I take advantage of my meals processor on a weekly foundation to make every part from do-it-yourself hummus to rapidly chopping veggies for salads to making nut butters. I contemplate it my sous chef within the kitchen! The very best 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 provide the identical primary perform of chopping and grinding or slicing and shredding, they don’t all carry out the identical. I’ve personally used and cherished 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 checklist, I thought-about capability, ease of storage, and sturdiness, in addition to my private expertise from utilizing others up to now.
Under are the perfect meals processors that will help 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 Seaside 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
Opinions 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 easy 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 rookies and no-fuss house cooks. There’s a big feed tube that makes it simple so as to add substances, and it contains a regular slicing disc, a medium shredding disc, and a chrome steel chopping and mixing blade, so you should use 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 Execs:
- Constant outcomes
- Massive feed chute to reduce prep
- Glossy, stainless-steel design
The Cons:
- No pace 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 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 best dimension 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 more durable 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
- Simple to retailer
- Funds-friendly value
The Cons:
What Others Are Saying:
The Cuisinart Mini-Prep Meals Processor was named greatest small by Good Housekeeping. It additionally has virtually 30,000 opinions on Amazon with a 4.6-star ranking.
Purchase the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Meals Processor:
3. Greatest 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, however it has 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 perimeters of the bowl whilst you’re utilizing it, so that you don’t should cease to wash the perimeters with a spatula.
Its rounded design does make it a bit bulkier than a few of the different sleeker fashions, however should 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 pace settings
- Constructed-in scraper attachment
- Funds-friendly value
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 opinions on Amazon.
Purchase the Hamilton Seaside 10-Cup Meals Processor:
4. Greatest Primary: Ninja Skilled XL Meals Processor
Ninja makes nice user-friendly kitchen home equipment which are glorious for rookies 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.
- 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 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 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 have an enormous household, should you meal prep, or should you commonly entertain, chances are you’ll wish to contemplate a larger-capacity meals processor that may make an enormous portion of do-it-yourself pesto directly.. 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 an especially highly effective motor that may minimize 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 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 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 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 like my Vitamix blender, and should 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 contains 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 checklist, 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 pace 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 pace management, pulse
The Execs:
- Variable pace 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 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. In the end, it didn’t make the checklist 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 on the lookout for a smaller choice. The KitchenAid 7-Cup Meals Processor is out there 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 might be choice for you. However should you plan to make use of it commonly, I like to recommend investing slightly extra in a single that may 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 contains 4 slicing discs and stackable feeding tubes that allow you to modify the dimensions of the chute. Plus, it has a strong motor and a 12-cup capability that may work for many on a regular basis kitchen duties. It didn’t make my checklist of winners as a result of I’ve extra expertise with the opposite manufacturers and fashions, however it might be choice for house cooks, particularly at this affordable value. 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 effective 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 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 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 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 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 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 function of mixing and chopping, however all of them have options that make them stand out from each other. Listed below are a very powerful issues to think about when deciding which one is greatest on 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 all the time higher. In the event you go too massive, 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 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 should you’re planning to maintain it in your countertop. Test the size of the meals processor you’re contemplating and ensure you’re snug with the area it takes up.
Settings: All meals processors have primary settings—sometimes on/off and pulse choices—however chances are 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 means. Typically, extra options imply the next value, so should 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 dimension bowls to accommodate different-size kitchen duties. Take into consideration what equipment you’ll must make the kitchen equipment simplest 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 pace up meals prep and might 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 utilize a blender instead of 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’t do, and can be used to puree. In the event you solely have a blender, ensure that to make use of a pulse perform 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 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, and so they can mix and puree meals, much like a blender.
Can You Grind Espresso Beans in a Meals Processor?
Sure, you may grind espresso beans in a meals processor, however chances are 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 computerized drip machine. In the event you do use a meals processor to grind your espresso beans, ensure you use the heartbeat perform and test on them each 3 to five seconds till you attain your required outcome. Simply notice that the espresso odor might linger.
The Greatest Recipes for Meals Processors
Meals processors is usually a useful kitchen instrument for thus many recipes. I take advantage of mine usually to rapidly chop greens, put together dressings and sauces, and make nut butters. Listed below are a number of of my go-to recipes, however you should use this versatile kitchen instrument for prep too:
Costs have been correct at time of publication.
