Best of
Best Food Processors (2026): 10 Top Picks
Best food processors ranked on bowl size, induction motor power, and feed tube width, from the Cuisinart Custom 14 to the Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro.
Our top picks at a glance
Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup DFP-14N
Family meal prep, shredding, and slicing in 14-cup batches
Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro BFP800XL
Serious prep cooks who slice, shred, and process in volume
KitchenAid 13-Cup Food Processor KFP1318
Families who want adjustable slicing without a premium price jump
The short answer
The best overall food processor is the Cuisinart Custom 14 DFP-14N for its induction motor and 14-cup bowl. The best budget pick is the Hamilton Beach Bowl Scraper 70730, and the best premium pick is the Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro.
The picks, ranked
| Pick | Capacity | Power | Weight | Warranty | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup DFP-14NBest Overall | 14 cups | 720 watts | 17.3 lbs | 3 year limited, 5 year motor | Check price |
| 2Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro BFP800XLBest Premium | 16 cups, plus 2.5 cup mini bowl | 1200 watts | 28.4 lbs | 1 year limited, 25 year motor | Check price |
| 3KitchenAid 13-Cup Food Processor KFP1318Best for Adjustable Slicing | 13 cups | 400 watts | 9.7 lbs | 1 year limited | Check price |
| 4Hamilton Beach Bowl Scraper 10-Cup 70730Best Budget Full-Size | 10 cups | 450 watts | 6.5 lbs | 1 year limited | Check price |
| 5Cuisinart Elemental 13-Cup FP-13DSVBest for Dicing | 13 cups | 550 watts | 11.5 lbs | 3 year limited | Check price |
| 6Ninja Professional Plus BN601Best Presets for Dough | 9 cups | 850 peak watts | 7.65 lbs | 1 year limited | Check price |
| 7KitchenAid 7-Cup Food Processor KFP0718Best Compact | 7 cups | 250 watts | 6.6 lbs | 1 year limited | Check price |
| 8Magimix 5200XL Food ProcessorBest for Longevity | 16 cups main bowl | 1100 watts | 24.2 lbs | 30 year motor warranty listed by maker | Check price |
| 9Breville Sous Chef Peel and Dice BFP820Best for High Volume | 16 cups | 1200 watts | 30 lbs | 1 year limited, 25 year motor | Check price |
| 10Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus DLC-2ABest Mini Chopper | 3 cups | 250 watts | 2.2 lbs | 18 month limited | Check price |
Best Overall
Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup DFP-14N
The classic 14-cup processor with a 720-watt induction motor.
The Custom 14 pairs a 720-watt induction motor with a 14-cup bowl and a large feed tube, the combination family prep actually needs. It chops, slices, shreds, and kneads without the premium price of the largest systems.
Its limits are storage for discs and no adjustable slicing. For most households, those are acceptable costs for this motor and bowl at a mid tier.
Strengths
- 720-watt induction motor handles dough and hard cheese steadily
- 14-cup work bowl covers family-scale prep
- Large feed tube fits bigger produce with less pre-cutting
- Simple paddle controls with on, off, and pulse dough function
Limitations
- No adjustable slicing thickness on the standard disc
- Discs and blades store separately
- Base is heavy and tall under cabinets
| Capacity | 14 cups |
|---|---|
| Power | 720 watts |
| Dimensions | 11 x 7.9 x 14.8 inches |
| Weight | 17.3 lbs |
| Warranty | 3 year limited, 5 year motor |
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Motor never feels strained on pizza dough or cheese
- Bowl size is right for weekly meal prep
- Slicing and shredding are fast and even
- Design has a long track record and available parts
Common complaints
- Lid and feed tube assembly takes practice to lock quickly
- Storage for discs needs a separate case or drawer
- Liquids can leak if filled above the recommended line
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
Sources: Cuisinart official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published kitchen gear reviews
Best for: Family meal prep, shredding, and slicing in 14-cup batches
Skip if: You need a small footprint or built-in storage for discs
Best Premium
Breville Sous Chef 16 Pro BFP800XL
16 cups, a 1200-watt induction motor, and a variable slicing disc.
The Sous Chef 16 Pro is the control and power leader: 1200-watt induction motor, variable slicing, extra-wide chute, and a mini bowl for small jobs. It removes the usual reasons to pre-cut or batch.
It is large and heavy, so buy it as a dedicated prep station. Small kitchens should look at 7 to 13 cup models first.
