Comparison: Best Food Processor 3 Cup (Updated | Dec 9th)
Tired of wrestling with bulky food processors for small chopping jobs? A compact 3-cup food processor might be your kitchen’s new best friend! These pint-sized powerhouses deliver big results in tiny packages, perfect for daily tasks like whipping up dips, mincing herbs, or chopping nuts. We’ve sliced, diced, and pureed our way through the top contenders to bring you the ultimate guide to the best 3-cup food processors that’ll transform your meal prep game.
Editor’s Choice
Best for a specific purpose
- Best for easy stack press: Hamilton Beach Electric Vegetable Chopper & Mini Food Processor
- Best for compact mini chopper: Cuisinart 3-Cup Mini Chopper
- Best for powerful auto-iq: Ninja Food Processor
- Best for smartpower mini-prep: Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor
- Best for simple freshprep: BLACK+DECKER
- Best for 3-in-1 processor: BLACK+DECKER 3-in-1 Easy Assembly 8-Cup Food Processor
- Best for large capacity ge: GE Food Processor | 12 Cup | Complete With 3 Feeding Tubes & Stainless Steel Accessories – 3 Discs + Dough Blade | 3 Speed | Great for Shredded Cheese
- Best for sleek kitchenaid chopper: KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper KFC3516BM
- Best for dual bowl design: SPZTJK 3-Speed Electric Food Processor: Meat Grinder
- Best for versatile 14-cup: Cuisinart Food Processor
Product Comparison: Best Food Processor 3 Cup
Easy Stack Press
Hamilton Beach Electric Vegetable Chopper & Mini Food Processor, 3-Cup, 350 Watts, for Dicing, Mincing, and Puree, Black (72850)
Hamilton Beach
- 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.
Compact Mini Chopper
Cuisinart 3-Cup Mini Chopper, CCH-3, White
Cuisinart
- 3-cup work bowl
- Chop or grind button controls
- Exclusive BladeLock system
- Patented auto-reversing SmartPower blade
- Dishwasher-safe removable parts and Limited 18-month warranty
Powerful Auto-iQ
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
Ninja
- 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.
SmartPower Mini-Prep
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
Cuisinart
- 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
Simple FreshPrep
BLACK+DECKER, Improved Assembly, HC300B FreshPrep 3-Cup Electric Food Chopper, capacity
BLACK+DECKER
- Material Type: Plastic
3-in-1 Processor
BLACK+DECKER 3-in-1 Easy Assembly 8-Cup Food Processor, Stainless Steel S-Blade, Easy-Clean, Touchpad Controls Black
BLACK+DECKER
- EASY ASSEMBLY: The smart design lets you set the work bowl onto the base, and uses the lid as the locking mechanism. No more struggling to lock the bowl into place.
- 8-CUP WORK BOWL: The large capacity gives you plenty of room to work with when creating salsas, nut butter, hummus, and so much more. The possibilities are endless.
- STAINLESS STEEL S-BLADE: The stainless steel blade quickly chops and mixes for fast, consistent results.
- REVERSIBLE SLICE/SHRED DISC:The reversible metal disc lets you slice veggies quickly or shred cheese without tiring your forearms.
- EASY-CLEAN TOUCHPAD CONTROLS: Easy-Clean Touchpad Controls feature low, high, and pulse settings.The powerful 450W motor takes care of food quickly and easily.
Large Capacity GE
GE Food Processor | 12 Cup | Complete With 3 Feeding Tubes & Stainless Steel Accessories – 3 Discs + Dough Blade | 3 Speed | Great for Shredded Cheese, Chicken & More | Kitchen Essentials | 550 Watts
GE
- POWERFUL 550 WATT FOOD PROCESSOR – Prepare even the toughest fruits, vegetables and meats with a powerful 550w food processor
- 12 CUP CAPACITY JAR WITH HANDLE – There will be enough to go around thanks a 12 cup food processor that is equipped with an ergonomic handle for secure handling and dishwasher safe
- SIMPLE 3-SPEED CONTROLS – Chop and blend your favorite food items with a 3-speed food processor: high, low and pulse: which is simple and easy to use
- STAINLESS STEEL ACCESSORIES – Achieve more in the kitchen thanks to stainless steel food processor blades, discs and accessories, which include: grating disc, french fry disc, dough blade, emulsifier disc, mini – chopping bowl and spatula
- LARGE FEED TUBE – Eliminate the need for pre-cutting ingredients thanks to a food processor with large feed tube which accommodates whole or large ingredients with ease
Sleek KitchenAid Chopper
KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper KFC3516BM, Matte Black
KitchenAid
- 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.
