Best Food Processors

What are the best types of food processors?

There are five types of food processors on the market: blender, mixer, all-in-one, hand-operated, and commercial.

1. Blender is a type of food processor focused primarily on blending liquid ingredients. Most blenders can only mix soft ingredients, while others have special functions that allow the chopping of chunky food items. 
2. A mixer is a food processor that blends batter, kneads dough, beats egg whites, whips cream, and mixes icing. It comes in either a stand/benchtop mixer or a hand mixer. 

Stand or benchtop mixers are often used for baking large quantities of cake, bread, merengue, biscuits, and other baked goods. They mix the batter, kneads dough, and whisk the cream. Some models come with attachments such as pasta machine, citrus juicer, mincer, blender, fruit press, and sausage machine. They are often large and chunky, so they are not ideal for a small kitchen, counter space, or storage drawers.

1. All-in-one food processor completes numerous cooking tasks, including chopping, blending, grinding, and dicing. All-in-one food processors are designed to accommodate different sizes, quantities, and capacities. They have multiple functionalities but are more expensive than mini- or full-sized units.
2. A hand-operated food processor is an appliance that you manually use. Hand-operated food processors hold a small number of ingredients. Hand-operated food processors are great for campers, travelers, or users who like backyard barbecues as they don’t need electricity in using these. They are manual, so while they can perform essential chopping of vegetable ingredients for salsa or soup, they can’t handle large quantities or more rigid food items like meat. Experts have discussed about the best home meat slicer.
3. Commercial food processors are larger than processors designed for home use like the hand-operated or all-in-one. A commercial food processor holds many ingredients to make larger dishes. Commercial food processors can handle various capacity sizes ranging from five to twelve cups. The prices of this type of food processor depend on power and the number of attachments.

What are the best blender food processors?

The best blender food processor is the Hamilton Beach Food Processor & Vegetable Chopper, known for its built-in bowl scraper and compact design.

What are the best mixer food processors?

The best mixer food processor is the Cuisinart FP-8SV Elemental 8 Cup Food Processor, designed to perform various food preparations – from chopping nuts to mixing doughs! Known as a time-saver, this Cuisinart model has a rubberized touchpad, pulse control, and reversible shredding and slicing discs – all coming with parts that are easy to clean and dishwasher-safe.

What are the best all-in-one food processors?

The best all-in-one food processor is the Breville BFP800BSXL Sous Chef 16 Pro Food Processor, a stainless steel model designed with five multi-function discs and three blades that can turn nuts into nut butter or precisely slice vegetables to your desired thickness. 

What are the best hand-operated food processors?

The best hand-operated food processor is the Brieftons Express Food Chopper, which has a 6.8-cup capacity processing bowl and a set of stainless steel blades for fast and efficient chopping.

What are the best commercial food processors?

The VEVOR 110V Commercial Food Processor is the best commercial food processor due to its highly-efficient motor and powerful performance suitable for hotels, restaurants, cafes, and other food service establishments.

What functionality should you expect from a food processor?

The functionalities you should expect from a food processor include mixing, stirring, slicing, chopping, dicing, shredding, grating, kneading, zesting, pureeing, mashing, grinding, and emulsifying different food items.

What should you know before buying a food processor?

You need to consider things when buying a food processor, and picking the best one can be based on its features, power, size and capacity, attachments and accessories, brand, and price.

Features. Some food processors, like the hand-operated units, come with a single-speed. Others like the all-in-one and commercial food processors have multiple modes, including a pulse function for short bursts of power, which are great for quick dough kneading. Other models are designed with a small tube opening and pusher to add ingredients easily.

Power. Like the commercial ones, some food processors are more powerful than others. Electrical types are more powerful than manual hand-held units. When shopping for a food processor, make sure that it is powerful enough to knead tough doughs for an extended period or shred hard cheese. Full-sized processors with a capacity of nine cups or more should come with 600 watts or more.

Size and capacity. The smallest food processors come with three cups, while commercial units have 20 cups, ideal for restaurants and cafes. Consider the number of people you will feed, and you can determine the best food processor based on the size of your household. For instance, if you have a family of three to five, a food processor with 11 cups is suitable. If you only need a food processor to chop spices, then a 3-cup size should be enough. 

Attachments and accessories. Mixers and all-in-one food processors combine several attachments and accessories to perform multiple functions. Accessories may include bowls, blades, disks, while attachments may come in a citrus juicer, feeding tube, and dough kneader. When looking for a food processor, evaluate whether you will need all these add-ons or if you only need a straightforward model.

Brand and price. The price of food processors varies according to the type and brand. Recognized brands are known for quality and reliability but are on the higher end of the price range. Consider your budget and whether you’ll use a food processor regularly or sparingly. Commercial food processors are also more expensive than the other types used at home because of their capacity and power.

What is the average price range for the best food processors?

The average price for a food processor ranges between $20-$400. 

Prices are based on capacity sizes, power performance, accessories and attachments, and available functions or pre-programmed settings.

Residential food processors with fewer ingredients are on the lower end of the range, while commercial food processors may cost even more.

What is the main difference between a food processor and an immersion blender?

The difference between a food processor and an immersion blender is their intended use. A food processor is designed to prepare solid ingredients, whereas a blender is primarily used for liquid ingredients.

Another difference between a food processor and an immersion blender is the appliance’s outcome. A food processor prepares other dishes, whereas an immersion blender blends elements in a liquid product, usually making a drink.

