Comparison: Small Best Food Processor (Updated | Dec 9th)
Tired of chopping, dicing, and mincing until your hands ache? A compact food processor might just be your kitchen’s new best friend. But with so many options claiming to be the “**small best food processor**,” how do you choose? We’ve sliced through the noise to bring you a no-nonsense comparison of the top contenders.
Editor’s Choice
Best for a specific purpose
- Best for compact mini-prep: Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor
- Best for simple stack & press: Hamilton Beach Electric Vegetable Chopper & Mini Food Processor
- Best for powerful auto-iq: Ninja Food Processor
- Best for stylish speed control: KitchenAid KFC3516ER 3.5 Cup Food Chopper
- Best for classic mini chopper: Cuisinart 3-Cup Mini Chopper
- Best for colorful chopping power: KitchenAid KFC3516IC 3.5 Cup Food Chopper
- Best for versatile 4-cup chopper: Cuisinart ECH-4SV Elemental 4-C Chopper Grinder
- Best for dual bowl efficiency: KOIOS Food Processor
- Best for versatile meat grinder: GANIZA Food Processors
- Best for all-in-one storage: KitchenAid 7-Cup Food Processor – KFP0718
Product Comparison: Small Best Food Processor
Compact 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 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.
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.
Stylish Speed Control
KitchenAid KFC3516ER 3.5 Cup Food Chopper, Empire Red, One Size
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.
Classic 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
Colorful Chopping Power
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
Versatile 4-Cup Chopper
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
Dual Bowl Efficiency
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.
Versatile Meat Grinder
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.
All-in-One Storage
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
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 food processor is best for small kitchens?
A compact food processor with a capacity of 3-5 cups is ideal for small kitchens, offering enough space for most tasks without taking up too much counter space. Look for models with nested bowls or detachable parts to save storage. Smaller sizes are also easier to clean and handle.
What features should I prioritize in a small food processor?
Focus on essential features like multiple speed settings, a pulse function, and sharp stainless-steel blades for versatility. Dishwasher-safe parts and a safety lock mechanism add convenience and peace of mind. Some models also include shredding or slicing discs for added functionality.
How do small food processors compare to blenders?
Food processors excel at chopping, dicing, and mixing solid foods, while blenders are better for liquids and smoothies. Small food processors often have more attachments for precise cuts, whereas blenders prioritize high-speed blending. Choose based on whether you need solid food prep or liquid blending.
Are budget-friendly small food processors worth it?
Budget models can handle basic tasks like chopping and mixing, but may lack durability or advanced features. If you plan to use it frequently, investing in a mid-range option with better motor power and attachments is worthwhile. Check reviews for performance and longevity before buying.
How do I clean and maintain a small food processor?
Most small food processors have dishwasher-safe parts, but hand-washing blades and bowls extends their lifespan. Avoid soaking the base or motor housing; instead, wipe it with a damp cloth. Regularly check for food residue under the blade to prevent buildup.
What’s the difference between a mini food processor and a full-sized one?
Mini food processors are designed for small batches and quick tasks, while full-sized ones handle larger quantities and more complex recipes. Mini models are more portable and easier to store, but may lack power for tough ingredients. Choose based on your typical cooking needs.
Can a small food processor handle tough ingredients like nuts or dough?
Some small food processors can handle nuts and dough, but it depends on motor power and blade quality. Look for models with at least 400-500 watts for tougher tasks. For frequent heavy-duty use, a larger or more powerful processor may be a better fit.
How do I decide between a chopper and a food processor?
A chopper is simpler and cheaper, ideal for basic chopping, while a food processor offers more versatility with slicing, shredding, and mixing. If you only need minimal prep, a chopper suffices; for diverse recipes, a food processor is worth the investment. Consider your cooking habits and storage space.