The Best Food Processors in 2021 (And Why They Are Worth Buying!)

You don’t need the best food processors to cook, but you would definitely want one.

It hits even closer to home for us amateur cooks. People cook for different reasons; some cook to save money; others, to enjoy themselves. It’d definitely be much nicer if not incredibly helpful to somehow shorten a few tasks and save some time. Food processors are one appropriate response to that need.

In this article, you get to know more about what these processors can do, whether they’re worth buying, and how a consumer can choose the best food processors to bring home.

We also have reviews of several promising models that we happened upon during our research. You should take a look at them. They should be useful for future reference.

If you find this article helpful in any way, please drop a comment to let us know. We’d really appreciate that.

Why would I want a Food Processor?

The reason why so many people have a food processor is that the appliance helps make preparation tasks for food much simpler.

Today with new advancements in technology, a good unit with a strong motor and sharp blades can produce restaurant-quality results, from tomato slices to peanut butter, without requiring you to do anything other than inserting the food and pulsing the blade.

A food processor can help mix a dressing or dip right; it can help knead pie or pasta dough; it can grind meat and crush seeds, spices, etc.; it can shred cheese as swiftly as it shreds vegetables; some models can even whip cream and egg. And most importantly, it does all those things with a much shorter amount of time.

If you’ve already had a blender, you’d really enjoy the benefit of food processors. Saving loads on time, they can really make a difference in your daily kitchen routine.

What Size of Food Processors Should I get?

It depends on the workload you’re looking at and the functions you’re going to need that the sizes of the processors become relevant.

1. Large Food Processors

Large food processors refer to units with a large work bowl, usually from 12 to 16 cups. They come with the strongest motors and largest feed tubes compared to their smaller counterparts. The generous dimensions of the bowl and its details speed up the makings of dishes like big-portion salad or coleslaw by multiple folds.

The spacious container allows for a greater volume of food, which is especially helpful when you have to take your time with whatever is in the making. And with a wide chute, much time can be saved on trying to cut a piece of produce that fit the chute.

2. Medium Food Processors

Usually grouped from 7 to 11 cups of capacity, medium food processors are basically minimized large ones. They have all the functions of a typical large processor, just with a smaller work bowl and weaker motor.

If your daily cooking is mainly for one or two people, a medium-size unit should be a wonderful choice.

3. Small Food Processors/Mini Choppers

Small food processors are commonly known as mini choppers because of their main functions.

With a small work bowl— which is usually under 7 cups and has no feed chute— and a chopping blade, they can aid in simple prepping tasks like pureeing food, grinding nuts or dried fruits, cutting up garlic and onion, and sometimes kneading some dough if the need arises.

Because mini choppers can chop and mix at the same time and with great speed, making mayonnaise, vinaigrette, or mustard is especially easy with their help. With a good mini chopper, you can even make nut butter with minimum efforts.

Food Processor Buying Guide

In terms of features and specs, there are a few things worth keeping in mind when it comes to food processors:

1. Motor

As there are different sizes, the strength of the motor varies. The weakest that we’ve seen is 250 watts, and nothing up to this point has passed 1200 watts. The higher the power, the more decisive and consistent the cuts are.

Mini processors are for small jobs, so they typically don’t need more than 450 watts of power. From medium size up to large, you’ll have access to more precision features, which results in the need for more motor power.

Processors with the highest performance ratings are often found in the range of 720 watts (1 horsepower) to 1300 watts. With ample power, these stronger machines are capable and competent at more challenging tasks; they also offer you a broader collection of tools to exploit the motor’s full potential.

In addition, the quality of the motor is of great importance. Processing tough and sticky ingredients can be very challenging, and a poorly-made engine won’t be able to handle it well. That’s why it’s crucial to choose a reliable brand so as to reduce the chance of you bringing home a nuisance.

2. Blades & Discs

The main difference between a food processor and a blender is the specialized blades and discs for food prepping. These tools help cut produce into small pieces or pieces of specific shapes, or they may assist in the making of a dish.

The blades include a metal blade that is mainly for chopping up food and a plastic blade specifically for kneading dough in large amounts (more than 3 ½ cups). The design for the metal blade is different from brand to brand. Apart from the timeless “S” design, there are also the stacked blades from Ninja and the new diagonal cut.

