8 best food processors

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on purchases made through one of these links but this never influences our experts’ opinions. Products are tested and reviewed independently of commercial initiatives. Find out more here

Who doesn't need an extra pair of hands in the kitchen, especially ones that can take care of some of the more mundane aspects of cooking, such as chopping the onions, grating a wedge of hard cheese, neatly slicing potatoes for a cream-laden gratin, or quickly creating a purée, soup or smoothie?

A food processor will do exactly this. These kitchen workhorses fly through some of the chores of food preparation by chopping, slicing, grating, mixing, blending, kneading, and even dicing. A food processor, however, should not be confused with a blender. A food processor is a multi-function gadget comprising of a mixing bowl(s) with a range of attachments, including grating and slicing discs or blades, knives and whisks. Blenders are usually single-function and create smoothies, juices, soups or batters. Both are useful in the modern kitchen.

We have rigorously tested all the processors here in a domestic kitchen setting on the most popular functions by grating several kilos of hard cheese and fresh coconut (almost impossible to do on a hand grater) and creating enough shortcrust pastry to provide quiches and pies for months.

Root vegetables sliced – and where appropriate diced – for over eight litres of soup then blended in the processor, plus meat was chopped for burgers and chilli. As not all processors have blenders, they were not tested, but some special functions were.

Prices for food processors range from over £1000 for a top-notch, professional piece of kit to down as low as £49.99. They all do a job, some faster, quieter and neater than the others. Price does often influence the speed and quality of the processing, although do not underestimate cheaper models.

Before you decide which one suits your needs, here are a few questions you may want to consider.

Are you a busy cook making family meals, baking, bread making and entertaining, or, do you merely want to speed up preparing ingredients? Your choice will help determine what functions are essential to you.

Multi-function processors are bulky, some with many attachments. Perhaps a compact style will suit you better.

Read more

7 best smoothie makers

7 best slow cookers

8 best air fryers

9 best soup makers

Buy a processor that's too small and it will be frustrating, too big and you will not get the best out of it.

Unless you’re a keen cook, many will end up gathering dust at the back of a cupboard alongside that once-you-thought-would-be useful spiralizer you bought summers ago.

Here's our pick of the best budget, mid-range and high-end processors.

£29.99, Robert DyasBest for: Light, infrequent use

Key specs – Size: 42(H) x 25(W) x 34(D); Bowl size: 1.5 litre; Power: 600w; Attachments: 1 grating/slicing disc, blender disc and stainless-steel chopping blade; Additional notable features: 1.4-litre blender

The Tower processor sits at the lowest price point of all the machines tested and, although not the best on test, it has some great features that anyone seeking a simple, easy-to-use processor for lighter duties would appreciate.

The processor base, jugs and attachments feel extremely light but are also a little flimsy. The bowl was not as easy to fit onto the bottom compared to others and the lid was a little tricky to use – anyone with wrist problems would struggle, although we suspect this problem would ease with continued use.

There was very little to complain about with the slicing and grating though, but only one size makes its uses limiting. The light stainless-steel blade performed well and chopped through onions, carrots and celery without struggle, and blending a soup was as straightforward as it comes. Pastry fared less well, and it needed much more processing than is right to create a light and crumbly finished dough.

Do not, however, dismiss this food processor, it has its place, and for someone who will only expect it to perform light duties and doesn't want to over-challenge it with large quantities, the Tower delivers good results, even if it does take a little longer than others.

Buy now

£56.49 (price correct at time of publishing), Andrew JamesBest for: Value for money

Key specs – Size: 23 x 41.5 x 23 cm; Bowl size: 2.4 litres; Power: 800w; Attachments: 8 with 4 grating/slicing discs, blades, whisks, coffee grinder, citrus press, spatula and large 2-part plunger; Additional notable features: 1.5-litre blender

The Andrew James processor, cost-wise, may be sitting towards the lower end of the market but it delivers a vast range of attachments and accessories. The processor itself is robust and a good weight, and – with the addition of rubber suction cup feet – stays relatively still while processing, although when grating hard cheese, it did move slightly and was rather noisy.

The controls are straightforward with the dial having two speed settings, pulse and off. Equally the set-up instructions were easy to follow and the machine was up and running in about 10 minutes – most of that time was spent sifting through all the attachments to sort out what was what.

