A food processor chops, slices, shreds and purees faster than a knife and board. The choices that matter are bowl size, the discs and blades included, and how easy the parts are to wash and store.
The six food processors below range from a 3 cup chopper to a 14 cup model. Sizes, wattage and attachments come from each product’s listing page. We have not used these food processors ourselves. One listing gives peak watts rather than continuous watts, and we mark it.
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What to Look For
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Bowl size | 3 to 14 cups, from herbs to a large batch of dough |
| Discs and blades | Slicing, shredding and chopping parts set what it can do |
| Motor | Check whether the watts are continuous or peak |
| Controls and cleanup | Pulse, speeds and dishwasher-safe parts |
Specs at a Glance
| Food processor | Size and power | Bowl | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja BN601 | 7.76 x 9.88 x 16.02 in; 1000 peak W | 9 cups | 4 Auto-iQ presets; dough blade included |
| Hamilton Beach 3-cup chopper | 5.2 x 5.9 x 8.5 in; 350 W | 3 cups | Stack and press; oil dispenser in lid |
| BLACK+DECKER 8-cup | 8.9 x 8.7 x 15.2 in; 450 W | 8 cups | Reversible slice and shred disc; low, high, pulse |
| Cuisinart DFP-14BCNY | 11 x 7.9 x 14.8 in; 720 W | 14 cups | 4 mm slicing disc; medium shredding disc; extra-large feed tube |
| Hamilton Beach 70730 | 8.5 x 10 x 16 in; 450 W | 10 cups | Built-in bowl scraper; 2 speeds |
| Cuisinart FP-5 | 7.9 x 5.91 x 13.31 in; 300 W | 5 cups | Reversible disc; cord storage |
The 6 Best Food Processors
1. Ninja Professional Plus Food Processor, 9-Cup, BN601
A 9 cup processor listed at 1000 peak watts, a figure that is not the same as continuous watts. It has four Auto-iQ preset programs for chopping, slicing, pureeing and dough, stainless steel precision blades and a dough blade. The listing gives 7.76 by 9.88 by 16.02 inches.
Suits: one-touch presets. Strengths: presets and a dough blade. Weaknesses: a peak-watt figure. Skip it if you want manual speeds only.
View Ninja Professional Plus Food Processor, 1000PW, 9-Cup, Grey, BN601 on Amazon
2. Hamilton Beach 3 Cup Electric Vegetable Chopper
A 350 watt, 3 cup chopper that stacks and presses to run, with stainless steel blades, an oil dispenser in the lid for dressings and dips, and dishwasher-safe parts. It is 5.2 by 5.9 by 8.5 inches.
Suits: onions, nuts and small batches. Strengths: a small size and easy assembly. Weaknesses: no slicing or shredding disc listed. Skip it if you shred cheese.
View Hamilton Beach 3 Cup Electric Vegetable Chopper and Mini Food Processor on Amazon
3. BLACK+DECKER 8-Cup Food Processor
A 450 watt, 8 cup processor with a stainless steel S-blade, a reversible slice and shred disc, touchpad low, high and pulse controls and a lid that acts as the locking mechanism. It measures 8.9 by 8.7 by 15.2 inches.
Suits: salsa, hummus and shredded cheese. Strengths: one reversible disc. Weaknesses: 450 watts. Skip it if you knead often.
4. Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor, DFP-14BCNY
A 720 watt, 14 cup processor with on and pulse buttons, an extra-large feed tube, a 4 mm slicing disc, a medium shredding disc and a stainless steel chopping and mixing blade. The listing says the parts are dishwasher safe and the size is 11 by 7.9 by 14.8 inches.
Suits: big batches. Strengths: the largest bowl here. Weaknesses: the biggest to store. Skip it if you cook for one.
5. Hamilton Beach 10 Cup Food Processor, 70730
A 450 watt, 10 cup processor with a built-in bowl scraper you move side to side, two speeds, a large feed chute and two attachments: a slicing and shredding disc and a chopping and pureeing blade. It is 8.5 by 10 by 16 inches.
Suits: scraping the bowl without a spatula. Strengths: the scraper. Weaknesses: a tall 16 inch body. Skip it if you want a low profile.
6. Cuisinart 5-Cup Chop and Shred, FP-5
A 300 watt, 5 cup compact processor with a reversible disc for fine and medium shredding, a universal chopping blade, a wide-mouth feed tube, cord storage in the base and parts that nest in the bowl. It is 7.9 by 5.91 by 13.31 inches.
Suits: small kitchens. Strengths: nesting parts and cord storage. Weaknesses: only 5 cups. Skip it if you need dough.
Care and Setup
- Handle blades and discs by the hub, not the edge.
- Wash parts as the manual states.
- Cut food to fit the feed tube.
- Do not overfill the bowl.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Comparing peak watts with continuous watts.
- Buying a large bowl for small jobs.
- Expecting a mini chopper to slice.
- Ignoring height under cabinets.
Food Processor FAQ
What size bowl do I need?
Small choppers handle herbs and onions. Eight to 14 cups suit batches of salsa, shredded cheese or dough where the maker allows it.
Do all of them slice and shred?
No. The Hamilton Beach 3-cup lists blades only, while the larger models list slicing and shredding discs.
The Short Version
For presets, the Ninja. For a tiny chopper, the Hamilton Beach 3-cup. For one reversible disc, the BLACK+DECKER. For the largest bowl, the Cuisinart 14-cup. For a built-in scraper, the Hamilton Beach 70730. For a compact shredder, the Cuisinart FP-5.
