Comparison: Best 3.5 Cup Food Processor (Updated | Dec 9th)
Enter the unsung hero of compact kitchens: the 3.5-cup food processor. These pint-sized powerhouses pack a serious punch, transforming tedious prep work into a breeze. But with so many options, how do you choose the perfect mini marvel? We’ve sliced, diced, and puréed our way through the top contenders to bring you the ultimate showdown.
- Best for matte black essential: KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper KFC3516BM
- Best for ice blue precision: KitchenAid KFC3516IC 3.5 Cup Food Chopper
- Best for onyx black simplicity: KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper KFC3516OB
- Best for effortless stackable design: Proctor Silex Durable Electric Vegetable Chopper & Mini Food Processor with 2 Speeds for Chopping
- Best for powerful auto-iq processing: Ninja Food Processor
- Best for everyday stack & press: Hamilton Beach Electric Vegetable Chopper & Mini Food Processor
- Best for boysenberry compact power: KitchenAid KFC3516BY 3.5 Cup Food Chopper
- Best for versatile stack & snap: Hamilton Beach Stack & Snap 4-Cup Mini Food Processor & Vegetable Chopper
- Best for limited edition queen: KitchenAid KFC3516QHSD 100 Year Limited Edition Queen of Hearts Food Chopper
- Best for compact chop & grind: Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor
Product Comparison: Best 3.5 Cup Food Processor
KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper KFC3516BM, Matte Black
- Convenient 3.5 cup work bowl features a locking blade, handle and pour spout for easy serving,and dishwasher-safe for quick clean up
- With its small, countertop friendly footprint and simple cord wrap, its easy to store, neatly tucking away when you’re finished prepping
- 2 speeds and pulse for coarse or fine results for anything from chunky pico de gallo and salsa, to a creamy hummus, smooth sauce or tasty dressing
- Easily incorporate liquid ingredients for sauces and dressings while processing with the drizzle basin
- Precisely chop or puree with the stainless steel multi-purpose blade that locks in place for convenient pouring.
KitchenAid KFC3516IC 3.5 Cup Food Chopper, Ice Blue
- Convenient 3.5 cup work bowl features a locking blade, handle and pour spout for easy serving,and dishwasher-safe for quick clean up
- With its small, countertop friendly footprint and simple cord wrap, its easy to store, neatly tucking away when you’re finished prepping
- 2 speeds and pulse for coarse or fine results for anything from chunky pico de gallo and salsa, to a creamy hummus, smooth sauce or tasty dressing
- Easily incorporate liquid ingredients for sauces and dressings while processing with the drizzle basin
- Precisely chop or puree with the stainless steel multi-purpose blade that locks in place for convenient pouring
KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper KFC3516OB, Onyx Black
- 3.5 cup work bowl features a locking blade, handle and pour spout for easy serving.. Cord length : 36 Inches
Proctor Silex Durable Electric Vegetable Chopper & Mini Food Processor with 2 Speeds for Chopping, Puree & Emulsify, 3.5 Cups, Silver
- UNIQUE STACKABLE DESIGN — JUST PRESS LID TO CHOP: This easy-to-assemble mini food processor simply stacks into place so there’s no difficult twisting or locking. To chop or process food, just press down on the lid and release to stop.
- EASILY CHOP, PUREE AND EMULSIFY WITH STAINLESS STEEL BLADES. The durable stainless steel chopping blades provide fast, reliable results, and the 3.5 cup bowl has a sealed bottom to prevent messy leaks. The bowl’s pour spout and handle make it easy to pour ingredients after processing.
- PRECISE RESULTS WITH 2 SPEEDS AND POWERFUL MOTOR: The 2 versatile speeds provide all the precision and control you need for chopping, pureeing and emulsifying. With the 350 watt motor, you’ll have all the power you need to process tough ingredients.
- EXTRA-LONG 30″ CORD WITH HANDY CORD REEL. The 30″ cord easily reaches any outlet and its handy cord reel makes storage easy. To retract the cord, simply turn the ergonomic handle in either direction to quickly reel it in.
- CONVENIENT OIL DISPENSING LID. Whether you’re emulsifying dressing, mixing sauce or pureeing baby food, it’s easy to gradually incorporate liquids into your recipes with the oil dispenser on this chopper/food processor.
