Food processors, make food preparation easy and faster, home cooks can easily process recipes from scratch and prepare complex foods in a short time.
A food processor in your kitchen is indispensable because of the multitude of tasks that it can perform ranging from making nut butters and pesto, to grinding meat, finely chopping vegetable salads, making healthy snacks such as the inner goddess chocolate tuffles, and chopping nuts among others. The unit is a versatile kitchen equipment as illustrated above and can be used to quickly prepare meals for many people.
In essence is that the energy that you use to chop, cut, and mix food can be channeled to doing other jobs as the food processor handles the tasks for you. It is also the perfect unit that you can use to try out new recipes, whether you are making soups, dressings, salads, or ice cream. To facilitate the above most food processors come equipped with different types of blades that you can alternate depending on what you are preparing. The common types of blades are the slicing/ shredding discs or the chopping/mixing blades.
Given the benefits of food processors, we have compiled a list of the best food processors for home cooks, check below.
Best Food Processor for Home Cooks – Comparison Table
Best Food Processor for Home Cooks | Capacity | Wattage $ Speed | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Oster FPSTFP1355 2-Speed 10-Cup Food Processor | 10 Cup | 500 watts 2 Speed | |
Cuisinart FP-13DGM Elemental 13 Cup Food Processor | 13 Cup | 550 watts | |
Cuisinart DLC-2009CHBMY Prep 9 9-Cup Food Processor | 9 Cup | 600 watts | |
Hamilton Beach Food Processor & Vegetable Chopper | 8 Cup | 450watts 2 speed + Pulse control | |
Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System | 8 Cup | 1500 watt base |
Best Food Processor for Home Cooks – Comparison overviews
Oster FPSTFP1355 2-Speed 10-Cup Food Processor
For your kitchen counter, the Oster 2 speed food processor comes in a perfect combination of a colorless jar and a black base, colors that can complement a wide variety of kitchen décor. Operating the unit is as simple as pressing the four buttons at the front of the base for the relevant function. At the top part of the processor, there is a wide mouth chute designed to fit large food spices such as full onions. And unlike the blender where you need to stop blending before adding in more food, with the Oster processor you can continuously feed in vegetables and spices through the chute as you process.
The unit offers home cooks up to two speeds thus users have complete control over the foods that they want to process. If you need to finely process your nuts then the 2nd speed will suffice but if you just need to chop then the first speed will do the job. The Oster food processor offers up to 500 watts of motor, which means that you can carry out both light and heavy tasks.
Some of the heavy tasks that home cooks are set to benefit from by using the Oster food processor are kneading and shredding. Individuals who love to bake can now begin making unique pastry recipes, we all agree that hand kneading is tedious but with the Oster food processor, you can now make perfect doughs for your pizzas and croissants.
You can also use the unit to slice different types of foods such as cheese, vegetables, and even fruits, to which end it has incorporated slicer blades on the stainless steel disc. The processor can also help you with your shredding and chopping duties. The unit occupies quite a small footprint on your counter and weighs a mere 7.09 pounds meaning that moving it around the kitchen will be fairly easy.
Pros
- Equipped with a 10 Cup capacity bowl
- Has incorporated a double blade
- Sports a powerful 500 watts motor
- Features a reversible slicing/shredding disc
Cons
- The bowl is brittle and breaks easily
- The shredder plate wobbles
Cuisinart FP-13DGM Elemental 13 Cup Food Processor
Coming in at number two is the Cuisinart elemental 13 cup food processor that has been conveniently made with BPA-free materials, meaning that home cooks are free to prepare meals for small kids and invalids using the processor. Among its best features is the accessory storage case that offers safe and secure storage when the processor is not in use.
The motor base offers up to 550 watts perfect for making both light and heavy recipes. Cuisinart processor is perfect for making meals for a large family given the incorporation of a large 13 cup bowl, not to forget the 4 cups small inner nested work bowl. The mouth feed is decently wide and to make the food processing job easier, you are provided with three differently sized pushers, large, small, and medium.
