Product Reviews
News
Take Action
About Us
search
Become a Member
Donate
Search
All Products A-Z
    Become a Member
    Donate

    Welcome to Consumer Reports.

    We’re so glad to have you as a member. You now have access to benefits that can help you choose right, be safe and stay informed.
    Get Started
    Food processors & choppers
    Food Processor and Chopper Buying Guide
    Kitchen Magicians

    Whether you're a seasoned pro or just learning how to cook, food processors and choppers are incredibly helpful tools.

    Food processors are jacks of all trade that can chop, slice, shred, and purée many different ingredients–sometimes in great quantity–plus tackle heavier jobs like kneading dough. Mini-choppers are good for lighter work and smaller jobs–especially useful when you only need to prep a handful of basil or chop some nuts.

    You can spend as little as $40 for a basic chopper or ten times that amount for a tricked-out food processor. But paying top dollar doesn't guarantee top performance.

    Thought Process

    How Big is Big Enough?
    If you regularly cook for a crowd or like to prepare multiple batches of a recipe, you might appreciate a bigger, 11-to-16-cup processor. But they tend to cost more, sometimes weigh more, and hog counter space. A capacity of seven cups or so is fine for most tasks.

    Choppers make more sense for small jobs such as dicing half an onion or mincing a handful of parsley–plus they’re easier to clean.

    When Should You Pay More?
    Lower-priced models we've tested tend to deliver subpar performance in at least one processing task. They also made quite a racket, whereas most higher-end models we tested were quiet.

    What About Capacity?
    
Claimed food processor capacities typically range from about 7 to 16 cups, although actual volumes often vary by one or two cups. Choppers hold only about 1 to 5 cups. They can be noisy, but you probably won't be using them for long periods.

    Latest Food Processor and Chopper Ratings

    Chop Shop: The Major Types

    Full-sized processors are usually more versatile–able to chop and slice foods and knead dough. Mini-choppers look like little food processors, but they're for small jobs like chopping half a cup of nuts or a couple of shallots. Here are the types of food processors to consider.

    Photo of a food processor.

    Food Processors

    Most easily chop vegetables for soups or stews, slice salad fixings, and shred cheese for tacos. Some models can knead bread dough, just know that these models are generally the more expensive ones.

    Food Processor Ratings
    Photo of a food chopper.

    Food Choppers

    The difference between food processors and choppers: Power, capacity, and function. Smaller, lighter, and less expensive choppers make quick work of cutting up small batches of nuts and herbs that would get lost in a food processor's large bowl. Choppers typically don't have shredding and slicing blades.

    Food Chopper Ratings

    Slice of Life: Features to Consider

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

    Photo of speed settings on a food processor.

    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.

    Photo of a food processor shredding red cabbage.

    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.

    Photo: Jason Worrell
    Photo of a food processor kneading dough.

    Dough Blade

    A blunt blade that improves performance in kneading dough.

    Photo: Jason Worrell
    Photo of touchpad controls on a food processor.

    Touchpad Controls

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

    Photo of a food processor being used to make tomato sauce.

    Liquid "Max" Line

    A line or marking on the mixing bowl that shows how much liquid the processor can hold. This helps prevent overfilling, which can cause leaks.

    Photo: Jason Worrell
    Photo of a food processor storage case.

    Storage Case

    Some food processors include a storage case, though many do not, even at $200 or more.

    Photo of an apple slice in the feed tube of a food processor.

    Feed Tube

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

    Photo: Jason Worrell

    Brands That Matter

    Plugs by celebrity chefs have helped to make food processors the fastest-growing small kitchen appliance. But celebrity cachet doesn't guarantee a place at the top of our tests. Nor is more power or higher price a sure bet. Some fancy models we tested actually made more work than they saved.

    Black+Decker Breville Cuisinart DeLonghi Hamilton Beach Kenmore KitchenAid Oster Other Brands
    This is a major brand that offers models in the low-to-mid price range, and processors with capacity ranging from 2 to 10 cups. Available at department stores, big-box retailers, and online. Prices range from about $20 to $150.
    A premium brand with high-end and mid-priced models. Available in specialty and department stores.
    This is a mid-range to premium brand that offers models with capacity ranging from 4 to 20 cups. Some models also function as blenders. Sold in department, specialty, and appliance stores, and online. Prices range from $30 to $800.
    This is a premium brand. Sold through department and specialty stores, and online retailers. Price is about $400.
    This brand offers low-to-mid-priced units, and models with capacity ranging from 6 and 14 cups. Available through department, appliance, and big box stores, and online retailers. Prices range from $35 to $100.
    This brand offers low to mid-priced models. Sold at Sears and Kmart stores and websites. Price range is $75 to $200.
    This is a major brand within the category that offers premium products and models with various capacities. Some models come in various colors. Sold in department, specialty, appliance, and big-box stores and online. Prices range from $130 to $700.
    This brand offers low-to-mid-priced units, and models with various capacities. Available through department and appliance stores and big-box and online retailers. Prices range from $25 to $200.
    Bosch is another brand of food processor and chopper on the market today, although we don't currently have any Bosch food processors or choppers in our Ratings.
    Shopping links are provided by eBay Commerce Network and Amazon, which makes it easy to find the right product from a variety of online retailers. Clicking any of the links will take you to the retailer's website to shop for this product. Please note that Consumer Reports collects fees from both eBay Commerce Network and Amazon for referring users. We use 100% of these fees to fund our testing programs.

    More From Consumer Reports

    Cuisinart Recalls a Record 8 Million Food Processors
    Cuisinart Food Processor Blade Replacement Delayed
    Best Blenders for Frozen Drinks
    Should You Buy a Stovetop or Electric Pressure Cooker?