Chopping, shredding and slicing can seem pretty overwhelming if you're not comfortable using a chef's knife
. Enter the mighty food processor! One of these countertop appliances can make ingredient prep a breeze, whether it's shredding carrots for a cake, whizzing up pesto or slicing zucchini rounds for a stir-fry. I gathered 10 of the most popular models to see which performed best, were intuitive to use and easy to clean.
Similar to blenders
, food processors come in a range of sizes, from mini 3-cup models to 16-cup options, with different inserts and blades for various tasks. Most are corded, but there are a few cordless models, and some are attachments meant to be used with your blender. I browsed hundreds of models for this guide to the best food processors of 2026. As Yahoo's resident cookware tester, I decided to cap the price at $350 — you can find plenty of great models for this or less — but I plan to include the pricier Magimix Compact 5200 XL Food Processor
in future testing.
In this story
Best food processors of 2026
Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo
Capacity:13 cups | Dimensions:8.75"D x 10.25"W x 17.44"H | Power:500 watts | Attachments and accessories:Standard S-blade, adjustable slicing disc, reversible shredding disc, dough blade, storage caddy | Warranty:1-year limited
What we liked:This incredibly easy-to-use food processor from KitchenAid was a surprising winner. I unfairly assumed the Cuisinart Custom Food Processor would earn the top spot, but this model wowed me with its performance for the price. It's an excellent value.
At almost $100 less than the Cuisinart, this machine proved itself with evenly chopped onion, fluffy shredded cheese, sliced zucchini and properly emulsified mayonnaise. I love the intuitive control panel, though I wish there were a dedicated "on" button.
One of my favorite features is the hinged, removable lid, which eliminates the twist-and-lock issues food processors tend to suffer from. Another praiseworthy point of differentiation is the storage caddy that houses all the attachments right inside the work bowl for a very tidy cleanup. Despite its substantial size, the sturdy base, which boasts convenient cord storage, is not very heavy and is fairly easy to move from the cabinet to the counter and back.
Minor criticisms:The size and shape of this model make it quite bulky. Be sure to measure your storage space before purchasing, as this model is over 17 inches tall.
- Intuitive control panel
- Lots of attachments with storage caddy that fits inside the work bowl
- Generous capacity
- Hinged lid
- Lightweight yet sturdy base
- Bulky shape and size
- No dedicated "on" button
Capacity:12 cups | Dimensions:13"D x 12.2"W x 16"H | Power:550 watts | Attachments and accessories:Standard S-blade, reversible shredding disc, reversible slicing disc, French fry disc, dough blade, emulsifier disc, mini chopping bowl, spatula | Warranty:1-year limited
What we liked:A straightforward appliance like this food processor from GE is exactly what you need to prep holiday meals, pie crusts and batches of hummus ... at a price that's far below many of our top performers. I appreciated its many accessories and the control dial with pulse, low and high speed settings.
This machine handled chopping onions, shredding a block of cheese, slicing zucchini and emulsifying mayo fairly well. At first, I wasn't 100% sure I had installed the shredding blade correctly because of how it sits in the machine, but it worked perfectly. There wasn't anything tricky about locking or unlocking the lid, either, unlike other machines I've used.
The highlight here is the incredible versatility of the attachments included with this model. In addition to the usual S-blade, shredding and slicing discs, there's a French fry disc, a dough blade, an emulsifier disc and a mini chopping bowl attachment, plus a spatula. And all of these components are dishwasher-safe.
Minor criticisms:This machine left some small chunks of food unprocessed. This created more food waste than I would have liked.
- Easy to assemble and lock in lid and attachements
- Straightforward control dial
- Lots of accessories increase its versatility
- Some small chunks of food were left unprocessed
Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo
Capacity:4 cups | Dimensions:9"D x 11"W x 6"H | Power:250 watts | Attachments and accessories:Standard S-blade | Warranty:18-month limited
What we liked:Fellow Yahoo home writer Kristin Granero calls this Cuisinart mini chopper small but mighty. It's a perfect meal prep partner if you cook for two people and/or use a food processor infrequently. This little machine can chop, grind, emulsify and purée with two speed settings and is powerful enough that Granero named it a top pick in our guide to the best vegetable choppers .
When compared to the other mini food processor I tested, it was easier to use and produced more evenly chopped onions and a decent mayonnaise emulsion. I can see using this little appliance for whipping up small batches of pesto, dressing and sauces.
The cup, lid and blade insert go right in the dishwasher. And at 4 cups, it's big enough to prep larger portions. It's sleek and compact, taking up very little room on the kitchen counter, and also light enough to take in and out of the cabinet frequently.
Minor criticisms:You have to hold down the chop or grind button continuously while using the processor.