The Andrew James machine is good value considering it's so well-equipped, meaning there is little need for any other gadget. The attachments are not as substantial as the more expensive machines but made short work of all the punishing processes it was put through, with little wastage.

There is no storage with this processor though and with so many attachments – jugs, bowls etc. – it requires a lot of space. The blades and the slicing discs, as would be expected, are super sharp and with no distinctive safe storage, accidents can happen, as a cut finger here bears testament.

Buy now

£119.99 (price correct at time of publishing), AmazonBest for: Reliable performance

Key specs – Size: 40(H) x 32(W) x 28(D) cm; Bowl size: 3 litres; Power: 1000w; Attachments: 3 reversible grating/slicing discs, dough blade, stainless steel chopping blade, whisk/beater, citrus press, spatula, storage box; Additional notable features: 2-litre blender, EasyLock lid and dual force motor

The Tefal processor has an impressive range of attachments, which at this price is a bargain. It's sturdy and even on top speed there was little vibration, meaning a very quiet machine. There is also an in-bowl storage box and the cord winds neatly away, making this an excellent space-saving processor.

The 1000w motor and large three-litre bowl means the Tefal can tackle hefty loads and quantities, and in every test it performed exceptionally well, evenly and with little or no waste. There is also a series of pre-programmed tasks found on the control panel, which intuitively chooses the motor speed most suited to the task.

However, the instructions supplied with the processor are complicated to work through, with page after page of tiny drawings and text is kept to a minimum. With patience, good eyesight, plenty of time and some knowledge of food processing, it is possible to work it out though. Anyone new to using a food processor would possibly struggle to get the answer they need, which is a shame as this is an excellent machine and offers excellent value for money.

Buy now

£179, KitchenAidBest for: Efficiency and style

Key specs – Size: 195(W) x 540(H) x 260(D) mm; Bowl size: 2.1 litre (also available in 1.7 litres); Power: 240w; Attachments: 3 grating/slicing discs, dough blade, stainless-steel multifunction blade, 2-part plunger; Additional notable features: 1-click, twist-free lid locking system

The KitchenAid shines on style and performs extremely well. The neat, semi-retro appearance of this machine means there's no hiding this beauty away in a cupboard.

The instructions are straightforward, with the processor up and running within minutes, and the innovative one-click, twist-free bowl and latched lid locking system was the best lock of all the processors tested, making this both a secure and safe machine to use.

The discs and blades store inside the bowl, which can be a faff as they need to be removed every time, but cleverly inserted so sharp edges are facing down to prevent slicing fingers when removing them. The cable is stored in the base too, all of which makes the KitchenAid neat and tidy on the worktop.

Do not be put off by the 240-watt motor either; this machine packs a punch with its smooth, quiet and powerful delivery, with two speeds and pulse delivered by the simple push down buttons. The KitchenAid performed well in all functions, with a variety of slicing thicknesses, grating hard cheese into fluffy clouds and producing delicate shreds of vegetables through to hefty chunks. The stainless-steel blade whips through meat, pastry and purées in a flash, too.

It's not the cheapest processor but far from the most expensive, making this a great-value, super-efficient and good-looking machine.

Buy now

£179.99, Ninja KitchenBest for: Healthy lifestyles

Key specs – Size: 17 x 21 x 43.5 cm; Bowl size: 1.1 litres; Power: 1100w; Attachments: 1 reversible slicing and grating disc, double dough blade, stainless steel 4 blade knife, 2-part pusher,large feeder tube; Additional notable features: 3 speeds, touch pad control panel, 2.1-litre vacuum blending pitcher, 2.1-litre vacuum blending pitcher lid and valve, FreshVac technology vacuum blending pump, 2 x 600ml lidded drinking cups

By just peeping inside the Ninja box, it's evident that this machine is for much more than just food processing. With only a 1.1-litre processing bowl, it doesn't handle vast quantities but what it does do is grate, slice, blend, chop and whip up pastry extremely quickly, thanks to a powerful motor and a fearsome-looking four-blade knife.

There is only one reversible disc though, meaning less versatility than machines of a similar price. The pastry is easy to make but needs caution, as the ferocity of speed here could quickly over blend.

The machine is sturdy and with four suction-cup feet it clings to the work surface and keeps vibration to a minimum. But even with this steadiness, the motor is extremely noisy.

The complete Ninja system also includes a large 2.1-litre blender and an even more fearsome-looking six-blade knife for making healthy smoothies, juices and frozen drinks. Impressively, the machine knows what jug you’re using (food processor, blender or single-size drinks cup) and intuitively adjusts speed and processing accordingly.

