I exploit my meals processor on a weekly foundation to make all the things from home made hummus to rapidly chopping veggies for salads to making nut butters. I take into account it my sous chef within the kitchen! The perfect meals processors make straightforward work of a wide range of kitchen duties, and understand how vital 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 which may work higher in your kitchen To slender down the record, I thought-about capability, ease of storage, and sturdiness, in addition to my private expertise from utilizing others prior to now.Â
Under are the perfect 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
- Finest Funds: Hamilton Seaside 10-Cup Meals Processor – $44.97 at Amazon
- Finest Primary: Ninja Skilled XL Meals Processor – $119 at Walmart
- Finest Massive Capability: Breville Sous Chef 16 Professional – $374.99 at Amazon
- Finest Blender and Meals Processor Combo: Vitamix A3500 SmartPrep Kitchen System – $899.95 at Amazon
Opinions of The Finest 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 easy sauces and creamy nut butters, nevertheless it’s large enough to accommodate bigger portions and has massive, paddle-style controls that make it straightforward to make use of. There are solely two settings—on and pulse—so it’s good for newcomers and no-fuss house cooks. There’s a big feed tube that makes it straightforward so as to add components, and it consists of a regular slicing disc, a medium shredding disc, and a chrome 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 reduce prep
- Glossy, 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 critiques 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 best measurement for chopping greens or making dressing. It solely has two settings—chop and grind—so it’s fairly easy 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 by tougher meals, nevertheless it’s nice for primary 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 Execs:
- 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 virtually 30,000 critiques on Amazon with a 4.6-star ranking.
Purchase the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Meals Processor:
3. Finest Funds: Hamilton Seaside 10-Cup Meals Processor
In the event you don’t plan to make use of your meals processor each day like me, you may want a inexpensive choice. This budget-friendly 10-cup meals processor from Hamilton Seaside 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 straightforward 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 when you’re utilizing it, so that you don’t must cease to wash the edges with a spatula.Â
Its rounded design does make it a bit bulkier than among the different sleeker fashions, however when 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 Seaside 10-Cup Meals Processor has a median 4.6-star ranking from greater than 40,000 critiques on Amazon.Â
Purchase the Hamilton Seaside 10-Cup Meals Processor:
4. Finest Primary: Ninja Skilled XL Meals Processor
Ninja makes nice user-friendly kitchen home equipment which are wonderful for newcomers or anybody who doesn’t need plenty 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 straightforward to make use of. It comes with 4 preset packages (chop, puree, dough, and disk), plus three guide 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 measurement 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 packages (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 choice. The Ninja XL Meals Processor additionally has over 11,400 critiques on Amazon and a 4.7-star ranking.
Purchase the Ninja Skilled XL Meals Processor:
5. Finest Massive Capability: Breville Sous Chef 16 Professional
You probably have an enormous household, when you meal prep, or when you usually entertain, it’s possible you’ll need to take into account a larger-capacity meals processor that may make an enormous portion of home made pesto without delay.. Whereas this meals processor is a bit expensive, it has plenty of helpful options. For starters, it has a beneficiant 16-cup capability and a particularly highly effective motor that may reduce by 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 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 critiques on Amazon.
Purchase the Breville Sous Chef 16 Professional:
6. Finest 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 facility 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 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 things 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 might have 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
- Contains many slicing discs
The Cons:
What Others Are Saying:
The Spruce Eats named the Vitamix Meals Processor Attachment the perfect attachment, and Severe 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 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 in search of a smaller choice. The KitchenAid 7-Cup Meals Processor is obtainable at Amazon for $55.71.
Black + Decker 8-Cup Meals Processor
 In the event you’re solely utilizing your meals processor often, this budget-friendly meals processor may very well be a superb choice for you. However when you plan to make use of it usually, I like to recommend investing a little bit extra in a single that can final you for a very long time. This one additionally tends to provide uneven cuts, which might not be an enormous 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 so much going for it. It consists of 4 slicing discs and stackable feeding tubes that allow you to modify the dimensions of the chute. Plus, it has a robust 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 may very well be a superb choice for house 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 choice. 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 measurement vary. Plus, it’s pricier than similar-size choices with out plenty of additional options to justify the upper price. 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 dashing 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-about capability, general measurement, and model status. For meals processors that I haven’t tried myself, I relied on critiques 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 think about when deciding which one is finest to your kitchen.
Capability: Meals processors include completely 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. In the event you go too large, it may not be capable to successfully course of smaller portions of meals because the blade can even be bigger. Most house 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 measurement for smaller duties.
General measurement: Along with the capability, you’ll need to take into consideration general measurement, particularly when you’re planning to maintain it in your countertop. Test the size of the meals processor you’re contemplating and ensure you’re comfy with the house it takes up.
Settings: All meals processors have primary settings—sometimes on/off and pulse choices—however it’s possible you’ll discover some with superior options like a dough-kneading blade. Take into account your most typical cooking wants and slender down your decisions that approach. Typically, extra options imply the next price, 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 kinds of blades and a few even have completely different measurement 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 choice 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?Â
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 components, in order that they’re finest for wetter recipes and liquid-based components. Meals processors can shred and slice dry components, which a blender can’t do, and may also be used to puree. In the event you solely have a blender, ensure that to make use of a pulse operate 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 several types of meals. For instance, they’ll shred carrots or contemporary cheese or rapidly 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 it’s possible you’ll not get a constant grind such as you would with a devoted espresso grinder. Moreover, meals processors don’t allow you to management the dimensions of the grind, so it may be tough to get precisely what you need for a French press versus an automated drip machine. In the event you do use a meals processor to grind your espresso beans, ensure you use the heart beat operate and verify on them each 3 to five seconds till you attain your required end result. Simply word that the espresso odor could linger.Â
The Finest Recipes for Meals Processors
Meals processors is usually a useful kitchen device for thus many recipes. I exploit mine usually to rapidly 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 device for prep too:
Costs have been correct at time of publication.Â