Dual Bowl Design
SPZTJK 3-Speed Electric Food Processor: Meat Grinder, Vegetable Chopper & Baby Food Maker – 300W, 2 Bowls (8 Cup Stainless Steel+8 Cup Glass), Quiet Operation
SPZTJK
- 【Effortless Food Prep】Say goodbye to tedious chopping! The SPZTJK electric food chopper chops, mixes, blends, whips, and grinds with a simple push. Removable blades make cleaning a breeze, turning tedious chores into quick, enjoyable moments.
- 【Versatile Kitchen Helper】Effortlessly chop, grind, and blend with this powerful 300W electric food processor. Perfect for meat, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and baby food preparation.
- 【Dual Bowl Design】Includes 8-cup 304 stainless steel and 8-cup glass bowls for various tasks. Use the meat chopper and vegetable chopper separately, ensuring food safety and hygiene.
- 【Efficient & Safe Motor】Equipped with a full-copper motor for 3x longer lifespan. Patented automatic stopping design ensures family and child safety. Spring-loaded blades halt instantly when the motor is disengaged.
- 【3-Speed Control & Quiet Operation】Choose from 3 speed settings for precise texture control. Engineered for quiet operation, ideal for early morning or late night food prep without disturbing others.
- 【Food-Grade Materials】Constructed with 304 stainless steel and BPA-free glass, ensuring safe and healthy food processing for your family.
- 【Easy to Clean & Store】Removable, dishwasher-safe parts for effortless cleaning. Compact design for easy storage in any kitchen. Comes with additional accessories for enhanced versatility. Important note: Do not submerge the motor in water.
- 【Please Note】SPZTJK Food Processor has an overheat protection system. If the machine stops, please allow it to cool down completely before restarting. This food processor is designed for fresh and soft ingredients. To protect your safety and extend the life of your machine, please partially thaw frozen items (like ice and frozen meat) before processing. This will help prevent damage and ensure optimal performance.
Versatile 14-Cup
Cuisinart Food Processor, 14-Cup Vegetable Food Chopper for Mincing, Dicing, Shredding, Puree & Kneading Dough, 720-Watt Motor, Stainless Steel, DFP-14BCNY
Cuisinart
- SUPERIOR FUNCTION: The Cuisinart Food Processor with 720-watt motor functions as a vegetable chopper, blender, and food processer in one. Make any kind of dip, puree soup, or sauce including hummus, salsa, guacamole, and more.
- MUST-HAVE FEATURES: The 14-cup food chopper has “on” and “off/pulse” buttons with an extra-large feed tube with bowl sleeve assembly designed for both small and large feed tube pushers. It also comes with a detachable disc stem for easy clean up.
- INCLUDED ACCESSORIES: This food processor comes with dishwasher-safe parts including a stainless steel standard slicing disc (4mm), medium shredding disc, and stainless steel chopping/mixing blade.
- NOTE TO CONSUMER: The shredding and slicing blades of this electric chopper are not adjustable. Please refer to the manual before setting up.
- LIMITED 3-YEAR WARRANTY: The Cuisinart Food Processor comes with a limited 3-year warranty on the entire unit and a full 5-year warranty on the motor.
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 should I look for in a 3-cup food processor?
Consider the power of the motor, as a higher wattage ensures smoother processing. Look for durable materials like stainless steel blades and BPA-free plastic. Check for ease of cleaning, such as dishwasher-safe parts.
How do 3-cup food processors compare to larger models?
They are more compact and ideal for small kitchens or single servings. However, they may struggle with larger batches or tougher ingredients. Larger models offer more versatility but take up more space.
What features are most important in a 3-cup food processor?
Pulse control is crucial for precise chopping and avoiding over-processing. A reversible shredding disc adds versatility for different textures. Safety locks ensure the processor won’t run unless assembled correctly.
Are 3-cup food processors good value for money?
They are affordable and perfect for basic tasks like chopping, grinding, and making small batches of dips. If you don’t need large-capacity processing, they offer great value. However, they may not be worth it if you frequently cook for large groups.
How noisy are 3-cup food processors?
Most models are relatively quiet compared to larger, more powerful processors. However, noise levels can vary based on motor power and design. Look for models with sound-dampening features if noise is a concern.
Can a 3-cup food processor handle tough ingredients?
They work well for soft to medium-hard foods like vegetables, nuts, and cheese. Very hard items like ice or frozen fruits may be challenging. Check the motor wattage and blade quality for tougher tasks.
How easy are 3-cup food processors to clean?
Many models have dishwasher-safe parts, making cleanup quick and simple. Removable blades and bowls reduce food buildup. Avoid submerging the motor base in water.
What are the top brands for 3-cup food processors?
Cuisinart and KitchenAid are popular for their reliability and performance. Black+Decker offers budget-friendly options with decent features. Always read reviews to compare specific models.