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A food processor is the kitchen appliance that seems unnecessary until you own one — then you wonder how you cooked without it. Chopping onions in seconds, making hummus in 3 minutes, shredding cheese, slicing vegetables uniformly — a good food processor handles all of it.
Our Top Picks
| Food Processor | Best For | Price | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuisinart Custom 14 | Best overall | ~$199 | 14 cup |
| Breville Sous Chef 12 | Best premium | ~$350 | 12 cup |
| Hamilton Beach 10-Cup | Best budget | ~$50 | 10 cup |
| KitchenAid 9-Cup | Best compact | ~$130 | 9 cup |
| Ninja BN601 | Best versatile** | ~$100 | 9 cup |
1. Cuisinart Custom 14 — Best Overall Food Processor
Price: ~$199 | Capacity: 14 cup
The Cuisinart Custom 14 has been the gold standard in home food processors for decades, and it still earns that reputation. The 720W motor handles everything from bread dough to nut butter without straining, the 14-cup bowl is large enough for family-sized batches, and the included discs and blades cover virtually every food processing task.
Cuisinart’s build quality is exceptional at this price — dishwasher-safe parts, a durable motor, and a track record of lasting 10+ years with regular use.
2. Breville Sous Chef 12 — Best Premium Food Processor
Price: ~$350 | Capacity: 12 cup
The Breville Sous Chef takes food processing to a professional level. The 1200W motor is the most powerful in its class, the adjustable slicing disc lets you set thickness from 0.3mm to 8mm, and the Super Bowl design with multiple feed chutes handles large vegetables without pre-cutting. If you process food daily and want the best, this is it.
3. Hamilton Beach 10-Cup — Best Budget Food Processor
Price: ~$50 | Capacity: 10 cup
The Hamilton Beach 10-Cup does everything a food processor needs to do at a fraction of the price of premium models. Stack bowl design, two speeds plus pulse, and a stack of included blades and discs. For occasional food processing tasks, it’s all you need.
4. KitchenAid 9-Cup — Best Compact Food Processor
Price: ~$130 | Capacity: 9 cup
KitchenAid’s 9-cup food processor is ideal for smaller households — powerful enough for serious tasks, compact enough to store easily. The ExactSlice system allows external adjustment of slicing thickness without opening the bowl. Beautiful design that matches other KitchenAid appliances.
5. Ninja BN601 — Best Versatile Food Processor
Price: ~$100 | Capacity: 9 cup
The Ninja BN601 doubles as a food processor and blender — with both a 9-cup processing bowl and a 72oz blender pitcher included. For kitchens where counter space is limited, this two-in-one approach makes sense. The processing performance is solid for the price.
What Size Food Processor Do I Need?
7-9 cup: Best for 1-2 people or occasional use
10-12 cup: Best for most households — handles most recipes
14+ cup: Best for large families or frequent batch cooking
Last updated: April 2026. Prices may vary. Check Amazon for current pricing.
Founder of Palate Express. Based in Plainsboro, New Jersey. I write honest reviews of coffee gear, kitchen tools, meal kits, wine clubs, and specialty food — focused on what genuinely earns its place in your kitchen.