French chefs swear by this powerful food processor – and I can see why

The mighty Magimix. This was actually the first processor ever invented in 1963, and over 62 years later, it is still the gold standard for power, reliability, and durability. While Magimix is not a household name in the U.S., in Europe, it’s synonymous with fast, efficient chopping and slicing. They are built by French pioneers, Robot-Coupe, who supply industrial-level food processors to professional kitchens across the world. So, you can rest assured that this brand is worth its salt in the food industry.

The Magimix 4200XL (also known as the Magimix 14-cup Food Processor in the US) stands out as one of the best food processors for home cooks and professionals. I’ve been borrowing my mom’s 10-year-old model for ages, so the brand kindly loaned me a fresh model, so I could put it through the rigorous Homes & Gardens testing process. Cue the chopping, slicing, dicing, blitzing and blending – here's my professional review of everything you need to know before making this mighty purchase.

Specs

First impressions

The Magimix 4200 XL doesn’t just arrive in your kitchen – it enters with a certain savoir-faire. It's solid, sturdy, and a little heavy to lift out of the box (at least for me, but I desperately need to go to the gym). However hefty it might be, it's clear from the outset this is a powerful piece of equipment that's built to last.

The Magimix food processor comes with three different-sized bowls (a 6-cup, 12-cup, and 14-cup ), giving you plenty of options whether you’re chopping a small batch of herbs or blitzing through a pack of onions. You also get two metal blades (one for the small bowl and one for the large), a plastic dough blade for all your baking needs, two grating discs (2mm and 4mm) and two slicing discs (2mm and 4mm), and an egg whisk. The extras don’t stop there: a triple pusher and extra-large feed tube, and the BlenderMix® attachment for smoothies and cake batters. Also included in the box is a colorful recipe book, with photo instructions, tips and tricks to get help you navigate this array of attachments.

The accessories arrive in a box, which you'll have to account for storing somewhere, but it does look smart and the attachments stack together neatly. The design of the machine is equally neat, with simple, clean lines and unfussy controls. I couldn't wait to start testing.

Prepping performance

I tested the Magimix Food Processor in my kitchen, including chopping, slicing, blending, and binding pastry. The only attachment I didn't have time to try was the egg whisk.

1. Chopped onions and carrots

Most of my favorite meals have humble beginnings: chopped onions, carrots, celery and garlic. It takes time to prep those vegetables by hand, but the Magimix promises to speed things up.

After I had assembled the bowl and the blade, I tossed in an enormous onion and pulled the handle shut. I pressed the auto, and within 5 seconds, the onion was finely chopped into nothing. If anything, it was a too rigorous and seconds away from becoming an onion pulp. I made a mental note to use the pulse function next time.

I decided to practice that straight away, adding two large carrots through the chute. The Magimix pulsed them into tiny chunks in seconds. If there’s one thing I love, it’s efficiency – and this machine certainly doesn’t waste time. I used the minced vegetables for a bolognese, which came together easily without a chopping board in sight.

2. Grated Cheese

Grating cheese is a task that can often turn into a messy affair – with strands flying all over the table. And if you're grating enough for a crowd, you'll know it can become tedious. The Magimix comes in handy for big-batch grating.

It was easy to attach the slicer, then I popped a block of cheddar into the chute, and in a flash, I had finely grated cheese. I also tested the larger grater size, which created coarser shreds – ideal for topping a chili or French onion soup.

3. Sliced courgette

Next, I sliced a courgette. In under 2 seconds, I had a bowlful of rounds. A few slices were a little thinner than others, but overall, the consistency was good throughout. I think I might have more precision with my knife, but for quick slices in a flash – this was a job well done. The speed is perfect for anyone who wants to make quick healthy meals. Think of all the time you coud save, slicing vegetables for a ratatouille or even homemade potato chips.

4. Making hummus

Making hummus in the Magimix was the highlight of this test day. I followed a recipe from Magimix's website, which surprised me by how little liquid it required. When I'm making hummus in my blender, I have to add lots of oil and aquafaba to get things moving. I was keen to see how the food processor would handle all those dense chickpeas, with only a teaspoon or two of oil.

