Now is the perfect time to invest in the food processor. The busiest (and best!) time of year is fast approaching, complete with all the culinary demands that come along with it. Whether you want to speed up your stuffing or save your eyes from the perils of chopping an onion, buying the best food processor will be an investment that lasts for years to come. A lot of these models do more than just chop, too. We’ve tried them all hands-on, testing out their blade attachments for evenly slicing and grating cheese or carrots. You can even make dough in a food processor to save your poor arms from kneading, and give the best stand mixer a break!
Many of the best food processors come from brands like Ninja, Magimix, Bosch, Magic Bullet, KitchenAid and Kenwood, and you can even buy complete kitchen systems that include some of the best blenders we’ve tried, which are fully compatible with the powerful base of the processor. That will save your counter lots of space, and double up on your value-for-money.
Why do I need the best food processor?
Image credit: Simon Whitmore
It seems like food processors just keep on coming out with more attachments and smart options – some can even be used as a blender, and you can even give your stand mixer a break with a food processor to make dough or whip up cream or mayonnaise.
Mixing, whisking, whipping, emulsifying, kneading, mincing and even heating are possible with a good food processor. You’ll be able to broaden your cooking repertoire and create more exciting, fresh meals from scratch that the whole family will love. Be warned, once you’ve tried homemade pesto, you may never go back to shop-bought again…
Best food processors 2021
1. Bosch MultiTalent 8 Food Processor
Best food processor overall
Capacity: 3.9 litres
Attachments: 1.5 litre blender jug, shredding disk, slicing disk, citrus press, dough tool, whisk tool, carry case
Reasons to buy:
• It’s so multi-functional
• Great value for money
• Mini chopper attachment
• Everything comes in a handy carry case
Reasons to avoid:
• The attachments take up a lot of space, so prepare to make room for storage
The Bosch MultiTalent 8 Food Processor is a capable food processor that packs in plenty of value for money. When we put it to the test we were impressed by how smooth it is to operate, and the huge range of attachments speak for themselves.
This food processor comes with a decent blender attachment that held up well when making soups and smoothies. It also has a mini chopper attachment that’s perfect for making dressings, chopping garlic and herbs or tackling smaller quantities of ingredients. The whisk is a stand in for low-in stand mixers and held up well when making cake and brownies. There’s even a citrus juicer attachment.
Other perks included the large bowl that could handle multiple punnets of mushrooms and more than enough onion for any meal. It’s got sturdy shredding, slicing and chopping disks that are held in place by a frame for no wobbling as you slice, and the insert into the feeding chute can also be used to measure liquids.
Cleaning is easy as everything can go in the dishwasher, and we were impressed by the carry case that neatly tucked away all the attachments. You can also buy more attachments online, to make your MultiTalent even more multitalented!
Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Read our full Bosch MultiTalent 8 Food Processor review
2. Kenwood FPM910
Best food processor for families
Capacity: 4 litres
Attachments: Blender, multimill, knife blades, multi chopping tools, citrus press, dough tool, dual whisk
Reasons to buy:
• The in-built scales make life so much easier
• Lots of attachments included
• Great range of blades
Reasons to avoid:
•That price is on the higher end
Multi by name and by nature, if you want a food processor that handles almost every part of your prep, this is it. The Multipro Excel food processor comes with a huge amount of functionality and kit – so there’s a tool for almost any food preparation job, but you’ll have to find somewhere to put it all.
As well as built-in scales and a weighing plate, it comes with several slicing and grating discs, knife blade, dough blade, whisk, folding tool, mini bowl, grinder, blender jug and even a citrus press for on-demand OJ.
Most impressive is its four-litre main bowl – with the option of a ‘mini’ 1.6-litre bowl that fits inside. There are eight speeds for processing plus a pulse, as well as auto speed button that selects a setting for you.
The range of blades will suit both the keen chef and those who like to batch cook. We found that some foods were most easily processed with the knife blade, while the julienne disc made short work of carrots and the slicing disc whizzed through rhubarb and leeks.
An extra-wide feed tube accommodated every vegetable without much chopping beforehand. Other features of note are a 30-minute eco mode, and a storage box for the blades, ensuring that they stay as sharp as possible.
