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From blenders to stand mixers, kitchen appliances can make the normally tedious world of cooking easier. One such kitchen workhorse is a food processor, which can chop, dice, grind and slice everything from onions and parsley to cheese and potatoes. This is a convenient choice if you are in a hurry, have labor-intensive recipes, or are just intimidated by sharp knives-unlike blenders with a blade-like structure, you don’t even have to add any liquid to get the results you want .

"Food processors definitely help speed up recipe preparation," said Diamond Wynn, a recipe developer at HelloFresh. "I prefer to use them to make large-volume sauces that require smaller cuts-it allows natural flavors and liquids to mix together, which may make it impossible to cut by hand on the cutting board."

We consulted experts to break down what to look for when buying a food processor, compiled some of their suggestions, and compiled other highly rated options based on their guidance.

Learn more about how to buy a food processor

The Cuisinart food processor is the favorite among the experts we interviewed-Ariane Resnick, a special diet chef and certified dietitian, she said that her current food processor is more than ten years old. "They are easy to use, quick to assemble, and easy to obtain replacement parts," Wynn added. This 14-cup model has almost all the basic functions required for efficient operation of a food processor: large bowl, sturdy base, large feed tube and stainless steel standard parts, slicing and chopping blades. Its 720-watt motor is slightly weaker than many other high-capacity food processors, but this does not seem to deter customers: it currently receives an average rating of 4.7 stars from more than 8,000 Amazon reviews.

This 9-cup food processor has an average rating of 4.8 stars from more than 2,500 Amazon shoppers and has a variety of preset settings — including chop, puree, and dough — to customize the speed according to what you make. In addition to the standard blade, Ninja Professional Plus also includes a dough blade and a reversible slicing and shredding plate, which you can easily replace on the center post of the bowl. Victoria Abdelhady, HelloFresh’s head of cooking assurance, said: “I appreciate these accessories. They have a good replacement policy and warranty, and their processors are equipped with blades that can hold bread and cookie dough.”

All parts can be cleaned in the dishwasher. The brand recommends using pulsed warm water and 1-2 small drops of detergent to quickly clean bowls and blades.

For the mini food processor option, this 3.5 cup chopper from KitchenAid is compact and has two basic speeds-shredding and puree-and a pulse option for greater control. This dishwasher-safe device is convenient for people who don’t often cook and would rather use a food processor to quickly chop smaller ingredients such as garlic and parsley or prepare sauces and dips. The KitchenAid food chopper currently has a 4.6-star rating from more than 11,000 Amazon buyers and is available in more than 10 different colors, including Empire Red and Majestic Yellow.

This affordable option in Hamilton Beach comes with an average 8-cup bowl, a 450-watt motor, and an easy-to-use dial with two speeds and a pulse option. The brand claims that its large feed tube can put a whole piece of cheese, and its reversible shredding and slicing plate can quickly cut vegetables, sauces and dips. It weighs 5 pounds, is light, and can be moved in your kitchen, and the top cover can be flipped for compact and space-saving storage. It has an average rating of 4.6 stars, comes from more than 11,500 Amazon reviewers, and also offers 10 cup models.

If you are looking for a heavy-duty option, then the 16-cup Breville Sous Chef has a powerful 1,200 watt motor that can withstand large groups of feeding or double recipes. It also comes with a 2.5 cup working bowl for small jobs and a mini blade that can hold it. Other accessories and accessories include S-shaped blade, dough blade, five slicing discs (adjustable slicer, shredder, French fries, whiskers and reversible shredder), spatula, cleaning brush and storage box. For those looking for a smaller version, Breville also offers a 12-cup Sous Chef food processor with a 1000 watt motor and similar accessories.

The Oster food processing technology has a 10-cup capacity and a large feed tube that is easy to assemble. It is 5 inches wide and is suitable for a variety of sizes of vegetables, including carrots and onions. According to the brand, it includes an S blade, a dough blade, and a multifunctional reversible shredding and slicing tray. Its detachable BPA-free parts can be dishwasher-washed. This food processor has an average rating of 4.3 stars from nearly 2,000 shoppers on Amazon.

Food processors usually have four main components: a bowl, a sharp chopping blade, a base with a motor and controller, and a removable cover. According to Wynn, the lid sometimes comes with a feed tube (usually called a food chute), and you can choose to add ingredients or "[slowly] pour liquid or oil to improve sauces such as pesto and hummus, etc. Dipping sauce". She pointed out that the feed tube can be convenient because sometimes the lid must be removed to add ingredients "will compromise the integrity of the texture and flavor."

Resnick recommends buying a food processor "realistically, not ambitiously." "Choose your appliances based on what you have already done in the kitchen and choose the equipment that matches them," she said. "Whether it's a cheap mini chopper or the largest capacity size with all the bells and whistles, the decision should be based on your current long-term cooking habits and not on the Pinterest section."

Food processors usually include up to three basic types of blades:

Although the standard blade can be used to chop vegetables or prepare thick homemade dips such as hummus, it may be sufficient for most home cooks, but you can use slicing and chopping blades to simplify dishes, such as roasting Cut the butter for potato chips or freshly baked recipes. "You will know if you [will] use them, because you are used to mandolin or box grater," Resnick said.

You can also purchase some additional accessories, such as plastic dough blades for kneading bread and pizza dough, or mixer accessories that can easily juice fruits and vegetables into smoothies.

The capacity and size of food processors vary-experts tell us that you can determine the size that is right for you by considering how often you use the food processor, the size of the space, and how many ingredients your recipe usually requires. "Don't buy things that are too small to meet your needs, and don't be too big to store them properly," Resnick said.

The 8-cup model is a standard medium-sized capacity, suitable for people who do not plan to use a large amount of raw materials or who are just starting to use a food processor. It may be effective for the needs of most food processors, such as chopped vegetables and other foods.

Larger food processors range in capacity from 11 to 20 cups-these can hold family-sized meals or double the ingredients for a recipe. Models between 11 and 14 cups are generally more suitable for home use because of their versatility and a more manageable size, and they can still withstand larger quantities and harder ingredients such as dense dough.

For smaller quantities, a mini food processor (usually between 2 and 4 cups) can be added to your essentials well, even if you already have a full-size version. Resnick points out that she has a mini 2-cup food processor and uses it more frequently than a 14-cup machine. "It's perfect for small batches of sauces or tons of garlic chopped up," she added.

Abdelhady pointed out that she used a 3.5-cup processor to make simple sauces and spice mixes, but was later upgraded to a larger 8-cup model to ensure she could "make something other than vegetable base."

Most food processors have a speed and pulse option, which allows you to control the amount of processed ingredients without risking over-processing. However, some models may come with low, medium, and high speed settings, allowing you greater control. The power of the motor is also an important consideration, especially for full-size food processors. The average size (between 7 and 9 cups) should be 400 watts or higher, while larger models (11 cups and above) should usually be 750 watts or higher. A good rule of thumb is that the bigger the machine, the more powerful the motor.

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