The best food processors in 2022 to help you prepare meals in minutes

The best food processors will save you both time and energy, given the huge range of food prep functions they can perform — whisking, grating, pureeing and even kneading dough. 

But, as with most kitchen gadgets and appliances, there are many options to choose from. To help you out, we’ve tested and evaluated the best options on the market, Our list spans all budgets, and features mixers from many of the top brands including KitchenAid, Bosch, Kenwood and Cuisinart. 

Our expert tester Rachel Ogden assessed each food processor on how easy it was to clean, assemble and store, and how well the processor actually performed. Like the best blenders, food processors are multi-functional, so they needed to excel at every task—from mincing to grating—in order to shine for us.

What are the top 5 food processors?

Below we have a thorough review of every food processor we've tested. But if you're only interested in knowing which food processors are the best of the best, here's a glance at our top five picks based on hours of rigorous testing:

1. KitchenAid 2.1L Food Processor (opens in new tab): Crowned as the best food processor overall for its innovative design and powerful performance.
2. Sage The Kitchen Wizz / Breville Sous Chef (opens in new tab): This runner-up is the best luxury option that can peel, mince and dice in very little time.
3. Bosch MultiTalent 3 Food Processor (opens in new tab):  This budget food processor is capable of performing up to 50 functions with the appropriate accessories (UK only).
4. Cuisinart Easy Prep Pro Food Processor (opens in new tab): The best food processor for families, it comes with a pair of nesting bowls for flexible cooking.
5. Kenwood MultiPro Compact+ Food Processor (opens in new tab):  Rounding out our top five is this Kenwood model, which also chops, whisks, scales and blends (UK only).

The best food processors as reviewed by our experts

Assembling a food processor can be a pain, especially if there are multiple parts to slot together, or if lids don’t lock in place easily. The KitchenAid 2.1L food processor eliminates these problems. The bowl drops onto the base and the lid hinges neatly on top. The hinged lid should be a bonus for anyone with very little counter space too, as there's no need to find extra room to set the lid down whilst emptying the mixer. 

The KitchenAid 2.1L food processor also comes with plenty of power for chopping and mincing, so much so that during testing it did tend to shuffle around on the worktop, meaning you may need to keep hold of it while it’s in use. That being said, everything we processed went through without any struggle, and while the bowl is slightly too compact for a family-sized loaf, the dough we made in it did rise and bake well. 

Smartly designed and powerful to boot, this is a solid buy for everyday use—and given that a KitchenAid appliance is practically a kitchen essential, there was no doubt that it would make our guide to the best food processors.

See our full KitchenAid 2.1L Food Processor review

If time-consuming peeling, chopping, and dicing are what keep you from preparing home cooked meals, let Sage’s The Kitchen Wizz Peel & Dice — known as the Breville Sous Chef Peel & Dice in the US — lighten the load. This food processor comes with a dizzying array of features packed into a double-level storage box. There’s also a mini bowl and blade for small quantities, plus a “quad” blade that provides additional fine chopping capabilities (when compared to the double blade you’ll find with most other processors). It's certainly a pricy compared to other food processors in this list, so this one is more of an investment purchase. 

In our tests, it made short work of almost everything. The chicken was minced in seconds, while the dicing system turned carrots into neat cubes quickly. It also did a sterling job making and kneading bread dough, but when it came to peeling potatoes, the results weren’t the seamless, clean prep we’d hoped for—peel missed and indentations in the flesh meant we had to finish the job by hand. Overall, however, it's a comprehensive piece of kitchen kit that makes short work of most meal prep. 

See our full Sage the Kitchen Wizz Peel & Dice Food Processor review

For a multipurpose machine that won’t blow your budget, look no further than the Bosch MultiTalent 3 Food Processor. While it’s a relatively compact appliance, it still manages to pack in a roomy 2.3-liter bowl (with space to whisk up to six egg whites) and enough accessories to serve 50 functions, so you’re unlikely to ever be stuck without the right tool. Its one-liter blender jug is great for keeping on hand for soups and smoothies, plus the mini chopper/grinder is sure to get plenty of use for all those smaller jobs that don’t require a full-sized processor bowl. 

In tests, it performed well, slicing through carrots and chicken with ease, and kneading dough without any problems, making it one of our best food processors to buy. Our only niggle was that the high-speed setting could be a little whiny. However is small but mighty and in a compact kitchen this machine does a great job.

See our full Bosch MultiTalent 3 MCM3501MGB Food Processor review

While the smaller model of this is one of our picks of the best mini food processors, and we consider this model, the larger version, to be one of the best food processors out there. 