Ninja Food Processor, Professional Plus, 1000 Peak Watts, 4 Functions for Chopping, Slicing, Purees & Dough with 9-Cup Processor Bowl, 3 Blades, Food Chute & Pusher, Silver, BN601
- POWERFUL PERFORMANCE: Equipped with a 1000-peak-watt motor, this Ninja food processor effortlessly handles tough ingredients, ensuring smooth and consistent results every time.
- AUTO-IQ TECHNOLOGY: Features 4 Auto-iQ intelligent preset programs that take the guesswork out of food prep, providing one-touch control for chopping, slicing, pureeing, and dough making.
- LARGE CAPACITY: The 9-cup bowl is perfect for large batches, making it ideal for family meals, entertaining, or weekly meal prep, saving you time and effort in the kitchen.
- PRECISION BLADES: Includes stainless steel precision blades designed for optimal performance, ensuring even chopping, slicing, and pureeing of all your ingredients.
- DOUGH BLADE INCLUDED: Comes with a specialized dough blade that makes mixing dough for bread, pizza, and pastries a breeze, delivering professional-quality results at home.
- EASY TO CLEAN: All removable parts are BPA-free and dishwasher safe, making cleanup quick and hassle-free, so you can spend more time enjoying your culinary creations.
- MODERN DESIGN: Sleek silver finish and compact design fit seamlessly into any kitchen decor, while the sturdy construction ensures long-lasting durability and performance.
- USER-FRIENDLY: Intuitive controls and easy assembly make this food processor accessible for all skill levels, from novice cooks to experienced chefs, enhancing your cooking experience.
- SAFETY FEATURES: Built-in safety mechanisms ensure the processor operates only when properly assembled, providing peace of mind during use and preventing accidents.
- VERSATILE FUNCTIONALITY: Perfect for a wide range of tasks including chopping vegetables, slicing fruits, pureeing hummus, and mixing dough, making it an essential tool for any kitchen.
Hamilton Beach Electric Vegetable Chopper & Mini Food Processor, 3-Cup, 350 Watts, for Dicing, Mincing, and Puree, Black (72850)
- Simply stack and press to chop: The patented stack & press design makes it easy to assemble and use. Simply press the lid to chop and release to stop. Since all you do is stack the lid on top of the bowl, no difficult twist-locking is needed.
- Perfect size for everyday use: Chop and mix up to 3 cups of ingredients every day of the week with this 3 cup chopper. It’s the perfect size for everyday use, yet small enough for easy storage.
- Easily chop, puree and emulsify with stainless steel blades: Durable stainless steel blades make easy work of a multitude of ingredients including onions, carrots and nuts. Oil dispenser on lid makes it easy to emulsify dressings, dips and sauces.
- Easy to clean: The bowl, lid and removable blades of the Hamilton Beach chopper are all dishwasher safe.
- Power through tough ingredients: This small food chopper has a 350 watt motor to provide all the power you need to prepare all types of food including onions, nuts, herbs, hummus, dressings and homemade baby food.
KitchenAid KFC3516BY 3.5 Cup Food Chopper, Boysenberry
- 3.5 cup work bowl features a locking blade, handle and pour spout for easy serving.
- Master tasty dressings and sauces with the drizzle basin.
- 2 speeds and pulse operation give you precise control to produce coarse or fine results.
- Compact and lightweight, the mini food processor is the perfect size for everyday use in the kitchen.
- Easy to clean, dishwasher-safe work bowl, lid and blade.
Hamilton Beach Stack & Snap 4-Cup Mini Food Processor & Vegetable Chopper, 250 Watts, for Slicing, Shredding, and Puree, Black (70510)
- VERSATILE & COMPACT 4 CUP FOOD PROCESSOR: Chop and puree food, blend smoothies, and slice or shred vegetables and cheese with this versatile Hamilton Beach food processor. Its compact design is perfect for small kitchens.
- PREVENT SPILLS WITH 4 CUP LEAK-PROOF BOWL: The leak-proof bowl holds 4 cups and has a pour spout that’s great for serving smoothies and processing liquids without spills.
- SUPERIOR CHOPPING & BLENDING RESULTS: With a stainless steel quad blade and powerful motor, you’ll get great results whether you’re chopping or blending. The reversible disc is ideal for slicing and shredding vegetables and other foods.
- EASY STACK & SNAP ASSEMBLY. The unique design of this small chopper/food processor and smoothie blender requires no difficult twist locking. The bowl stacks easily on the base and intuitive clips secure the lid to the bowl. Simple function guide helps you choose the right blade
- SAVE PREP TIME WITH LARGE FEED CHUTE: You’ll save time and reduce the need for pre-cutting every time you process food with this vegetable chopper. The large feed chute fits a whole block of cheese.
