I take advantage of my meals processor on a weekly foundation to make every part from do-it-yourself hummus to shortly chopping veggies for salads to creating nut butters. I take into account it my sous chef within the kitchen! The perfect meals processors make simple work of a wide range of kitchen duties, and understand how necessary it’s to decide on one which works persistently and reliably.
Whereas all meals processors provide the identical primary operate of chopping and grinding or slicing and shredding, they don’t all carry out the identical. I’ve personally used and liked my Cuisinart 14-Cup Meals Processor for years, however I’ve discovered a number of different worthwhile choices that may work higher in your kitchen To slim down the listing, I thought of capability, ease of storage, and sturdiness, in addition to my private expertise from utilizing others previously.
Beneath are the perfect meals processors that will help you out within the kitchen.
My Prime 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 Fundamental: 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 take advantage of it on a regular basis! Not solely does it make clean sauces and creamy nut butters, however it’s large enough 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 freshmen and no-fuss residence cooks. There’s a big feed tube that makes it simple so as to add substances, and it consists of a normal slicing disc, a medium shredding disc, and a stainless-steel chopping and mixing blade, so you need to use it rather than 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 Execs:
- Constant outcomes
- Massive feed chute to attenuate prep
- Modern, chrome steel design
The Cons:
- No velocity settings
- Costly
What Others Are Saying:
The Cuisinart 14-Cup Meals Processor was named the perfect meals processor by Wirecutter, The Spruce Eats, and Bon Appetit. It additionally has greater than 19,000 evaluations on Amazon, with a median score 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 the only option for making nut butters or slicing via tougher meals, however it’s nice for primary prep and straightforward to retailer.
The Specs:
- Capability: 3 cups
- Dimensions: 5.0 x 7.0 x 9.25 inches
- Weight: 2.5 kilos
- Settings: Chop, grind
The Execs:
- Easy operation
- Straightforward to retailer
- Funds-friendly worth
The Cons:
What Others Are Saying:
The Cuisinart Mini-Prep Meals Processor was named greatest small by Good Housekeeping. It additionally has nearly 30,000 evaluations on Amazon with a 4.6-star score.
Purchase the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Meals Processor:
3. Greatest Funds: Hamilton Seashore 10-Cup Meals Processor
When you don’t plan to make use of your meals processor day by 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, however 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 characteristic I actually love is the built-in scraper attachment. This constantly scapes the edges of the bowl whilst you’re utilizing it, so that you don’t must cease to scrub the edges with a spatula.
Its rounded design does make it a bit bulkier than among the different sleeker fashions, however in the event you plan to retailer it in a pantry or cupboard as a substitute 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 Execs:
- 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 score from greater than 40,000 evaluations on Amazon.
Purchase the Hamilton Seashore 10-Cup Meals Processor:
4. Greatest Fundamental: Ninja Skilled XL Meals Processor
Ninja makes nice user-friendly kitchen home equipment which can be glorious for freshmen or anybody who doesn’t need a number 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 guide settings (low, excessive, and pulse). The additional-large feed chute means you’ll be able to 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.
- 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 guide settings (low, excessive, pulse)
The Execs:
The Specs:
- Versatile settings
- Additional-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 the perfect energy and Meals Community named it the perfect worth possibility. The Ninja XL Meals Processor additionally has over 11,400 evaluations on Amazon and a 4.7-star score.
Purchase the Ninja Skilled XL Meals Processor:
5. Greatest Massive Capability: Breville Sous Chef 16 Professional
When you’ve got an enormous household, in the event you meal prep, or in the event you often entertain, you might wish to take into account a larger-capacity meals processor that may make an enormous portion of do-it-yourself pesto without delay.. Whereas this meals processor is a bit dear, it has a number of helpful options. For starters, it has a beneficiant 16-cup capability and an especially highly effective motor that may lower 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 additional 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 Execs:
- 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 the perfect improve, Meals Community named it greatest general, and Meals and Wine named it greatest splurge. The Breville Sous Chef 16 Professional additionally has a median 4.6-star score from over 2,600 evaluations 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 in the event 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 collection base and motor, which is the blender I take advantage of, 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 listing, that allow you to make every part from small shreds to thick slices.
