Kristine blog – How to choose the best food processor. All the food processor reviews, guide, and top pick. Food processor reviews of KitchenAid, Cuisinart, Hamilton Beach and more.
Stainless-steel mixing/chopping blade and reversible slicer/shredder disc
In-bowl blade storage; dishwasher-safe bowl, lid, and blades for quick cleanup
Measures approximately 14 by 10 by 18 inches; 1-year limited warranty
This great machine can sum up with few points :
The good: Powerful, Affordable
The bad: too bad, wild gap between the bottom of the chute and the blade – might not slice the small food properly.
User Feedback:
Great machine for super price! The Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Food Processor is wonderful. We are raw foodists and use this machine at least twice a day. It is easy to use, pretty quiet, doesn’t walk all over the counter because of suction cup feet, easy to clean. The large mouth makes it so easy to just about anything in the processor, too.
This is a very hardy machine and does a super job. It is a tall machine, so if your cabinets won’t adjust it may be a problem. – K. Campbell
I’ve used my food processor for about 8 months now and have had absolutely no problems with it at all. It’s quick, powerful, and dishwasher safe. Sometimes it seems a little too big for smaller jobs (like chopping half an onion or some herbs), and it doesn’t fit on the counter under my cabinets because it’s too tall. But I love it! – Jen Lee
This is by far the best food processor I’ve had by far, and this is about the 3rd or 4th one I’ve had in about 25 years! The wide shoot is great for large vegetables-you don’t have to cut them up small in order to process them, which is great and less time consuming. It is very, very easy to operate and I really like the fact you don’t have a ton of attachments and disks to try to keep track of-you can store what you got in the processor and not worry about loosing them or finding an alternate place to keep extra blades. – J. Schreiber
We love this processor, it is fast, reliable and des exactly what it says on the box. We also liked the lower design as it makes for easier storage, we would highly recommend this product.
S. J. Ertukel from Amazon.com user feedback
I bought this because it was about the amount I was willing to invest to see if I’d use it. I DO! Now, I find myself hoping it will die, but even during a power session where I made five different kinds of scones, it lived.
Tara from Target.com user feedback
This Food Processor is very powerful. The first time I used it I put a bag of pre-sliced cole slaw into the processor (I like it smaller chopped) and pulsed it two times for a few seconds. WOW! It pureed it …
Lenore S. Boucher from Amazon.com user feedback
I bought this after looking at several others in comparison and this got good reviews, to which I add mine. I came into a nice bunch of basil to make pesto with and after trying it in a blender I knew it was time to get a food processor. I have no other experience with them, but this model does all it’s supposed to do, is easy to clean and doesn’t take up a huge amount of storage or counter space.
Happy ag from Amazon.com user feedback
Further information:
I found this on BBC Good Food Magazine, try it, it’s wonderful and very easy to prepare. This roasted pepper soup is great for lunch with some good bread and cheese, yummy!
Ingredients
6 red bell peppers, cut in half and seeds removed
2 garlic cloves, peeled
2 red onions, peeled and roughly chopped
3 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large potato, peeled and cubed (Use a sweet potato if preferred)
ground black pepper
salt
3 tablespoons ketchup
600 ml water
Directions
Put the vegetables into a large roasting pan, along with the thyme leaves.
Drizzle with the olive oil and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Roast in a 450 degree F oven for 20 minutes or until tender.
Put the vegetable mixture into a food processor along with the water and ketchup.
Pulse until smooth.
Strain if you like, then chill
To serve, microwave in heatproof bowls on high for 2 minutes, or bring to a boil in a pan on the stove.
Here are the main things to consider when you choose the best food processor.
Capacity
Food processors come in a range of 1.4 liters to 3 liters of capacity. It all depends whether you have a large or small family, and what kind of jobs you intend to use your food processor for.
Here are my recommendations:
Blades
Do not go for anything that is NOT stainless steel. Most processors offer a variety of blades for different tasks such as blending, chopping, grating and slicing. You get more value for money if the machine comes with many types of blades making it versatile and handy.
Feed Tube
A wide feed tube is handy for feeding in stuff without cutting them up into small pieces first.
Attachments
Some food processors come with attachments and extras such as a mini bowl and blade for processing tiny amounts of stuff like garnish. Some have a continuous feed shredder that allows the shredded food to be directed into another bowl so that you can continuously process food without emptying the integrated bowl first.
Wattage
The wattage varies from 400W to 1100W or more. A higher wattage would speed up the process and be more suitable for heavy usage. If you want a machine that is capable of handling any job, choose the most powerful model that your budget can cover. Alternatively, aim to own one that is at least 750W or higher.
If you need a high-powered food processor, I recommend:
Versatility
Think long term. Some top food processors can be used as a juicer or blender, with a bullet blender attachment. This is useful for those who’d like to blend stuff once in a while or make the occasional juice. No need to buy a separate juicer or blender!
Safety Features
Basic features are inter-locking and non-slip feet. A sturdy and heavy base will prevent the food processor from vibrating and slipping on the countertop too. Check to see if the model of your choice has these features, as more safety virtues provide peace of mind.
Cost
I would say that for any budget, there is a processor available; but of course, you get what you pay for. For domestic usage, models usually range from $50 to $200. It is actually advisable to invest in a more expensive one as it gives you more functions and is more durable.
For the occasional user, a best value food processor would be:
Warranty
Make sure you are certain of the brand’s reputation, especially if you have never bought anything from this brand before. It is better if the manufacturer offers replacement warranty. Much much better still, a helpful customer service.
