Comparison: Best Food Processor Small (Updated | Dec 9th)
Tired of bulky appliances cluttering your kitchen? You’re not alone. That’s where compact models shine! But with so many options, how do you choose the perfect one for your needs? Don’t worry, we’ve done the chopping for you. We’ve tested the top small food processors on the market to bring you this ultimate comparison. Whether you’re chopping herbs, making pesto, or whipping up dips, we’ll help you find the perfect kitchen companion that fits your space and lifestyle.
Editor’s Choice
Best for a specific purpose
- Best for compact mini power: Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor
- Best for compact countertop choice: KitchenAid KFC3516IC 3.5 Cup Food Chopper
- Best for professional powerhouse: Ninja Food Processor
- Best for effortless stack & press: Hamilton Beach Electric Vegetable Chopper & Mini Food Processor
- Best for versatile chopper grinder: Cuisinart ECH-4SV Elemental 4-C Chopper Grinder
- Best for all-in-one storage solution: KitchenAid 7-Cup Food Processor – KFP0718
- Best for simple mini chopper: Cuisinart 3-Cup Mini Chopper
- Best for sleek stainless mini: Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus Food Processor
- Best for built-in bowl scraper: Hamilton Beach Food Processor & Vegetable Chopper for Slicing
- Best for dual bowl versatility: KOIOS Food Processor
Product Comparison: Best Food Processor Small
Compact Mini Power
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
Compact Countertop Choice
KitchenAid KFC3516IC 3.5 Cup Food Chopper, Ice Blue
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
Professional Powerhouse
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.
Effortless 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.
Versatile Chopper Grinder
Cuisinart ECH-4SV Elemental 4-C Chopper Grinder, Silver
Cuisinart
- 4-cup work bowl with handle and chop or grind touchpad controls.Voltage: 120 V
- Exclusive Bladelock system
- Patented auto-reversing smartpower blade
- Includes spatula, recipe and instruction book
- All removable parts are dishwasher safe
All-in-One Storage Solution
KitchenAid 7-Cup Food Processor – KFP0718
KitchenAid
- All-in-one storage solution stores all blades and discs directly in the bowl
- Snap-and-go, easy-clean work bowl with a twist-free, one-click bowl assembly and latched lid; Add warm water and 1-2 drops of dish soap in the leak-resistant bowl to quickly clean bowl and blades
- Chop, shred, slice and puree everything from fresh veggies to cheeses, sauces, salsa and so much more with the included multi-purpose blade and reversible slice/shred disc
- Reduce prep time with the 2-in-1 feed tube and process a variety of ingredient shapes and sizes – tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes and more
- Simple controls with 3 speeds (High, Low and Pulse) to handle a variety of ingredients with precision. The easy-press paddles and illuminated LED controls make operation simple
- Model KFP0718 includes (1) 7 cup work bowl, (1) Lid, (1) Multi-purpose blade, (1) Reversible medium slicing/shredding disc
Simple 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
Sleek Stainless Mini
Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus Food Processor, 4 Cup, Brushed Stainless (Shiny)
Cuisinart
- SUPERIOR FUNCTION: The Cuisinart 250-watt mini prep plus food processor quickly chops and grinds with a patented reversible stainless-steel blade.Voltage: 220 V
- CONTROL: Push-button control panel with durable yet lightweight plastic body – Auto-reversing SmartPower blade that chops and grinds for two powerful processing options
- EASY CLEAN UP: Dishwasher-safe bowl and lid for easy clean up, wipe the motor base clean with a damp sponge or cloth
- INCLUDED: Comes with a 4-cup work bowl with handle, Stainless steel blade, spatula and instruction/recipe book
- LIMITED 18-MONTH WARRANTY: Refer to user manual for troubleshooting steps and questions surrounding warranty policies – this product is BPA free
Built-in Bowl Scraper
Hamilton Beach Food Processor & Vegetable Chopper for Slicing, Shredding, Mincing, and Puree, 10 Cups + Easy Clean Bowl Scraper, Black and Stainless Steel (70730)
Hamilton Beach
- BUILT-IN BOWL SCRAPER SAVES TIME: Quickly process ingredients without pausing to use a spatula. Simply move the scraper from side to side to scrape the bowl while the electric food processor is running or the power is off — no need to remove lid.
- SLICE, SHRED, CHOP, MIX, & PUREE WITH 2 ATTACHMENTS: This Hamilton Beach food processor and veggie slicer has 5 processing functions using a stainless steel food processor slicing/shredding disc and reversible chopping/pureeing blade
- POWERFUL 450-WATT MOTOR: Make healthy salads, homemade salsa, hearty acai bowls, and more with this food processor and veggie chopper. The 450-watt motor easily powers through the toughest ingredients, so you can spend less time processing.
