Getting started

Which food processor best suits your style and the foods you prepare? Food processors are versatile machines that can chop, slice, shred, and purée many different foods. Mini-choppers are good for small jobs such as mincing garlic and chopping nuts.

Consider capacity

Food-processor capacity ranges from about 3 to 14 cups. (Those are manufacturers' figures; we've found that processors typically hold a cup or two more or less than claimed.) Choppers, which are designed expressly for small jobs, hold about 1 to 3 cups.

If you regularly cook for a crowd or like to whip up multiple batches of a recipe, you might appreciate the bigger, 11- to 14-cup units. But they tend to be more expensive and heavier than smaller versions and take up more counter space. A midsized model (about 7-cups) is likely fine for most tasks.

Note that even big food processors can handle small jobs such as chopping half an onion. But using a chopper makes cleanup easier.

Don't focus on speeds

Food processors typically have two settings: On/Off and Pulse, which allows you to run the machine in brief bursts for more precise processing control. Choppers typically have one or two pulse settings (High and Low). Those are really all the speeds you need. Some machines have a few extra speeds (a dough setting on some high-end processors, for example), but we haven't found that they perform much better.

Note feed-tube size

Some processors have wider feed tubes than others, which can save you the effort of having to cut potatoes, cucumbers, and other big items into smaller pieces.

Expect to pay more for kneading prowess and quiet operation

The models we tested that cost $55 or less strained and jumped while kneading dough. They also made quite a racket, where most of the higher-end models we tested were quiet. Choppers can be noisy but typically are used only for brief periods.

See also:

Blenders

Mixers

Toasters

Coffeemakers