For a kitchen that fires on all cylinders, some chefs may swear by an all-purpose Dutch oven or an encyclopedic cookbook. But in our opinion, the real MVP of kitchen mastery is a great food processor.
This small but mighty appliance truly does it all, making quick work of everything from shredding carrots to grinding nuts into butter.
If you’re in the market for a convenient chopping, slicing, and dicing machine, we’re here to help with the process. Here are our top recs for the best food processors.
Pricing guide
- $ = under $100
- $$ = $101–$250
- $$$ = over $250
Best overall food processor:
Ninja BN601 Professional Plus Food Processor
- Price: $$
- Wattage: 1,000
- Number of attachments: 3
- Capacity: 9 cups
For best all-around machine, we’re crowning Ninja’s BN601 Professional Plus model king (*cue trumpet fanfare*).
This moderately priced processor offers tons of important features without breaking the bank. Its 1,000-watt motor powers through tough ingredients, its three speeds give you flexibility and control, and its medium 9-cup size means it’s not a space hog. Meanwhile, all its parts are dishwasher-safe.
Considering all the boxes it checks, it’s not surprising that the Ninja gets rave reviews from home cooks and pro chefs alike. However, some reviewers say it doesn’t hold up as long as they’d like.
Best mini prepper food processor:
Cuisinart DLC-2ABC Mini Prep Plus Food Processor
- Price: $
- Wattage: 250
- Number of attachments: 0
- Capacity: 3 cups
Sometimes you don’t need an epic processor that pulls out all the stops. When a solo salsa or mini batch of cookie dough is more your style, a mini prep machine will do just fine.
Cuisinart’s Mini Prep Plus is a grown-up food processor’s efficient kid brother. Its 3-cup capacity is just right for smaller recipes, and its more petite size makes it easy to store in tight spaces.
Of course, because it doesn’t have attachments, a mini prep won’t do everything a full-size food processor will do (like slicing and grating). But, depending on your needs, that may be A-OK.
