The 6 best food processors to help you prepare meals in minutes

If you buy anything for your kitchen, make it one of the best food processors. A wise purchase can save you prep time, (onion) tears, and a load of washing up. Whether you want a large food processor with all the bells and whistles or a compact option that you can tuck into a cupboard, you're in the perfect place.

The woman&home food team use food processors every day for recipe development, so I started my search for the best food processor by peeking at the kitchen gadgets they swear by. They showed me their favourites: Rose says the simple, but powerful Cuisinart Easy Prep Pro is the one she'd buy for her home and Georgia loves the stylish Sage with its stress-free design, but there's also a delicious range on offer from Kenwood, MagiMix and Magic Bullet too.

I've spent months testing all of these models in my home, slicing, dicing, mixing, chopping, kneading, whisking, and much much more. If you want the answer to which food processor Mary Berry uses; which food processor I think's the best; and what the best budget-friendly pick is, the answers are just a scroll away.

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The quick list

Here’s a slice of my experience with these food processors, served up faster than you can grate a carrot in one (which, by the way, takes about six seconds). And if you want the full dish, click ‘read more below’ to dive into all the juicy details.

Best food processor overall

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If you've ever wondered which food processor Mary Berry uses, this is the one. Now, I don't make all my life choices according to Mary Berry, but when it comes to the kitchen, I take her advice as gospel.

It's easy to see why this won big in the Berry home. When running, this was easily the quietest food processor on test. It's rare that a food processor can be quiet and powerful, but the 600-watt motor is more than enough to whizz frozen slices of bread into breadcrumbs. I've tested 1,000-watt food processors (ProCook, I'm looking at you), but there wasn't any performance difference.

The stylish design also comes complete with three different bowl sizes and attachments for chopping, slicing, kneading, dicing and much much more. All these attachments, rather than clutter up your cupboard come in a smartly designed storage box. They deliver substance and style.

I'm not the first woman&home expert tester to rave about the merits of Magimix. Molly Cleary used the blender attachment, which is designed to craft soups, milkshakes, and smoothies. She said "even pulsing and blitzing was a quiet task, so I always recommend it to those who might need to cook at odd hours or simply want their cooking to be as unobtrusive as possible."

The 30-year guarantee is the cherry on top of the icing on this food processor cake. Your only drawback is the price tag. It's at least £100 more than comparative offerings. However, the closest warranty on this list is 3 years and if you times the price of any alternatives by ten, you'll see that this is an exceptional investment.

You can find out more in my full review

Best compact food processor

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The Kenwood GO range is designed for urban spaces and compact kitchens, so it's really no surprise that this food processor secured a spot as a space-saving hero. If you need some perspective, this is only 30cm tall and just 15.8cm wide. If you have a kettle, toaster, or even a large cookie jar, you'll know that this is smaller than all three and it's probably cheaper than them all.

The reason this is the best compact food processor is that, in spite of its compact footprint, the Kenwood MultiPro Go still manages to deliver on the credentials of the other models on the list. The 1.3-litre work bowl is just 500ml shy of the Cuisinart Easy Prep Pro, which sets the bar for the average food processor specs. It comes with grating and slicing disks, a sharp blade, and an extra special ExpressServe Chute, which feeds chopped and sliced food straight into your bowl (say goodbye to lengthy washing-up sessions).

Aside from the almost unbelievable capacity and dimensions, the Kenwood MultiPro Go amazed me with its sheer speed and power. It grated a whole carrot in under ten seconds; chopped up onions into even slices in 12 seconds; and I could slice cucumber after cucumber using the ExpressServe Chute. There wasn't a time or capacity limit. The only reason this might not be for you is if you need an extra-large workbowl or more nuanced attachments. You'll see some more cheffy options further down (just wait for the 16-blade ProCook model and the hybrid Kenwood food processor).

You can find out more in my full review.

Best food processor for a family

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I had a sneaking suspicion that Cuisinart's food processor would top the charts, namely, because our Deputy Food Editor, Rose Fooks has told me this is the food processor to buy. She says "it's really good quality and the additional small bowl insert proves to be endlessly useful." I would take her word for it, but I couldn't resist taking the Cuisinart Easy Prep Pro for a spin myself.

As far as the best food processors go, this is simple. You have two bowls: one has a family-sized 1.9L capacity and the other is 700ml for smaller tasks. You get a blade for each bowl and then two grating and slicing disks, one is coarse and the other is fine. That's it. There's no faff or fiddly extras, just simplicity done well.

It's clear that Cuisinart has thought carefully about the Easy Prep Pro's design. There are grippy feet on the underside of the bowl; the controls are clear; and you have measurements printed on the side of the bowl. On top of the neat design features, the blades are sharp, the motor is powerful, and the food processor feels like a really well made piece of kit.

In my tests, I chopped even slices of onion, and sliced a whole courgette in seconds, and got great results from the grating function too. It was quieter than all the other models on this list and when I was finished, the main body was light enough to lift into a cupboard. Sadly, the accessories aren't stored inside the work bowl, which means you need some spare space allocated for accessories, but it's nonetheless as easy to throw in the dishwasher or a cupboard after use. It's a well-made sous chef indeed.