- PRECISE CONTROL WITH 2 SPEEDS PLUS PULSE: The low and high speeds plus pulse give you the control you need for a variety of recipes. Use the high speed when you need more power and select the low speed for processing or mixing delicate foods.
- 10 CUP BOWL CAPACITY: The generous 10 cup bowl fits a large volume of food. The large 3″ x 1.75″ feed chute saves time by reducing the need to pre-cut food – making it an essential electric vegetable chopper and slicer tool in your kitchen.
- EASY TO CLEAN: All removable parts are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup, and all food-contact zones are BPA-free for added peace of mind.
- 1 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY: Built for lasting performance, this electric kitchen processor is backed by a 1-year limited warranty from Hamilton Beach.
- SUCTION CUP FEET: This electric food slicer and processor has suction cup feet to prevent sliding and provide greater stability on the countertop.
- WHAT’S INCLUDED: The electric food processor comes with a 450-watt processor base, 10 cup bowl, lid with large feed chute, food pusher, built-in bowl scraper, reversible slicing/shredding disc, chopping blade, and user guide.
Dual Bowl Versatility
KOIOS Food Processor, 500W Electric Food Chopper with 2 Bowls (8 Cup+8 Cup) & 2 Bi-Level Blades&, Small Electric Grinder Meat Processor for Nuts, Meat, Onion, Garlic, Baby Food, Blue
KOIOS
- Universal–Built with a 500W powerful pure copper motor and S shaped Bi-level blades, this electric food chopper is able to chop, blend, puree, mix and mince throughly and evenly in no time, with each task taking approximately 10 seconds to done.
- Chopping–Two modes speed is suitable for different types and quantities of ingredients which meets a variety of cooking needs. Holding pressing for a consistent whir or just tap press to pulse or puree makes a ultimate control.
- Capacity–Two bowls(8 cup/2 L) make you handle both foods at the same time and without mixed flavor neither. Bowls are available for stack, save storage space for your counter. Rubber rings to help bowls stay in place and dampen noise as it vibrates against the counter. We recommend to hold bowl tight during operation to avoid shake and fall. Both bowls and blades are detachable and dishwasher safe.
- Safety–This food processor featuring a hidden safety switch that motor only works when power pod is installed properly. Equipped with overheating protection, it will automatically stop at high temperature. Please take off the blade protection carefully before installing.
- Note: The product size is 10.6*8.7 inch. Every processing should not exceed 30 seconds. Please rest for 20 seconds to prevent overheating before process a large amount of food. If it loses power due to overheat, unplug and wait 20mins and work again. If motor is running but blades can not rotate, lessen food then reprocess. In prevent of lids or bowls warped, the temperature of dishwasher should less than 140℉/60℃. Please reference instruction manual for more regulare troubleshooting methods Contact us if you met any questions.
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 size should I choose for a small food processor?
A small food processor typically ranges from 3 to 5 cups, ideal for single servings or small batches. Consider your typical usage, like chopping herbs or making sauces, to determine the right capacity. Compact models are also easier to store in tight kitchens.
What features are most important in a small food processor?
Look for multiple speed settings, pulse options, and durable stainless steel blades for versatility. Easy-to-clean parts, like dishwasher-safe bowls and lids, are a plus. Some models also include attachments for shredding or slicing.
How do small food processors compare to full-sized ones?
Small food processors are more compact and lightweight but may lack the power and capacity of larger models. They’re perfect for basic tasks like chopping, mixing, or pureeing, while full-sized ones handle bulkier ingredients. Choose based on your cooking needs and kitchen space.
Are budget-friendly small food processors worth it?
Affordable models can perform well for simple tasks, but they may have fewer features or less durability. Mid-range options often balance cost with performance and longevity. Read reviews to ensure the budget model meets your specific needs.
How do I clean and maintain a small food processor?
Most parts, like the bowl and blades, are dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. Avoid submerging the motor base; instead, wipe it with a damp cloth. Regularly check for food residue to prevent buildup and maintain performance.
Can a small food processor handle tough ingredients like nuts or dough?
Some small food processors can handle nuts or dough, but check the motor power and blade quality first. Lower-powered models may struggle with hard or dense ingredients. For frequent heavy-duty tasks, consider a more robust option.
What are the best brands for small food processors?
Top brands like Cuisinart, KitchenAid, and Ninja offer reliable small food processors with strong performance. Look for models with positive reviews and warranties for added peace of mind. Compare features and prices to find the best fit for your budget.
How much should I spend on a small food processor?
Prices range from $30 to $150, depending on features and brand quality. Basic models are affordable for occasional use, while premium options offer more power and accessories. Set a budget based on how often you’ll use it and the tasks you’ll perform.