Thanks to the extra coverage, the two newer designs are said to be better than the old one by many owners. However, others argue that they can’t really see the difference and that many top brands are still using the “S” design in their high-end models. So it may be just personal preference.

In terms of discs, there are two main types: the slicer, which resembles a normal cut of a knife, and the shredder, which mimics manual grating. The opening on the slicer decides the thickness of the slices, so unless you have an adjustable disc, you only have one size.

With the more expensive models, you’re likely getting several additional accessories. They may change the quality and shape of the slices, or they may introduce a whole new use to the machine.

Notes:

The blades and discs are hard and razor-sharp. Hold the blades by their hub and the discs by their dull edge or safe spots to avoid injuries.
If you don’t have a dishwasher, always wear gloves and put the discs, blades where you have full visuals when cleaning.

3. Safety

Most food processors, including those featured in our list, have a safety measure that forces users to use the machine with the lid or splash guard on.

Many companies integrate to the motor an activation trigger, which takes the bowl and its lid (and possibly the pusher, too) as safety keys. Others design the splash guard as a seat so that you’ll have to place it on before setting the motor.

Therefore, in the case where you’re somehow able to work the processor without the lid on, stop using and unplug the unit immediately, then contact the support line of the company for an appropriate solution.

4. Container

Food processors have dishwasher-safe containers that are also called work bowls. They range from a couple to 16 cups of capacity and often have measurement scales imprinted on their body.

Units that are larger than 7 cups up come with containers that have a feed chute. The feed chute works with the slicing and shredding discs, and it allows you to add in components during the making of a dish. Some models use the pusher of their feed chute as a safety key, as well, instead of just the lid.

From 7 cups down, work bowls don’t have a chute since their primary function is chopping food up— which spawns the names “food chopper” and “mini chopper.” But they do have nozzle holes that are quite convenient for the making of certain mixtures.

Reviews of the Best Food Processors in 2021

Those presented in this article are models that we find most worth-buying on the current market.

Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor: Best to Buy in 2021
Hamilton Beach 8-Cup Food Processor: Best Affordable Food Processor
Cuisinart 3-Cup Mini Food Processor: Best Small Food Processor
The Breville 16-Cup Food Processor: Best High-End Food Processor
Ninja Master Prep Blender/Food Processor: Best Values Food Processor
Elechomes Baby Food Processor: Best for Baby Food
Braun FP3020 12-Cup Food Processor: Best Attachment Combo

1. Cuisinart DFP-14BCNY 14-Cup Food Processor - Best to Buy in 2021

The Custom DFP-14BCNY from Cuisinart is seen as one of the best food processors for the money by many of its owners. With a large volume, an enduring motor, and reliable performance, this particular unit is a necessary mid-priced consideration.

The unit has been among the best-selling food processors for at least the last couple of years.

Cuisinart DFP 14 Cup Food Processor Review

Strong motor
Sturdy build
Safety feature
Reliable performance

Old design

Control

Instead of touchpads, pushbuttons, or rotating dials, this DFP-14BCNY has paddle control that can’t be mistaken with models from other brands. There are two switches; one is On, and the other one is Off/Pulse. The triggering of the switches feels solid, and the spring is highly responsive.

When you press the Off/Pulse paddle, it returns on release. But when you press the On paddle, it stays locked, and the machine will run on until you press on Off/Pulse, or until the lid or large pusher is removed, which is a safety feature.

When you start the machine and process through the chute, the motor will temporarily stop whenever you remove the large pusher to add something. When you put the pusher back in to help the food down, the motor will continue. Keep in mind that the smaller pusher is not part of the feature.

On a side note, although the motor also stops when you remove the lid, it’s well-advised to always turn the machine off before attempting to go inside the container.

Work Bowl

The work bowl is 14 cups large for dry ingredients. Its wet capacity is comparatively terrible due to the outdated design of the drive hub. The lid has a feed chute, and the chute takes a two-part pusher.

As mentioned earlier, the bowl, the lid, and the large pusher are part of the safety mechanism, where the machine can only operate when everything is in its designated positions.

