Every new year, as people are bombarded with weight loss adverts to make the most money out of our Christmas weight, food processors become one of the most popular kitchen assistants. But they’re not just useful if you’re undertaking a diet; as we spend more time at home during the pandemic, many of us have been looking to up our culinary game, and an electric food processor is one of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to do just that.
What should I Look For When Buying a Food Processor?
Design: Most food processors fall victim to their functions, and don’t exactly look good on a kitchen counter. Do you need a food processor that’s going to fit into your room, or are you happy to just have one that does the job no matter how it looks?
Pulse: How your new electric food processor deals with precision mixing, can make or break your whole experience. Some food processors will have built in pulse functions to take advantage of, which is especially good if you’re busy and don’t have time to wait next to your processor for it to do its job.
Attachments: Most electric food processors will come with some different attachments as standard, but this all depends on how many meals you’re planning to use your food processor for. While a grating, slicing, and chopping attachments are standard, some models may come with a few more at extra cost.
Safety: The speed and blades that food processors use as standard, mean it’s so important that the unit does not shake or slip on your kitchen counter, and that it can handle larger loads of food without the mechanism snapping or burning out. All good food processors will have a surge safety out, to protect their user.
Packages: These is much more widely available when browsing higher end food processors, however, if you’re already a pro with a processor, you may want to consider shelling out for a model that offers you set programs, to blend or chop your food to absolute perfection.
What Could Be The Best Food Processors For Home Chefs
Homeasy Food Processor
Capacity: 2.5L
Power: 350W
While our first electric food processor might not be winning any beauty contests, it certainly is far ahead of its competitors when price is considered. Equipped with 4 stainless steel blades and 2 modes, processing is efficient and safe. The processor comes with a non-slip mat, and is certified to strict British safety standards.
This food processor allows you to chop grind and puree, and the blade arrangement is 4D and can precisely chop whatever you need from a full 360 degree angle, to give you the finest outcome. The connections between the blade and processor are fashioned from stainless steel, which means you can process your food at high speeds, with peace of mind.
The plastic bowl is strong and shatter proof with its flexibility, however it can get scraped or scuffed. However, the entire thing can be disassembled to make cleaning far easier than with food processors at twice the price. For the simple and easy pick that does the job, this is the one to go for.
VonShef Food Processor
Capacity: 3.5L
Power: 1000W
This next food processor is compact in shape, so it can fit around your existing kitchen appliances. But, having said this, it boasts an uncharacteristically large capacity, which gives you the ability to shred, chop, dice, slice, and make dough. However, you cant take advantage of the large capacity when blending, which utilised a 1.8L blending jar.
The fact that it’s multi functional, and comes with a pulse function, adds another layer of use to this food processor, which finds the perfect consistencies for multiple types of purees, juices, and butters. It’s also one of the most convenient food processors on the market in 2021, as it’s equipped with an inbuilt attachments draw to keep your accessories safe.
The food processor is finished in a black plastic casing and comes with a 2 year warranty from the manufacturer, so if this is your first food processor, you can purchase without stress.
KitchenAid Food Processor
Capacity: 3.1L
Power: 300W
Taking a drastic step up in price, it may appear as if you’re sacrificing both power and capacity with this food processor. However, don’t let its small output fool you, this food processor can handle anything you may throw at it, or in it. Compared to the competition, this KitchenAid processor is one of the quietest food processor available on this list, which when you consider its decent capacity is pretty impressive.
Sporting some fantastic design additions and responsive controls, such as easily removable attachments and an unusually large entry tube, processing food using its 2 power functions is easy and enjoyable. Not to mention, it comes with a whole host of assistants, such as a slicing disc, grater disc, whisk, and dough blade. This is definitely the pick if you’re looking to size up from a budget blender, and want to get the most out of your food processor, with multiple different food types.
Cuisinart Expert Prep Pro FP1300U
Capacity: 3L
Power: 550W
This is a state of the art piece of kit when it comes to food processors available for 2021, but unfortunately it has the large price tag to prove it.
Available with two different sized bowls, you can maximise food preparation and use this food processor multiple times throughout the day. It gives you the option to prepare a wide variety of foods in a wide variety of ways, and while grating, slicing, chopping, pureeing, or juicing it also leaves behind minimal waste.
Continuing with its grasp of customisation, you really feel accomplished once you have your finished meal. The slicing attachment, one of the many that it offers, including two sizes of mixing blade, a dough blade, adjustable slicing disc, a grating disc, and the full dicing and spiralising kits, this electric food processor is adjustable to what you really like most.
This is probably not the pick to make if you’ve never owned an electric food processor before, however the controls are simple and responsive, and the two power levels, and pulse capabilities, make this the choice of professionals. Not to mention, all the equipment is dishwasher safe, and the unit has suction cup feet for added safety.
Magimix 18471 4200XL Food Processor
Power: 950W
Capacity: 3L
This food processor has been specifically designed with larger families in mind, so if you’re batch cooking or have a good few hungry mouths to feed, this one will be your best choice. It can cater for up to 6 people in one go, and fit a KG of chopped fruit or veg. Despite this professional capacity, it’s one of the quietest electrical food processors on this list, receiving a Quiet Mark accreditation (the only food processor to have this).
It also comes with an extra-large feed tube, 3L bowl, 2.6L bowl, 1.2L, stainless steel knife blade, egg whisk, spatula, dough hook, slicing and grating discs, and the multi-functional blender ring. If you need a helping hand in the kitchen this beast can do everything from kneading bread, blending smoothies, and the standard slicing, grating, chopping, and whisking functions you would expect from any good electrical food processor. It’s also the most intuitive pick, seamlessly selecting from its power speeds depending on the size and density of what’s in the bowl.
It’s available with its very own recipe book, so if this is your first choice, you’ll never be short on ideas for any meal. When you purchase a MagiMix processor you’re getting the best of the best, and the induction motor comes with a 30 year guarantee! You may be thinking, the more it can do the more can go wrong, but you’ll also have full access to the Magimix customer service team.
