A food processor is an indispensable kitchen appliance, saving you time and effort on a wide range of tasks from chopping vegetables to kneading dough. Choosing the right food processor can feel overwhelming, but we’ve done the hard work for you. After rigorous testing of numerous models, we’ve identified the top Food Processors that stand out for their performance, ease of use, and versatility. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a home cooking enthusiast, our guide will help you find the perfect food processor to enhance your culinary creations.
Our Top Food Processor Picks
After extensive testing, we confidently recommend these food processors:
- Top Pick: Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Peel & Dice Food Processor – An all-around excellent performer with intuitive design and a plethora of attachments.
- Premium Choice: Breville BFP838BSS1BNA1 16-Cup Paradice Food Processor – Loaded with attachments for advanced food prep, offering unparalleled versatility.
- Reliable Favorite: Magimix 14-Cup Food Processor – A durable and efficient machine with a professional lineage, trusted for years.
- Budget-Friendly Champion: Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor – Powerful performance at a more accessible price point, perfect for everyday tasks.
- Best Small Size: Breville BFP660SIL Sous Chef 12-Cup Food Processor – All the power of our top pick in a slightly smaller, space-saving footprint.
- Even Smaller Option: Breville Paradice 9-Cup Food Processor – Compact yet capable, ideal for smaller kitchens without compromising performance.
- Blender Attachment Advantage: Vitamix 12-Cup Food Processor Attachment – Transforms your Vitamix blender into a food processor, a great option for Vitamix owners.
Why Invest in a Food Processor?
A food processor is more than just a kitchen gadget; it’s a versatile tool that can significantly streamline your cooking process. From basic chopping and slicing to more complex tasks like emulsifying sauces and kneading dough, a good food processor can handle it all with speed and efficiency. Imagine effortlessly creating perfectly uniform vegetable slices, finely grated cheese, or smooth and creamy dips in mere seconds.
However, food processors are substantial appliances, requiring both countertop and storage space. Therefore, it’s essential to choose a model that delivers exceptional performance and justifies its presence in your kitchen. To guide you in making the best decision, we’ve rigorously tested a range of food processors to identify the top performers that are truly worth the investment. Our recommendations are based on thorough testing and long-term use, ensuring you select a food processor that will be a reliable and valuable kitchen companion for years to come.
Detailed Reviews of the Best Food Processors
The Best Food Processor: Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Peel & Dice Food Processor
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Breville 16-Cup Sous Chef Peel & Dice Food Processor: Top pick for overall performance and user-friendly design.
What We Loved: The Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup stands out as our top pick due to its exceptional ease of use and impressive performance across all tests. The intuitive design features clear locking mechanisms for the bowl and lid, along with helpful measurement markings on the bowl itself. The digital display with a built-in timer adds extra convenience. Performance-wise, it excelled in chopping, effortlessly creating mirepoix in just 20 pulses. The adjustable slicing disc, offering 24 thickness settings, provides remarkable versatility for various slicing needs. We especially appreciated the safety feature of the slicing disc, which retracts the blade edge for safe storage.
Considerations: The included accessory storage caddy is quite large, which might be a concern for kitchens with limited storage space.
Key Features:
- Capacity: 16 cups
- Power: 1200 watts
- Included Attachments: Extensive set including S-blades (metal and mini), adjustable slicing disc, grating discs (fine and coarse), dough blade, julienne disc, dicing kit, French fry disc, peeling disc, whisking disc, spatula, cleaning brush, and accessory storage box.
- Warranty: 1-year limited warranty, 25-year motor warranty
- Care: Dishwasher-safe removable parts, wipe-clean base.
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Attaching the bowl of the Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Food Processor is designed for ease and speed.
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A variety of blades and discs come with the Breville Sous Chef, catering to diverse food processing needs.
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The Breville Sous Chef includes an extensive collection of accessories, expanding its functionality.
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Close-up view of the precision blades included with the Breville Sous Chef food processor.
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Removing blades from the Breville Sous Chef is straightforward and safe.
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Blades of the Breville Sous Chef are designed for easy handling and cleaning.
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Safe and simple blade removal process of the Breville Sous Chef food processor.