Strengths
- 1200-watt induction motor for heavy and continuous loads
- Variable slicing disc with many thickness settings
- Extra-wide feed chute reduces pre-cutting
- Includes a 2.5-cup mini bowl for small jobs inside the large machine
Limitations
- Large, heavy base demands dedicated counter or storage space
- Premium price and premium replacement disc cost
- Many discs to store even with the included case
| Capacity | 16 cups, plus 2.5 cup mini bowl |
|---|---|
| Power | 1200 watts |
| Dimensions | 12.9 x 10.8 x 18.9 inches |
| Weight | 28.4 lbs |
| Warranty | 1 year limited, 25 year motor |
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Slicing control is the best in this group
- Mini bowl solves the small-job problem of a big processor
- Motor handles double dough batches calmly
- Storage case keeps discs organized and safe
Common complaints
- Too large for small kitchens to leave out
- Learning all discs takes time
- Bowl and lid washing is a bigger job after small tasks
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
Sources: Breville official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published kitchen gear reviews
Best for: Serious prep cooks who slice, shred, and process in volume
Skip if: You process small amounts and need a compact machine
Best for Adjustable Slicing
KitchenAid 13-Cup Food Processor KFP1318
13 cups with in-bowl storage and an Exact Slice adjustable disc.
The KFP1318 brings an externally adjustable slice disc and in-bowl storage to a mid-tier 13-cup machine. Potato gratin, cucumbers, and cabbage all benefit from dial-a-thickness slicing.
Its motor is not induction, so stiff dough in large amounts is better handled by the Cuisinart Custom 14 or Breville.
Strengths
- Adjustable Exact Slice disc changes thickness externally
- All-in-one in-bowl storage for blades and discs
- 13-cup bowl suits family prep with a smaller feel than 16-cup models
- Three speeds plus pulse for control across tasks
Limitations
- Motor is not induction, heavier dough needs care
- In-bowl storage means emptying parts before each use
- Feed tube is narrower than the Breville extra-wide chute
| Capacity | 13 cups |
|---|---|
| Power | 400 watts |
| Dimensions | 8.75 x 10.25 x 17.44 inches |
| Weight | 9.7 lbs |
| Warranty | 1 year limited |
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Storing everything in the bowl keeps counters tidy
- Slice thickness dial is genuinely useful for potatoes and cucumbers
- Chopping is even without constant scraping
- Lid hinge and latch feel secure
Common complaints
- Dough loads need resting pulses on stiff recipes
- Some owners find in-bowl storage fiddly at first
- Bowl can cloud after repeated dishwasher cycles
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
Sources: KitchenAid official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published kitchen gear reviews
Best for: Families who want adjustable slicing without a premium price jump
Skip if: You want an induction motor for heavy daily dough
Best Budget Full-Size
Hamilton Beach Bowl Scraper 10-Cup 70730
10 cups with a built-in bowl scraper that saves opening the lid.
The 70730 covers family chopping, slicing, and shredding for budget money, and the built-in scraper reduces the open, scrape, repeat cycle on hummus and dips.
Expect basic discs and a lighter build. For weekly vegetable prep, the value is clear.
Strengths
- Built-in scraper moves food toward the blade without opening
- 450-watt motor covers chopping, slicing, and shredding basics
- Large feed chute fits bigger pieces than many budget models
- Two speeds plus pulse keep controls simple
Limitations
- No adjustable slicing thickness
- Plastic build feels lighter than premium rivals
- Not intended for stiff, large dough batches
| Capacity | 10 cups |
|---|---|
| Power | 450 watts |
| Dimensions | 10.63 x 9.06 x 15.47 inches |
| Weight | 6.5 lbs |
| Warranty | 1 year limited |
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Scraper genuinely reduces stops during hummus and salsa
- Great value for weekly vegetable prep
- Easy assembly for new owners
- Bowl size suits a family of four
Common complaints
- Cheese shredding needs firm, cold blocks for best results
- Motor sounds strained on dense loads
- Lid parts need careful drying to avoid odors
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
Sources: Hamilton Beach official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published kitchen gear reviews
Best for: Budget family prep with less stopping to scrape the bowl
Skip if: You need heavy dough power or adjustable slicing
Best for Dicing
Cuisinart Elemental 13-Cup FP-13DSV
13 cups with a dicing kit option and a 550-watt motor.
If uniform dice for salads, salsas, and soups is your meal-prep bottleneck, the Elemental dicing kit earns its extra wash-up. The 13-cup bowl and adjustable slicing round it out.
Confirm the exact kit contents before buying, because dicing bundles vary by listing.
