Last Updated on July 18, 2023 by Lori Walker
A food processor is one of the must-have kitchen appliances for anyone who loves to cook, whether at home or in a restaurant.
From making smooth sauces to chopping vegetables and whole fruits, preparing flavorful and healthy meals is easy using food processors.
However, not all food processors offer the same features. So, we’ve reviewed the best food processors under $100 that deserve a spot in your kitchen.
Top 10 Food Processors Below $100
1. Ninja BN601 Professional Plus Food Processor
Average Price: $99.99
Why We Chose It:
The Ninja Professional Plus Food Processor got everything you need to prepare food easily, from mixing and kneading to dicing and chopping [1].
This 9-Cup food processor is the smaller Ninja Plus Kitchen System version, featuring 4 Auto-IQ preset programs and 1000 watts of motor power.
It has dedicated blades and discs to slice, precisely chop, and evenly mix ingredients consistently.
Since Ninja Professional Food Processor has enough power, you can shred cheese, chop veggies, and make a cookie or pizza dough from scratch.
Also, it includes a dough blade, a chopping blade, and shredding discs.
Pros:
- 4 versatile functions
- Ideal for large capacity
- BPA free parts
- Dishwasher safe parts
- Powerful motor
Cons:
- Lacks pulse feature
2. Hamilton Beach Stack & Snap Food Processor and Vegetable Chopper, 12 Cup Bowl
Average Price: $69.99
Why We Chose It:
If you’re looking for a reliable but affordable food processor, the Hamilton Beach Food Processor and Vegetable Chopper will deliver.
This multi-functional kitchen gadget from Hamilton Beach has a 12-cup food processor bowl and 450 watts of motor power.
It has 2-speed and pulse control and is easy to use for its stack and snap design. Moreover, it includes stainless steel blades for reversible shredding and slicing.
It can, most of all, fit large food items with a wide feed chute.
Pros:
- Easy to assemble
- User-friendly
- Large feed chute
- BPA free parts
Cons:
- Inconvenient snap-on lid
- Loud function
Check out these bread machines that have gluten-free settings here.
3. KitchenAid KFP0718CU Food Processor, 7 Cup, Contour Silver
Average Price: $79.99
Why We Chose It:
One of the best food processors for its design, the KitchenAid 7-cup Food Processor boasts a sleek and compact tool that doesn’t take up too much space.
We find it ideal for a small family and easy to assemble and clean. This stable kitchen appliance has a leak-resistant dishwasher-safe bowl, lid, and accessories.
Although it only has 300 watts of motor power with 3-speed options, it has a multi-purpose blade and adjustable slicing disc.
Thus, you can still chop vegetables, shred cheese, and make a puree.
Pros:
- Easy to clean
- User-friendly
- Takes less counter space
Cons:
- Low motor power
- Without cup markings for measuring
Find out how much KitchenAid mixers weigh here.
4. KitchenAid KFC3516IC 3.5 Cup Food Chopper, Ice
Average Price: $59.99
Why We Chose It:
The KitchenAid 3.5-cup Food Chopper is the perfect gadget for travelers or those with small kitchen space, featuring a retro vibe color that you can tuck away in the cupboard.
Despite its size, this mini chopper has 240 watts, a locking blade, 2 speeds, and pulse operation, giving you control to create coarse or fine results.
In addition, it has multi-functional locking stainless steel blade for easy pouring. It also includes a dishwasher-safe plastic bowl with a handle and spout.
Pros:
- Easy to clean
- Portable and compact
- Good blending power
Cons:
- Difficulty attaching bowl and base
- For small capacity only
Also Read: What’s The Distinction Between KitchenAid & Kenwood Mixer?
5. Hamilton Beach Food Processor 10 Cups
Average Price: $54.99
Why We Chose It:
The Hamilton Beach Food Processor makes food preparation easier, featuring a bowl scraper attachment to process ingredients evenly [2].
With this 10-cup food processor, you no longer have to stop and mix using a spatula. It’s ideal for large quantities of food and whole blocks since it has a large feed chute.
Also, it is equipped with stainless steel blades and 450 watts of motor power, making it perfect for mixing food, shredding cheese, and chopping veggies.
Pros:
- Built-in bowl scraper
- Large capacity
- Easy to clean
- Wide feed chute
- Compact and lightweight
Cons:
- Louder than other models
- Inconvenient lid
6. Cuisinart DLC-2ABC
Average Price: $89.90
Why We Chose It:
Another reliable food processor, Cuisinart DLC-2ABC comes in brushed chrome and nickel, making it look trendy all year round.
The Cuisinart Food Processor has a powerful motor with 250 watts and stainless steel blade, so you can grind beans and shred ingredients like veggies and hard cheese.
It has a dishwasher-safe plastic bowl and lid. Additionally, it’s lightweight and works well with small quantities of food.
However, we think the plastic container feels too thin and might break easily.
Pros:
- Good blending power
- Easy to clean
- User-friendly
- Compact and lightweight
- Trendy design
Cons:
- Thin plastic container
- Can only handle small quantities
Read: What’s The Distinction Between Faberware & Cuisinart?
7. Nutribullet NBP50100 Food Processor
Average Price: $104.16
Why We Chose It:
The Nutribullet Food Processor is a great option if you are searching for an 8-cup food processor but prefer an easy-to-handle and store-away kitchen appliance.
