The Best Food Processor Reviews & A Detailed Buying Guide
Our Top Pick for 2018: Breville BFP800XL Sous Chef Food Processor
Read our full review.
Whether you are a home cook or a seasoned chef, chopping, grating, and mincing can become a tiring chore, especially when you are preparing food for a crowd. A food processor can make this tedious chore into a task that you hardly consider. What’s more? The best food processors not only cut food items, some are also designed to puree food as well as knead dough. There are so many food processors on the market that it is hard to decide which is best for your kitchen needs. They often range from around $30 in price to well over $100, each with different features that you may want to consider before you purchase one. We have taken the time to scour the market for the best of the best when it comes to food processors, and here’s what we have discovered.
Let’s Have a Quick Look of Our Top 4 Picks:
#1. Breville BFP800XL Sous Chef Food Processor
View it on Amazon: -*
*Price typically updated every 24 hours. Current price may be different.
Breville has been manufacturing top of the line small kitchen appliances since the year 1932, so it is no surprise that this company makes the top food processor on our list. Breville’s Sous Chef is a food processor that can accomplish any cutting or chopping task that you need to be completed. It is designed to live up to the Breville name and do everything a great sous chef can do.
Starting with capacity, this food processor comes with two bowls. One is a large, 16 cup bowl that is great for large dishes, like the ingredients for a soup, and the smaller, two and a half cup container is designed for small jobs, like mincing garlic. Both of the included bowls are leak proof to prevent leaks when you are dealing with liquid ingredients. In addition, this model has a large feed tube, so vegetables do not have to be cut into small pieces before placing them in the machine. There is also a drizzle hole for creating dressings and other sauces.
The Breville Sous Chef is a food processor that comes with a number of blade selections designed to accommodate your individual need. Each blade is constructed of a high quality material that is designed to last. Some of the blades and discs that come with a purchase of this food processor are:
• A large and small micro-serrated S blade, which is a great choice to utilize while making soups. It is extremely efficient when it comes to pureeing and finely chopping any type of food.
• A slicing disc that has 24 thickness adjustments available. This is a great tool for thinly cutting potatoes or tomatoes.
• A julienne disc is great for making matchstick sized carrots.
• A reversible shredding disc is included to help you shred vegetables such as cabbage.
• A French fry disc makes turning potatoes into French fries a task that can be completed within seconds.
• It also comes with a dough blade and a whisking disc for those times when you are indulging in your baking passions.
In addition to bringing you all of the best blades options, Breville also decided to include a spindle to hold all of the discs and blades in a safe location. To top it off, the spindle is labeled so you can easily find the home of each and every blade. Having all of these options available to you when you open the box is what makes this one of the most versatile food processors on the market. Another great feature is the LED display that is capable of counting the slices made by the food processor and stopping when a certain amount is met.
Power-wise, the Sous Chef is a real beast. It comes with a 1200 watt motor that forces the blades through any meats or vegetables without much effort. The induction motor was designed to be used in a durable kitchen tool, so it was made to last. Chopping even the largest potatoes can be finished in mere seconds without the food processor becoming bogged down or straining to power through the task at hand.
All of the parts on this specific model can be replaced easily. The motor has a 25 year warranty that is included with the purchase of the Breville Sous Chef, so if a small part, like the pusher for the feed chute or the work bowls become damaged, then they can be replaced instead of trying to get a whole new unit. The unit itself comes with a one year warranty as well. To ensure that you are safe while using the Sous Chef, Breville has made sure that each blade needs to be secured in place with their safety locking system, and it has no chance of slipping due to the non-slip feet of the food processor.
The base of the food processor is made of solid die-cast metal, which is conveniently a material that is fingerprint resistant as well as easy to keep clean. The blades, discs, and bowls are all top shelf dishwasher safe, and as an added bonus, the power cord is retractable for easy storage. Currently, this model can be purchased on Amazon in stainless steel, black sesame, or cranberry red for the reasonable price in the $400 range.
#2. Cuisinart DFP-14BCN Food Processor
View it on Amazon: -*
*Price typically updated every 24 hours. Current price may be different.
Cuisinart is known for their reputation of manufacturing high quality small kitchen appliances, so it is no surprise that they would be a company that is on our list. The DPF food processor is a great option for any chef, whether they are cooking at home or in a professional setting. Though this option is not quite as large as the first one on our list, it is still gives you plenty of room to create large meals.
