Our recommendations are made independently through Research & Testing. We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links.
KitchenAid Food Processor Review – The Best Mini Chopper
The KitchenAid 3.5-cup food processor has been the best mini chopper for the last couple of years, offering quality in specs and performance.
Food processors can now be seen as a standard appliance in kitchens these days. They help simplify prepping tasks from chopping and mincing to pureeing, saving precious time for both amateur and professional cooks.
Today’s processor is a mini chopper from KitchenAid.
Mini choppers are small food processors that focus specifically on simple tasks using the chopping blade or, depending on the models, the dough blade. They don’t have a feed chute like larger models, and there is no other attachment that they could use to further their functions.
On the market, there are positively hundreds of food choppers from different brands and different price ranges. But the Kitchenaid Food Processor model KFC3516 manages to rise above with its outstanding performance and reasonable pricing.
After we take a closer look at KitchenAid as an appliance brand and get to know it a bit better, we will be examining the values of the model in question to really see what has made the model such a success.
KitchenAid Kitchen Appliance
KitchenAid is a brand recognized globally in the industry of kitchen appliances. It possesses many product lines from major appliances like ovens to smaller cookware. Some say it’s arguably the strongest, most credible manufacturers in the medium-price range of the market.
The brand was founded in 1919 by Hobart Corporation to bring the countertop standing mixing machine to the average household, and it was the one that put KitchenAid on the map. Since then, it has had various successful products in different categories, one of which is the food processor.
If you know about processors, you know that units from KitchenAid are not always the best performing. However, they’ve been among the top 10 of the market for at least three years and still sitting tight, and that speaks volumes.
Though effectively one century old, KitchenAid has only been in the market of food processors for only two decades or so. The company is unseasoned, true, but the quality of it put out is reliable.
KitchenAid 3.5-Cup Food Processor Review
The KitchenAid KFC3516 is a mini chopper with regular specs. Its practicality in design and performance, however, is too good to ignore. It has been continuingly one of the best-selling food processors on the market.
- Reliable performance
- Smart design
- Compact build
- Affordable
- Multiple colors
- Practically 3 cups
- Limited liquid volume
More than a Bowl
The machine has a work bowl that is 3.5 cups large. With its size, handle, and pouring spout, people sometimes refer to it as “a cup.” There is an oil reservoir on top of the lid that has a drizzle hole. It lets you add oil at a moderate pace in the making of dressings or sauces, supporting the incorporation process.
In addition, the lid acts as a safety key and the trigger. To operate the machine, you will need both the bowl and the lid locked in place. The triggering pad is located on top of the handle and meant to work with your thumb.
By involving the lid into the activation mechanics, the design emphasizes the importance of a cover and decreases the likelihood of accidents. The pad can be removed to clean, but do be gentle to protect the seats.
Fair Specs
At its price, the model offers an appealing bargain.
Apart from the work bowl, you will also get an enduring 240-watt motor with two speeds: Chop and Puree (Puree is faster). The unit has one chopping blade, and it locks onto the hub so that it won’t fall out when you’re pouring the content.
Thanks to the balanced combination in specifications, the model provides impressive results almost every time. That is one of the biggest reasons why this food processor is such a hit.
Other Conveniences
The KFC3516 is built to be compact, even for an entry-level unit. It needs very little space to work and store. The cord can be wrapped neatly into a compartment at the base of the machine, as well. All food-related parts— the bowl, the lid, and the blade— are dishwasher safe.
Another selling point of this KitchenAid food chopper is its color choices available. There are 18 in total, ranging from silver and matte black to empire red and tangerine.
Minor Complaints
There are a few possible concerns to keep in mind, though their importance may rely on personal preferences.
The first is the practical volume of the bowl. Several owners have pointed out how the work bowl is only 3 cups, according to the instructions in the manual. The second is the old motor hub design that may lead to leakage if the amount of the emulsions is too large. The recommended volume for liquids is only 2.5 cups.
The model is under a 1-year warranty.
Conclusion
The KitchenAid food processor model KFC3516 should be a fine addition to any kitchen. With an affordable tag and exciting perks, it’s not surprising that the model is still one of the best mini choppers available.
Authors
Luna Regina is an accomplished writer and author who dedicates her career to empowering home cooks and making cooking effortless for everyone. She is the founder of HealthyKitchen101.com and HealthyRecipes101.com, where she works with her team to develop easy, nutritious recipes and help aspiring cooks choose the right kitchen appliances.
