I take advantage of my meals processor on a weekly foundation to make the whole lot from home made hummus to shortly chopping veggies for salads to making nut butters. I contemplate it my sous chef within the kitchen! The perfect meals processors make simple work of quite a lot of kitchen duties, and know the way essential 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 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 slim down the listing, I thought-about capability, ease of storage, and sturdiness, in addition to my private expertise from utilizing others previously.
Under are the most effective 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 Finances: Hamilton Seashore 10-Cup Meals Processor – $44.97 at Amazon
- Finest Primary: Ninja Skilled XL Meals Processor – $119 at Walmart
- Finest Giant 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 take advantage of it on a regular basis! Not solely does it make easy sauces and creamy nut butters, but it surely’s sufficiently big 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 learners and no-fuss house 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 chrome steel chopping and mixing blade, so you should 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 Professionals:
- Constant outcomes
- Giant feed chute to reduce prep
- Smooth, chrome steel design
The Cons:
- No velocity settings
- Costly
What Others Are Saying:
The Cuisinart 14-Cup Meals Processor was named the most effective meals processor by Wirecutter, The Spruce Eats, and Bon Appetit. It additionally has greater than 19,000 critiques on Amazon, with a mean 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 best 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 reducing by means of tougher meals, but it surely’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 Professionals:
- Simple operation
- Simple to retailer
- Finances-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 score.
Purchase the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Meals Processor:
3. Finest Finances: Hamilton Seashore 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 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, but it surely has a very good 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 function I actually love is the built-in scraper attachment. This constantly scapes the perimeters of the bowl when you’re utilizing it, so that you don’t should cease to scrub the perimeters with a spatula.
Its rounded design does make it a bit bulkier than a number of the different sleeker fashions, however if you happen to 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 Professionals:
- Various velocity settings
- Constructed-in scraper attachment
- Finances-friendly worth
The Cons:
What Others Are Saying:
The Hamilton Seashore 10-Cup Meals Processor has a mean 4.6-star score from greater than 40,000 critiques on Amazon.
Purchase the Hamilton Seashore 10-Cup Meals Processor:
4. Finest Primary: Ninja Skilled XL Meals Processor
Ninja makes nice user-friendly kitchen home equipment which are wonderful for learners or anybody who doesn’t need lots 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 possibly can 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 Professionals:
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 most effective energy and Meals Community named it the most effective worth possibility. The Ninja XL Meals Processor additionally has over 11,400 critiques on Amazon and a 4.7-star score.
Purchase the Ninja Skilled XL Meals Processor:
5. Finest Giant Capability: Breville Sous Chef 16 Professional
If in case you have an enormous household, if you happen to meal prep, or if you happen to recurrently entertain, chances are you’ll wish to contemplate a larger-capacity meals processor that may make an enormous portion of home made pesto without delay.. Whereas this meals processor is a bit dear, it has lots of helpful options. For starters, it has a beneficiant 16-cup capability and a particularly highly effective motor that may reduce by means of 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 Professionals:
- Giant 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 most effective improve, Meals Community named it finest general, and Meals and Wine named it finest splurge. The Breville Sous Chef 16 Professional additionally has a mean 4.6-star score 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 if you happen to 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 sequence 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 the whole lot 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 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 velocity management, pulse
The Professionals:
- 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 most effective attachment, and Critical Eats calls it the most effective space-saving meals processor.
Purchase the Vitamix A3500 SmartPrep Kitchen System:
Different Meals Processors to Think about
KitchenAid 7-Cup Meals Processor
KitchenAid makes high-quality small home equipment, and it is 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 searching for a smaller possibility. 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 sometimes, this budget-friendly meals processor might be a very good possibility for you. However if you happen to plan to make use of it recurrently, I like to recommend investing just a little 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, but it surely 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 rather a lot 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 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, but it surely might be a very good possibility 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 effective possibility. It has three chute sizes, a variable slicing disc, and a security cease function. 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 lots 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 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-about capability, general dimension, and model popularity. 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 thing to Know Earlier than Shopping for a Meals Processor
What to Think about 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 here are a very powerful issues to contemplate when deciding which one is finest on your kitchen.
Capability: Meals processors include totally different bowl sizes. You need the bowl to be sufficiently big to deal with all of your wants, however bigger isn’t all the time higher. In the event you go too huge, it may not have the ability to successfully course of smaller portions of meals for the reason that blade may also be bigger. Most house cooks ought to goal 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.
General dimension: Along with the capability, you’ll wish to take into consideration general dimension, particularly if you happen to’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 house 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. Think about your most typical cooking wants and slim down your decisions that method. Usually, extra options imply the next price, so if you happen to don’t want all of the bells and whistles, you possibly can skip them in favor of a lower cost tag.
Equipment: Meals processors sometimes include various varieties of blades and a few even have totally 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 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 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 varieties 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 finest for wetter recipes and liquid-based substances. Meals processors can shred and slice dry substances, which a blender can not do, and can be used to puree. In the event you solely have a blender, make sure 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 will shred carrots or recent cheese or shortly chop onions. Some meals processors even have attachments that may knead dough, and so they can mix and puree meals, just like a blender.
Can You Grind Espresso Beans in a Meals Processor?
Sure, you possibly can 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 automated 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 scent might linger.
The Finest Recipes for Meals Processors
Meals processors could be a useful kitchen software for therefore many recipes. I take advantage of mine usually to shortly chop greens, put together dressings and sauces, and make nut butters. Listed here are a couple of of my go-to recipes, however you should use this versatile kitchen software for prep too:
Costs had been correct at time of publication.
