Recent updates
March 2025: I have updated this guide to include our recent test results of the Breville Paradice and Magimix 4200XL food processors. After speaking to readers, I also refined our testing criteria, adding mayonnaise and pastry tests to our process.
In my hometown of London, you can walk into any professional kitchen and hear the word 'Magimix' used to describe a food processor. It’s the brand I use at home to dice onions and make pastry in seconds. I know chefs who’ve had their Magimix machines for over 20 years – they’re built to last.
But after moving into the American kitchen scene, I quickly learned that the more affordable Cuisinart reigns supreme. Peer into the kitchens of TV chefs like Ina Garten and Martha Stewart, and you'll see Cuisinart right on the counter (Martha herself famously quipped that she'd like to put her critics in one, which tells you something about its power).
With the help of my expert team of product testers, we’ve put the best food processor brands to the test – and we picked the Magimix as the best choice for keen cooks, as it's the most powerful and versatile model out there. We also evaluated newer machines from Ninja and Nutribullet, KitchenAid’s small, cordless models, and even cheaper attachments that can transform your trusty mixer or blender into the best food processor. These are the top picks from our tests.
Quick List
After hours of testing and research, here are the top picks. If one piques your interest, you can find more details further down the page.
This food processor is a staple in professional kitchens. It has three different-sized bowls for making pastry, dough, sauces – or anything you need. It's the best choice for keen cooks; many have owned theirs for 20 years.
Small but mighty, KitchenAid's cordless model is under $100. You can use it anywhere – even outside at the grill. We love it for breadcrumbs, pesto, and quick whipped cream.
A vintage design for the iconic Cuisinart. It's not as powerful as a Magimix, but it chopped, sliced and blitzed to perfection in our tests – and it looks good doing it.
We think this is a great food processor for the average home cooks. It's a medium size, powerful enough, easy to use, and very lightweight. A smart investment – since you can use the base with juicing and blending attachments, too.
If you can't decide between a blender and a food processor, choose this. The immensely powerful motor can handle almost every single kitchen task.
It sounds niche, but a lot of people love salad and want to dice vegetables in large batches. The Breville Paradice 16 makes this much quicker and easier. However, it's wildly expensive and takes up a lot of space.
Best food processors 2025
Best food processor overall
The Magimix 14-Cup Food Processor is a top choice for serious home cooks and professionals. I used this model in cooking school for pastry, effortlessly cutting butter into flour and blending shortcrust tart ingredients in seconds. With a dough blade designed to mix gently without overworking, it ensures a perfectly flaky texture for baked goods.
Made by Robot-Coupe, the French company behind industrial-grade food processors, the Magimix is built for durability. It boasts a powerful yet quiet 950-watt motor, making it the most robust option on this list. Its stainless steel Sabatier blades provide precise and consistent chopping, slicing, and shredding, making it ideal for batch cooking and meal prep. In the test kitchen, I used it for everything from grating cheese to mixing hummus and slicing vegetables for ratatouille. It also features three different bowl sizes, allowing for flexibility in kitchen tasks – whether you’re chopping a small amount of herbs or preparing large batches of ingredients. Every feature and attachment is user-friendly and easy to clean, thanks to the dishwasher-safe attachments.
One drawback is that it doesn't have a dicing function. If dicing is essential, consider the Breville Paradice 16, which comes with a dicing kit for perfectly cubed ingredients. However, at $700, it’s a pricey alternative, so make sure you’ll use the feature enough to justify the cost.
The other pain points I noticed during testing were its height, weight, and premium price. However, this powerhouse is built to last. There's a 30-year warranty on the motor and I know chefs who have had theirs for over 20 years. My verdict is that this a long-term investment in your kitchen.
My Magimix 4200XL review has more details
Best small
When our tester Camryn put the KitchenAid Cordless 5 Cup Food Chopper through its paces, it truly converted her to cordless food processing. 'Suddenly I could make sauces and dips while standing outside with the grill, and move around the kitchen with complete freedom,' she says. 'It's small, lightweight, and a super helpful appliances.'
Camryn used this five-cup food processor for blitzing up onions, carrots, tomato sauce, guacamole, and even to make a delicious aioli using the mayonnaise attachment. It impressed her at every turn. 'It delivers strong processing power that can handle most tasks, and includes an awesome whisk attachment, as well as an oil drizzle basin that will come in handy for recipes like pesto or hummus,' she says, 'though it doesn’t do as good a job creating uniform pieces as larger food processors.'