To lock the lid onto the bowl and the bowl onto the base, rotate them counterclockwise until you hear a click. The pusher slides right into the chute. Just make sure that you align the back of the pusher with the groove in the chute; otherwise, it can’t go in.

The two-part pusher has a big and a small piece. The bigger piece— or the large pusher— fits the main chute and is used to push down large input, like bell peppers or cabbage.

The small piece goes into a smaller tube, instead, that the big pusher houses. This secondary chute is meant for long produce like cucumbers or carrots; to use it, you have to put the big piece in first.

At the bottom of the small pusher, there are two holes that let users add oil or other liquids during the making of, say, vinaigrette. The holes help moderate the input speed, as well.

Blade & Discs

The DFP-14BCNY comes with a stainless steel S blade for general uses: pureeing, chopping vegetables, kneading dough, and grinding. The cutting edges of the blade are serrated, which enhances the quality of the cuts at high speed. The S blade doesn’t require the feed chute to function.

Note: Remove the blade or hold it down before tilting the work bowl.

Consumers will also receive a slicing disc and a shredding disc. These will work with the help of the feed chute. The discs connect to a stem, and the assembly goes onto the motor hub. Though the connection has been reported to be confusing, it’s only so at first when the mechanics are still new.

These discs and blades are extremely sharp, and they can chop, slice, grind, or shred without much effort, especially when supported by a strong motor. But that also means you should be extra careful around them and follow the user’s instructions closely when you’re getting used to the unit.

Note: Never put on the attachments without the container properly in place.

Disassembling and Cleaning

There are quite some parts that make up a full-sized food processor: the motor, the discs and blades, the container, its lid, and its pushers. To release the container and the lid, one clockwise turn for each should do it. To remove the small and big pushers, simply pull them out of the chute.

The blade can be lifted up from the hub just as with the disc stem. When you want to detach the disc, press the release switch on the stem and turn it out of the seat on the disc.

Note: Always release the container from the base before touching the cutting attachments.

All the parts that (except for the motor) are dishwasher-friendly, like your typical kitchenware. But remember to soak all food-related parts right after every use to avoid hard-to-wash build-up in small corners.

Motor

The motor of the DFP-14BCNY is powerful and resilient. Bearing 720 watts, which is about 1 horsepower, the machine is fully capable of dealing with tough food, from seeds and sticks to meat and dough.

The unit doesn’t really mind heavy work, and it is one of the best machines on the market to be processing thick food— nut butter, for example. It still has limits, though, so watch the workload to avoid overloading.

In case of overloading, the unit will automatically stop running with the help of the thermostat and a breaker, and users are to leave the machine alone to cool down normally for 5 to 10 minutes. Keep in mind that every emergency-shutdown shortens the lifespan of the motor.

VERDICT

The Cuisinart Custom DFP-14BCNY is not the most advanced model, but it’s a well-tested one. It offers not only solid construction but also reliable performance. It’s a model worth keeping in mind when you’re looking for a large and functional food processor.

The motor is under a full 5-year warranty, and the unit is under a 3-year warranty.

1. Cuisinart DFP-14BCNY 14-Cup Food Processor - Best to Buy in 2021

The unit has been among the best-selling food processors for at least the last couple of years.

Strong motor
Sturdy build
Safety feature
Reliable performance

Old design

Control

On a side note, although the motor also stops when you remove the lid, it’s well-advised to always turn the machine off before attempting to go inside the container.

Work Bowl

As mentioned earlier, the bowl, the lid, and the large pusher are part of the safety mechanism, where the machine can only operate when everything is in its designated positions.

The two-part pusher has a big and a small piece. The bigger piece— or the large pusher— fits the main chute and is used to push down large input, like bell peppers or cabbage.

At the bottom of the small pusher, there are two holes that let users add oil or other liquids during the making of, say, vinaigrette. The holes help moderate the input speed, as well.

Blade & Discs

Note: Remove the blade or hold it down before tilting the work bowl.

Note: Never put on the attachments without the container properly in place.

Disassembling and Cleaning

The blade can be lifted up from the hub just as with the disc stem. When you want to detach the disc, press the release switch on the stem and turn it out of the seat on the disc.

Note: Always release the container from the base before touching the cutting attachments.