And while other units will offer varied food processing speeds, the Cuisinart food processor offers various functions that you can use to get different types of foods and recipes done in a short time. The incorporated electronic touch control pads allow home cooks to use the high, low, and pulse button for food processing. Among the buttons is the off button, whose location ensures that your foods are not over-processed.
The incorporated blades are made of stainless steel material and can be used to chop and mix, and for enhanced functionality, the blades feature a patented blade lock system. Essentially, you will get a dough blade, a small and large S blade.
Pros
- The processor’s simple design is easy to clean
- Made with the durable stainless steel material
- The user manual contains important troubleshooting steps
- Comes with an accessory storage case
Cons
- Dices a limited number of soft vegetables
- Not convenient for the long term
Cuisinart DLC-2009CHBMY Prep 9 9-Cup Food Processor
The Cuisinart 9 cup food processor is the ultimate multi-tasker which will allow the home cooks to carry out up to 6 different operations, ranging from chopping, shredding, kneading, slicing, pureeing, and emulsifying. Among the processor’s best features is the wide mouth feed tube that allows home cooks to add whole foods without necessarily cutting them into smaller pieces.
The 9 cup capacity is perfect for medium-sized families, it is, however, weighty, weighing about 14.5 pounds but despite the weight, the unit occupies a small space in your kitchen counter. Even better is that the combination of a colorless cup, a black handle, and a metallic grey bottom will no doubt enhance your overall kitchen décor.
The heavy-duty base features a high-capacity motor offering up to 600 watts, perfect for homemade pastry recipes, you can also use it to process meat, nut butters and easily crush nuts into powder. Additionally, the processor features a slicing and reversible shredding disc that easily powers through food, and for enhanced functionality, you have been provided with a powerful stainless steel blade.
Operating the processor is a breeze, to which end you have been provided with three easy-to-use touchpad controls for turning the unit on or off, while the pulse button is used to control food processing so that you don’t under/ over process your recipes. Upon purchase, the unit comes with a new chopping blade, a spatula, a recipe book, a detachable stem, and a slicer disc.
Pros
- Offers up to 600 watts
- Features an extra-large feed tube
- The pulse control offers precise processing
- Can be used with different types of meals
Cons
- Has a high price tag
- Assembly and use is hard
Hamilton Beach Food Processor & Vegetable Chopper
The one advantage of owning the Hamilton Beach food processor and vegetable chopper is that it is small enough to fit in any cabinet and large enough to carry out various cooking tasks. The unit features a stainless steel S-blade that can be used to chop and puree food, home cooks also get a reversible disc that they can use for slicing and shredding, while the large chute allows for easy feeding of whole foods into the processor.
The Hamilton Beach food processor offers only two speeds, in addition to the pulse power and which gives the home cooks power and control over the foods that they are preparing. The black, décor compatible base features a powerful 450 watts motor which allows home cooks to process a wide variety of foods. Some parts of the food processor can be cleaned in a dishwasher and this goes for the bowl, blades, and lids.
Instead of the touchpads or buttons, the Hamilton food processor features a traditional dial, and which we must say is quite easy to use. The dial can be customized to offer three different functions and which are the pulse and the 1st and 2nd speeds. Most parts of the food processor are BPA-free meaning that you can prepare foods for kids and invalids, cleaning the processor is also pretty easy because most of the parts are dishwasher safe. The parts that you can clean in a dishwasher are the bowl lid and the blades.
Pros
- Assembly and use are a breeze
- Works perfectly and powerfully on different recipes
- The processor parts are BPA free
- Features a user-friendly dial
Cons
- The food processor is extremely loud
- Home cooks struggle with getting uniform slicing
Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System
The Ninja mega kitchen system is a perfect unit for home cooks that love to explore with both dry, wet, and frozen recipes. So instead of investing in individual units to use in making delicious recipes, just invest in the Ninja’s mega kitchen system that comes with an extra-large 72oz pitcher, an extra-large 8 cup processor bowl, and two Nutri Ninja cups that can be used to prepare smoothies and shakes on the go.
The incorporated food processor bowl has incorporated 2 dedicated blades which will afford the home cooks evenly chopped foods. And even better is that it can make up to 2lbs of dough in as little as 30 seconds. Another feature that we are sure will interest the home cooks is the XL blending pitcher that can be used to crush ice into snow to make frozen drinks among other frozen fruits recipes.