Camryn loved its ease of use and cleaning: you turn it on by simply twisting the lid into place and pressing the perfectly thumb-sized groove at the top (though you need to unscrew and reattach the lid to add new ingredients), and the cup is dishwasher-safe. Of course, she points out that you will need to remember to recharge it, but the battery lasted a long time during testing and she anticipates needing to recharge every month, at most. Plus, the size suits couples of individuals, but it's obviously not big enough for meal-prepping or cooking for a crowd and it doesn't offer dough hooks or graters. If that's your bag, you should look at the more versatile Magimix which comes with small, medium and large bowls for a wider range of culinary tasks.
Our KitchenAid Cordless 5 Cup Food Chopper review has more details
Best design
Apart from the stylish, vintage design, what sets the Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor apart I hear you ask? Firstly, the power. It tackled just about everything our tester, Camryn, threw its way with ease: 'The pesto I made was evenly chopped, and there was no need to go in and scrape any un-mixed ingredients into the sauce; my energy balls came out very well mixed, and I found that it was easy to add and remove the blade because the bowl was so large,' she says.
While it doesn't come with mini and medium bowls like the Magimix above, the large 14-cup bowl is fantastic for families. Camryn says: 'I can see this appliance being useful for someone who frequently does big-batch cooking. If you regularly double or triple the size of recipes to accommodate a large family or frequent hosting, the extra-large size of this appliance may be worth the splurge,' says Camryn.
For those who want a statement design piece as well as a workhorse in the kitchen, look no further. It's outfitted with a slicing disc, shredding disc, and chopping/dough blade, and you can buy other shredding and slicing discs as well as a whisk attachment separately.
It is heavy and fairly bulky, so think twice about buying it if you'll need to transfer it from cabinet to countertop regularly. Many casual cooks will prefer the more user-friendly, compact and lightweight Cuisinart Core for that reason. But the iconic design of this 50th Anniversary edition looks so good, you'll probably want to display it all year round anyway.
Our Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor review has more details
Best value
The Cuisinart Core Custom 10-Cup Food Processor is actually quite unique. It’s part of the brand’s new Core Custom Collection, which is compatible with other attachments besides just the food processor work bowl. The brand currently offers a blender jar, juice extractor and dicing accessory (sold separately) – which opens up a world of possibilities with just one appliance. It's excellent value.
As a food processor, it's up there with the very best. In the test kitchen, we agreed that it was lightweight but felt secure, with a bowl that fully seals to prevent any messes while mixing wetter ingredients. It's not too big and not too small, offering just the right capacity for the average user.
It performed well on everyday tasks. We diced carrots, guacamole, made energy balls and even used it to blend chickpeas to make homemade falafels. The controls are simple – you can either mix on low or high, or pulse. However, if you want to perfect pastry, you'll prefer the Magimix above, since it comes with dough attachments.
One of our favorite things about this food processor is that everything can be stored inside the main mixing bowl. That includes the blade (which comes with its own protective cover) and the reversible shredding and slicing discs. It won't take over your kitchen with sprawling attachments, blades, and lids. Plus, all the removable parts are all dishwasher-safe. The only tricky part is choosing from the range of colors when you buy.
Our Cuisinart Core Custom 10-Cup Food Processor review has more details
Best food processor blender combo
If you're looking for a multi-functional appliance, you've found the one. The Ninja comes with a 72 oz blender pitcher, an 8-cup food processor bowl, and a 1400W motor which is up there with the most powerful on this list.
First, let's quickly talk about the blender tests. Our kitchen expert, Millie, made some creamy smoothies that rivaled the best blenders we've ever tested. The only flaw was some seeds behind in our berry smoothie test – but frankly, we have very high standards. It was also impressive across soups, frozen cocktails, and ice cones.
As a food processor, Millie labeled this 'faultless'. She tested everything in it, asking the Ninja to chop zucchini, celery, and carrots and grate cheese. Millie says: 'Every ingredient was evenly blitzed using the double-layered blades. I thought that the Auto-IQ settings were excellently timed with differing strengths and intermediate pulsing. My only complaint was that it's on the noisy side.'
In terms of cleaning, all removable attachments (the lids and blending cups to the blades and slicing disc), can go through the dishwasher. If you plan on using it on a regular basis, Mille reports that is also easy enough to clean by hand.
But before you invest in this fantastic kit, it's worth evaluating your kitchen space. The large attachments need some spacious storage cupboards, especially because the lids only lock into place when the attachments are on your base, so there are lots of components to account for. Just remember, this is two appliances in one, so you're probably saving space overall.
Our Ninja Professional Plus Kitchen System with Auto-IQ review has more details
Best for diced vegetables
The Breville Paradice 16 boasts an impressive 16-cup capacity, making it suitable for large families, and people with spacious kitchens who regularly cook in bulk. You could dice salad for an entire soccer team, or make a whole table of fruit pies for Thanksgiving with this thing. The Breville food processor handles large quantities with ease, slicing, dicing, and shredding ingredients in minutes. The inclusion of a mini bowl also allows for smaller batch processing, making it a versatile tool for both everyday use and big events.
