Comparison: Cook’S Illustrated Best Food Processor (Updated | Dec 9th)
We’ve done the heavy lifting for you! Cook’s Illustrated, the gold standard in kitchen equipment testing, has rigorously evaluated top models to crown the ultimate food processor champion. From silky smooth hummus to perfectly diced onions, we’ll reveal which processor delivers unparalleled performance, durability, and value. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a home cook looking to upgrade, this no-nonsense comparison will guide you to the kitchen workhorse that’ll revolutionize your meal prep.
Editor’s Choice
Best for a specific purpose
- Best for recipe collection: Food Processor Perfection: 75 Amazing Ways to Use the Most Powerful Tool in Your Kitchen
- Best for compact chopping: Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor
- Best for simple stack press: Hamilton Beach Electric Vegetable Chopper & Mini Food Processor
- Best for professional power: Ninja Food Processor
- Best for large capacity processing: Cuisinart Food Processor
- Best for snap assembly design: Hamilton Beach Stack & Snap Food Processor and Vegetable Chopper
- Best for multi-attachment versatility: Sweetcrispy Food Processor Blender Combo for Vegetable
- Best for cooking reference: Cook’s Illustrated 2000 (Cooks Illustrated Annuals)
- Best for dual bowl system: GANIZA Food Processors
- Best for meal prep guide: Fit Men Cook: 100+ Meal Prep Recipes for Men and Women―Always #HealthyAF
Product Comparison: Cook’S Illustrated Best Food Processor
Recipe Collection
Food Processor Perfection: 75 Amazing Ways to Use the Most Powerful Tool in Your Kitchen
AMERICASTES TKITCHEN
Compact Chopping
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 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.
Professional Power
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.
Large Capacity Processing
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.
Snap Assembly Design
Hamilton Beach Stack & Snap Food Processor and Vegetable Chopper, BPA Free, Stainless Steel Blades, 12 Cup Bowl, 2-Speed 450 Watt Motor, Black (70725A)
Hamilton Beach
- STACK AND SNAP TECHNOLOGY FOR EASY ASSEMBLY: With this well-designed food processor, you can skip frustrating, awkward assembly. Stack & Snap technology provides easy assembly and removes the need for difficult twist-locking.
- 12 CUP SEALED BOWL: Most food processors are too small for large processing jobs. This 12 cup sealed bowl fits large volumes of food all at once, and since it’s sealed in the center, there’s no messy leaks or spills to clean up after processing.
- BIG MOUTH CHUTE: Fit a whole potato or tomato right into the chute. The Big Mouth chute of this Hamilton Beach food processor saves prep time by reducing the need to pre-cut food before processing.
- SLICE, SHRED, CHOP, MIX AND PUREE WITH 2 VERSATILE ATTACHMENTS: This large food processor and vegetable chopper includes a chopping/pureeing blade and reversible stainless steel slicing/shredding disc so you can tackle every job with ease.
- QUICKLY POWERS THROUGH TOUGH INGREDIENTS WITH 450 WATT MOTOR: Shred cheese and potatoes, slice cucumbers and tomatoes, chop onions and herbs. As you process, the suction cup feet prevent sliding for greater stability on the countertop.
- EASY TO CLEAN: All removable parts are dishwasher safe for effortless cleanup and all food zones are BPA-free for peace of mind
- 2-IN-1 CHUTE: Use the small chute and small pusher when you need to process thinner foods like carrots and celery — it holds them upright for better control and clean cuts. Use the Big Mouth chute and big pusher for larger, whole foods like potatoes.
- SIMPLE FUNCTION GUIDE: The simple function guide takes the guesswork out of food processing — you’ll always know which blade to use and which button to push.
- CONVENIENT POUR SPOUT: Simply pour ingredients from the processing bowl right into your serving bowl for mess-free pouring.
- WHAT’S INCLUDED: 450 watt processor base, 12 cup bowl, large food pusher with small chute, small food pusher, lid with Big Mouth chute, chopping/pureeing/mixing blade, reversible slicing/shredding disc, user guide
Multi-Attachment Versatility
Sweetcrispy Food Processor Blender Combo for Vegetable, Dough, Electric Food Processors Slicing, 6 Cup Chopper for Meat, Puree, 2 Speeds, Sharp Blades, Safety Lock with 1.5L Glass Jar
Sweetcrispy
- All-in-One Versatility：With over 8+ attachments—including a knife blade, dough tool, slicing and shredding disc, egg white plate, blender jug, and more—this food processor effortlessly handles a variety of tasks like grinding meat (300g/10s), kneading dough (300g flour+200g water/30s), slicing veggies (500g carrot/1min), blending (600g carrot+900ml water/3min), and mixing egg white (100g/1min) – perfect for daily meals, baking, and quick prep.
- Safety First Design:This electric food chopper includes a safety interlock that only allows operation when the bowl and lid are securely locked, plus a safety lock for added protection. Sharp blades are enclosed in a durable bowl. The power cord and base are water-resistant, with a non-slip base and overheat protection for stable, safe performance.