Motor

VERDICT

The motor is under a full 5-year warranty, and the unit is under a 3-year warranty.

Buy on Amazon | $179.95 Buy on Walmart

2. Hamilton Beach 70740 8-Cup Food Processor - Best Affordable Food Processor

The Hamilton Beach 70740 is one of the few cheap 8-cup food processors that have an acceptable performance. It’s arguably the best budget pick available.

Hamilton Beach 70740 8-Cup Food Processor Review

Affordable
Decent motor
Space-saving

Average at slicing

Control

Hamilton Beach gears this processor with a control knob. When rotating the knob to the left, you can access the speed settings. There are two, and they will keep the machine running on until you return the knob “0”. Rotate it to the right, and the machine will pulse.

The dial control is relatively responsive, and it does give the machine this vintage, mechanical analog vibe. Its usability compared to touchpads, pushbuttons, and paddle controls, however, remains a topic for debate.

Work Bowl

The work bowl is 8 cups of capacity, has one handle, and one lid with a feed tube that holds a pusher. The pusher has holes that drip liquids during the making of sauces or dips.

Slicing round vegetables or fruits with this 70740 is a challenge because the chute is quite small and frankly, not very well-designed. But that is expected from a model in this price range.

There is the 10-cup Hamilton Beach 70730 if you’re interested in more capacity. It’s basically the same only with a change in the ornamenting of the base and the addition of the bowl scraper.

Blade & Discs

The 8-cup Hamilton Beach has a stainless steel S blade and a reversible disc that can be used for slicing and shredding. You can tell which is which easily thanks to the markers on both sides.

Due to the double-sided design, the central hub of the disc is small and short, which sometimes makes it annoyingly difficult to maintain a grab with your fingers, especially when everything is wet.

The blade is a standard S-shaped chopper, used for cutting up and pureeing ingredients from soft to medium-hard texture.

Disassembling and Cleaning

The design is conventional. Twist and turn to undo the work bowl and its lid; the blades and discs can be picked up on top of the central hub.

The bowl, lid, blades, and discs are dishwasher-safe. Do refrain from high-temp cycles because the heat could damage the plastic. It’s best to clean the plastic components manually, and the cutting edges in the dishwasher.

Another thing, most of the components, except the motor, can fit inside the work bowl. The order goes like this: put the blade in first, flip the lid over so the tube can go inside the bowl, then put the disc on top.

Motor

The 450-watt motor of this unit is not terribly strong on the market, and it’s not a very enduring one either. It’s one of the reasons why this 70740 is so affordable.

You will have to think about the workload that you’re putting the machine under. If it overheats, the company advises a 5 minutes recess, even mid-session when it hasn’t overheated yet, if necessary.

The motor base of the Hamilton Beach is not built with quality materials. Several owners have remarked that its housing feels flimsy. This leads to a handful of complaints on how the machine is unexpectedly loud during certain processes.

VERDICT

Hamilton Beach 70740 is a cheap machine with fair performance. If your needs solely revolve around occasional uses, or you want a food processor with volume that chops and purees well, this should be a fitting choice.

The model is under a 1-year warranty.

Buy on Amazon | $49.99 Buy on Walmart

3. Cuisinart DLC-2ABC 3-Cup Food Processor - Best Small Food Processor

If you’ve set your mark on a machine that saves space and can assist in daily, light prep tasks, then the DLC-2ABC from Cuisinart might be the one. With a straightforward design and a sturdy build, it has everything a home cook wants in a handy mini chopper.

Cuisinart DLC-2ABC Mini Plus Food Processor Review

Balanced build
Compact
Safety function

Possibly noisy
Not up to grinding

Control

For control, the Cuisinart equips its DLC-2ABC with a pair of responsive touchpads. With little pressure needed on the pads for activation, oil from fingertips is less likely to stick, and if there were any, they would be easy to clean.

The unit has two operating modes: the chopping mode for soft ingredients like tomatoes, garlic, etc. and the grinding mode for those with harder textures such as nuts or dried fruits.

Work Bowl

The DLC-2ABC is a mini processor, which means its container is small and doesn’t have a feed chute. Instead, its lid features two drizzle holes that also help regulate the pace of the dripping. The bowl has a handle and can hold up to 3 cups of dry content.