The whisk tool and folding tool are especially clever in design – both slot onto the spindle in the centre of the bowl and work with the lid in place – meaning that the contents are whipped or mixed without any worktop mess. It’s quick too – our egg whites took less than a couple of minutes to form firm peaks.
Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars
3. Ninja 3-in-1 Food Processor with Auto-IQ BN800UK
Best food processor blender combo
Capacity: 1.8 litres
Attachments: Blender, personal blender, reversible shredding/slicing disc, dough blade, chopping blade
Reasons to buy:
• Smart settings make the process hands-free
• All the attachments you could need
• Easy to clean after use
Reasons to avoid:
• If you just want a food processor there’s a blender-free option, too
The Ninja 3-in-1 Food Processor with Auto-IQ BN800UK is a top pick for space-saving and multi-functionality. The base can be used to blend soups and smoothies in the large 2.1 litre jug or the personal-sized 700ml cup, and there’s also a 1.8-litre food processor attachment. The processor has a unique multi-layered blade that chops evenly, even when you’ve filled the food processor bowl, and there is also a reversible disc that shreds as well as slices.
We would have liked another disc for larger slicing, because the slicing side of the disc is quite fine and not suitable for large shavings of cheese or vegetables. We also found that there was a little of whatever we sliced (be it courgette or cheddar) left at the very top of the blade, because the pusher doesn’t quite fit all the way down into the bowl.
What the Ninja 3-in-1 Food Processor with Auto-IQ BN800UK does excel in is smart features. It has a blend, chop, puree, and mix setting, as well as a pulse button and three strengths for blending. These programs mean you can simply press to chop or mix depending on your desired outcome, and the process is pre-timed and hands-free. You could even get set on the crudites for your new pureed dip.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Read our full Ninja 3-in-1 Food Processor with Auto-IQ BN800UK review
4. Magic Bullet Kitchen Express
Best food processor for small kitchens
Capacity: 850ml
Attachments: Shredding/slicing disc, chopping bowl, personal blender, to-go blender cup and lid
Reasons to buy:
• It’s amazing value
• Surprisingly powerful
• Great for small spaces
Reasons to avoid:
• The small bowl won’t be suitable for large meals
With a motor of just 250 watts, we were ready to write the Magic Bullet Kitchen Express off. In testing though, it seriously impressed us. For a start, the reversible disc really cuts back on space demands and works to slice and grate everything from carrot to cheese very fast indeed. The chopping blade is also stacked, meaning it has two layers and will slice through every layer of your veggies or dough, even when you really fill up that 850ml bowl.
All attachments fit comfortable into the dishwasher, and while there is only an On, Off and Pulse setting, these are incredibly powerful and fast. Our one reservation was that there is no way of slowing down for rougher chops. For this, it’s best to use the pulse setting in short spurts.
While it’s a great food processor, the blender is just as good (and worthy of a mention here). Again, the small motor really overperformed by making thick and creamy smoothie bowls out of tough ingredients including frozen strawberries, bananas and blueberries.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Read our full Magic Bullet Kitchen Express review
5. Cuisinart Easy Prep Pro Blender
Best food processor for everyday use
Capacity: 1.9 litres
Attachments: 2 chopping blades, fine & medium grating/slicing disc, recipe book
Reasons to buy:
• It’s reasonably priced
• A great space-saver
• Lightweight enough to store easily
• Even slicing and grating
Reasons to avoid:
• Not as multi-functional as some of the other food processors out there
Striking the balance between practical and versatile isn’t the most straightforward thing for a food processor to do – extra accessories often find their way to the back of a cupboard. For busy households, it makes sense to have a machine that can tick off the basics – blending, slicing, grating, chopping and mixing – while being powerful enough to handle a variety of foods.
The Easy Prep Pro answers this need nicely – it’s more of a day-to-day appliance rather than one you haul out every so often. Plus it’s lightweight and compact enough to move around the kitchen as required.
Its two bowls – a main 1.9-litre and mini 700ml – plus matching chopping blades and two reversible slicing/grating discs, are all dishwasher safe.
The mini bowl fits inside the main one, and, crucially, has a seal around the edge to stop food spilling out, so when we chopped herbs, there was only one bowl to wash, not two. A separate recipe book has some ideas to get you started, but as you might expect, most of them are basics, such as pesto, mayonnaise, coleslaw, bread and pizza.