- Optimal Capacity for Home Use: With a 1500ml maximum bowl capacity for slicing and shredding, and a 1.5L blender jug, this food processor is thoughtfully designed to handle small to medium batches with ease—perfect for everyday family meals without the burden of oversized portions. Powered by a reliable 300W motor (120V~60Hz), it delivers just the right balance of performance and energy efficiency, making daily food prep simpler and more sustainable.
- Easy to Clean & Maintain: Most removable parts like the bowl, blades, and discs can go straight into the dishwasher. For everyday care, simply rinse the blades with soapy water using a soft brush, and gently wipe the power base with a damp cloth. If you notice any staining on the plastic components over time, a small amount of vegetable oil can help bring back their fresh appearance. We designed this food processor to make cleanup as effortless as the cooking itself.
- 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.
Cooking Reference
Cook’s Illustrated 2000 (Cooks Illustrated Annuals)
Cook’s Illustrated
- Used Book in Good Condition
Dual Bowl System
GANIZA Food Processors, Electric Food Chopper with Meat Grinder & Vegetable Chopper – 2 Bowls (8 Cup+8 Cup) with Powerful 450W Copper Motor – Includes 2 Sets of Bi-Level Blades for Fruits/Meat/Nuts
Ganiza
- 【Indispensable Kitchen Helper】GANIZA BPA-FREE food processor features 2 sets of blades and paired bowls (8-Cup glass bowl and 8-Cup stainless steel bowl). Easily chop meat, fish, vegetables, nuts, frozen fruit, or make a salad, guacamole, etc, the food chopper is ideal for multiple kitchen tasks!
- 【Efficient Motor & Safety Insurance】The Full-copper motor supports a 3 times longer service life than regular motors. Adopting patented automatic stopping design to protect your family and child, and blades are spring-loaded and stop rotating immediately once you pop the motor out of the way.
- 【Please Note】Ganiza food processor is equipped with an overheating protection system. If the machine stops working, please wait a few minutes for the machine to cool down before starting it. Overheating protection system is built to ensure quality & lifetime, and also makes the food processor safe.
- 【Unlock Versatility with Two Bowls】Your food hygiene, we care. The Mixing Bowls are made from different materials (glass and sus 304 stainless steel) to avoid confusion between bowls for different uses, meat chopper and vegetable chopper, food processor.
- 【2 Speed – Great Time Saver】450 watts motor certified for professional use combined with upgraded two levels of “S” stainless steel blades, a few seconds is enough to turn any vegetable or meat into tiny bits. 2 cutting speeds to meet different needs of foods or texture.
- 【Make an Exhausting Job a Breeze】Still struggling about daily handling of onions or meats? Just an electric food chopper is all you need to make cooking fun. The GANIZA chops, mixes, blends, whips, grinds, and more, all with a simple push to start. Easy to clean with removable blades. Powerful veggie chopper made thanksgiving prep a breeze.
Meal Prep Guide
Fit Men Cook: 100+ Meal Prep Recipes for Men and Women―Always #HealthyAF, Never Boring
Gallery Books
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 the best overall food processor according to Cook’s Illustrated?
Cook’s Illustrated typically recommends the Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor as its top ‘Best Buy’ pick. It is praised for its powerful motor, consistent performance, and excellent value for its price.
What are the key differences between a top-rated model and a budget food processor?
Premium models like the Breville Sous Chef offer more power, precise slicing discs, and quieter operation. Budget processors often have weaker motors that can struggle with dense doughs and may produce less uniform results.
How important is the size or capacity of the work bowl?
Capacity is crucial and depends on your cooking habits. A 14-cup model is versatile for most families, while a mini-processor (3-4 cups) is ideal for small jobs like chopping herbs or making a single serving of pesto.
Which features are most important for everyday use?
Beyond the basic chopping blade, look for a model with a shredding disc and a slicing disc. A dough blade is also a valuable feature if you frequently make bread or pizza dough, as it handles kneading far more effectively than the standard blade.
Are expensive food processors worth the extra cost?
For most home cooks, a mid-range model like the Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup offers the best value. High-end models are worth it only if you need specialized features like micro-slicing or will be processing large, heavy batches frequently.
How easy are these food processors to clean?
Most top-rated models have dishwasher-safe parts like the bowl, lid, and blades. However, to maintain sharpness, it is often recommended to hand wash the blades and check the manual for specific care instructions.
What is the difference between a food processor and a blender?
A food processor is designed for dry, solid foods and excels at chopping, slicing, and shredding. A blender is better for liquids and creating smooth textures, such as in smoothies, soups, and sauces.
Do I need to worry about the power of the motor?
Yes, motor power is a key factor in performance. A more powerful motor will handle tough tasks like kneading dense bread dough or grating hard cheese without stalling or straining, ensuring more consistent results.