With a 1450-watt motor, the Paradice 16 is incredibly powerful. It can chop potatoes, blitz chickpeas, and bind dough. But, its biggest selling point is the special dicing kit, which features three dicing grids (small, medium, and large) and a dicing distributor to push your veggies through. It promises to turn your ingredients into consistent, perfect little squares.
Our kitchen expert, Camryn, tested it for months in her Rhode Island homestead and she was impressed. However, she warns: 'It is enormous; the accessories come in two shoe box-sized containers. While the extensive attachments do add versatility, I found some accessories work better than others. Harder foods got a little stuck in the dicing attachment, and I found the setup confusing at first, even though all the components are color-coded.'
While the system might be intimidating, Camryn found the clean-up to be straightforward. She says, 'Most components are dishwasher-safe, including the blades, discs, and food pushers. However, the brand does recommend handwashing the bowls and lid to prolong their lifespan, but that is easy enough.'
Another downside is that the Paradice 16 is eye-wateringly expensive. But the dicing functionality, the enormous capacity and solid performance could justify the high price – especially if you need to chop a lot of ingredients in a hurry. However, for those who don’t require the full dicing kit, you'll want to look at the Breville Sous Chef 16. It offers the same powerful base unit at a lower price, making it a simpler, more budget-friendly alternative.
Read more in our full Breville 16 Cup Paradice Review.
The ones that just missed the list
When we tested this, our experts were impressed with the consistent results across different functions. But it's not a dicing specialist like the Breville 16 and it certainly doesn't beat out the Cuisinart or Magimix in terms of power or value for money.
This is surprisingly great for a processor that costs under $100. I wasn't keen on the plastic-y materials and lack or precision, but for a cheap purchase, it does the job. However, I'd be more inclined to buy a KitchenAid chopper in the sales.
If you already have a Vitamix Ascent or Venturist blender, you can add this handy attachment and get blitzing right away. It's a cinch, but an expensive choice if you don't already have the required blender.
How to choose the best food processor for you
Choosing the right food processor depends on how you'll use it, as different models excel at different jobs. Here are a few questions I recommend asking yourself before investing.
What do you want to make in your food processor?
If you mainly need to make small dips, breadcrumbs, or chopped herbs, a small chopper with minimal attachments will do the job perfectly. However, if you want to knead dough, make nut butters, or dice vegetables into uniform cubes, you'll need a powerful model with a larger bowl and specialized attachments. If you want to process on the go, outside at the grill for example, you'll want to look at battery-operated models, like the KitchenAid cordless.
How much food do you want to prepare?
3–5 cup food processors are a good match for individuals or couples who want to make small portions, like pesto or chopped herbs. Medium 6–10 cup capacities will suit families of four to five, who prep moderate amounts of food. The largest, 14–16 cup bowls are best for batch cooking, especially if you're chopping vegetables for meal prep or making dinner for six to eight people.
How much space do you have?
Storage space is key. If you have a petite kitchen, a small model may be a better fit. Whereas those with more storage can opt for a larger, more versatile processor. For example, the Breville Paradice 16 cup is a great option for serious cooks, it comes with two boxes of attachments – not ideal for small kitchens.
If you're low on storage space, you might want to go for a stylish option that you can display on a shelf. For example, the Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor has a timeless design. Or, the KitchenAid Mini Chopper is compact enough to tuck away in a cabinet, but I also think it’s cute enough to leave out without overwhelming your space.
How we test these food processors
Our food processors have been thoroughly tested in our test kitchen and at home, to make sure they are useful for real home cooks. Having trained at culinary school, I stay up-to-date on the latest technology by consulting with my chef colleagues and other industry experts, so we can bring you the best food processor recommendations.
As well as hands-on testing, we also research customer reviews and bear them in mind when we're ranking the products in our hot list.
When testing the best food processors we made sure to use every attachment on offer, meaning we will often slice, chop, grate, spiralize, and blend. These are the core tests that we run on each appliance:
- Hummus: A food processor should achieve a smooth, velvety hummus out of raw chickpeas, garlic, olive oil, and tahini – without the need for excessive scraping.
- Chopped onions, carrots and celery: We check for consistent and finely chopped vegetables without turning them into mush. We test multiple onions, then we try a singular shallot to see how well the processor handles small and large quantities
- Grating cheese and vegetables: We test with both carrots and cheese to see if the grating disc delivers clean, uniform shreds without clogging or jamming. If it's effective, this can be such a time-saver in the kitchen.