Food processors from Cuisinart are all built with a safety feature that involves the container and its lid. Users can only get the unit to operate when both parts are securely locked into place.

Blades & Discs

The DLC-2ABC comes with a reversing S blade with the sharp edges for chopping and blunt ones on the backside for grinding tasks. Both functions can be triggered without removing the blade.

When you press on Chop, the blade will spin in one direction using the sharp edges to cut up ingredients. If you press Grind instead, the motor will spin in the opposite way and make use of the blunt edges to grind.

In reality, this Cuisinart is limited to grinding medium-hard, dry food only, and not for the likes of cinnamon sticks. Still, it gives good results with ingredients like roasted nuts or dried fruits.

Disassembling and Cleaning

The whole unit includes one motor, one S blade, one work cup, and one lid. The lid and the work cup lock and unlock with one simple counterclockwise rotation, and the blade can be removed by lifting.

Cleaning the parts will be effortless as all of them are dishwasher safe. It’s suggested to put the work bowl, lid, and blade assembly on the top rack. Plus, always be on extra alert when handling the blades if you’re washing them by hand.

Motor

Compared to other mini choppers, the Cuisinart DLC-2ABC carries a decent core with 250 watts of strength, or approximately ⅓ horsepower. The unit can handle most types of produce and cooked meat.

The efficiency of this model depends on the texture and load of ingredients that users want to process. It does overload and shut down automatically if overworked. To avoid such incidents, Cuisinart suggests never pushing the Mini-Prep more than 1 minute continuously.

VERDICT

The Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus model DLC-2ABC is a well-rounded little machine. With a quality case and motor, its owners will get their money’s worth back in no time.

Every mini food chopper from Cuisinart is under an 18-month warranty.

Buy on Amazon | $39.95 Buy on Walmart

4. Breville BFP800XL Food Processor - Best High-End Food Processor

Some home cooks appreciate the perks of versatility, speed, and precision, and they are willing to pay more for high-end features in a kitchen tool. The Breville Sous Chef BFP800XL is developed for such needs.

The Breville BFP800XL Food Processor Review

Strong motor
Timer
Safety feature
Quality build
Reliable performance

Expensive

Control

There are three press buttons, including Power/OFF, Start/Pause, and Pulse. To operate the machine, first you need to turn it on with the Power/OFF button, then it’s up to you to keep it running continuously with the Start/Pause or to pulse.

When the Start button flashes blue, the machine is pausing. You will also see it flashes if the large pusher or lid leaves its position, indicating that the safety feature is engaged.

The Breville also has a timer and an LCD. The display keeps track of the duration. When you start the motor, the timer will begin counting up (in seconds) until paused or stopped.

You can use the timer for the auto-off function. By pressing the Up and Down buttons next to the display, you may set the time length. Start the motor, and it will run until the timer runs out and will sound three beeps to let you know.

Work Bowl

The Breville BFP800XL Sous Chef Food Processor offers a 16-cup primary work bowl and a 2.5-cup secondary mini bowl.

The work bowl is also the key to the unit’s interlock safety features. Activation of the motor will only be possible when the work bowl, the lid, and the large pusher are securely in place. If one of those components is not, the motor will be temporarily deactivated.

To use the mini work bowl, you have to put it inside the large work bowl (and use the small S blade) because the safety feature requires the large bowl and lid in place.

Blades & Discs

As opposed to mid-priced models, BFP800XL Sous Chef Food Processor provides not only the standard slicing, shredding discs and S blade, but also additional discs, blades, and a storage box.

There are five discs in total: an adjustable slicer, a double-sided shredder, a julienner, a French-fry cutter, and a whisking disc.

The adjustable slicing disc has a knob at its hub. The knob allows users to modify the angle of the blade to produce 24 different thicknesses (up to 8 millimeters). The shredder works on both sides, thin shredding on one side and coarse shredding on the other.

As for the blades, there are two. The bigger one is for the default 16-cup bowl, and the smaller one is for the chopper bowl. If you want to knead bread dough, you can use the plastic beater for higher efficiency and safety.

