I exploit my meals processor on a weekly foundation to make every thing from selfmade hummus to shortly chopping veggies for salads to making nut butters. I think about it my sous chef within the kitchen! One of the best 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 persistently and reliably.
Whereas all meals processors supply the identical fundamental operate 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 slim down the checklist, I thought-about capability, ease of storage, and sturdiness, in addition to my private expertise from utilizing others previously.
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 Finances: Hamilton Seashore 10-Cup Meals Processor – $44.97 at Amazon
- Greatest Fundamental: Ninja Skilled XL Meals Processor – $119 at Walmart
- Greatest Giant 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 exploit it on a regular basis! Not solely does it make clean sauces and creamy nut butters, but it surely’s sufficiently big to accommodate bigger portions and has giant, 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 dwelling cooks. There’s a big feed tube that makes it simple so as to add substances, and it consists of an ordinary slicing disc, a medium shredding disc, and a chrome steel chopping and mixing blade, so you need to 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
- Giant feed chute to attenuate prep
- Smooth, 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 evaluations 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 perfect 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 your best option for making nut butters or reducing by means of more durable meals, but it surely’s nice for fundamental prep and simple 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
- Finances-friendly value
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 Finances: 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 cheaper 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 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 repeatedly scapes the edges of the bowl when 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 should you plan to retailer it in a pantry or cupboard as an alternative 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
- Finances-friendly value
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 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 wonderful 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 giant 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 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 Giant Capability: Breville Sous Chef 16 Professional
You probably have an enormous household, should you meal prep, or should you repeatedly entertain, chances are you’ll need to think about a larger-capacity meals processor that may make an enormous portion of selfmade 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 lower 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 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:
- 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 perfect improve, Meals Community named it greatest total, and Meals and Wine named it greatest splurge. The Breville Sous Chef 16 Professional additionally has a mean 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 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 ability 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 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 checklist, that allow you to make every thing 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 may 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 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 Severe Eats calls it the perfect space-saving meals processor.
Purchase the Vitamix A3500 SmartPrep Kitchen System:
Different Meals Processors to Contemplate
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 searching for a smaller possibility. The KitchenAid 7-Cup Meals Processor is offered 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 possibility for you. However should you plan to make use of it repeatedly, I like to recommend investing just a little extra in a single that may final you for a very long time. This one additionally tends to provide 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 offered 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 alter 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, but it surely could possibly be possibility for dwelling cooks, particularly at this cheap value. The GE 12-Cup Meals Processor is offered 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 characteristic. Nevertheless, 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 price. The Breville Sous Chef 12 is offered at Amazon for $251.10.
Why You Can Belief Me
I’m Gina, the creator 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, total dimension, and model repute. 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.
All the pieces to Know Earlier than Shopping for a Meals Processor
What to Contemplate Earlier than Shopping for a Meals Processor
Meals processors serve the identical fundamental goal of mixing and chopping, however all of them have options that make them stand out from each other. Listed here 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 sufficiently big to deal with all of your wants, however bigger isn’t all the time higher. When you go too large, it may not have the ability to successfully course of smaller portions of meals because the blade will even be bigger. Most dwelling 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 dimension for smaller duties.
General dimension: Along with the capability, you’ll need to take into consideration total dimension, particularly should you’re planning to maintain it in your countertop. Test the size of the meals processor you’re contemplating and be sure you’re comfy with the house it takes up.
Settings: All meals processors have fundamental settings—sometimes on/off and pulse choices—however chances are you’ll discover some with superior options like a dough-kneading blade. Contemplate your most typical cooking wants and slim down your decisions that approach. Usually, extra options imply a better price, so should you don’t want all of the bells and whistles, you may 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 have to make the kitchen equipment handiest 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 pace 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 varieties of meals.
Can You Use a Blender as a Meals Processor?
You should use a blender instead of a meals processor for some kitchen duties, however you received’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 may also be used to puree. When you solely have a blender, ensure 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 several types of meals. For instance, they’ll 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 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 troublesome to get precisely what you need for a French press versus an automated drip machine. When you do use a meals processor to grind your espresso beans, be sure you use the heartbeat operate and verify on them each 3 to five seconds till you attain your required consequence. Simply observe that the espresso scent might linger.
The Greatest Recipes for Meals Processors
Meals processors generally is a useful kitchen software for thus many recipes. I exploit mine usually to shortly chop greens, put together dressings and sauces, and make nut butters. Listed here are just a few of my go-to recipes, however you need to use this versatile kitchen software for prep too:
Costs have been correct at time of publication.