You can find out more in my full review.

Best luxury food processor

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If time-consuming peeling, chopping, and dicing are what keep you from preparing home-cooked meals, let Sage’s Paradice 9 Food Processor lighten the load. This comes with a dizzying array of features packed into a double-level storage box. There's an attachment for cubing your vegetables; a dough blade; and the slicing disc has adjustable settings so that you can change the width to suit your recipe. This might be pricy, but I think it warrants the splurge.

As a keen chef and baker, I couldn't wait to test out all the special accessories as well as the basic functions. The Paradice 9 diced aubergine into neat cubes quickly (can you see where the Paradice name comes from now?); made flawless hummus; and even did a sterling job of my bread dough (it could even give your stand mixer a run for its money.

This isn't the only food processor to go above and beyond on accessories, but I think the avenues that the Sage has taken prove to be more useful to the average enthusiastic home chef. I'm yet to see another food processor that handles storage of all the accessories so neatly: each part is colour-coded, so you can easily slot pieces back into place for easy, tidy storage. If you're cheffy, this is more than worth the splurge. If you're not, you could save money on a lighter, smaller, simpler piece of kitchen kit.

You can find out more in my full review.

Best hybrid food processor

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I should get a few things straight before we get into all things Kenwood MultiPro One Touch. Yes, it's big and the accessories could take up a whole table, but it's actually really easy to store and it's even more versatile too. In this, not only do you get one of the best food processors I've ever used, you also get a family-sized blender, single-serve blender, hand whisk, dough maker, digital scales, and so much more. It's perfect if you want to combine multiple appliances into one, but is also a must-have for bakers: you can use the weighing scale base to make doughs, batters and other recipes that little bit faster, as well as saving space on your worktop.

Fortunately, alongside all this extra functionality, the basics haven’t been forgotten and the Kenwood MultiPro One Touch still works well as a great food processor, with a 3-litre bowl and a 1,000-watt motor. I'm yet to see a food processor bigger than 3 litres (any more capacity would be overkill) and a 1,000-watt motor easily tops the charts for power here, which you can see with how effortlessly this slices, blends, and chops.

The Kenwood handled all its meat and vegetable processing tasks well (although there were some scraps leftover from slicing carrots), and kneaded bread dough with ease. I did note, however, that the higher speed was very whiny. But, with its multitude of attachments, this is one of the best food processors for covering all eventualities.

You can find out more in my full review.

Best budget food processor

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If you're yet to hear me singing the praises of the Magic Bullet Kitchen Express, where have you been? Ever since I've tested this, I've been raving about it. So much so, 12 members of my family have ended up investing in one.

I could have easily given this the award for being the most compact food processor on the market. It's even smaller than the Kenwood MultiPro GO and, whilst it's not quite as robust or spacious, it's a speedy, handy assistant to have in the kitchen. If you want an onion chopped, cheese grated, or cucumber sliced, you can't go wrong with the Magic Bullet. Even better, it has a blender integrated into the design too.

As with anything that errs on the side of cheap and cheerful, this has its quirks. I broke the lid instantly when I dropped it on the floor, for example. However, I'm still limping on with a chunk taken out of the side.

What I can't fault is the consistency and speed with which this works. I haven't even been able to time how long this takes to chop onions, grate carrots, and slice cucumber because it's quicker than I can move. You might need to halve the cucumber to fit it down the kidney-shaped feeding chute, but I think that's a reasonable compromise to make for sheer speed.

This is certainly cheap and cheerful - don't run it needlessly for hours on end - but it's certainly an editor's favourite. We all think it's one of the market's best kept secrets.

You can find out more in my full review.

How we tested the best food processors

The woman&home food team and I have tested these food processors to give a true review of how easy they is to use, clean, and store. We selected our edit especially to include products within a range of different prices, from budget to more expensive options. Our selection also varies from well-known to more niche brands to offer a full representation of the best models on the market.

We tested each of the best food processors below over a period of weeks to properly assess the capabilities and strengths, as well as any weaknesses to cope with the demands of a busy kitchen where a food processor is frequently used.

Each food processor has been tested on a number of criteria. This included:

• Blending power and performance – arguably the most important factor, our tester spent hours assessing the grating, pureeing, and slicing capabilities for each model to follow our favorite food processor recipes.
• Ease of use – we looked at how simple it is to change the blades for different purposes, and how efficiently the bowl components attach and detach without spillages.
• Sound control – we put the noise factor to the test, seeing what it was like to use them throughout the different times of the day.
• Design aesthetic – including its dimensions and weight, which would determine if it was more suitable for kitchen countertops or best stored away.
• Price tag – to give better value for money and test more expensive models to justify the higher price tag.

If you want to find out more about the process, you can visit our dedicated page which gives all the details on how we test food processors.

