I use my food processor on a weekly basis to make everything from homemade hummus to quickly chopping veggies for salads to making nut butters. I consider it my sous chef in the kitchen! The best food processors make easy work of a variety of kitchen tasks, and know how important it is to choose one that works consistently and reliably.
While all food processors offer the same basic function of chopping and grinding or slicing and shredding, they don’t all perform the same. I’ve personally used and loved my Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor for years, but I’ve found several other worthwhile options that might work better in your kitchen To narrow down the list, I considered capacity, ease of storage, and durability, as well as my personal experience from using others in the past.
Below are the best food processors to help you out in the kitchen.
My Top Picks:
- What’s in My Kitchen: Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor – $199.50 at Amazon
- My Favorite Mini: Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor – $36.71 at Walmart
- Best Budget: Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor – $44.97 at Amazon
- Best Basic: Ninja Professional XL Food Processor – $119 at Walmart
- Best Large Capacity: Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro – $374.99 at Amazon
- Best Blender and Food Processor Combo: Vitamix A3500 SmartPrep Kitchen System – $899.95 at Amazon
Reviews of The Best Food Processors
1. What’s in My Kitchen: Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor
The Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor has been a staple in my kitchen for several years, and I use it all the time! Not only does it make smooth sauces and creamy nut butters, but it’s big enough to accommodate larger quantities and has large, paddle-style controls that make it easy to use. There are only two settings—on and pulse—so it’s good for beginners and no-fuss home chefs. There’s a large feed tube that makes it easy to add ingredients, and it includes a standard slicing disc, a medium shredding disc, and a stainless steel chopping and mixing blade, so you can use it in place of a mandoline slicer or box grater, too.
The Specs:
- Capacity: 14 cups
- Dimensions: 11 x 7.9 x 14.8 inches
- Weight: 16 pounds
- Settings: On, pulse
The Pros:
- Consistent results
- Large feed chute to minimize prep
- Sleek, stainless steel design
The Cons:
- No speed settings
- Expensive
What Others Are Saying:
The Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor was named the best food processor by Wirecutter, The Spruce Eats, and Bon Appetit. It also has more than 19,000 reviews on Amazon, with an average rating of 4.6 stars.
Buy the Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor:
2. My Favorite Mini: Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor
I like using my Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor for smaller tasks, like chopping cucumbers to make Tzatziki Sauce. With its 3-cup capacity, it’s the ideal size for chopping vegetables or making dressing. It only has two settings—chop and grind—so it’s pretty straightforward to use. The motor is less powerful than the full-size models, so this isn’t the best choice for making nut butters or cutting through harder foods, but it’s great for basic prep and easy to store.
The Specs:
- Capacity: 3 cups
- Dimensions: 5.0 x 7.0 x 9.25 inches
- Weight: 2.5 pounds
- Settings: Chop, grind
The Pros:
- Straightforward operation
- Easy to store
- Budget-friendly price
The Cons:
- Less powerful motor
What Others Are Saying:
The Cuisinart Mini-Prep Food Processor was named best small by Good Housekeeping. It also has almost 30,000 reviews on Amazon with a 4.6-star rating.
Buy the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor:
3. Best Budget: Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor
If you don’t plan to use your food processor daily like me, you might want a less expensive option. This budget-friendly 10-cup food processor from Hamilton Beach does the trick for occasional use. The motor isn’t as powerful as some others, but it has a good capacity, plus three settings—two speeds and a pulse mode—that make easy work of most kitchen tasks. It includes a chopping blade and a slicing/shredding disc, but one feature I really love is the built-in scraper attachment. This continuously scapes the sides of the bowl while you’re using it, so you don’t have to stop to clean the sides with a spatula.
Its rounded design does make it a bit bulkier than some of the other sleeker models, but if you plan to store it in a pantry or cabinet instead of on your counter, that shouldn’t be a problem.
The Specs:
- Capacity: 10 cups
- Dimensions: 15.47 x 10.25 x 8.43 inches
- Weight: 4.7 pounds
- Settings: Two speeds, pulse
The Pros:
- Varying speed settings
- Built-in scraper attachment
- Budget-friendly price
The Cons:
- Less powerful motor
What Others Are Saying:
The Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor has an average 4.6-star rating from more than 40,000 reviews on Amazon.