The to-go cups are perfect for pulverizing fruits and vegetables to make nutritious smoothies and shakes in the morning or evening, to close it up just twist on the lid and you are good to go. Most food processors have motor power ranging from 500 to 1000, but with the Mega kitchen system, home cooks have been furnished with up to 1500 motor power. And that is the reason why you are not limited to the types of recipes that you can create with the kitchen system, be it the dips made from freshly chopped vegetables or pastries that feature evenly mixed ingredients to make the perfect pizza or cookies.
Apart from the 1500 watt base, home cooks have also been provided with up to 4 dedicated blending speeds, relinquishing power and control to the hands of the operator. And if you are not into searching for recipes on YouTube, you will get a handy recipe book with chef-designed recipes, home cooks also get to explore new unique flavors and cuisines. Most parts of the kitchen system are dishwasher safe thus clean up after making tasty recipes is a breeze.
Pros
- Comes equipped with functional accessories
- Features a Powerful motor for frozen recipes
- The powerful base blends and processes foods
- Features the dishwasher safe parts
Cons
- The kitchen system is very loud
- The handle accumulates food particles
Buying guide for the Best Food Processor for Home Cooks
The idea behind investing in a food processor is to save time and make unique and delicious chef-quality recipes. For the above to be possible, you must ensure that you invest in a reliable and functional food processor, below are some of the features that you will be looking out for.
Functions
A good food processor comes equipped with separate blades and disk attachments. The attachments can then be alternated with regard to the type of food that you are processing. It is because of this reason that you must ensure your food processor comes equipped with separate attachments to afford a wide variety of functionalities.
Bowl capacity
An 8 cup food processor is perfect for medium-sized families but you can always go bigger with regards to your household or if you want one for commercial use. And the advantage is that you can get up to a 14 cup food processor.
Wattage
Apart from bowl capacity another important feature that you should look at is the wattage of the processor you want to purchase. More wattage means that the processor can easily accomplish the tougher jobs but a lower wattage can only be used for basic cutting jobs.
Blades
Different types of blades mean that the food processor remains functional. So, what you will be looking out for are a grinding blade, chopping, and pureeing blade. Note-worthy is the quality of the blade material, some of the best glades are made of stainless steel material and are therefore durable and highly functional.
BPA-free and Dishwasher safe parts
A BPA-free food processor offers much-needed peace of mind, it can be used to prepare food for everyone in your home including the small kids and invalids. After a tiresome day of preparing your favorite dishes, you don’t want to struggle cleaning your food processor and that is why you might want to consider purchasing food processors that have dishwasher safe parts.
Functionality
Most food processors work like blenders, they overheat and produce a plastic-like smell. Well, that should not be happening with a good quality food processor, a good unit should work for extended periods without overheating or producing a burnt plastic smell.
Body construction
Not so many like food processor bowls made of plastic especially the ones that are not BPA free. Well, there are options and you could get a durable, easy to clean food processor that is made of glass, such as the Hamilton Beach Stack and Press Food Processor. The latter is easy to clean, BPA-free doesn’t retain stains, and is durable.
Still on construction, be mindful of the food processor base, as some of them are pretty small and could become wobbly when being operated at high speeds. A large base enhances stability during use and you probably won’t have to hold on to it when processing food.
FAQ’s
Can I process hot ingredients in a food processor?
While you can process hot ingredients in a food processor, you shouldn’t. Hot foods and liquids should be left to cool down before processing.
What is the purpose of the pulse function in my food processor?
The pulse function is specifically used when you need short bursts of power, home cooks are at liberty to control how long it runs.
Is there a difference between a food processor and a kitchen machine?
Yes, there is a big difference between the two, most kitchen machines are used to specifically mix dough but the one reviewed in this article comes with other important attachments that make it versatile.
Conclusion
When it comes to purchasing food processors, you will get what you pay for, meaning if you want a more versatile, BPA-free unit then you will have to put your hand dip into your pocket. The simple food processors used for light jobs are not expensive, thus we do believe that you will find a unit that suffices for your kitchen needs in the above review.