Disassembling and Cleaning

The main operating parts include a motor base, a work bowl, blade or discs, and a lid with a feed chute. The blades can be placed in by simply putting them on the drive hub or removed by lifting them. The discs are basically the same: the spindle goes on the hub first, then the discs on top of it.

All the parts are dishwasher safe (top shelf), and the motor base should be cleaned with, for example, wet wipes. In case you need to clean the whole machine manually, Breville adds a utility cleaning tool that brushes and scrapes.

Motor

The motor of the Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro is a strong induction motor. At 1200 watts, you can imagine its capability in association with the 16-cup bowl. It’s also one of the most enduring motors for home food processors.

If the work is too straining, there’s still a rare chance that the motor will overload and go to standby mode (the display will flash the Overload icon in warning). Turn the machine off, remove the power cord, and let the unit cool for about 30 minutes. Later on, try working with smaller batches.

Important note: For safety reasons, the Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro is designed to cease all operations when the work bowl, lid, or large pusher is out of place. In such an event, immediately disconnect the power and contact Breville for support.

VERDICT

The Breville Sous Chef™ 16 Pro BFP800XL is admittedly an expensive purchase. But judging by its popularity and its positive reviews, it’s a highly promising investment.

The model is under a 1-year product warranty and a 25-year motor guarantee.

Buy on Amazon | $439.95 Buy on Walmart

5. Ninja QB1000 Blender/Food Processor - Best Values Food Processor

The Ninja QB1000 is a great option when you’re only looking for a budget food processor with good values. It doesn’t cost much yet offers two containers and more blades than usual.

Affordable
2-in-1 set
Decent motor
Easy to use

No slicing/shredding
Limited capacity

Control

The Ninja food processor doesn’t have a motor base but a motor pod that goes on top of the work bowl, instead. The pod features only one pulse pad in the middle of the case. You push the activate and at the same time, hold to stabilize the entire unit.

This model is one of the first processors to feature the top motor design. It’s not only intuitive but also optimized for space-saving. However, it doesn’t allow for continuous feeding. There’s no way to insert ingredients during operation, and that also means no disc attachments.

Work Bowl

One of the main reasons consumers pick this model up is its set of two containers. The set consists of one large pitcher and one chopper bowl, which let the Ninja Master Prep QB1000 work as a blender and mini chopper.

The pitcher is 6 cups large, and the mini bowl is 2 cups. Coming along with the two containers are two splash guards that act as the seat for the motor pod. You will also receive two fully-sealing lids for storage, one for each container.

Blades

With most food processors, the chopping blade has only two cutting edges, working the bottom half of the bowl. Ninja, instead, add more blades to the hub, developing their own 4-blade and 6-blade assemblies.

The Ninja multi-blade design increases the coverage of the blades up and down the work container. That leads to more contact with the content and helps produce evenly chopped pieces more consistently.

The 4-blade spindle, which is actually two 2-blade blocks stacked on top of one another, goes in the work bowl. The 6-blade, which is just one block, goes in the tall pitcher.

Disassembling and Cleaning

Assembling of the Ninja QB1000 is surprisingly simple, considering that the set has quite a few pieces: the container stands, the blades go inside, then the guard and the Master pod on top. Go the opposite order to take them apart.

The pod sits on the hub of blades and the guard without locking, but there are guiding grooves for the connection. Make sure that the motor is in the correct position before pressing the triggering pad, and never connect the pod with the blades outside the bowl and without the splash guard.

Note: Always remove the blades or hold down the shaft before pouring.

All parts that are in contact with food are dishwasher safe. The manufacturer recommends they all go on the top rack.

Motor

The motor of the Ninja Master Prep QB1000 is a decent one in spite of the unit’s low cost. At 450 watt (~⅔ horsepower), plus the exclusive multi-blade technology, the machine performs quite smoothly even on ingredients like ice or nuts.

However, the motor is not for heavy-duty, so don’t keep it running continuously for more than 15 seconds at a time.

There’s a protection circuit breaker in case overloading happens, but don’t rely on the breaker because overheating the motor ultimately cut short its life span. If it does shut down due to overheating, leave it to cool for at least 10 minutes before reuse.

