A lot can be said about ditching takeout and food delivery services to prepare a home-cooked meal. Shopping for fresh ingredients and preparing them yourself is not only an essential life skill but also a less expensive, more satisfying and healthier alternative to shelling out hard-earned cash on subpar eating experiences from styrofoam boxes.
That said, cooking requires a significant amount of preparation that makes the process inconvenient and straight-up annoying. Chopping, slicing, dicing and pureeing manually can add tons of time to meal prep. Having the right knife set and vegetable chopper can certainly help speed up these mundane tasks, but there’s an even better shortcut out there in the form of an appliance: the food processor.
Food processors are a godsend in the kitchen and perform a range of handy jobs to cut your cooking time in half, if not more. They’re also great for amateur cooks who don’t have excellent knife skills or would just prefer not to deal with sharp objects.
The best food processors are capable of performing a number of common actions, including:
- Chopping onions
- Shredding carrots
- Slicing tomatoes
- Mincing parsley
- Pureeing soup
- Kneading bread dough
- Beating egg whites
So if you’re ready to scale down the effort put into creating your favorite meals, remove the difficulty of wielding a chopping knife and enjoy more uniformly cut or smoother products, it’s definitely time to invest in one of the best food processors on the market.
Check out our 10 favorite food processors below.
Related Stories
1. Ninja Mega Kitchen System
BEST OVERALL
With 20,000 five-star ratings and positive reviews from over 90% of customers, it’s no surprise that the Ninja Mega Kitchen System takes top honors. This comprehensive kit comes with everything you need to blend, chop, crush and pulverize ingredients to prepare or create a delicious drink. Included in the bundle is a 72-ounce pitcher, an eight-cup food bowl, two 16-ounce Nutri Ninja cups along with two lids for on-the-go sipping. You’ll also find a 30-recipe guide to inspire future culinary endeavors.
Related: Best Ninja Blenders
2. BLACK+DECKER Electric Food Chopper
BEST BUDGET
At under $20, the BLACK+DECKER Electric Food Chopper is a real no-brainer for those on a budget. Not only is it incredibly well-reviewed, but it’s also available in two different sizes, depending on your kitchen needs. The device includes user-friendly, one-touch pulse control, allowing you to achieve just the right consistency in your food and most of the parts are dishwasher safe with stainless steel blades that will stay sharp for years.
3. Hamilton Beach Compact Food & Vegetable Chopper
BEST COMPACT
If space is at a premium in your kitchen, you’re going to want a food processor that doesn’t hog most of it. Try the small, but mighty Hamilton Beach Compact Food & Vegetable Chopper. It’s great for slicing, mincing, pureeing and shredding, making it a truly versatile addition to any countertop. The large, built-in chute also makes it easy to drop ingredients without fear of splash-back while lessening the amount of pre-cutting you may need to do. The device is also available in either an eight or 10-cup size and boasts a 450-watt motor with two speed modes and a pulse option.
4. MAGICCOS 14-Cup Food Processor
BEST MOTOR
This MAGICCOS food processor has 1,000 peak watts built into its engine and is one of the toughest food processors on the market. Not only will it chop, slice and mix like “magic” with its seven blade attachments, but it’s also rocking a sleek and sharp stainless steel design to blend in with any modern kitchen decor. Its 14-cup capacity also makes it an ideal purchase for larger families.
5. EZBASICS Small Electric Food Processor
BEST FOR DORMS
If cafeteria food just isn’t cutting it, this compact food processor from EZBASICS is made for a dorm-style kitchen with little to no preparation space. It’s got a detachable design with a cover, small bowl and chopping blades powered by a 260W motor. The S-shaped blade is made for chopping veggies and even crushing ice cubes. It’s got two speed settings and is super easy to operate, all you do is push down on the base to get it going, and press an extra button for turbo speed if desired. Most importantly, it’s built with safety in mind and has a super affordable price tag.
Related: Best Personal Blenders
6. SHARDOR Food Processor
BEST VERSATILITY
The SHARDOR Food Processor is made for the most basic of tasks, making it ideal for daily use. Whether you’re shredding cheese or chopping onions, this versatile device can handle it all. It includes both a reversible steel disc and a stainless steel S-blade, allowing you to slice, dice, shred, mix and puree. The built-in, 350-watt motor offers two speeds as well as a pulse option for greater control. You’ll also find a feed chute that makes adding ingredients easy and will keep your hands clear of any potential blade-related mishaps.
7. Cuisinart Custom Food Processor
BEST SPLURGE
The Cuisinart Custom Food Processor comes in either black or white and offers users a professional-standard processing experience. The 14-cup Lexan work bowl provides plenty of space for chopping large quantities and making family-sized products. You’ll also find an extra-large feed tube along with a spatula and a recipe book for some mealtime inspiration. Plus, the device also features a 36-inch power cord, giving you plenty of freedom when it comes to choosing a place on your kitchen counter.
8. KitchenAid KFC3516TG Food Chopper
BEST DESIGN
If you want your food processor to sit pretty on a countertop and match your kitchen interior, we’re confident you’ll find that the KitchenAid KFC3516TG Food Chopper fits the bill. From sky blue to majestic yellow, at least one of the 16 available colors is sure to give your KitchenAid stand mixer a run for its money (or match it perfectly). Function-wise, the 3.5-cup bowl provides a sizable capacity for prepping and creating food. And for precision, you can switch between the two speeds and pulse function.
9. Nutribullet Nutrient Extractor
BEST FOR SMOOTHIES
If your main goal in purchasing a food processor is to produce delicious smoothies, the Nutribullet Nutrient Extractor is the right choice for you. In addition to the motor base, you’ll find an extractor blade, a 24-ounce cup and a to-go lid, making it easy to prep, blend and sip. The 600-watt device delivers enough power to handle tough ingredients, like hard fruits, vegetables, protein powder and ice. The BPA-free plastic is also easy to clean and can even sit on the top shelf of your dishwasher.
Related: Best Smoothie Blenders
10. Utalent Immersion Hand Blender
BEST HANDHELD
We’d be remiss to not recommend a hand blender in this list and the Utalent Immersion Hand Blender is, bar none, our favorite. The sleek device sports a four-blade system which provides an impressive amount of versatility. You’ll also be able to choose between chopper, whisk, blender and milk frother attachments to concoct products ranging from soups and baby food to sauces and whipped cream. Furthermore, this bad boy is capable of eight different blending speeds and includes a built-in hook for easy hanging.
Looking for more deals? Follow SPY on Instagram…
The 14 Best Ninja Blenders and Food Processors for Your Kitchen Counter