Mighty machines or mini kitchen helpers: Top food processors to best suit your needs

Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.
Not every kitchen has one, but once you take the leap and add a food processor to your lineup of small kitchen appliances, chances are you’ll wonder how you ever lived without one. Even the sharpest of chefs with knife skills to kill covet these multipurpose machines.

Food processors can slice, dice, chop, puree, shred, grind and knead — to name just some of the functions that can apply to almost every type of food — in mere seconds or minutes, saving you hard, time-consuming labour. Depending on the model and its attachments, you can whip up dips, whisk eggs, turn nuts into flour, emulsify sauces, mince meat or veggies, pull together dough, blend soups, pulverize Parmesan and more.

There’s a vast range of options on the market, though out of all kitchen appliances, food processors are a bigger ticket item across the board. When purchasing, beware of motor wattage, which can range from 420 to 1,300 watts; a higher number isn’t necessarily an indicator of a food processor’s quality. Watts measure the power consumed by the motor, not how efficiently the motor uses that power.

Here’s a look at some of Canada’s best food processors.

Best overall: Cuisinart Custom 14-Cup Food Processor Also consider: KitchenAid 13-Cup Food Processor with Dicing Kit Best attachment: Vitamix 12-Cup Food Processor Attachment Best compact: Cuisinart 8-Cup Food Processor Best affordable: Black+Decker 3-in-1 8-Cup Food Processor Best mini: Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus Food Chopper

Why we love it: This mother of all food processors is like an extra set of hands in the kitchen, especially when it comes to sizable amounts of food for celebrations or a hungry crowd. The extra-large feed tube means that you don’t have to cut up every last piece of food for mixing, chopping, slicing, shredding, kneading, emulsifying and pureeing; whole peeled onions, for example, can go right in. From almonds and garlic cloves to potatoes and pizza dough, the powerful stainless-steel S blade, 4-mm serrated slicing disc, and medium shredding disk yield consistent culinary results, the kind of precision that pro chefs crave. Durable, extra sturdy and a breeze to clean, the clever piece of equipment in brushed stainless steel has single-touch on, off and pulse functions for optimal no-fuss functioning. 

Price: $392 Where to buy: Amazon | Wayfair

Why we love it: Who knew food prep could be so much fun? This deluxe unit has it all. With the Exact Slice disc, you can easily adjust the slicing thickness of everything from radishes, tomatoes and cucumbers to potatoes and chunks of cheese. A multi-purpose blade, adjustable slicing disc, reversible shredding disc, dicing kit with a cleaning tool, dough blade and refrigerator lid: all of the accessories fit in the storage caddy, which tucks within the 13-cup bowl itself for smart storage. The leak-resistant bowl and blades are beyond easy to clean: just add warm water and one or two drops of dish soap, then, with a single click and a whir, it’s done. The three-in-one feed tube with food pusher accommodates small, medium, and large items, with a drizzle hole for when you need to slowly add oil or other liquid ingredients into the work bowl. We’re especially fond of the refrigerator lid, which allows you to store food without having to transfer it to another dish — saving on kitchen clean-up.

Price: $250 Where to buy: Amazon | Walmart | KitchenAid

Why we love it: This is just the thing for someone who already has a Vitamix blender and doesn’t want to take up additional countertop space with another machine. Compatible with Ascent and Venturist models, the attachment comes with a powerful multipurpose S blade and two reversible slice/shred discs complete with a storage case. It’s like having a two-in-one high-performance Vitamix, usable from morning until night for any meal of the day.  Instead of a complicated twist-lock system, the attachment comes with Vitamix’s patented, wireless Self-Detect safety technology to automatically shut off if not properly assembled. 

Price: $300 Where to buy: Amazon | Vitamix | Best Buy

Why we love it: From chunky salsas and buttermilk biscuits to pizza dough and puréed soups, this compact, easy-to-use food processor does it all without breaking the bank. It can also be used to soften butter, crush bread into crumbs, and make baby food. It comes with a chopping/mixing/dough blade and reversible stainless-steel medium and fine slicing/shredding disc. With high, low and pulse settings, the unit has a sizable feed tube for larger chunks of fruit, vegetables and cheese. Rubberized touchpad controls are a breeze to clean, while the BPA-free bowl is dishwasher-safe.

Price: $100 Where to buy: Amazon | Best Buy

Why we love it: Hummus anyone? This time-saving budget-friendly food processor has everything you need for basic chopping and mixing (via the stainless-steel S blade) and slicing and shredding (with the reversible stainless-steel disc). The easy-control dial has settings for low, high and pulse, and the integrated cord wrap simplifies countertop or cabinet storage. Bonus: All of the removable parts are dishwasher-safe.

Price: $53 Where to buy: Amazon | Walmart

Why we love it: Not every kitchen or household needs a mega machine when it comes to speedy food prep. This space-saving unit is remarkably efficient with its exclusive auto-reversing Smart Power Blade feature with two settings: chop or grind. The blade’s super-sharp edge is perfect for gentle chopping of fresh herbs or for blending and puréeng soft foods, while the blunt edge grinds through spices and other harder foods. It may be a mini, but the three-cup bowl means this little kitchen helper is fully practical. The BPA-free bowl and removable parts are dishwasher-safe.

Price: $72 Where to buy: Amazon | Wayfair

Shopping Essentials is a category written by research-obsessed shopping experts. Explore product reviews, recommendations and launches — plus behind-the-scenes info on your favourite brands and hidden gems — learn more here or sign up for our newsletter.

Want a deal? We may have a coupon code for that coveted item in your basket.