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’ve 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 Execs:
- 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 the perfect attachment, and Critical Eats calls it the perfect space-saving meals processor.
Purchase the Vitamix A3500 SmartPrep Kitchen System:
Different Meals Processors to Take into account
KitchenAid 7-Cup Meals Processor
KitchenAid makes high-quality small home equipment, and this can be 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 listing 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 in search of a smaller possibility. The KitchenAid 7-Cup Meals Processor is out there at Amazon for $55.71.
Black + Decker 8-Cup Meals Processor
When you’re solely utilizing your meals processor sometimes, this budget-friendly meals processor could possibly be a superb possibility for you. However in the event you plan to make use of it often, I like to recommend investing somewhat extra in a single that can final you for a very long time. This one additionally tends to present uneven cuts, which will not be an enormous deal, however it relies upon what you’re utilizing it for. The Black + Decker 8-Cup Meals Processor is out there at Amazon for $39.99.
GE 12-Cup Meals Processor
This GE 12-Cup Meals Processor has lots going for it. It consists of 4 slicing discs and stackable feeding tubes that allow you to alter 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 listing of winners as a result of I’ve extra expertise with the opposite manufacturers and fashions, however it could possibly be a superb possibility for residence cooks, particularly at this affordable worth. The GE 12-Cup Meals Processor is out there 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 characteristic. 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 number of additional options to justify the upper value. The Breville Sous Chef 12 is out there 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 evaluations from actual customers on Amazon and the outcomes from skilled product testers at main cooking publications.
Every little thing to Know Earlier than Shopping for a Meals Processor
What to Take into account Earlier than Shopping for a Meals Processor
Meals processors serve the identical primary objective of mixing and chopping, however all of them have options that make them stand out from each other. Listed below are crucial issues to contemplate when deciding which one is greatest on your kitchen.
Capability: Meals processors include totally different bowl sizes. You need the bowl to be large enough to deal with all of your wants, however bigger isn’t at all times higher. When you go too large, it may not be capable of successfully course of smaller portions of meals because the blade will even be bigger. Most residence cooks ought to intention 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 in the event you’re planning to maintain it in your countertop. Verify the scale of the meals processor you’re contemplating and ensure you’re comfy with the area it takes up.
Settings: All meals processors have primary settings—sometimes on/off and pulse choices—however you might discover some with superior options like a dough-kneading blade. Take into account your most typical cooking wants and slim down your selections that means. Typically, extra options imply the next value, so in the event you don’t want all of the bells and whistles, you’ll be able to skip them in favor of a cheaper price tag.
Equipment: Meals processors sometimes include various kinds 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 best 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 kinds of meals.
Can You Use a Blender as a Meals Processor?
You should use a blender rather than a meals processor for some kitchen duties, however you gained’t get the very same outcomes. Blenders are designed to liquefy substances, in order that they’re greatest for wetter recipes and liquid-based substances. Meals processors can shred and slice dry substances, which a blender can not do, and will also be used to puree. When you solely have a blender, be sure to make use of a pulse operate or manually pulse the machine to keep away from turning your substances into soup.
What Does a Meals Processor Do?
Meals processors chop, shred, slice, and grind various kinds of meals. For instance, they will shred carrots or contemporary 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’ll be able to 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 tough to get precisely what you need for a French press versus an computerized drip machine. When you do use a meals processor to grind your espresso beans, ensure you use the heart beat operate and test on them each 3 to five seconds till you attain your required outcome. Simply be aware that the espresso odor could linger.
The Greatest Recipes for Meals Processors
Meals processors could be a useful kitchen software for therefore many recipes. I take advantage of mine typically to shortly chop greens, put together dressings and sauces, and make nut butters. Listed below are a couple of of my go-to recipes, however you need to use this versatile kitchen software for prep too:
Costs had been correct at time of publication.