Strengths
- Dicing kit creates uniform cubes for salads and salsas
- 13-cup bowl plus a smaller inner bowl in many kits
- Adjustable slicing disc included
- Sealed controls wipe clean easily
Limitations
- Dicing grid needs careful cleaning after sticky produce
- 550 watts is mid-pack for stiff dough
- Kit versions vary, so box contents need checking
| Capacity | 13 cups |
|---|---|
| Power | 550 watts |
| Dimensions | 8.75 x 11 x 16.75 inches |
| Weight | 11.5 lbs |
| Warranty | 3 year limited |
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Diced onions and peppers save real time for meal prep
- Slice adjustment covers thin to thick well
- Bowl seal reduces leaks on dressings
- Controls are simple for new processor owners
Common complaints
- Dicing parts add washing time
- Some owners dice rarely after the novelty fades
- Base storage for all parts is not fully contained
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
Sources: Cuisinart official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published kitchen gear reviews
Best for: Meal preppers who want dicing for salsas and salads
Skip if: You only chop and slice and do not need dicing parts
Best Presets for Dough
Ninja Professional Plus BN601
850 peak watts with Auto-iQ presets for chop, dough, and puree.
Auto-iQ dough and chop programs make the BN601 approachable for new processor owners, and its 9-cup bowl keeps the footprint modest. Pizza dough for a family is its sweet spot.
Slicers who need a wide tube and many disc options should choose Cuisinart or Breville instead.
Strengths
- Auto-iQ programs for chopping, dough, puree, and disc work
- 850 peak watts handles dough mixes marketed to about 2 lbs
- Quad chopping blade stacks for even results
- Compact 9-cup bowl suits everyday portions
Limitations
- 9-cup bowl is small for large meal prep
- Feed tube requires more pre-cutting
- Preset approach gives less manual slicing control
| Capacity | 9 cups |
|---|---|
| Power | 850 peak watts |
| Dimensions | 10.88 x 7.76 x 16.02 inches |
| Weight | 7.65 lbs |
| Warranty | 1 year limited |
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Dough program makes weeknight pizza realistic
- Chopping is fast and uniform for salsa
- Size fits under cabinets more easily
- Controls are clear for beginners
Common complaints
- Large cabbage or cheese blocks need cutting down
- Slicing options are narrower than Cuisinart or Breville
- Bowl fills quickly on holiday prep
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
Sources: Ninja official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published kitchen gear reviews
Best for: Preset-driven prep and dough up to a family pizza night
Skip if: You need a wide feed tube for large slicing jobs
Best Compact
KitchenAid 7-Cup Food Processor KFP0718
A compact 7-cup processor with in-bowl storage and a hinged lid.
The 7-cup KitchenAid is sized for daily cooking for two to four people, with in-bowl storage that keeps it tidy. It gets used because it is not a production to pull out.
Batch cooks will outgrow it. Daily cooks in small kitchens will appreciate it immediately.
Strengths
- 7-cup bowl matches daily cooking without a huge base
- Blades and discs store inside the bowl
- Hinged lid and simple latch speed up assembly
- Reversible shredding and slicing options cover basics
Limitations
- Small bowl means batching on big prep days
- Feed tube needs pre-cutting for large produce
- Not the dough choice for large or stiff batches
| Capacity | 7 cups |
|---|---|
| Power | 250 watts |
| Dimensions | 7.06 x 9.63 x 15.25 inches |
| Weight | 6.6 lbs |
| Warranty | 1 year limited |
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Perfect everyday size that actually gets used
- Storage design keeps parts together
- Chops evenly for soups and sauces
- Easy to wash compared with large models
Common complaints
- Holiday prep requires multiple batches
- Some owners outgrow it as cooking volume grows
- Thin slicing options are limited versus adjustable models
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
Sources: KitchenAid official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published kitchen gear reviews
Best for: Small to medium households that prep daily in modest amounts
Skip if: You regularly prep for six or more people
Best for Longevity
Magimix 5200XL Food Processor
A French-built 16-cup system with three bowls and a quiet induction motor.
Three nested bowls, a quiet induction motor, and a long motor warranty make the 5200XL the buy-for-years choice. Pastry and dough work suits its steady power delivery.
Discs are an ongoing investment, and there is no dicing system. Buy it for bowls and motor, not gadgets.