The Easy Prep Pro isn’t perfect – its buttons are big and bulky, plus you have to hit the Off control rather than just the High or Low to stop it, which isn’t terribly intuitive. There’s also no dedicated storage for the discs or large chopping blade (though the mini bowl and blade store inside), meaning they could end up becoming blunt sooner than they should.
In tests, it performed well – our carrot was grated uniformly, and we made a springy bread dough easily with the blade and a combination of the pulse and low settings. The machine whined and shook a little as the dough came together, and some crept inside the tool, but overall, our loaf rose well. It’s good value, too.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
6. Russell Hobbs Desire Food Processor
Best budget food processor
Image credit: Russell Hobbs
Capacity: 1.5 litre
Attachments: Blender, dough hook, slicing/shredding disk, creaming disk
Reasons to buy:
• It’s reasonably priced
• Not too big
• Comes with a blender attachment
• Intuitive controls
Reasons to avoid:
• The plastic construction does feel cheaper
We’re all about value for money, and the Russell Hobbs Desire Food Processor certainly delivers this. It’s not as shiny or multi-functional as some of the other food processors you can buy, but it held up well in our tests and comes in at well under £100. The Desire Food Processor has a 1.5 litre capacity bowl and a modest 600 watts of power, so it’s not best for those demanding tasks like kneading dough.
What it does do very well is chopping and blending, and let’s face it, that’s what really matters in a food processor. We were able to create a thick and perfectly smooth tomato soup in the 1.5 litre blender pitcher, which comes included with the food processor, and it was able to shred, chop and slice carrots, onions and courgettes with surprising efficiency in our tests. The results were fine and even, although because you’re limited on speed options we did find it harder to create chunky chopped veg.
The Russell Hobbs Desire Food Processor has two speeds and a pulse setting, which is very high power and can create smooth sauces easily. It also features a creaming disk, which really impressed us when we used it to make mayonnaise, although it is better used with large quantities thanks to the wide base of the bowl.
The stand is sturdy and has non-stick pads to keep your food processor from moving about. All of the attachments are dishwasher-safe, and clean up easily thanks to the plastic construction. The slicing and shredding disk is reversible, and there is also a dough hook included. It’s not as mighty as some of the other options in our lineup, but for a tiny fraction of the price this multi-tasker certainly delivers on value.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
7. Morphy Richards Prepstar Food Processor
Best compact food processor
Capacity: 4 litres
Attachments: Chopping blade, whisk, beater, grater disc, grating blades, storage caddy
Reasons to buy:
• A top choice for small kitchens
• Easy to store and designed to be tidy
• Colourful attachments add some fun
Reasons to avoid:
• The design takes some getting used to
The Morphy Richards Prepstar Food Processor stood out to us because we loved its stand mixer counterpart – the Morphy Richards Mixstar – is one of the top mixers we’ve ever tried. The Morphy Richards Prepstar Food Processor is good too, but it’s a little less finessed. Everything comes stowed away inside a caddy that slots into the generous 4 litre food processor bowl. This lifts out for use and you can attach the blades or whisk to the central column, which then attaches to the handle that slots into the top of the machine. This handle is plugged in and then twisted into the bowl, which did take some getting used to.
The chopping disc is clever, too. It has three blade attachments for grating and slicing, and these pop out for easy alternation. There was quite a large gap between the blades and top of the bowl in testing, meaning that not everything got shredded evenly. This bowl does have a huge capacity though, which was able to handle an entire cabbage for a coleslaw mix.
While it’s great that everything is stored inside the bowl, you will need to find space for the handle if you want this to fit inside a cupboard or drawer. It’s one of the most space-efficient food processors on the market, so if that’s a priority for you then it’s a good pick.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
8. Magimix 4200XL
Best food processor for versatility
Capacity: 3 litres
Attachments: Dough blade, grating disc, whisk, 3 bowls, blendermix ring, egg whisk
Reasons to buy:
• Auto detection
• Smart attachments
• A sturdy classic that’s built to last
Reasons to avoid:
• It doesn’t have a blender jug
If you’ve ever put off using your food processor for small or medium-sized amounts because of the mountain of washing up at the end of it, the 4200XL is the clever solution you’ve been looking for. It comes with three bowls that nest inside each other, meaning that you can whizz up herbs or mayonnaise in its mini bowl or shred veg in the midi one without having to wash the large main bowl.