KitchenAid KFC3516QHSD 100 Year Limited Edition Queen of Hearts Food Chopper, 3.5 Cup, Passion Red
- Passion Red embodies the energy, strength and passion to create possibility in the kitchen. Unique, passion inspired design with sleek chrome accents and a passion-inspired, monochromatic trim band with hundreds of miniature Red hearts and logo celebrating 100 years of KitchenAid brand.
- Lightweight, with simple In-bowl storage and cord wrap, to for easy storage.
- Chop, mix and puree everything from Pico de gallon, to hummus, sauces, dressings and more.
- Drizzle basin to easily incorporate liquid ingredients while making sauces and dressings.
- Easy to clean, dishwasher-safe, work bowl, lid, and blade.
Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor, 24-Ounce Mini Food Processor to Chop Herbs, Vegetables, and Hard Cheese, 24-Ounce Work Bowl, Reversible Stainless Steel Blade, DLC-2ABC, Brushed Chrome
- SUPERIOR FUNCTION: The Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor offers an efficient 250-watt motor and patented reversible stainless steel blade to quickly chop herbs, dice vegetables, and grind hard cheese
- CONVENIENT CONTROL: The 24-ounce food chopper with durable, lightweight plastic body features a push-button control panel and auto-reversing SmartPower blade for two powerful processing options—chop and grind (not recommended to grind beans as it chops)
- EASY CLEANUP: A dishwasher-safe bowl and lid provide for easy cleanup, while the motor base can be wiped clean with a damp sponge or cloth
- WHAT’S INCLUDED: The mini chopper includes a 24-ounce work bowl with handle, stainless steel blade with sharp blunt edges, spatula, and instruction/recipe book
- LIMITED 18-MONTH WARRANTY: The BPA-free Cuisinart mini chopper comes with a limited 18-month warranty
- 250-watt food processor with 3-cup plastic work bowl
- Chops and grinds with patented reversible stainless-steel blade
- Simple push-button control panel; durable, yet lightweight plastic body
- Dishwasher-safe bowl and lid for quick cleanup; spatula included
- Product Built to North American Electrical Standards
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Buying Guide
FAQs
What is a 3.5-cup food processor best for?
A 3.5-cup food processor is ideal for small, everyday tasks like chopping garlic, herbs, nuts, or making a single-serving dip or vinaigrette. It’s perfect for individuals or couples who want quick prep without the bulk of a full-size machine. It excels at small-batch jobs where a larger processor would be inefficient.
What key features should I compare?
Look at the power (wattage) for how well it handles tough ingredients, and the sharpness and design of the blade. Consider the control options, such as simple pulse versus multiple speed settings, and the ease of cleaning, especially whether the parts are dishwasher-safe. A compact, stable design is also important for small kitchens.
How do they compare to a full-size food processor?
A 3.5-cup model is significantly more compact, lighter, and easier to store, making it great for small kitchens or quick tasks. However, it lacks the capacity and power to handle large-volume jobs like kneading dough or shredding a block of cheese. Think of it as a specialist for small jobs, while a full-size processor is a generalist for large ones.
How does it compare to using a blender?
Food processors use sharp, low-speed blades designed for chopping, shredding, and making thick mixtures like pesto or hummus. Blenders use high-speed blades to create smooth, liquid-based results like smoothies, soups, and sauces. A food processor gives you more control over texture for solid foods, while a blender is superior for pureeing liquids.
Are they worth the cost for a small kitchen?
Yes, if you frequently chop small amounts of vegetables or make sauces, it can be a significant time-saver compared to manual chopping. It offers a dedicated tool that performs these small tasks far better than a full-size processor or a blender. The value comes from its convenience and efficiency for everyday, small-batch cooking.
How important is the wattage on a small food processor?
While wattage indicates power, for a 3.5-cup chopper, blade sharpness and design are often more important for performance. A model with around 200-250 watts is generally sufficient for most tasks like nuts, vegetables, and making dips. Extremely high wattage isn’t necessary and may just add to the cost and size of the appliance.
What should I look for in terms of cleaning and maintenance?
Look for models with dishwasher-safe bowls, lids, and blades to make cleanup effortless. A design with fewer crevices will prevent food from getting trapped and be easier to wipe down. Some models have a removable blade shaft, which makes washing by hand much safer and more thorough.