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Chopping vegetables is made easy and efficient with the Breville Sous Chef.
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User-friendly operation of the Breville Sous Chef food processor in action.
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Overhead view highlighting the sleek design of the Breville Sous Chef 16-Cup Food Processor.
The Best Splurge Food Processor: Breville BFP838BSS1BNA1 16-Cup Paradice Food Processor
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Breville Paradice 16-Cup Food Processor: Premium pick with extensive attachments for advanced culinary tasks.
What We Loved: The Breville Paradice 16-Cup Food Processor is a step up in terms of attachments and advanced features. While similar to the Sous Chef, the Paradice boasts twice the number of attachments, including multiple dicing blades, slicing discs, and standard blades. Notably, the Paradice allows for using disc attachments even with the mini bowl, enhancing its versatility. In our tests, it performed flawlessly, quickly making mirepoix in 30 pulses, emulsifying mayonnaise perfectly, and kneading pizza dough with ease. Like our top pick, it also features an adjustable slicing disc for customized slicing thickness.
Considerations: The sheer number of attachments translates to a significant storage footprint. The Paradice comes with two large plastic storage cases to house all the accessories, which may be cumbersome for some kitchens.
Key Features:
- Capacity: 16 cups
- Power: 1450 watts
- Included Attachments: Extensive set including 16-cup work bowl, 2 storage boxes, 3 dicing blades, 3 slicing discs, 3 blades, mini bowl, spatula, and cleaning brush.
- Warranty: 2-year limited warranty, 30-year motor warranty
- Care: Dishwasher-safe removable parts, wipe-clean base.
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Adding vegetables into the Breville Paradice food processor for efficient chopping.
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Pouring liquid ingredients into the Breville Paradice for sauce and puree preparation.
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Operating the Breville Paradice with its user-friendly digital control panel.
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Adding liquid through the feed chute of the Breville Paradice while processing.
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Assembling the Breville Paradice, known for its straightforward setup.
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Smoothly pureed food achieved with the powerful Breville Paradice food processor.
A Longtime Favorite: Magimix 14-Cup Food Processor
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Magimix 14-Cup Food Processor: A reliable and durable model, favored by professionals and home cooks alike.
What We Loved: The Magimix 14-Cup Food Processor has been a top recommendation for many years, and it continues to impress with its consistent performance and durability. Its powerful yet quiet induction motor handles even tough tasks like kneading pizza dough without strain. The wide feed tube accommodates whole fruits and vegetables, reducing prep time. The controls are simple and intuitive, featuring just three buttons. Magimix is the home version of Robot Coupe, a brand renowned for professional-grade food processors used in restaurant kitchens worldwide, highlighting its professional quality.
Considerations: The safety mechanism requiring precise bowl and lid locking, along with the double pusher alignment, can be a bit finicky at first. Clearer directional markings on the work bowl and motor base would improve the initial user experience.
Key Features:
- Capacity: 14 cups
- Power: 950 watts
- Included Attachments: Comprehensive set including 14-cup bowl, 12-cup insert bowl, 6-cup mini bowl, S-blades (metal and mini), slicing discs (2mm & 4mm), grating discs (2mm & 4mm), dough blade, blender ring, egg whisk, spatula, and accessory storage box.
- Warranty: 30-year motor warranty
- Care: Dishwasher-safe removable parts, wipe-clean base.
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Operating the Magimix 14-Cup Food Processor, a favorite for its reliability.
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Top-down view of the Magimix 14-Cup, showcasing its robust construction.
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Attachment blades and discs included with the Magimix 14-Cup Food Processor.
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Close-up of the precision-engineered blades of the Magimix 14-Cup.
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Loading vegetables into the Magimix 14-Cup for efficient food preparation.
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Chopping vegetables to perfection with the Magimix 14-Cup food processor.
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Kneading dough in the Magimix 14-Cup, demonstrating its power and stability.
The Best Budget Food Processor: Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor
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Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor: Top budget pick, offering excellent performance without breaking the bank.
