Features

Standard equipment includes a clear plastic mixing bowl and lid, an S-shaped metal chopping blade (and sometimes a blunt blade for kneading dough), and a plastic food pusher to safely prod food through the feed tube.

Capacity

Bowl capacities range from about 3 to 14 cups (dry), with most models holding 6 to 11 cups. (Mini-choppers hold 1 to 3 cups.) For processing smaller quantities, some models come with a mini-bowl that fits inside the main container. One of our tested models offered three bowls, with 15-, 11- and 5-cup capacities.

Speeds

Food processors typically have two settings: On/Off and Pulse. The latter setting runs the machine in brief bursts for more precise control. Choppers typically have one or two pulse settings (high and low). Those are all the speeds you really need. Some machines have a few extra speeds (a dough setting on some high-end processors, for example), but they don't necessarily work any better.

Feed tube

A wide feed tube saves you the trouble of cutting up potatoes, cucumbers, and other large items.

Multifunction accessories

A shredding and slicing disk is standard on full-sized processors. Some models come with a juicer attachment or interchangeable blades to handle a variety of jobs.

Dough blade

A blunt blade that improves performance in kneading dough.

Touchpad controls

Now a common feature, touchpads are easy to wipe clean.

See also:

Blenders

Mixers

Toasters

Coffeemakers