How We Test Food Processors and Choppers
CR rates food processors and choppers on how well they perform a number of tasks.
For choppers, we test models on chopping hazelnuts, herbs, and onions; puréeing peas, carrots, and potatoes; and grating cheese. In addition to those evaluations, we test food processors on slicing potatoes and shredding carrots, mixing egg whites, whipping cream, mixing cake ingredients and pancake batter, preparing mayonnaise, and kneading dough. We also assess both choppers and processors for noise at their highest speeds and for how convenient they are to use, clean, and store.
How to Pick a Food Processor or Chopper
Consider the following factors, which are listed in our ratings, when picking a food processor or chopper.
Capacity: Claimed capacities for food processors in our ratings range from about 5 to 16 cups, although actual volumes often vary by 1 or 2 cups. If you regularly cook for a crowd or like to prepare multiple batches of a recipe, you might appreciate a bigger processor with a capacity of 11 to 16 cups. But these tend to cost more, weigh more, and hog counter space. A capacity of about 7 cups is fine for most tasks.
Food choppers are smaller and hold only about 2 to 4 cups. They’re most useful for small jobs, such as dicing half an onion or mincing a handful of parsley. Plus, they’re easier to set up and clean.
Price: For both food processors and choppers, lower-priced models we’ve tested tend to deliver subpar performance in at least one processing task. They also make quite a racket, whereas higher-end models are quieter. That said, there are some food processors priced under $200 that offer decent performance.
Food Processors vs. Food Choppers
Full-sized processors are usually more versatile, able to chop, slice, and purée foods, whip and emulsify liquids, and knead dough. Food choppers look like little food processors, but they’re designed to handle simple tasks, such as chopping half a cup of nuts or a couple of shallots. There are more than 30 food processors and food choppers to explore in CR’s exclusive ratings.
Food Processors
The best tool for shredding cheese or preparing large amounts of raw vegetables for soups, stews, or salads. Some higher-end models can knead bread dough.
Food Choppers
Choppers, which are smaller, lighter, and less expensive than food processors, generally make quick work of cutting up small batches of nuts or herbs that would get lost in a food processor’s large bowl. Unlike food processors, they don’t have shredding or slicing blades.
Food Processor and Food Chopper Features
Food choppers are typically equipped with a clear plastic mixing bowl and lid and an S-shaped metal chopping blade. Food processors have a larger bowl with a feed tube and a plastic food pusher, and multiple blades for various tasks (sometimes including a blunt blade for kneading dough). Here are additional features worth considering:
Speeds
Food processors typically have two settings: on/off and pulse. The latter setting runs the machine in brief bursts for more precise control. Choppers typically have one or two pulse settings: high and low. Those are all the speeds you really need.
Speeds
Food processors typically have two settings: on/off and pulse. The latter setting runs the machine in brief bursts for more precise control. Choppers typically have one or two pulse settings: high and low. Those are all the speeds you really need.
Food Processor and Chopper Brands
CR’s ratings of close to 70 food processors and choppers include models from the following brands.
Recently Tested Food Processors & Choppers
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