This food processor comes with 7 cup work bowl, 450 watts of motor power, and three speeds, perfect for slicing, chopping, shredding, and kneading dough.
It also includes top-rack dishwasher-safe attachments and BPA-free plastic and is equipped with stainless steel slicing disc and chopping blade.
Pros:
- Built-in storage
- Good blending power
- Produce uniform slices
- Easy to clean
- Not too noisy
Cons:
- Difficult to store blade disc
- Can be a little shaky
8. Hamilton Beach Electric Vegetable Chopper & Mini Food Processor, 3-Cups
Average Price: $27.99
Why We Chose It:
If you’re looking for a good food processor for everyday use, the Hamilton Beach Vegetable Chopper and Mini Food Processor will not disappoint.
This 3-cup food processor from Hamilton Beach has 350 watts of blending power, making it a good tool for chopping vegetables and processing food.
It features a locking lid with a press design to chop and puree easily. Furthermore, it has an oil dispenser on the lid, making it convenient for emulsifying sauces, dressings, and dips.
Pros:
- Easy to clean
- Finely minced vegetables
- Powerful motor
- Convenient switch design
- Small and handy
Cons:
- For small capacity only
- Narrow feed chute
9. KitchenAid 7-Cup Food Processor KFP0718WH, White
Average Price: $99.99
Why We Chose It:
Another impressive food processor from KitchenAid that we tried, this tool boasts a simple yet appealing design and 300 watts of blending power.
If you wish to upgrade to an 8-cup food processor but worrying about storing, this food processor also features a compact design and in-bowl accessory storage.
It includes a dishwasher-safe lid, bowl, and accessories like a multi-functional blade and slicing disc.
With its 3 speed options, you can chop, shred, slice, and puree tomatoes, cucumber, and even cheeses. Also, its 2-in-1 feed tube can process varying sizes and shapes.
Pros:
- Convenient and lightweight
- Easy to clean
- Great design
- Easy to store
Cons:
- Small feed tube
- Underpowered
10. FOHERE Food Processor 8 Cup
Average Price: $56.99
Why We Chose It:
FOHERE is an all-in-one blender and food processor equipped with 300 watts of motor power, 2 speeds, and pulse control.
The 8-cup food processor comes with a BPA-free plastic bowl, helping you prepare healthy and hearty meals for the whole family.
Considering its price, we think this food processor is quite affordable and ideal for cutting, shredding, and pureeing almost anything, from fruits and veggies to meat and cheeses.
Also, all its attachments are removable for convenient cleaning.
Pros:
- Wide feed tube
- Easy to clean
- Multi-functional
- Can process large capacity
- With non-slip suction feet
Cons:
- Takes too much counter space
- Heavyweight
Read: Steps To Assemble A Cuisinart Food Processor
How We Selected These Products
Versatility & Features
Although most food processors offer almost the same functions, they are not created equal. The typical food processor replaces mixing, whisking, chopping, and mincing [3].
“Food processors definitely help to expedite recipe preparation.”
Diamond Wynn, Recipe Developer
Thus, check the product’s versatility, from capacity, speed, and blade types. Also, consider the type of cooking you do. You may opt for a 10-cup food processor if cooking for a large family.
Easy to Clean & Maintain
Since cooking is already time-consuming, get a food processor with removable parts to clean it easily.
Look for models that come with BPA-free plastic materials and dishwasher-safe parts. Don’t forget to clean its external surfaces every after use to prevent food accumulation and molds.
Blending Power
Most importantly, blending power is the first thing to check when selecting a food processor, but how many watts does a food processor have for good blending power?
If you have high cooking needs, like making dough from scratch, a food processor with 1,000 watts is the best choice.
FAQs
What is a good wattage for a food processor?
The ideal wattage for a food processor is around 500 to 1,200 watts. Wattage determines the motor power of a food processor, so pick the one that best suits your cooking needs [4].
Do chefs use food processors?
Yes, they do. Chefs utilize food processors since they’re multi-functional appliances that speed up chopping, shredding, grinding, and mixing varying food ingredients.
But how will you make a puree without a food processor?
How much should you pay for a food processor?
A standard food processor costs around $70 – $300 on average. But if you only need an 8-cup food processor, it may cost below $60.
What is the best cheap food processor to use?
The best cheap food processor ideal for everyday use is the Hamilton Beach Vegetable Chopper and Mini Food Processor, equipped with 350 watts.
What is the best time to buy a food processor?
The best time to buy a food processor is in January and Black Friday, when most small home appliances are on sale.
What is the best food processor for baking?
The best food processor for baking is the Ninja Professional Plus Food Processor packed with 1,000 watts of blending power.
Key Takeaways
If you’re tired of manually chopping, slicing, and making puree, this guide to the best food processors in the market can help save you the time and hassle of doing everything by hand.
Whether you need to make quick, nourishing meals or haven’t honed your knife skills, a food processor is an answer for restaurant-worthy results.
Out of all the equipment we’ve tried, we like the Ninja Professional food processor the best because it has dedicated and powerful blades for slicing, chopping, and mixing ingredients.
References:
- https://www.britannica.com/technology/food-processor
- https://medium.com/@vipinpatra/advantages-of-food-processor-fabbc00d511b
- https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/15/dining/15mini.html
- https://www.thespruceeats.com/before-you-buy-a-food-processor-909027
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