I set the machine to Auto and after three minutes, the chickpeas had disappeared into the silkiest, smoothest hummus – all thanks to the incredible blade power. It was far tastier than any blender hummus I've made, since none of the flavor was diluted with excess liquid. The garlic and lemon were punchy and delicious, just as they should be.

Also, I realize I haven't told you how quiet it is yet – I measured 81 decibels for this hummus test, which is impressive. I later realized that this model is QuietMark certified.

5. Blending a banana smoothie

For a quick snack in between my tests, I decided to try the food processor on a smoothie. I wasn't sure if the Magimix could handle ice or frozen fruit – it isn't the norm for food processors and the recipe book didn't provide any guidance. So, I blended a soft banana, some yogurt, almond milk, flax seeds, and cinnamon with the BlendSense accessory.

The Magimix made the task quick and easy, turning everything into a creamy, smooth blend in less than a minute. There was one tiny chunk of banana left behind, but overall, it did a great job. It was a little to pour accurately, since there's no spout like a blender pitcher. However, if this doesn't bother you and you're ok with having fresh fruit smoothies rather than frozen, you could use the Magimix to replace your blender. Seriously, it can cover pretty much every single culinary task.

6. Emulsifying mayonnaise

I gave mayonnaise a go next. I loved that the tamper also doubles as a measuring cup. However, once my main ingredients were in the bowl, I struggled a bit. I found that the Magimix’s height made it a little tricky for me to add the oil gradually. I had to stand on my tip toes and I struggled to have control over the pour. I ended up with a runny mayo (which I did manage to salvage, turning it into hollandaise sauce, by gently warming it up with a bit of melted butter).

I guess that since I'm 5 feet 4 inches tall and on the small side, it's not really the machine's fault. But it's something to bear in mind when you're dealing with delicate emulsions and sauces.

7. Making dough for scones

Finally, I made scones – a classic English treat, but one that requires a delicate touch. I was intrigued to see if the Magimix's power would overwork the dough, or if it would be able to create a light, fluffy texture.

I pulsed the flour, baking powder, and salt together, then added the cubed butter and sugar. Within 7 seconds, I had pastry breadcrumbs, but I noticed a small amount of unmixed flour stuck to the bottom edges of the bowl. I had to remove the bowl and give it a quick mix by hand. I was cautious about overworking the dough at this point. But after another round of quick pulses, a sticky dough came together, which I could easily lift out the bowl and shape into my scones.

The result was light, fluffy, and delicious. Definitely, the quickest and easiest batch I’ve ever made. Although, I'd offer a word of caution on the recipe book. I have the feeling it has been translated from French and it's not always the most cohesive. It's great for getting used to the functions, but you should rely on your cookbooks for getting the best results.

Ease of use

The Magimix 4200XL is very easy to use. The bowl locks into place with a satisfying click, the lid twists on with a simple anticlockwise turn, and the chute slots into the top – you can't start to process without locking in this triple safety system, which is reassuring.

Once you've set up, there are three buttons to choose from (Stop, Pulse, and Auto). The Auto function is amazing. It automatically adjusts the power to suit your ingredients. Even with tough root vegetables, I never worried about the appliance struggling, faltering, moving around the table, or getting to unbearable noise levels. It automatically took care of things for me, without batting an eyelid.

You might want to use the instructions booklet to guide you at first, as some ingredients require a more gentle pulse rather than a continuous blitz, but you'll get used to that in no time.

Cleaning, maintenance & storage

Cleaning the Magimix is straightforward but not as effortless as, say, a simple blender cup. Luckily, all the removable parts are dishwasher-safe. If you're handwashing, avoid harsh detergents and abrasive sponges to keep the quality of the blades and cups. Some crevices require a bit of attention, but overall, it’s manageable.