This food processor comes complete with a 720 watt motor that is both powerful and quiet during use. In addition, it comes with a 14 cup work bowl as well as an extra large feed chute that is big enough to accommodate a fairly large potato, which means a lot less preparation time will be involved in cooking a meal that needs a lot of vegetables to be chopped. The chute itself is located on the back of the appliance, which may be a bit awkward for some.
Cuisinart cares about their customers, so safety is a big concern when each and every food processor is manufactured. The base is a heavy material that prevents the food processor from sliding around when it is powered on. It also features a safety lock, which means that the lid and the bowl must be aligned correctly for the food processor to turn on. Once the safety is locked in place and your fingers are safely away from the blades, the motor will turn on.
The stainless steel blades on the DFP food processor are extremely sharp, which means that they cut through most fruits, vegetables, and meats with very little effort. This model comes with a chopping blade, a mixing blade, a slicing blade, a shredding disc, and a dough blade. It also comes with two pushers, the smaller of which is designed with a drizzle hole for adding oil or other ingredients into the food processor.
Additional blades can fit on this specific model, but they need to be purchased separately from the actual food processor. Some of these blades include a julienne blade, a fine grating disc, and a larger slicing disc. A blade and disc storage unit can also be purchased to insure the sharp accessories are kept in a safe location.
The motor of Cuisinart’s DFP food processor comes with a five year warranty and the unit itself comes with a limited three year warranty. The base is easy to clean, and all of the other parts of this food processor, including the blades and the discs, are dishwasher safe. Just make sure to place them on the top shelf of the dishwasher.
Some consumers have stated that the set up of this small kitchen appliance is difficult, so to make it a bit easier on their customers, Cuisinart has included a fully instructional how-to video. A recipe book is also included with the purchase of this food processor to give those who may be less experienced, more ideas when it comes to using this appliance. The stainless steel model can be purchased on Amazon for around a $300 range price point.
#3. KitchenAid RKFP0922CU Food Processor
View it on Amazon: $147.99*
*Price typically updated every 24 hours. Current price may be different.
KitchenAid is a company that has manufactured kitchen appliances for almost a century. They create small appliances that are designed with durability and a long life in mind. The KitchenAid RKFP0922CU food processor is a quality kitchen essential with a 100 watt motor that lives up to the decades of quality shown by KitchenAid. As the third place choice on our list, this model is designed with three speed options. This allows you to cut fruits and vegetables with more precision than some of the other food processors available.
The wide-mouthed rim features three different feed tubes; each with varying widths that allow for different sized food to be placed in the appliance without the need to cut them into a smaller size. It also features an ultra tight seal that is complete with a locking feature to promote safety and prevent spills from occurring. Though, if the lid is not sealed properly, it does seem to leak a bit when the food processor is powered on.
This model comes with a nine cup work bowl that is perfect for creating family sized meals as well as a smaller, three cup work bowl that is perfect for smaller jobs, which could include mincing garlic or creating a small amount of salad dressing. This model also comes with an adjustable slicing disc that is capable of creating extremely thin apple slices as well as thick slices of pineapple. In fact, it is the first food processor to have the added functionality of an external blade control. Reviewers have been found boasting about the quality of the potato chip slices created by the RKFP food processor on KitchenAid.com.
It also comes with two multi-purpose blades, a multi-purpose blade that is designed for the nine cup large work bowl as well as a multi-purpose blade that is perfectly sized for the smaller three cup work bowl. This model includes a reversible shredding disc that is great for your next taco Tuesday as well as a dough blade for kneading the dough of your next loaf of homemade bread.
The blades of this food processor are sharp and adequate for chopping most fruits and vegetables, but some users have noted that the blades are situated a bit too high in the food processor. As a result, some foods go under the blade, which means that larger pieces may remain in the mixture that is being processed. This seems to occur most often in situations that require you to puree something with the food processor.
The appliance is easily cleaned by wiping it down with a wet cloth or placing the parts on the top shelf of the dishwasher. Be aware that this model does have a few more parts than many of the food processors in this price range, which can lead to additional work if each part is washed out by hand.
The KitchenAid food processor comes with a completely hassle-free one year warranty for all of the parts of the appliance. This model is available on Amazon for a very reasonable price point in the low 100’s. It can be purchased in white, contour silver, and onyx black, which are designed to fit any kitchen décor.
#4. Hamilton Beach 70670 Chef Prep Food Processor
View it on Amazon: -*
*Price typically updated every 24 hours. Current price may be different.