The appliance should not run continuously for more than 15 seconds at a time. Otherwise, the thermal switch will likely shut the motor down. To reset, unplug the Master pod and let it cool for 10 minutes before reuse.

VERDICT

At a considerably low cost, the Ninja Master Prep QB1000 is an appealing buy. This blender/processor combo is currently one of the most favored models on the market for a budget alternative.

The model is under a 1-year warranty.

Buy on Amazon | $99.99 Buy on Walmart

6. Elechomes Baby Food Processor - Best for Baby Food

If you’re in need of a processor that can help with baby food, the Elechomes Baby Food Maker should be an excellent choice. The model is one of the best on the market in terms of sales and performance.

Timer
Double steaming capacity
Easy-to-clean water tank

Only for soft food

Control

The processor adopts both a press button and a dial knob for its controls. To pulse for a chunky texture, simply press and release the button; to keep it running continuously, you’ll have to hold down the button.

The dial, when turned, activates the steamer and its timer (up to 30 minutes). Of course, you’ll need to fill up the water tank before steaming your food. It’s recommended to use distilled water because tap water will likely leave mineral build-up.

Note: Each steaming session should be at least 3 minutes apart.

Work Bowl

The Elechomes has one work bowl that houses one removable mixing blade. The work bowl can hold up to 17 ounces of food and is made of FDA-approved, BPA-free, food-grade material. Keep in mind that it doesn’t work well with olive oil and the sorts.

The bowl is also part of the safety feature that requires both the container and the main lid to be locked in place before you can run the machine.

There are three attachments coming with the bowl beside the mixing blade and the cover lid. You’ll have one steam basket that holds the ingredients inside the bowl, one steam rack that adds to the total capacity for food steaming, and one lid for spill-proofing when you’re pureeing the content.

Disassembling and Cleaning

It’s pretty effortless to take the machine apart for when you want to clean it. The cover lid and the bowl are relatively easy to undo. All you have to do is turn release.

The removal of the blade is a bit more tricky but simple nonetheless. You only need to hold the blade by its hub, turn the bowl upside down, and loosen the blade holder from the underside.

You turn to unlock the nut, and there are markers indicating the direction of opening and closing, as well. Be careful not to lose the silicone washer.

All parts that work with food are dishwasher safe. Those include the bowl, the blade, and all of the attachments, except the body. The water reservoir has an open design where the inside is easy to reach and manually clean.

Motor

The motor is nothing special, but its 130 watts are strong enough to puree cooked vegetables or meat without much trouble. Raw or tough materials are not welcome, though, as this type of food processor is made for baby food only.

It’s not a very enduring motor, either, but that’s expected. The manual suggests that users should not use the machine to blend longer than 15 seconds at a time and always wait 10 seconds before the next blend.

VERDICT

The Baby Food Maker from Elechomes is a fair bargain. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s convenient, easy to use, and it gets the job done.

The model is under a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee.

Buy on Amazon | $439.95 Buy on Walmart

7. Braun FP3020 12-Cup Food Processor - Best Attachment Combo

The Braun FP3020 food processor offers abundant attachments to assist in various tasks. Owners get two work bowls— one large (default) and one small (chopper bowl) that comes with its own chopping blade— and tools for slicing, shredding, grating, kneading, whipping, and citrus juicing.

Good attachment set
Reportedly quiet
Safety feature
Variable speeds

No pusher safety
Instructions sometimes inaccurate

Control

There are two dials on the motor base; the green one is for the 15 variable speeds, and the white one is to activate the motor. You can keep it running continuously by turning the white dial to the right, and it will stay. It won’t stay when you turn left to pulse.

There is a total of 15 speed-settings, which adds to precision but may confuse inexperienced owners. We recommend testing out the options yourself and decide which speeds are most appropriate for which tools. The instructions in the manual for speed configurations can be inaccurate at times.

If you don’t have the time for trial and error, one way to go about it is to use medium speeds (from 5 to 10) for common uses like chopping, whipping, etc. With heavier undertakings like grinding or kneading dough, speed the motor up.

Work Bowl

The main work container that has a feed chute can hold up to 12 cups of dry ingredients but only 9 cups of liquid. There is a secondary chopper cup for smaller amounts (about 6.5 ounces) of food, and it has its own blade.