What We Loved: The Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor proves that you don’t need to spend a fortune for quality performance. While it comes with fewer attachments compared to higher-end models (just two discs and an S-blade), it excels at core food processor tasks. The controls are incredibly simple, featuring just pulse and on/stop buttons, making it exceptionally user-friendly. As the most affordable induction motor model in our testing, it offers remarkable value for its price, handling slicing, grating, and dough kneading with ease.
Considerations: The feed chute is positioned opposite the user, requiring reaching across the machine to use it. Also, the pusher tends to fall out when the lid is turned over, which can be slightly inconvenient.
Key Features:
- Capacity: 14 cups
- Power: 720 watts
- Included Attachments: 14-cup work bowl, metal S-blade, slicing disc (4mm), grating disc (medium), and spatula.
- Warranty: 3-year limited warranty
- Care: Dishwasher-safe removable parts, wipe-clean base.
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Chopping vegetables effectively with the Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor.
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Overhead shot of the blade system inside the Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor.
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Adding parmesan cheese to the Cuisinart 14-Cup for grating.
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Pouring liquid into the Cuisinart 14-Cup for sauce and emulsion making.
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Operating the Cuisinart 14-Cup with its simple two-button control panel.
The Best Smaller Food Processor: Breville BFP660SIL Sous Chef 12-Cup Food Processor
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Breville Sous Chef 12-Cup Food Processor: Compact yet powerful, ideal for smaller kitchens.
What We Loved: The Breville Sous Chef 12-Cup Food Processor offers the same excellent design and build quality as its larger 16-cup counterpart but in a more compact size. It retains the adjustable slicing disc and powerful motor, ensuring it handles various tasks with ease. While it lacks the built-in timer and comes with fewer attachments than the 16-cup model, it remains a quiet, powerful, and well-priced option for those needing a slightly smaller food processor.
Considerations: In our mirepoix test, this model took slightly longer to achieve uniform chopping compared to our other top picks.
Key Features:
- Capacity: 12 cups
- Power: 1000 watts
- Included Attachments: 12-cup work bowl, metal S-blade, adjustable slicing disc, grating discs (fine and coarse), dough blade, spatula, and accessory storage tray.
- Warranty: 1-year limited warranty, 25-year motor warranty
- Care: Dishwasher-safe removable parts, wipe-clean base.
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Operating the Breville Sous Chef 12-Cup, ideal for everyday kitchen tasks.
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User-friendly controls on the Breville Sous Chef 12-Cup Food Processor.
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Blades included with the Breville Sous Chef 12-Cup Food Processor, designed for versatile use.
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Vegetables being processed in the Breville Sous Chef 12-Cup model.
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Creating smooth purees is a breeze with the Breville Sous Chef 12-Cup.
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Dough blade of the Breville Sous Chef 12-Cup, effective for kneading.
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Chopped food in the Breville Sous Chef 12-Cup, showing even processing.
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Slicing cheese with the Breville Sous Chef 12-Cup, achieving uniform slices.
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Easy cleanup is a feature of the Breville Sous Chef 12-Cup food processor.
The Best Even Smaller Food Processor: Breville Paradice 9-Cup Food Processor
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Breville Paradice 9-Cup Food Processor: Ultra-compact, yet delivers powerful performance for smaller kitchens.
What We Loved: For those with limited counter or storage space, the Breville Paradice 9-Cup Food Processor is an excellent choice. As the most compact model we tested, it still packs a punch, mirroring the ease of use of its larger Paradice siblings with simple on, pulse, and start/pause buttons. It includes a convenient storage caddy for its numerous attachments. Despite its smaller size, it efficiently minced mirepoix, sliced potatoes evenly, and even diced cucumbers perfectly with its namesake dicing function. Its 9-cup capacity is surprisingly generous, easily handling a double batch of mayonnaise.
Considerations: While powerful for its size, it struggled slightly with shredding mozzarella, and vibrated more noticeably when kneading pizza dough, requiring a steadying hand. It’s also a more expensive option considering its smaller capacity.
Key Features:
- Capacity: 9 cups
- Power: 625 watts
- Included Attachments: Reversible shredder, adjustable slicer (15 levels), dough blade, S-Blade, dicing gear box, dicing blade, dicing grid, and caddy.