Buy the Hamilton Beach 10-Cup Food Processor:
4. Best Basic: Ninja Professional XL Food Processor
Ninja makes great user-friendly kitchen appliances that are excellent for beginners or anyone who doesn’t want a lot of fuss. I like this food processor because it’s versatile—there are two blades as well as slicing discs—yet it’s easy to use. It comes with four preset programs (chop, puree, dough, and disk), plus three manual settings (low, high, and pulse). The extra-large feed chute means you can drop larger pieces of food in without chopping too much, and the 12-cup size can accommodate large recipes and family meal prep.
- Capacity: 12 cups
- Dimensions: 17.5 x 10.7 x 8.7 inches
- Weight: 10.9 pounds
- Settings: 4 preset programs (chop, dough, puree, disc) and 3 manual settings (low, high, pulse)
The Pros:
The Specs:
- Versatile settings
- Extra-large chute for less prep
- Can accommodate larger recipes
The Cons:
- Larger footprint than others
What Others Are Saying:
The Spruce Eats named it the best power and Food Network named it the best value option. The Ninja XL Food Processor also has over 11,400 reviews on Amazon and a 4.7-star rating.
Buy the Ninja Professional XL Food Processor:
5. Best Large Capacity: Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro
If you have a big family, if you meal prep, or if you regularly entertain, you may want to consider a larger-capacity food processor that can make a big portion of homemade pesto at once.. While this food processor is a bit pricey, it has a lot of useful features. For starters, it has a generous 16-cup capacity and an extremely powerful motor that can cut through pretty much anything you throw at it. There are two feed chutes to get precise cuts for different-sized foods, and it includes a variable slicing disc that has 24 settings, from extra thin to 8 millimeters thick. It also comes with a 2.5-cup mini-processing bowl for smaller jobs, so you’re getting the equivalent of two machines in one.
The Specs:
- Capacity: 16 cups
- Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.9 x 17.5 inches
- Weight: 19.7 pounds
- Settings: On and pulse
The Pros:
- Large capacity
- Versatile with two feed chutes and variable slicing
- Comes with a smaller processing bowl
The Cons:
- Heavy
- Expensive
What Others Are Saying:
Wirecutter calls it the best upgrade, Food Network named it best overall, and Food and Wine named it best splurge. The Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro also has an average 4.6-star rating from over 2,600 reviews on Amazon.
Buy the Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro:
6. Best Blender and Food Processor Combo: Vitamix A3500 SmartPrep Kitchen System
I love my Vitamix blender, and if you need a blender and a food processor, the Vitamix A3500 SmartPrep Kitchen System is a winner. It is an investment, but you’re getting the power and reliability of a Vitamix, and two kitchen appliances in one. The set includes the A3500 series base and motor, which is the blender I use, plus a 12-cup food processor bowl and a 64-ounce blender jar. You’ll also get four slicing blades, which is more than other options on the list, that let you make everything from small shreds to thick slices.
Because the food processor works from the same base as the blender, you’ll get all the same settings, like variable speed control and pulse, so you have more control over consistency. All while saving on storage!
The Specs:
- Capacity: 12 cups
- Dimensions: 11 x 8 x 17 inches
- Weight: 12 pounds
- Settings: Variable speed control, pulse
The Pros:
- Variable speed control
- Versatile and convenient
- Includes many slicing discs
The Cons:
- Expensive
What Others Are Saying:
The Spruce Eats named the Vitamix Food Processor Attachment the best attachment, and Serious Eats calls it the best space-saving food processor.
Buy the Vitamix A3500 SmartPrep Kitchen System:
Other Food Processors to Consider
KitchenAid 7-Cup Food Processor
KitchenAid makes high-quality small appliances, and this is a great food processor. It has three-speed options, and the accessories neatly stack inside for storage, which is a nice touch. Ultimately, it didn’t make the list because the 7-cup capacity may be limiting for some, and it’s not quite a mini food processor, so it’s not compact enough for those looking for a smaller option. The KitchenAid 7-Cup Food Processor is available at Amazon for $55.71.
Black + Decker 8-Cup Food Processor
If you’re only using your food processor occasionally, this budget-friendly food processor could be a good option for you. But if you plan to use it regularly, I recommend investing a little more in one that will last you for a long time. This one also tends to give uneven cuts, which may not be a big deal, but it depends what you’re using it for. The Black + Decker 8-Cup Food Processor is available at Amazon for $39.99.
