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Buying guide

The Best Food Processors

We compared eight food processors on owner ratings, expert reviews, and specs. The Ninja Kitchen System Pro+ is our top pick for its power and versatility.

Updated

The bottom line

The Ninja Kitchen System Pro+ (B0CKTY2QT4) is our top pick for its powerful 1200-watt motor, preset programs, and large 72-oz pitcher. It's versatile and efficient, though it's louder than basic blenders. The Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus (B0000645YL) is a budget pick at $39.95, with a 250-watt motor and a reversible stainless steel blade. It's compact and efficient for small tasks, but has plug compatibility issues for EU users. The Ninja Kitchen System Pro (B00939I7EK) is a close runner-up with a 1500-watt motor and 8-cup food processing bowl, but it's slightly more expensive at $179.99.

Top pick
Ninja Kitchen System Pro+Ninja Kitchen System Pro+ $219.99

Best for power and versatility

The Ninja Kitchen System Pro+ has a powerful 1200-watt motor, preset programs, and a large 72-oz pitcher. It's versatile and efficient, though it's louder than basic blenders. Priced at $219.99, it's a strong choice for those who need a high-performance food processor.

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Budget pick
Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food ProcessorCuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor $39.95

Best budget option

The Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus has a 250-watt motor and a reversible stainless steel blade for $39.95. It's compact and efficient for small tasks, but has plug compatibility issues for EU users.

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Runner-up
Ninja Kitchen System ProNinja Kitchen System Pro $179.99

Best for large batches

The Ninja Kitchen System Pro has a 1500-watt motor and an 8-cup food processing bowl. It's efficient for large batches, but it's slightly more expensive at $179.99.

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The field, ranked

  1. Ninja Kitchen System Pro+ Best for power, versatility, and large batches 9.5/10 $219.99 Amazon
  2. Ninja Kitchen System Pro Best for large batches and efficiency 9.0/10 $179.99 Amazon
  3. Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor Best budget option for small tasks 8.5/10 $39.95 Amazon
  4. Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor Good for small tasks, but limited capacity 8.0/10 $44.95 Amazon
  5. Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor Good for small tasks, but limited capacity 8.0/10 $39.99 Amazon
  6. Hamilton Beach 3 Cup Electric Vegetable Chopper & Mini Food Processor Good for small tasks, but limited capacity 8.0/10 $21.59 Amazon
  7. BLACK+DECKER Electric Food Chopper Good for small tasks, but limited capacity 7.5/10 $10.50 Amazon
  8. Cuisinart Mini Food Processor Basic option for small tasks, but limited capacity 7.0/10 $39.95 Amazon

Who should buy which

If you need a powerful and versatile food processor, the Ninja Kitchen System Pro+ is the best choice. It's suitable for those who frequently make smoothies, soups, and sauces. If you're on a budget and need a compact processor for small tasks, the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus is a good option. It's suitable for chopping herbs, dicing vegetables, and grinding hard cheese. If you need a processor for larger batches, the Ninja Kitchen System Pro is a strong choice, though it's slightly more expensive.

Owner complaints

Owners of the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus have reported issues with the plug type and dishwasher compatibility. Some users have also noted that the motor can be noisy. Owners of the Ninja Kitchen System Pro+ have mentioned that the noise level can be higher than basic blenders, especially when crushing ice or frozen fruit.

Also-rans

The Hamilton Beach 3 Cup Electric Vegetable Chopper & Mini Food Processor and the BLACK+DECKER Electric Food Chopper are good for small tasks but have limited capacity. The Cuisinart Mini Food Processor is a basic option but has limited processing capabilities.

How this was put together

This guide is based on owner ratings, expert reviews, and specs. We compared eight food processors and ranked them based on motor power, capacity, versatility, and ease of use. We did not test any products hands-on. The evidence was thin on the Hamilton Beach and BLACK+DECKER models, so they were ranked lower.