- Compact and easy to store
- Two speed settings
- Blade stores inside the work bowl
- You have to hold down the chop or grind button continuously to use
Capacity:14 cups | Dimensions:11" x 7.9" x 14.8" | Power:720 watts | Attachments and accessories:Standard S-blade, slicing disc, shredding disc | Warranty:Limited 3-year on entire appliance; full 5-year motor warranty
What we liked:There's a reason the general population often uses "Cuisinart" as the general term for a food processor. The brand has been churning out these best-in-class kitchen appliances for decades, and they perform well over time, which justifies the price (I've been using the same one for 20 years).
The three included attachments may seem basic — the S-blade, a slicing disc and a shredding disc — but they're really all you need to get almost any task accomplished. This model handled chopping onions, shredding cheese and slicing zucchini very well. And it made the best mayonnaise emulsion of all of the models I tested. The super-simple pulse and on/off tab buttons are strangely satisfying to use and leave no room for confusion.
Despite its generous capacity, this model is fairly compact, measuring only about 15 inches tall, so it should have no trouble fitting under the shelf of a kitchen cabinet. The bowl, lid and attachments are all dishwasher-safe.
Minor criticisms:I wish locking and unlocking the lid were a bit easier. This is an issue I've noticed with both my 20-year-old machine and the new one I used for this round of testing. It would be nice if Cuisinart included a storage solution for attachments, so you don't have to hunt through drawers or shelves for very sharp discs and blades. After a particularly annoying hunt for the disc stem, I did some research and found that Cuisinart sells a standalone storage solution for blades and discs , but it's $40.
- Straightforward pulse and power tab buttons
- Generous capacity
- Wide feeding tube
- Dishwasher-safe components
- Locking and unlocking the lid and assembling the attachments can be tricky
- No storage solution for attachments
Capacity:9 cups | Dimensions:9"D x 7.7"W x 15.5" | Power:625 watts | Attachments and accessories:Stainless-steel spindle, micro-serrated S-blade, adjustable slicer with 15 settings, reversible shredder, dough blade | Warranty:2-year limited product warranty and 30-year induction motor warranty
What we liked:This is a high-end powerhouse of a food processor in a compact 9-cup size (the 12-cup size is pictured here, but was discontinued at the time of publication), which is plenty if you're cooking for four. Right off the bat, I appreciated how easy it is to assemble this machine. There are helpful arrows and directions for locking and unlocking the lid, as well as clearly marked measurements on the side of the bowl. It's a well-designed appliance, which is what I expect from Breville.
It outperformed all the other food processors I tested, producing evenly diced onion, properly shredded cheese, zucchini slices that would make great fried zucchini chips and a fluffy mayonnaise emulsion. The adjustable slicing disc has 15 settings, so you can get the exact thickness you're looking for, and all the attachments fit in the integrated storage caddy, which sits inside the work bowl.
Minor criticisms:Though most of the parts are top-rack dishwasher-safe, the brand recommends handwashing the work bowl and lid because "prolonged exposure to harsh detergents, hot water and pressure will damage and shorten the life of the plastic and the interlock components." But if someone runs them through the dishwasher once or twice, it shouldn't be a huge problem.
- High power
- Easy to snap components into place
- Adjustable slicing disc
- Wide 4.7-inch feed chute
- Stable base
- Expensive
- Breville recommends handwashing the bowl and lid
Factors to consider when choosing a food processor
Here's what we looked for in a food processor and what you should keep in mind while shopping.
✓ Capacity:There's truly a food processor sized for every home. If you have a tiny kitchen, there's a mini chopper that'll help you with everyday tasks. If you have more space and like to prep for large holiday meals, you can opt for a processor with a 12-cup or larger capacity. Always take note of the height if you're planning to use it on a counter with a cabinet above it or store it in a particular cabinet.
✓ Attachments and accessories:Depending on how you'll use the processor, you may not need a ton of accessories outside of the standard S-blade for chopping, shredder and slicing discs. But if you plan on using your food processor to make pie dough or fries — or want things cut at a very specific size — it's worth looking for extras like dough blades and adjustable slicing discs. Accessories, such as storage caddies and spatulas are nice bonus items and can add to the value of your machine.
✓ Settings/speeds:An obvious must here is a pulse button, but if you like the ability to operate the food processor at various speeds, it's helpful to have a low- and high-speed option or settings such as chop, grind, puree, knead and slice.
✓ Ease of cleaning:After each test, I cleaned the parts to see how difficult they were to wash by hand and noted whether or not the parts could go in the dishwasher.
How we tested food processors
After opening each box, I washed the parts with a soapy sponge and warm water, inspected the appliances for any scratches or dings, and recorded if any setup was involved and the care instructions. I used each machine to dice, shred, slice and emulsify, and I cleaned all the parts after each task. I noted if the machines were particularly noisy or messy, how heavy and stable they were, and whether they were bulky or difficult to store.