What to consider when choosing the best food processor for you

Before investing in a food processor, it's crucial to evaluate the following:

• Size and capacity: consider how much worktop or cupboard space is available in your kitchen. Compact models are a good option if space is limited, but they can still have a bulky extra kit to store. It's also good to consider the bowl/cup capacity of the food processor e.g how much food they can mix at a time. Generally, a 2.5L capacity is more than enough for the average household.
• Budget: the best food processors can vary hugely in price, much like the best induction pans. Around £100 is a good minimum, although some can come close to the £1,000 mark. So set your budget and stick to it: spending more doesn't necessarily mean a superior model.
• Attachments: most models come with a multi-purpose chopping and mixing blade, a dough blade, and usually two reversible discs for slicing and shredding, but some have even more. There can be a whisk attachment or disc, chipping discs, a grinder for spices, as well as personal smoothie cups and blades. Consider which ones you need or want.
• Wattage: wattage is a good indicator of a food processor's power. Anything with a wattage of over 500 should be plenty. It's important to note that wattage doesn't always indicate how well the food processor will work. The general build of the machine is important to consider here too.
• Cleaning: for easy care, look for models with dishwasher-safe parts. Or, if you’re cleaning by hand, choose a streamlined design that has as few places as possible where food debris can gather.

FAQs

Is a food processor worth buying?

If you do lots of cooking from scratch and find that you spend a lot of time preparing (e.g cutting, chopping, and blending ingredients) you might find that a food processor is well worth having.

The best food processors can help you to do all sorts of cooking tasks, from grinding nuts to chopping herbs or slicing up vegetables such as onions, peppers, and mushrooms. Food processors can also assist you with more unusual kitchen prep, such as making breadcrumbs, sauces, and even things like dough and batter. Plus, it's easy to learn how to use a food processor, especially compared to more complex gadgets.

So if you often find yourself frustrated at having to do these things manually, or find they take up a lot of time, a food processor could be the perfect purchase to make your cooking much easier and more efficient. They can certainly be a great way to save time and automate the cooking process. Overall, we reckon that one of the very best food processors is well worth buying for busy cooks.

What size of food processor do I need?

First, consider the space you have in your kitchen. Some food processors can be big and bulky, whereas others are small, slimline, and designed for smaller areas. If you have plenty of counter space to spare, feel free to consider all of the above options. If you don't, a smaller processor might be the best bet for keeping an organised kitchen.

When it comes to the capacity of the mixer, the decision again depends on how you plan to use your food processor. If you cook a lot, and for a big family, you'll need a larger cup and/or bowl size. But, if you're a solo cook, cook only for a couple or a small family, or plan to use your food processor only on occasion, you won't need such big sizes. Generally, a 2.5L bowl capacity will be more than enough for most cooks. An 11-cup size food processor is usually also a great option for most people. However, it's worth bearing in mind that if you only plan on doing small tasks with your food processor, such as whizzing up herbs or nuts, you'll likely only need a lot less.

It's also good to check that your food processor has a wide feed chute (which most of the best food processors will have). Having a wider chute in your machine means that you won't need to do as much food prep (e.g chopping vegetables into smaller pieces) before using.

What food processor attachments do I need?

Regardless of brand and price, the most common food processor attachments include:

• Main blade knife: this generally comes in two sizes, suitable for small and large bowls. They're double-sided and sharp, blitzing and pureeing tough food particles to create smooth sauces, soups, dips, and dressings.
• Shredding disc: the shredding disc, often referred to as a grating disc, sits on top of the bowl and grates items that come through the feed tube located on the lid. This blade is exceptional for cutting cheese and vegetables.
• Slicing disc: similar to the shredding disc, this attachment is placed on top of the food processor to cut items passed through the feed tube. It's great for thinly slicing vegetables, potatoes, and other dense ingredients.
• Dough blade: this short, blunt plastic blade will pull, tear, and knead the dough. As a result, the dough will rise faster since it's already slightly warm. It's great for helping you prepare bread, cake, scones, and pizzas.
• Egg whisk: albeit designed to beat egg whites and whole eggs, this attachment also whips cream and mashed potatoes. It also saves space in your kitchen, as you won't need to purchase a separate electric whisk.

Most of the best food processors come with these attachments as a minimum. But be sure you check to see what is included in the food processor you are considering buying, as not every appliance has every attachment. It also helps to consider how many you want to incorporate into your kitchen cleaning routine, too.

Do I need a processor with variable speeds?

Most food processors only have one or two speeds at a maximum, so there's no need to go hunting around for mixers with multiple speeds or more speeds than that. Generally, the attachments are where you'll find the most variations.

That being said, speed determines your appliance's ability to mix, emulsify, and prepare food. For that reason, choose a food processor with a high-speed setting. Most food processors with high-speed settings operate at around 1,700 to 1,800 revolutions per minute (rpm). Newer models even feature multiple speeds, ranging upwards of 3,700 rpm. These food processors expedite food prep, making the process far quicker and easier. More basic models, however, often run slower at around 275 to 800 rpm.