For example, I found the plastic chute tricky to handwash after grating cheese, as a few tiny lumps had lodged themselves into hard-to-reach places. However, with a powerful blast of water and a bit of elbow grease, the residue cleared. The blades are wonderfully resistant to food residue, so you don’t need to scrub them hard, which is good because they are extremely sharp and you need to be careful.

In terms of storage, the machine is fairly chunky, so you’ll need some cupboard space to store it. Also, be mindful of the height. I personally found it too heavy to lift from a tall shelf or low drawer. And don’t forget to find space for the attachment box! It's around the same size as a shoebox.

What do customer reviews say?

They're generally very happy. Many customer reviews on Williams Sonoma say they've had their models for 10-15 years. One said: 'The Magimix is a workhorse, operates extremely well and is a great investment. If ours ever dies, we'll purchase another for sure.'

Another explained why they prefer this brand to the Cuisinart model: 'Got this 14 cup Magimix to replace my 12-cup, 25-year-old Cuisinart workhorse. Love the power! Part of my decision to purchase this brand, rather than another Cuisinart, is the fact that it is made in France (not China) and the Robot-Coupe brand has been used in the food service industry for a while.'

However, some people weren't so keen about the plastic handle. That same reviewer says: 'In terms of longevity, I'm concerned with the lack of heft to the plastic handle on the bowl – it just feels like it might have issues at some point. And, the feeder chamber doesn't slide on/off as smoothly as my Cuisinart.'

Somebody did notice a crack in the handle after it was packed away in a removal truck for a house move, and left a one star review for this reason. It's worth noting, there are replacement parts available. Another customer encourages going to the Magimix Certified Replacement Parts site to order a new part: 'We have had our Magimix from [Williams Sonoma] for over 15 years and it still works great. Our Magimix has gone through 4 moves with us. We use it frequently, have once replaced the bowl and are just now replacing the bowl cover because of cracks from heavy use. A new part is approx $50 but a good new food processor is at least several hundred dollars.'

How does it compare?

At 14 cups, this is a family-sized food processor that can handle up to 1kg of vegetables in the main bowl. Magimix says this size will suit up to six people. There is a larger 16-cup model available, called the Magimix 5200XL, available at Amazon, which can prep food for up to eight people, or knead 2 loaves of bread in one go. This will set you back another $100, but I suppose it's worth it if you need to blitz big portions or bake a lot of bread and pastry.

If you specifically need to dice those larger portions, you might prefer the Breville Paradice 16 (the link goes to our review). This is a 16-cup food processor and it comes with a unique dicing kit that can create perfect cubes of cucumber, tofu, and more, for your salads. However, it retails at $700 which is pretty extortionate for a food processor.

Of course, we have to mention the Magimix’s main rival – the Cuisinart – America’s iconic food processor. The 14-cup Cuisinart is the closest match to the Magimix I tested, offering the same capacity, straightforward controls, and a sturdy base. However, the Magimix edges ahead with over 200 extra watts of power and a versatile three-bowl system for different kitchen tasks (whereas the Cuisinart comes with just one). Personally, I’d pick the Magimix every time. I appreciate that it’s made in France with those renowned Sabatier blades, unlike the Cuisinart, which is manufactured in China. That said, I have to give credit where it’s due – I do prefer the Cuisinart’s design. It has a sleek, timeless aesthetic, and I’m a particular fan of the Cuisinart 14-cup 50th Anniversary retro edition, available at Williams-Sonoma. If style is a consideration and you don't have space to store the appliance away, you will prefer the Cuisinart.

Should you buy it?

Without a doubt, this is a fantastic five-star appliance. Magimix food processors are high-quality, professional-level machines. The Sabatier blades get a clean, perfect cut and the wide range of attachments and bowls can help you master pretty much every single kitchen task. It's powerful, quiet, and the motor is guaranteed for an incredible 30 years. The only reason not to go for this model is if you need something smaller or more stylish.

You can find more shopping guidance in my guide to the best food processors, where I have listed the best small options, the most stylish designs, and even some budget-friendly options for comparison.