- Warranty: 2-year limited warranty, 30-year motor warranty
- Care: Dishwasher-safe removable parts, wipe-clean base.
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Diced cucumbers prepared using the Breville Paradice 9-Cup Food Processor.
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Mirepoix finely chopped in the compact Breville Paradice 9-Cup Food Processor.
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Silky smooth mayonnaise emulsified in the Breville Paradice 9-Cup.
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Attachments included with the Breville Paradice 9-Cup Food Processor, offering diverse functions.
The Best Food Processor Attachment for a Blender: Vitamix 12-Cup Food Processor Attachment
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Vitamix 12-Cup Food Processor Attachment: Smart blender-to-food-processor conversion for Vitamix Ascent series owners.
What We Loved: The Vitamix 12-Cup Food Processor Attachment provides a clever way to add food processing capabilities to your existing Vitamix Ascent series blender. It’s remarkably intuitive to use; the blender automatically detects the attachment and adjusts settings accordingly. The lid snaps on securely, and it excelled in emulsifying mayonnaise and slicing potatoes. This attachment is a particularly appealing option for those who primarily use food processors for sauces and purees and already own a compatible Vitamix blender base.
Considerations: This attachment is only compatible with Vitamix Ascent series blenders. If you don’t already own one, purchasing both the attachment and a base unit becomes a significantly more expensive investment than a standalone food processor. We also noted it to be louder during operation compared to dedicated food processors.
Key Features:
- Capacity: 12 cups
- Power: 1400 watts (blender dependent)
- Included Attachments: Food processor attachment, self-detect base, multi-use blade, five discs, and disc case.
- Warranty: 3-year limited warranty
- Care: Dishwasher-safe bowl and attachment, wipe-clean base.
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Assembling the Vitamix 12-Cup Food Processor Attachment onto a Vitamix base.
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Blades and discs designed for the Vitamix 12-Cup Food Processor Attachment.
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Operating the Vitamix food processor attachment using the blender base controls.
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Adding liquids to the Vitamix attachment for sauces and dressings.
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Perfectly pureed food achieved with the Vitamix food processor attachment.
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Chopping vegetables using the Vitamix attachment for quick food prep.
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Adding flour to the Vitamix attachment for dough making and baking prep.
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Pouring dough prepared in the Vitamix food processor attachment into a baking pan.
Food Processor Testing Methodology
To identify the best food processors, we conducted a series of rigorous tests focusing on core functionalities and usability:
- Slicing Performance: Potatoes were sliced both thinly and thickly to assess the evenness and ease of slicing with each food processor’s slicing disc.
- Grating Efficiency: Mozzarella cheese was shredded to evaluate the grating disc’s performance and the evenness of shreds. We also assessed the effectiveness of the food processor’s tamper.
- Emulsification Test: Mayonnaise was made to test the emulsifying capabilities of each model, crucial for creamy sauces and dressings.
- Dough Kneading: Pizza dough was prepared to assess the food processor’s stability during kneading and its ability to bring dough together effectively.
- Chopping Mirepoix: Onions, carrots, and celery were pulsed to create mirepoix, timing the process and evaluating the uniformity of the chopped vegetables.
- Usability and Cleanup: Throughout testing, we evaluated the ease of assembly, operation, and cleaning, including attaching bowls and lids and hand-washing components after each test.
Key Learnings from Our Food Processor Tests
Understanding Food Processor Functionality
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Adding ingredients through the feed chute of a food processor while in operation.
A food processor consists of a motorized base that powers a central spindle within a work bowl. Interchangeable blades and discs attach to this spindle, and a locking mechanism secures the bowl to the base. A feed chute allows ingredients to be added while the machine is running, often with a pusher to guide food towards the blades or discs.
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Mirepoix samples chopped by different food processors, showing varying degrees of uniformity.
Functionally, food processors excel at slicing, grating, mincing, kneading, and pureeing. They replicate tasks achievable with manual tools like chef’s knives, box graters, and mortars and pestles, but at a significantly faster pace. For tasks like preparing mirepoix or sofrito, a food processor drastically reduces prep time, making it a valuable tool for efficient cooking.