The Ninja is an impressive food system, which is not just useful to the home cook but to anyone seeking a healthy eating and drinking lifestyle.

Buy now

From £269.95 (price correct at time of publishing), AmazonBest for: Larger family

Key specs – Size: 42.5(H) x 21(W) x 26.5(D) cm; Bowl Size: 3 litres; Power: 950w; Attachments: 2 slicing discs, 2 grating discs, dough blade, stainless steel blade, triple pusher and extra-large feeder tube, egg whisk, blending tool and spatula; Additional notable features: Large, medium and small bowl (with blades)

This good-looking, solid machine comes in five colours and with not one but three bowls, which nest neatly one inside the other. The large blades and discs are interchangeable with the main (three-litres), medium (2.6-litres) and mini (1.2-litres) bowls. The three sizes of bowl give greater flexibility in quantities, from chopping herbs through to large batches of pastry and even 1kg bread without strain.

There are just three operating push buttons on the base, with a pulse, stop and auto button, where usually there would be at least two speeds. Pushing auto, the processor runs in a continuous mode, which gave better and more even results and created the best pastry of all the processors tested. The 950w motor was supremely efficient and made light work of producing even slices and grating with no wastage.

The Magimix is the quietest of the processors tested too, as its solidity holds it firmly on the worktop with little or no vibration. This solidity, however, makes the processor one of the largest and heaviest but, if you have a large family to feed, are a fervent baker or avid cook, you’re going to love this machine.

Buy now

£250, John Lewis & PartnersBest for: Unusual attachments

Key specs – Size: 42(H) x 20(W) x 28 (D) cm; Bowl size: 3 litres; Power: 550w; Attachments: 2 slicing and grating discs, mini bowl and blade, dough blade, stainless steel blade, 3-part pusher, large feeder tube, egg whisk, blending tool and spatula; Additional notable features: Touchpad control panel, dicing and spiraliser kits

The Prep Pro is the latest processor from Cuisinart and is a sturdy machine with a slick, attractive design, touchscreen controls and no fiddly buttons, which makes it easy to clean.

From box to functioning took longer than most, as the processor comes with a host of unusual pieces, including a dicing attachment. The step-by-step instructions are clear and mean the machine is easier to use than at first glance. Our early attempts of diced potatoes resulted in varied sizes and shapes but, with practice, quickly became neat and even; this could be our favourite attachment to date.

The base of the Prep Pro was lighter than expected when compared to similarly priced machines, but that in no way affected the rigours of the testing, which were all tip-top with no complaints at all. The processor sits well on the counter with little vibration, meaning it's also quiet.

There are many parts to the Cuisinart Prep Pro and thankfully storage has been well thought through, with separate boxes for discs and blades. The dicer and spiraliser will need extra room in the cupboard but are worth it.

Buy now

From £964, ThermomixBest for: Professional chefs and serious cooks

Key specs – Size: 33(H) x 32(W) x 30(D) cm; Bowl size: 2.2 litres; Power: 550w; Attachments: 4 blades, cutting and stirring knife, heating system, Varoma steamer, measuring cup, butterfly whisk, spatula, recipe chip; Additional notable features: Speed continuously adjustable from 100 to 10,700 rpm, Cook-Key (not included)

At close to £1000, the Thermomix needs to pack a punch, and it does. This processor is one of the simplest and quietest to use, yet bizarrely has the least amount of attachments with the functionality to replace almost all small kitchen cooking appliances in the kitchen.

The Thermomix weighs, cooks, chops, crushes, emulsifies, whips, mixes, steams, blends, kneads, grinds simmers, grates and mills – phew. What it does not do is slice or grate medium cheese but harder varieties chopped well. Making pastry was easy too, as ingredient by ingredient is weighed as it's added to the bowl, and processing a batch took 15 seconds.

There is a recipe chip included in the price, which gives easy access to tried-and-tested, basic recipes displayed on the touchscreen. There's also a subscription-based service called Cookidoo that provides access to thousands of recipes online.

To justify the price is easy given the range of functions, but for this machine to realise its full potential, it needs to be in the hands of a serious cook, a busy working parent wanting to quickly and easily make nutritious meals, or the professional chef desperate for another pair of hands in the kitchen.

Buy now

This article has been updated. It was originally published in January 2019.