However, it’s far more than the Russian doll of processors. What’s just as special is that you don’t have to pick the speed to use with each task, it’ll do it for you. So no more second guessing yourself or over-processing. One other point of difference is a BlenderMix ring that helps to make soups and sauces smoother, and the ability to add accessories to expand its functions, although there’s already a dough blade, knife blade, mini blade, a whisk, four discs, spatula and storage box.
In tests, the 4200XL consistently produced excellent results regardless of the task. It sliced onions and celery evenly in the midi bowl (with none of it landing in the main bowl), turning a 10-minute chopping tasks into 30 seconds of processing. Then we were able to take the midi bowl out, slot the whisk into the main bowl and add three egg whites. After about five minutes, the whites were light and fluffy and had increased in volume to fill the bowl.
It performed similarly well when using the blade in the main bowl to liquidise vegetable soup. The BlenderMix ring helped to deflect the liquid down towards the blade, rather than it splashing up into the processor lid, so that after two minutes it was smooth. Another advantage is that the bowl can blend hot liquids, so there was no need to cool the soup to room temperature before processing. A final reason to buy is that it’s dishwasher-safe.
Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars
9. Bosch MultiTalent 3 MCM3100WGB Food Processor
Best small food processor
Capacity: 2.3 litre
Attachments: Dough blade, chopping blade, shredding disk
Reasons to buy:
• It’s perfect for small kitchens
• Easy to use
• A budget-friendly option
Reasons to avoid:
• Lacks the attachment options of other food processors
This food processor takes up a smaller worktop footprint than most, is relatively light at 2.7kg and is shorter than many models, so can tuck neatly below wall units or in a cupboard with ease.
It still manages to pack in four accessories that provide more than 20 everyday functions, from grating and slicing to kneading and whisking. The clever design also extends to smart storage with both blades and discs fitting inside the 2.3-litre bowl after use, and integral cable storage.
Inside the bowl, there’s enough space for making up to 800g of bread dough, whisking six egg whites or 300g of chopped vegetables.
The food processor controls are simple – there are two variable speeds and a pulse (although it’s confusingly labelled M, which stands for maximum speed) – and each tool or attachment intuitively locks into place. In tests, it combined bread dough quickly, but the force of kneading spun the machine on the worktop.
It handled whipping egg whites, slicing courgettes and dicing onion superbly. All of the food processor parts are dishwasher-safe but were also straightforward to clean by hand.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
10. Sage The Kitchen Wizz
Best food processor for keen cooks
Capacity: 3.6 litres
Attachments: Slicer, julienne blade, chipping blade, reversible shredding blade, whisk discs, dough blade, quad blade, mini blade
Reasons to buy:
• For serious home chefs
• Very powerful induction motor
• French fry cutting tool
Reasons to avoid:
• Comes at a high price point
This food processor comes with a mighty 2,000W induction motor, stacked four-bladed chopping knife and a variable slicing disc with settings from a super-skinny 0.3mm to 8mm. It means business.
Rather than relying on a standard array, some of the Kitchen Wizz Pro’s eight tools are designed to suit a particular need – so there’s a julienne disc for matchsticks, but also a French fry cutting disc for chips. Think of it like the difference between a full toolbox for DIY… and using a hammer for everything.
All the food processor tools fit into a handy box after use, leaving just the main 3.7-litre bowl and mini bowl to be stored on the die-cast metal base. There’s also an LED timer for counting down and up.
The machine adjusts automatically to the food being processed, while a choice of small or large feed chute allows you to keep vegetables upright. This means you can control the flow of ingredients.
During testing, the food processor’s dough blade mixed pizza dough to a good elastic consistency, while the quad blade easily emulsified thick, viscous mayonnaise and minced meat. The adjustable slicing disc meanwhile, created even slices of aubergine. The only downside is that the food processor parts are not all dishwasher-safe.
Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Black Friday food processor deals 2021: what we expect to see
Image credit: Magic Bullet
Last year we saw some great Black Friday food processor deals on top brands that feature front and centre in this guide. One such model was the Ninja, which always sees excellent seasonal promotions that bump the price right down. Considering we already think it’s a great value pick, this is a deal worth looking out for once it gets to Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Other brands that occasionally offer some seriously great promotions include Magic Bullet and also Russell Hobbs. While you can expect to pay more for a premium option from Kenwood or Magimix, we are keeping an eye out for these Black Friday food processor deals to bring you the top discounts on the market, so if we do see one for a great price, we’ll be sure to put all the information you need right here in our best food processor guide.
How much should I spend on a food processor?
Food processors vary greatly in price and amount of accessories, so how much you spend will depend on how much you plan to use it and what it needs to be able to do. A basic machine can cost as little as £40, while food processors with built-in scales, timers and heating features can be priced from £500 upwards.
If all you need is speedy chopping and you’re unlikely to use multiple attachments and bowls (or will struggle to store them), it’s best to opt for a food processor under £100.
However, keen cooks and those who like to make batches for the freezer will get more use from the extra kit.
Some food processors may also be able to double up as a stand mixer, blender or mini chopper, making them a better value all-in-one buy.
Where will you store your food processor?
Decide where your food processor will live. If it’ll be on display on the worktop, you may want to spend a little more on a model you’re happy to have on display or that coordinates with your kitchen.
Similarly, check the height as not all food processors are low enough to fit under kitchen wall cabinets. If you plan to store it in a cupboard, check how much it weighs. You may put off using it if it’s too heavy or bulky to get out for smaller jobs.
What should I look for in a food processor?
Image credit: Magimix
Which food processor accessories do I need?
One of the defining features of modern food processors is how much kit they can potentially come with. Standard accessories include a chopping blade for dicing, mixing, mashing and puréeing. There will be a dough hook for kneading, which works by stretching the dough rather than slicing through it. Then there might be one or two discs with a spindle, which will shred, slice and grate cheese and vegetables.
More expensive machines may come with a julienne disc for slicing potato or carrot into matchsticks, an adjustable slicing blade for different thicknesses and whipping/beating attachments.
Other food processor accessories can include a blender jug, midi and/or mini bowls that nestle inside the main bowl and have their own blades to chop smaller quantities of nuts, herbs or chocolate with less washing-up. A citrus press may be included.
What food processor bowl size do I need?
The size of your food processor bowl will affect how much you can prep in one go. The largest can be up to four litres – ideal if you batch cook or have a big family – but for everyday jobs 1.8-2 litres should be enough. A wide feed chute is also a plus as it’ll mean less initial prep for larger items, such as potatoes or courgettes. Look for a good-quality BPA-free plastic bowl and lid so they’re robust enough not to have to be replaced in a few years.
image credit: Magimix
Is storage important?
Storage is a key consideration if your food processor comes with lots of kit. Look for designs that allow you to store tools inside the bowl or that come with boxes or cases.
Storing discs and blades in a dedicated box means they’ll stay sharper and be more effective at chopping and shredding. Store them loose in a drawer and they’ll gradually become blunter from rubbing against other items.
What speed settings do I need on my food processor?
Variable speeds allow you to control how much you process your food and give greater versatility. For example, a pulse option is good for foods that only need rough chopping, such as nuts. Dough kneading, meanwhile, should always be done on a low food processor setting so it’s stretched rather than spun around the bowl.
How much power should a food processor have?
Image credit: Russell Hobbs
Use a food processor’s wattage as a rough guide to its power. Remember that how a food processor is designed can have as much bearing on its performance. More watts won’t always mean it’s a better machine but anything over 650W should have enough muscle for most tasks.
Are food processors easy to clean?
Food processors might save on prep time but if they’re increasing washing-up duration by being awkward to clean, they’re not much help. Look for models where most or all parts can be popped in the dishwasher. Look out for crevices in the tools where food can become trapped. Some plastic parts and tools may be top rack-safe only, so check before you put them on a hot wash. See our guide on how to clean a blender or food processor for more guidance.
Are food processors noisy?
Food processors can be noisy – but some are more than others. Look for food processors with an induction motor for quieter processing. As a plus, induction motors also tend to be more reliable.
The post Best food processors 2021: 10 reviews for slicing, chopping, and more appeared first on Ideal Home.
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