeses like mozzarella should be placed in the freezer for 30 minutes prior to processing to ensure they are firm enough for shredding.”

Maintenance and care of a food processor

Most food processors are dishwasher safe or can be hand-washed in hot, soapy water. 

Always be careful when cleaning and handling the blades. “To clean the base of the food processor, it is best to wipe it with a damp cloth or sponge,” says Carmona,  “Or if necessary, use a mild, non-abrasive cleaner.”

How we selected the best food processor

I polled friends, family, and colleagues, as well as tested models, and read through online reviews to find the best food processors for you.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Which food processor is best for home use?

“I prefer and have always used a large-capacity food processor,” says Ruiz, “mainly because I enjoy baking. Making a big ball of tart dough doesn’t work in smaller processors.” She adds that it’s important to be honest with yourself when figuring out what you need and how you will use it. “Bigger is not always better if you are cooking for one and not making pastry dough.” 

What are the best quality food processors?

“As a former restaurant owner, having the ability to replace a part when needed was important,” says Ruiz, so be sure and check that warranty so you know your options from the get-go. 

Also, look for bowl capacity, what attachments are included, what materials are used, and ease of use. Read reviews to make sure the machine does what it says it’s gonna do. 

What food processors do professionals use?

“Professionals use food processors with a heavy motor base,” says Dugan. “It’s their workhorse for being able to get food prepared and to the customer on time. Tough, durable parts allow for the most versatility to chop six to eight garlic cloves or six to eight cups of garlic cloves.”

Are expensive food processors worth it?

It’s subjective but if you factor in “cost per use”—meaning how often you’ll use it during its lifetime, which can be years—then it can be very cost effective. In addition, Ruiz factors in all the time she’s saved in the kitchen which also has value. Just like quality espresso machines and air fryer toaster ovens, a high-quality food processor may be worth the extra money. 

Can you make smoothies in a food processor?

You can make smoothies in a food processor, but they will not be as smooth and creamy as a blender, especially if you have a lot of ingredients like seeds and nuts. “A blender’s long, narrow shape allows for creating the vortex, which you need for liquifying,” says Chef Tim, who prefers a blender for making a smoothie.