The addition of a smaller bowl, nesting inside the larger one, is the key to the Cuisinart Easy Prep Pro food processor's greatness. The mini bowl has its own blade and has a seal around the rim, meaning that you can whizz up small amounts of food without getting the main bowl dirty. This miniature feature is perfect for everything from chopping a handful of herbs, to making a quick batch of hummus or freshly prepared baby food. In tests, the processor handled bread dough without any issues, and also worked its way through meat and vegetables easily. 

The push-button controls can be tricky to get the hang of, plus the spindle is static so has to be cleaned in situ. Other than those small irritants, it’s one of our best food processors and should prove to be a worthwhile investment for families. 

This particular model doesn't appear to be sold in the US. The most comparable one we can find is the Cuisinart Elemental Food Processor (opens in new tab), which also has a 350-watt motor and comes with reversible discs for slicing and dicing.

See our full Cuisinart Easy Prep Pro Food Processor review

Much like the best cookware, the Kenwood MultiPro Compact+ is undeniably versatile. It won’t just be your food processor, it’ll also be your full-sized blender, mini chopper, personal blender, hand whisk, and scales. That’s because, as well as a whole box of attachments and tools, its base can be used to weigh out ingredients as you go. This means that it's great for bakers—as you can 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 FDM312SS MultiPro Compact+ still works well as a great food processor, with a 2.1L bowl and a compact footprint that won’t hog workspace. It handled all its meat and vegetable processing tasks well (although there were some scraps leftover from slicing carrots), and kneaded bread dough with ease. We 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 bakers.

See our full Kenwood FDM312SS MultiPro Compact+ Food Processor review

The Magimix 5200XL has a stylish, quality design, with a price that reflects that. But you do get a lot for your money. With the main bowl, midi bowl, and mini bowl, along with what feels like a zillion attachments, you can chop, slice, knead and dice however you like. It even doubles as a blender with an attachment designed to craft soups, milkshakes, smoothies to your liking. 

It is also ultra-quiet. Whether you’re pulsing or blitzing, it’s as quiet as a mouse, making it a great pick for those who might need to cook at odd hours or simply want their cooking to be as unobtrusive as possible. Overall, this is a luxury operation that's worth the investment if you can afford it. 

The NutriChef Multipurpose food processor reigns over the market for its sleek, compact design that can still be loaded to the brim. This food processor touts a 2L capacity: it can hold up to 12 cups of dry ingredients and nine cups of liquid ingredients (that's a lot of food). And it has a time-efficient 600W motor, which is pretty powerful.

One feature we particularly liked is its electronic overload feature, which prevents and protects the motor from overheating. The best food processors should be stable and secure when you use them—and luckily, this one has a handy silicone rubber bottom, a feature that means you can easily suction the machine to your countertop to strengthen your hold on it and ensure it doesn’t slip around.

Just because it's petite, doesn't mean this compact food processor isn't robust. With just one touch of the on/off button, the Kocbelle Electric Small Food Processor chops chilies, vegetables, baby food, garlic, and even meats in mere seconds. Having said that, the detachable, stainless steel blades are the true heroes, as they can grate, slice, mince, and blend at different angles. They're also easy to clean, dishwasher safe, and don't rust easily.

Another noteworthy perk is its rechargeable function, so you don't need to bother with annoying cords—a great feature for kitchens with limited space. We also love its fun sage green color. Note: It should be charged every three months to prevent damage if you don't plan on using this device frequently.

For first-time and veteran parents, the Beaba Babycook Neo is a dependable food processor that simplifies feeding. This appliance steams, blends, heats, purees, and defrosts a range of mini-meals, eliminating the need for additional appliances. It's conveniently compact and made of eco-friendly materials. It's BPA-, lead- and phthalate-free.

During testing, we appreciated the Neo's non-intricate system for steaming and blending. For steaming, the process is simple and takes less than 20 minutes. First, fill the water reservoir, place your ingredients in the included steamer basket, and touch the steam button. For mixing, transfer your food into the blender and hold the pulse button until you get your desired consistency. You won't need too many dishes, so cleanup is a breeze. Plus, its sleek profile and contemporary color palette will compliment any kitchen space. Overall, a convenient stylish pick, and one of the best food processors for parents. 

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/$100 is a good minimum, although some can come close to the £1,000/$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. 

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 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—such as the Cuisinart, or the Kitchenaid—might be the best bet for keeping an organized 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.