The bowl and the lid is part of the safety mechanism as per usual. The pusher is not part of it, as in you don’t need the pusher in place for unit to operate. But do remember to keep it in because content— nut or flour, for instance— may shoot out during some processes.

Note: the secondary cup goes inside the default bowl.

Blade & Discs

The Braun comes with a set of accessories that really boosts its overall values.

Aside from the typical chopping blades for the two bowls, there are the “discs” but with a twist in design. Instead of several discs, you get several bladed inserts that click onto a plastic insert carrier.

When put together, the assembly resembles a disc, and it works in the same way as with other processors. The inserts include a fine slicing, a fine shredding, a coarse shredding, and a grating piece.

Furthermore, there are a citrus press, a dough hook, and a whipping beater. The hook and the beater work rather well, whereas the citrus press, in reality, isn’t quite efficient with the motor. The attachment should work just fine by itself as a juicing tool, though.

The 9-piece package adds a coarse slicing and a French Fry insert.

Disassembling and Cleaning

Despite the numerous tools, it’s not complicated at all to disassemble the FP3020 for cleaning.

To take the lid off and/or remove the work container, you need only turn them out of the locked-in position. The blades kind of drop into the power hub and connect; they can be removed simply by lifting. As for the inserts, to take them out of the carrier, you’ll have to push from the underside.

All parts that are in contact with food are dishwasher-safe, while the chopper bowl is not.

Motor

The motor is 600 watts strong, which is one of the reasons why the model can handle so many different tasks. It does overload from time to time, so be careful there. If the circuit breaker has been triggered, leave the machine alone for 15 minutes before using it again.

The motor has been reported to be surprisingly quiet, which is true when the machine is on low speeds. For tasks that are more trying, it produces about the same sound level as other large food processors. Nevertheless, it’s pretty convenient to be able to choose between noise and power.

VERDICT

The FP3020 from Braun offers great values, from its freedom in speed settings to the versatility in its attachment combo. It's worth being in your top 3, to say the least.

The model is under a 1-year warranty.

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Top-rated Food Processors Comparison Chart

Model	Motor (watts)	Work bowl (cups)	Safety Lock	Warranty (years)
Cuisinart DFP-14BCNY (Editor's Choice)	720	14	Yes	3
Hamilton Beach 70740	450	8	Yes	1
Cuisinart DLC-2ABC	250	3	Yes	1.5
Breville BFP800XL	1200	16 + 2.5	Yes	1
Ninja QB1000 2-in-1	450	6 + 2	No	1
Elechomes Baby Food	130	2	Yes	30 (days)
Braun FP3020	600	12 + 7/8	Yes	1

What Are The Best Food Processor Brands?

There are a lot of companies that make food processors. Frankly, without decent research, one can easily lose their cool and mistakenly go for the wrong brand.

Therefore, in order to prevent that and to save you all some time, here are the most favorable companies in recent years.

Cuisinart

Talking about food processors, Cuisinart is usually the name that will come up sooner or later. Why? Because it is the oldest food processor brand in the US.

With experience and efforts, the quality of Cuisinart products has been tested over the years. There’s little doubt that the company produces mostly if not exclusively excellent machines.

Breville

Another top-tier manufacturer is Breville. Renown for their high-end products with technologies that capture the love of home cooks, the company logo is not a strange sight in kitchens.

Breville is a major global brand of home appliances. Targeting a very specific group of consumers, their collection of food processor consists only of sophisticated and expensive units, albeit very limited in the number of models.

Ninja

Like Cuisinart, Ninja ® is a company “born and raised” on the U.S soil. Carrying the pride of the nation, the company aims to dazzle the scene with innovative thinking in their products.

And similar to Breville, Ninja specializes in developing products for busy people with busy lives. Their features are often easy to use and assist multitasking.

Hamilton Beach

Hamilton Beach food processors are practically everywhere judging by how much — and how well — users have been reacting to them. They’re cheap, convenient and fairly efficient. There is not much more to ask from a budget-friendly brand.

The brand is not necessary untouched by negative feedback, but such is the way the company functions. They build machines for particular uses in a particular context, not for a universal purpose.