To rank on our list, the food processors had to excel in the following:
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Chop test:I placed a quartered onion through the feeder to see how evenly the resulting pieces were and if there was much onion left unchopped.
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Slice test:I used a whole zucchini with the slicing blade and took note of how even the slices were and if there was much zucchini left unsliced.
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Shred test:I used a block of cheddar cheese to test the shredding blade and took note of how even the shreds were, if there was a lot of cheese left unshredded and if the cheese excessively stuck to the blade.
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Emulsify test:I whizzed up egg and oil to see how each model handled emulsifying mayonnaise.
Other food processorswe tested
Vitamix 12-Cup Food Processor Attachment :If you're a Vitamix blender fan, listen up — you can turn any Vitamix Ascent or Venturist Series blender into a food processor with this pricey ($250) attachment. It sits on top of the blender base, just like the blender pitcher would, and produced the best zucchini slices of all the models I tested; however, the lid was quite challenging to snap on and off. If you're in the market for the best blender food processor combo, check this one out.
Ninja Professional Plus 9-Cup Food Processor :True to Ninja form, this medium-size food processor has lots of functionality and a 1,000-watt motor. I generally prefer a simpler control panel than this one's which has function buttons (chop, puree, and dough), in addition to the usual pulse, low, and high speed buttons. The powerful motor didn't result in uniform chops, shreds or slices.
Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Stack and Snap Food Processor :This budget-friendly food processor produced evenly chopped onions and shredded cheese, but left some cheese chunks unshredded and completely failed at the mayonnaise emulsion — the S-blade wasn't close enough to the bottom of the bowl and could not reach the small amount of egg and oil. I appreciate that you can store the attachments inside the work bowl.
Hamilton Beach Bowl Scraper 10-Cup Food Processor :I love the idea of the built-in bowl scraper included with this model, but it only works with the S-blade for chopped ingredients. The parts and base of this model felt flimsy and the 450-watt motor was incredibly noisy — both major deterrents.
KitchenAid Cordless 5-Cup Food Chopper :After just 10 minutes of charging, I was able to use this cordless mini chopper anywhere in the kitchen, which is a nice perk. It comes with two attachments, an S-blade and a whisk accessory, and it performed similarly to the Cuisinart Mini Prep mentioned above. But at about $100 or more, it's almost twice the price and I can't say it offers twice the value.
Other food processors we plan to test
As mentioned above, I will test the pricey Magimix Compact 5200 XL Food later this year. I'm also excited to try the Ninja BL770 Kitchen System , a $200-ish option that gets rave reviews on Amazon, with 4.7 stars from more than 90,000 shoppers.
How to clean a food processor
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Disassemble the food processor after using.
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Rinse blades and components immediately to prevent food from sticking as it dries. Place dishwasher-safe parts in the top rack. Do not submerge the base or get it wet.
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Let items dry on a rack or dry them with a clean dish towel.
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Wipe the base with a damp cloth.
Best food processor specs comparison chart
| Capacity |
Power |
Attachments and accessories |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| KitchenAid Food Processor |
13 cups |
500 watts |
Standard S-blade, adjustable slicing disc, reversible shredding disc, dough blade, storage caddy |
| GE Food Processor |
12 cups |
550 watts |
Standard S-blade, reversible shredding disc, reversible slicing disc, French fry disc, dough blade, emulsifier disc, mini chopping bowl, spatula |
| Cuisinart 14-Cup Custom Food Processor |
14 cups |
720 watts |
Standard S-blade, slicing disc, shredding disc |
| Cuisinart Mini Prep Plus Processor |
3 cups |
250 watts |
Standard S-blade |
| Breville Sous Chef Food Processor |
9 cups |
625 watts |
Standard S-blade, storage caddy, dicing kit, reversible shredder, adjustable slicer, dough blade |
Food processorFAQs
What's the difference between a food processor and a blender?
Blenders are generally designed with one blade and a tall jar and are usually used for recipes that need to be pureed or liquified. Food processors tend to have multiple blades and a wider work bowl. They can chop, shred, slice, puree and mix dough.
Can you make pie crust in a food processor?
Yes! Making pie crust in a food processor is easy and efficient using the pulse function. The blade (either a standard steel S-blade or a plastic dough blade) can cut the butter into the flour without warming it up, producing a flaky, tender crust.
What size food processor should I get?
How will you use it? If its mainly for chopping vegetables for meal prep, consider a mini food processor like the Cuisinart Mini Prep mentioned above, which typically has a 2- to 4-cup capacity. If you'll only use this appliance a few times a year, you can start with an 8- or 10-cup capacity model, which can handle all chopping, slicing and shredding tasks, plus is big enough for mixing up dough. If you're well-versed in food processors and want something large enough for prepping large holiday meals, batch cooking and bread making, try a model with a 12- to 14-cup capacity like the KitchenAid 13-Cup Food Processor mentioned above.
We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.