What food processor type is considered superior?

The food processor type that is considered superior is the all-in-one food processor. It offers value-for-money and versatility as it performs multiple cooking tasks, including chopping, blending, grinding, and dicing, and is available in different sizes, quantities, and capacities. 

All-in-one food processors also fit many consumers’ budget, as it is less expensive than a commercial food processor but with similar powerful performance and multifunctionality.

What are the common mistakes in using a food processor?

Here are some of the common mistakes for using a food processor:

Filling up or overloading the processing bowl before setting up the unit presents an increased risk of spillage or cutting your hand trying to lock the bowl filled with food items into the blade.

Filling up or overloading the bowl with liquid is another common mistake. Follow the mark or indicator on the bowl for the maximum allowable amount of liquid. Otherwise, too much liquid will spill or splash all over the unit once turned on.

Failure to scrape off the food on the sides prevents the unit lasting long. Regularly clean the bowl to ensure maximum efficiency and avoid making your unit work harder than it’s supposed to.

Holding the pulse longer than necessary might break down or liquefy food that is only meant to be chopped or sliced.

Putting in hot food items like nuts might cause discoloration or partially melt plastic blades and bowls.

Knowing how to use a food processor carefully and adequately will ensure durability and make it last longer for your household. 

What criteria define the best food processor?

Here are eight criteria of a good food processor:

• Power: Larger households who use more ingredients may want a food processor with more power, with a minimum of 600 watts.
• Size: In addition to choosing a food processor that meets your household cooking needs, you also want to choose one that fits in your kitchen storage space.
• Controls: You want a food processor that is easy to use. This includes controls that are easy to adjust.
• Blade performance: The sharpness and location of the blades affect how well the food processor chops or grinds ingredients.
• Stability: A stable food processor with a secure lid is essential to prevent messes.
• Functions: Some food processors today come with extra functions, like the ability to control your appliance from your smartphone.
• Dishwasher safety: If you want to use a dishwasher for cleaning your food processor in between uses, you want to choose one that comes with dishwasher-safe parts.
• Capabilities: If added uses, including juicing or blending, are vital to you, you’ll want to choose a food processor with these capabilities.

What type of reviews do the best food processors have?

Reviews on the best food processors range from positive to negative. Some people are satisfied with the features, powerful performance, attachments, and versatility of food processors. Others are frustrated with durability and not receiving what has been advertised. 

Here are some of the typical reviews about each type of food processor:

Blender: Customers are delighted about how easy blender food processors can use. Some users are less than excited about how it’s difficult to clean and how it causes leakage.

Mixer: Some reviewers sang praises about the many easy-to-use presets available in mixers but complained about how difficult some parts can be cleaned.

All-in-one food processor: Some users enjoy the multiple functionalities found in this type of food processor, but some also complain about cracks in the bowl and blades that do not work.

Hand-operated food processor: Customers are happy about how easy to use and straightforward hand-operated food processors are but are disappointed about the limitations in performance and functionalities.

Commercial food processors: Positive reviews centered around how powerful commercial food processors are. Most negative reviews revolved around the high learning curve or the model not meeting their expectations in terms of durability and power.

What are the best food processor brands?

The best food processor brands include Ninja, Cuisinart, Kitchenaid, Hamilton Beach, COSVALVE, and GE.

• Ninja is one of the leading blender and food processor manufacturers and is easily recognized among smoothie lovers.
• Cuisinart is known for its range of affordable blenders, mixers, and food processors. Other kitchen tools they produce include soup makers, ice cream makers, and coffee makers.
• Kitchenaid is a recognized brand in the home appliance space, reasonably priced and durable.
• Hamilton Beach makes a wide range of low-priced kitchen appliances, though not reliable for more robust and powerful devices. 
• COSVALVE is a professional supplier of kitchen appliances with seven years of manufacturing experience in its belt. It is a recognized brand for high-quality materials, durable products, and safety features.
• GE is one of the more familiar brands worldwide and is a high-quality manufacturer of food processors. Their models typically come with a higher price tag compared to other brands, but only because their units are durable and high-performance. 

How long do the top food processors last?

The average lifespan of the top food processors is 7- 10 years. 

The factors that affect the lifespan of a food processor include frequency of use, maintenance and upkeep, brand and model, and material. Keeping up with cleaning and maintenance will also help your food processor last longer.

Where to buy a food processor?

Nowadays, food processors are widely available both online and in stores. 

You can purchase them directly from manufacturers, but online retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Home Depot, and even eBay sell various food processors. 

• Amazon is one of the biggest names in online retail and is considered reliable. You can get next-day delivery and discounts with a premium membership.
• Walmart offers free shipping when you buy for a certain amount onwards, and you can return units for free.
• Best Buy sells a wide range of electronics, digital goods, and appliances. You can either pick up or have your food processor delivered for free.
• Home Depot is the go-to place for items needed for your home. You can get free delivery and return a food processor free of charge.
• eBay is another big name in online retail. It is similar to Amazon, except that it allows you to bid for the price of food processors, hence getting the unit for cheaper than other retailers in some cases.

What are the other best kitchen appliances?

Other best kitchen appliances that you can use alongside the food processor in the kitchen are as follows:

• Air fryers
• Blenders
• Breadmakers
• Coffee grinders
• Coffee makers
• Juicers 
• Mixers