Strengths
- Three nested bowls cover mini, midi, and main batch sizes
- Induction motor is quiet and built for longevity
- Wide range of discs available for slicing, grating, and whisking
- Simple single-button plus pulse operation
Limitations
- Premium price with discs adding further cost
- No adjustable slicing on the base discs
- Heavier system to move and store
| Capacity | 16 cups main bowl |
|---|---|
| Power | 1100 watts |
| Dimensions | 10.2 x 11.4 x 17.5 inches |
| Weight | 24.2 lbs |
| Warranty | 30 year motor warranty listed by maker |
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Nested bowls mean the right size is always ready
- Motor sound is calmer than most rivals
- Owners report very long service life
- Dough and pastry results are consistent
Common complaints
- Disc collection becomes an investment
- Lid system takes learning for new owners
- Availability of parts varies by region
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
Sources: Magimix official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published kitchen gear reviews
Best for: Committed cooks who want nested bowls for every batch size
Skip if: You want presets, dicing, or a low purchase price
Best for High Volume
Breville Sous Chef Peel and Dice BFP820
16 cups with peeling and dicing systems for high-volume prep.
Peeling and multi-size dicing on a 16-cup, 1200-watt platform is a specific superpower for canning, freezer prep, and large-batch cooking.
Most households do not need it. High-volume cooks who dice weekly will save hours with it.
Strengths
- Dicing kit in multiple sizes for uniform cubes
- Peeler attachment handles batches of potatoes and similar produce
- Powerful induction motor for continuous work
- Wide chute and mini bowl carry over the Sous Chef strengths
Limitations
- Most complex and expensive option here
- Many specialized parts to store and wash
- Overkill for chopping an onion twice a week
| Capacity | 16 cups |
|---|---|
| Power | 1200 watts |
| Dimensions | 12.6 x 11.6 x 18.7 inches |
| Weight | 30 lbs |
| Warranty | 1 year limited, 25 year motor |
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Dicing consistency transforms soup and salad prep
- Peeler saves real time on large potato batches
- Motor never feels taxed
- Disc case keeps a large kit manageable
Common complaints
- Cleaning the dicing grid is the main chore
- Price is hard to justify for light use
- Cabinet storage is a genuine constraint
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
Sources: Breville official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published kitchen gear reviews
Best for: High-volume cooks who dice and peel in quantity
Skip if: You want a simple, low-part-count processor
Best Mini Chopper
Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus DLC-2A
A 3-cup mini chopper for garlic, herbs, and small sauces.
The Mini-Prep Plus handles the garlic, herb, and dressing jobs that happen daily, in a 3-cup bowl that washes in seconds. It complements a full-size processor rather than replacing it.
As a sole processor it is too small. As a countertop mini, it is the most-used size in many kitchens.
Strengths
- 3-cup bowl is the right size for garlic, herbs, and dressings
- Auto-reversing blade chops and grinds with one button each
- Tiny footprint lives on the counter or in a drawer
- Bowl and lid are dishwasher safe per maker guidance
Limitations
- No slicing or shredding discs
- 250-watt class mini motor suits small loads only
- Liquids must stay below the bowl line to avoid leaks
| Capacity | 3 cups |
|---|---|
| Power | 250 watts |
| Dimensions | 5 x 7 x 9.25 inches |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs |
| Warranty | 18 month limited |
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Used daily because it is so easy to pull out
- Perfect for baby food portions and pesto
- Chops an onion without tears or a big wash-up
- Lasts for years on light jobs
Common complaints
- Overfilling gives uneven chops
- Not suitable for hard cheese in quantity
- Bowl is too small for salsa for a party
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
Sources: Cuisinart official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published kitchen gear reviews
Best for: Tiny daily jobs that do not justify a full-size bowl
Skip if: You need slicing, shredding, or family portions
How we chose
01 · Bowl size matched to portions
We judged capacity against household portions, from 3-cup mini jobs to 16-cup batch prep, because an oversized bowl chops small amounts poorly.
02 · Motor type and dough ability
We weighted induction motors and steady torque for dough and cheese, not just headline wattage, and noted where makers limit dough amounts.
03 · Feed tube and disc usefulness
We compared feed tube width and whether slicing is fixed or adjustable, since pre-cutting time and slice control shape daily satisfaction.
04 · Storage and cleaning reality
We credited in-bowl storage and disc cases, and flagged dicing grids and multi-bowl systems that add washing and cabinet demands.
FAQ
Questions, answered straight
What size food processor do I need?
Households of one to two do well with 7 to 10 cups. Families and meal preppers should choose 13 to 16 cups. Add a 3-cup mini only if tiny jobs are daily.
Can a food processor knead bread dough?
Yes, within the flour limits in the manual, using the dough blade and short pulses. Very stiff or large batches belong in a stand mixer.
Food processor or blender for hummus?
A processor gives thicker, spoonable hummus with less added liquid. A blender gives a smoother, looser result with more liquid and scraping.
Are food processor bowls dishwasher safe?
Most bowls and lids are top-rack safe per maker guidance, but blades and discs last longer washed by hand and dried promptly.