Choosing the Right Food Processor Size
For most home cooks, a 14- or 16-cup food processor offers the ideal balance of capacity and manageability. This size is versatile enough to handle most recipes without being overly bulky for storage. If kitchen space is limited, a 12-cup model can be a suitable alternative. For truly compact kitchens, the 9-cup Breville Paradice provides a smaller footprint without sacrificing too much performance, although storage will still be a consideration.
User-Friendliness is Key
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Digital controls on Breville food processors enhance user experience and precision.
Ease of assembly and operation significantly impacts the overall user experience. Models with clear markings or arrows for aligning components, and front-facing feed chutes, are notably more convenient. Control panels vary from simple two-button designs to more advanced digital interfaces with timers. Ultimately, user preference dictates the ideal control panel, but intuitive design is crucial for a seamless cooking process.
Motor Wattage vs. Motor Type
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The Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor features a powerful and quiet induction motor.
While wattage indicates power consumption, it’s not a reliable indicator of food processor performance or quality. The type of motor is far more significant. Induction motors, prevalent in our top picks, utilize magnetic fields, resulting in quieter operation, less wear, and greater longevity. Focusing on motor type rather than solely wattage is a better indicator of a food processor’s long-term performance.
Essential Food Processor Accessories
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Extensive attachment set included with the Breville Paradice food processor.
A standard food processor typically includes an S-blade, slicing disc, and grating disc. Adjustable slicing blades offer added versatility, and plastic dough blades are effective for kneading dough. Models like the Breville Paradice come with a wealth of additional attachments, which can be useful for specialized tasks. Consider your cooking needs and storage capacity when evaluating the value of extra attachments.
Top-Performing Food Processor Characteristics
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Uniformly chopped vegetables, a hallmark of a high-quality food processor.
The best food processors excel across various tasks. They produce clean, even slices, handle dough kneading without excessive vibration, and chop mirepoix quickly and uniformly. Wide feed chutes that accommodate whole produce minimize pre-cutting, enhancing efficiency.
Key Criteria for Selecting a Food Processor
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Making mayonnaise in a food processor, demonstrating its emulsifying capability.
The ideal food processor combines ease of use with robust performance. Prioritize models with intuitive controls, easy-to-assemble components, powerful and quiet induction motors, and versatility across slicing, kneading, chopping, and shredding tasks. While cleaning food processors can be somewhat involved, the best models justify the effort with their exceptional performance and time-saving capabilities.
Food Processor FAQs
Can Food Processors Make Smoothies?
While technically possible, food processors are not optimized for smoothies. Blenders, with their vortex-creating design, are far superior for achieving truly smooth textures, especially with frozen fruits and fibrous greens.
Can Food Processors Grind Coffee Beans?
It’s not advisable to use a food processor for grinding coffee beans. Consistent, even grinding is crucial for good coffee, and food processors cannot achieve the necessary uniformity compared to burr grinders designed specifically for coffee.
Dishwasher-Safe Food Processor Parts?
Yes, typically, the removable parts of a food processor, including the bowl, lid, and attachments, are dishwasher-safe. However, always consult the manufacturer’s care instructions to confirm before dishwashing any components. The motor base should only be wiped down with a damp cloth.
Our Expertise in Food Processor Reviews
Our recommendations are based on rigorous testing and in-depth analysis conducted by experienced food experts:
- Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm, Associate Editorial Director at Serious Eats, brings over six years of equipment testing expertise from Serious Eats, America’s Test Kitchen, and Food52.
- Grace Kelly, Editor at Serious Eats, has been with the site since 2022 and previously worked at America’s Test Kitchen, contributing her culinary expertise to our testing process.
- We tested 21 food processors through extensive slicing, pulsing, and kneading tests to provide data-driven recommendations.
- Our food processor testing builds upon initial reviews conducted in 2017, ensuring our recommendations are time-tested and continuously updated.
(Reference Link to Immersion Blenders Article): We Tested 18 Immersion Blenders to Find the Best Ones for Silky Smooth Sauces and Soups