At one point or another, we have all had a Hamilton Beach appliance in our kitchen. Let’s face it; the company manufactures high quality products that are sold at a reasonable price. Whether you are an expert in the kitchen or someone who is just learning the ins and outs of using a food processor, Hamilton Beach’s 70670 Chef Prep food processor is the perfect choice for someone on a budget.
The 525 watt motor gives this appliance the perfect amount of power for chopping fruits and vegetables as well as pureeing them into a smoothie. This food processor is built from a lightweight material that is both sturdy and easy to move around the kitchen. The bottom of the appliance is fitted with suction cups that promote safety and ensure that the food processor does not move during operation.
The Chef Prep food processor features a ten cup capacity, which is about the optimal size for a typical family. It also features a large feed chute that makes chopping and slicing an easy task. This appliance can be set between two different speeds as well as a pulse setting. Just be cautious of turning off the device, as you will be required to pass the pulse setting, which could cause your shredded vegetables to become a pulverized mess. The stainless steel chopping blade is designed to chop, mince, and puree with ease, but this food processor also comes with two double-sided discs that allow you to slice, crinkle, and shred at two different consistencies.
Hamilton Beach designed the base of this food processor to be stain and tarnish resistant, so when you decide to make a purchase you can be sure it will last for years to come. In fact, Hamilton Beach has included a one year warranty with the purchase of this small appliance. The blades, the discs, the bowls, and the lid are all top shelf dishwasher safe, and the base of the food processor will easily come clean with a wet cloth. In addition, the power cord on this specific model is retractable for easy storage. The Chef Prep food processor comes in a beautiful onyx black that is available on Amazon for an extremely reasonable price point. They all stand out for different reasons, whether it is because of their capacity or their price. Alternatively, check out this selection of mini food processors by TheHealthyCuisine.com to find the best product for your eating habits
Pre-purchase considerations
Capacity
The capacity a food processor holds is one of the most important considerations. You need to make sure that it is big enough to feed your family as well as large enough for larger functions you may wish to host. The average capacity of a good food processor can be measured in cups or quarts, but it should hold at least ten cups.
Weight
When you are working with the food processor, you do not want the machine itself to move across the counter. You also want to avoid having a machine that is too heavy to move when necessary. It’s important to find a sturdy model that is convenient for you.
Feeding Tube Size and Drizzle Capabilities
The size of the feeding tube directly affects the amount of pre-processing knife work you will need to do. Being required to stop and cut potatoes to size effectively defeats the purpose of using a food processor. Also, if you plan to make emulsions or salad dressings, a food processor with a convenient drizzle spout will be well worth it for you.
Power and Speeds Available
Make sure that the food processor you decide on is powerful enough to complete the job that you set out to do. You don’t want the engine having a hiccup every time that you hit a nut. Also, make sure you have access to different speed options. Most food processors have two or three speeds as well as a pulse setting. This gives you more precision and control over how chopped your food becomes.
Blades and Attachments
Having the right attachments for a food processor are essential. If a certain blade is not compatible with the food processor you purchase, then it will not be something that you can utilize, which will mean more work for you in the long run. Also, make sure that the attachments are constructed of quality metal that will not degrade over time. Some of the most desired attachments are as follows.
• S-shaped blades for chopping and mincing food.
• Slicing discs for slicing fruits and vegetables.
• Shredding discs for making beautiful shredded cabbage into coleslaw.
• Julienne and French fry discs for creating portions that are almost matchstick-like.
• An egg whip to beat and cream eggs.
• A dough blade for creating fresh bread or pizza dough.
Safety Features and Seal
Make sure that the food processor you choose has all of the safety features you need, especially if a younger individual may be assisting you. Remember, the blades on the food processor are designed to be sharp, so having a safety lock feature will assure that no accidents occur. When the bowl is locked in place, no leaks should occur at the seal. Also, make sure that the base has some way to assure that it does not “walk “ across the counter top, whether it is fitted with suction cups, or the base is simply too heavy to move while powered on.
Cleaning
The whole idea of a food processor is to limit the amount of work you need to do in the kitchen. Make sure that the base is made of a material that easily wipes clean and the bowls, blades, and discs are dishwasher safe. They may have a lot of parts, but being able to just place them in a dishwasher is sure to save you a lot of time.
Conclusion (Wrapping it up)
There is a wide range of food processors available on the market, but which one is going to be the best option for you? It is important to know how many people you will be feeding, and what types of meals you will use the food processor for. Consider the features that you will need in this kitchen appliance, and your budget, before settling on a specific one. We have done the ground work, but you have to decide which food processor is the best option for you.