The Best Food Processors: A Buyer’s Guide

Capacity: 3-Cup

Number of Speeds: 1 

The Hamilton Beach Mini Food Processor offers a user-friendly experience at a fantastic price point. It's designed for simplicity, so you can spend less time fiddling with gadgets and more time cooking delicious meals. Its compact size is a game-changer for smaller kitchens. You won't find it hogging all your precious counter space, and if you do choose to store it between uses, it will easily fit in your cupboard. It's a good option for quick preps, from dicing veggies to whipping up a quick batch of salsa. But, if you're a stickler for precise chopping sizes, you might find it a tad challenging. It excels at rough chopping and pureeing, but it might not be your top pick if you need specific sizes, as it only has one-speed setting: on/off.

‍Features:

• Stack & press design
• 350-watt motor
• Versatile, stainless steel blade
• Entirely dishwasher safe

Pros:

• Small but mighty, saving precious counter space
• Simple and user-friendly – no complex instructions
• A wallet-friendly option that won't break the bank

Cons:

• Made from plastic
• Limited to 3 cups – not ideal for large batches
• Single-speed setting

Capacity: 12-Cup

Number of Speeds: 2 

The wizard of the kitchen is definitely the Breville Sous Chef 12 Cup Food Processor. This powerhouse is not your run-of-the-mill gadget, and most people who start using this model will never go back. It has one of the most powerful motors on the market, at a whopping 1000 watts, so it can handle anything you can throw at (or in) it. The slicing disc is adjustable, with 24 different settings from paper thin 0.3mm to thick cut 8.0mm. It’s a champ with liquids like sauces and soups, thanks to its sealed center blade holder, which most other food processors seem to lack. No messy leaks here. While it might be a bit of a splurge and take up some space, it’s worth every penny and every inch of your countertop. 

Features:

• 1000-watt motor
• Safety braking system
• Adjustable slicing disc with 24 settings 
• Micro-serrated s-blade

Pros:

• Sleek, high-quality aesthetic, so it looks good on your counter
• Large capacity at 12-cups
• 24 slicing settings
• Can handle solids or liquids

Cons:

• Premium gadget = premium price tag
• Will take up some counter space

Capacity: 11-Cup

Number of Speeds: 2

When it comes to making responsible choices in the kitchen, longevity and quality are the first things to look for.  For starters, it's not uncommon to hear stories of this kitchen workhorse lasting for over three decades. The Cuisinart Food Processor, Pro Custom 11, is not only built to last but comes with everything you need to chop, shred, mix, and dice. It comes with a chopping/mixing blade, shredding disc, slicing disc, detachable disc stem, compact flat cover, spatula, and small and large pushers. It also has an extra-large feed tube that accommodates whole fruits and vegetables, and with an 11-cup capacity, it’s capable of handling any size batch.

Features:

• 625-watt motor 
• Comprehensive accessories 
• Long Warranty on both the blade and processor 

Pros:

• It is sturdy with a heavy base, so it won’t wobble
• BPA-Free on all parts that touch food
• Durable and long-lasting, so you won’t need to repurchase
• Comes with tons of attachments 

Cons:

• It can be slightly bulky and takes up counter space
• Lots of parts to clean