- Pastry: Food processors can save so much time for bakers. We now test shortcrust and scone dough, if the model has that all-important dough blade. We're looking for speed and efficacy, so the dough is evenly mixed and not overworked.
- Mayonnaise: Finally, we test the emulsifying abilities of food processors with a classic homemade mayonnaise.
If the food processor brand has special extra attachments, like dicing kits, juicers, or spiralizers, we always make sure to try those out too and report back on whether they are gimmicks or actually useful.
Our testing team like to work with a mixture of personal and brand-supplied recipes. A lot of brands include recipes with their products, which can be a great way of getting to know a food processor, but it's also important that the machine will work with our own recipes in daily life. As part of this process, we try to test the food processors for a few weeks or months in our own kitchens so we can assess the versatility over time (if the brand allows it).
Finally, we cover all the boring bits, like cleaning, storage and maintenance. This allows us to draw a conclusion on whether the food processor is worth the investment or if it's just too faffy. At the end of the day, these are expensive purchases, so they need to provide good value for money.
For more insight into our hands-on review process, refer to our Homes & Gardens review guidelines.
Meet the team
Lydia is the Kitchen Appliances Editor for Homes & Gardens, testing everything from mixers and juicers to air fryers and frying pans. Lydia trained in cookery at Leiths School of Food & Wine and was previously Recipe Editor for Mindful Chef. She’s also worked for healthy food brands, like Deliciously Ella. Lydia is professionally trained, but she tests all products in her home kitchen, making sure they're perfect for real home cooks.
Millie Fender is the Reviews Editor on the Homes & Gardens Ecommerce team. Millie specializes in reviewing cooking appliances, and has built up a deep knowledge of food processors, mixers and blenders in particular. Millie loves to bake, so she will take any excuse to review stand mixers and other baking essentials. All of Millie's reviews are conducted at home, meaning she uses these products in her own kitchen, the way they're designed to be used.
Camryn Rabideau is a product reviewer who has been testing small kitchen appliances (as well as other home goods) for several years. She’s tested everything from toasters to oil infusion machines, and as an avid baker, she loves trying out any gadgets that promise to make her creations more delicious or easier to bake, especially food processors. Camryn does her product testing from her small homestead in beautiful Rhode Island.
Food processor FAQs
What can you use a food processor for?
For me, the best part about a food processor is that you can make healthier, homemade versions of ultra-processed or packaged store-bought foods. For example, you can grate cheese without the added binding chemicals, chop tomatoes without the extra sugar or metallic taste from cans, and prepare hummus or mayonnaise free from preservatives.
If you enjoy cooking from scratch, a food processor can help you make your own meatballs, patties, or falafels with ease. Of course, the most well-known function is chopping onions, mincing garlic, and shredding carrots or cabbage - but you can also turn your hand to dips, like pesto, salsas, hummus,
But a large food processor with attachments can also help you create desserts, like brioche, sponge cake, whipped cream, pastry crusts, sliced fruit pies, fruit purees, and energy balls.
That’s just scratching the surface, depending on the food processor you choose, there are tons of possibilities.
What size food processor is best?
Our advice is to never buy something your kitchen can't accommodate. Yes, it's tempting to buy the largest and most impressive food processor out there, but if it won't fit onto crowded counters or in kitchen cupboards, you'll grow to resent it very quickly.
The motor base is often the biggest culprit when it comes to space consumption. High-powered models like Magimix and Cuisinart take up more room, but they deliver on performance and capacity, making them worth the trade-off for serious cooks or large households.
When choosing the right cup capacity, consider your household size and cooking habits:
- 3–5 cups – a good size for individuals or couples who prep small portions, like dips, dressings, or chopped nuts.
- 6–9 cups – ideal for small families, who want to prepare sauces, shredded cheese or small portions of vegetables.
- 10–14 cups – a great fit for most families, handling meal prep, slicing vegetables, binding dough and mixing batters to feed up to six people with ease.
- 16 cups – the largest and best option for batch cooking, big families, or those who entertain often, allowing you to prep large quantities of food in one go.
Not all food processors are bulky, though. KitchenAid models in our guide have a small footprint and a budget-friendly price tag, making them great choices for compact kitchens. If space is at a premium but you still want a processor that packs a punch, these models strike a great balance between size, power, and affordability.
Food processor vs blender: what's the difference?
If you've ever tried to make a smoothie in a food processor or chop veggies in a blender, you'll know they're very different machines. Because food processors have flatter bowls they're best suited to chopping dry ingredients, whereas the vertical design of a blender's pitcher means you'll have perfectly smooth drinks in seconds.
If you're trying to choose between a blender versus a food processor, there's always the option of buying a model that can do both. We have a whole buying guide dedicated to the best food processor blender combos.
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