GE 12-Cup Food Processor
This GE 12-Cup Food Processor has a lot going for it. It includes four slicing discs and stackable feeding tubes that let you adjust the size of the chute. Plus, it has a powerful motor and a 12-cup capacity that will work for most everyday kitchen tasks. It didn’t make my list of winners because I have more experience with the other brands and models, but it could be a good option for home cooks, especially at this reasonable price. The GE 12-Cup Food Processor is available at Amazon for $112.95.
Breville Sous Chef 12
A smaller version of the Sous Chef 16 Pro, the Breville Sous Chef 12 is a good option. It has three chute sizes, a variable slicing disc, and a safety stop feature. However, in my opinion, it doesn’t stand out amongst other models in this size range. Plus, it’s pricier than similar-size options without a lot of extra features to justify the higher cost. The Breville Sous Chef 12 is available at Amazon for $251.10.
Why You Can Trust Me
I’m Gina, the author and recipe developer behind Skinnytaste, which features my favorite healthy, family-friendly recipes made with real food. I love finding ways to make cooking and meal prep easier, and my Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor is a staple in my kitchen for speeding up my chopping and blending tasks.
In my many years of recipe creation for Skinnytaste, I’ve used several other food processors, so I know what to look for and what to avoid. When narrowing down the options, I considered capacity, overall size, and brand reputation. For food processors that I haven’t tried myself, I relied on reviews from real users on Amazon and the results from professional product testers at major cooking publications.
Everything to Know Before Buying a Food Processor
What to Consider Before Buying a Food Processor
Food processors serve the same basic purpose of blending and chopping, but they all have features that make them stand out from one another. Here are the most important things to consider when deciding which one is best for your kitchen.
Capacity: Food processors come with different bowl sizes. You want the bowl to be big enough to handle all your needs, but larger isn’t always better. If you go too big, it might not be able to effectively process smaller quantities of food since the blade will also be larger. Most home cooks should aim for a capacity of around 9 to 14 cups for everyday needs, and I like to use a mini 3-cup size for smaller tasks.
Overall size: In addition to the capacity, you’ll want to think about overall size, especially if you’re planning to keep it on your countertop. Check the dimensions of the food processor you’re considering and make sure you’re comfortable with the space it takes up.
Settings: All food processors have basic settings—typically on/off and pulse options—but you may find some with advanced features like a dough-kneading blade. Consider your most common cooking needs and narrow down your choices that way. Generally, more features mean a higher cost, so if you don’t need all the bells and whistles, you can skip them in favor of a lower price tag.
Accessories: Food processors typically come with varying types of blades and some even have different size bowls to accommodate different-size kitchen tasks. Think about what accessories you’ll need to make the kitchen appliance most effective for you, and choose an option that covers those bases.
What is a Food Processor?
A food processor is a versatile kitchen appliance that helps speed up food prep and can make everyday tasks much easier. Depending on the included blades, food processors can chop, shred, slice, grind, and puree all types of food.
Can You Use a Blender as a Food Processor?
You can use a blender in place of a food processor for some kitchen tasks, but you won’t get the exact same results. Blenders are designed to liquefy ingredients, so they’re best for wetter recipes and liquid-based ingredients. Food processors can shred and slice dry ingredients, which a blender cannot do, and can also be used to puree. If you only have a blender, make sure to use a pulse function or manually pulse the machine to avoid turning your ingredients into soup.
What Does a Food Processor Do?
Food processors chop, shred, slice, and grind different types of foods. For example, they can shred carrots or fresh cheese or quickly chop onions. Some food processors also have attachments that can knead dough, and they can blend and puree foods, similar to a blender.
Can You Grind Coffee Beans in a Food Processor?
Yes, you can grind coffee beans in a food processor, but you may not get a consistent grind like you would with a dedicated coffee grinder. Additionally, food processors don’t let you control the size of the grind, so it can be difficult to get exactly what you want for a French press versus an automatic drip machine. If you do use a food processor to grind your coffee beans, make sure you use the pulse function and check on them every 3 to 5 seconds until you reach your desired result. Just note that the coffee smell may linger.
The Best Recipes for Food Processors
Food processors can be a helpful kitchen tool for so many recipes. I use mine often to quickly chop vegetables, prepare dressings and sauces, and make nut butters. Here are a few of my go-to recipes, but you can use this versatile kitchen tool for prep too:
- Pico de Gallo Salsa
- Homemade Basil Pesto
- Salsa Verde
- Hummus
- Garlic Scape Basil Pesto
- How to Make Nut Butter
More Reviews of My Favorite Kitchen Items
Prices were accurate at time of publication.
