Food processors can be the best way to make many time-consuming kitchen tasks simpler and faster.

They are one of the most useful appliances any home cook can have in their kitchen.

However, with so many varied options on the market, it’s easy to get confused about which product is best for you.

In this article, we review 9 of the best food processors on the market today.

After the reviews, we list the key things you’ll want to watch out for when choosing one to ensure you end up with the best product for your needs. 

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1. Breville The Kitchen Wizz 8 (Top Pick)

High-quality and reliable, the Kitchen Wizz is a household favourite.

This appliance will become your most loved possession as it cuts off hours from your meal prep time. Suitable for a wide range of ingredients and recipes, the Kitchen Wizz does everything you would expect from a high-end food processor.

The powerful 1,000-watt motor chops and slices food quickly whether you use the pulse option or either speed setting. You also get two food chutes that work with different ingredients: one with a wider mouth and one with a shorter shape.

With an eight-cup size, this food processor has markings on the outside that lets you see how much is inside so you can get your measurements spot on.

The Kitchen Wizz comes in as the best food processor as it’s high quality, versatile and offers great value for money.

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2. Magimix 4200XL Processor

Designed to work on its own or with a Blendermix device, this food processor has a large bowl and comes with two others of different sizes for all your favourite dishes.

This processor comes with everything you need to prepare a wide range of dishes. It comes with a chopping blade, dough blade, egg whisk and a couple of grating and slicing discs too.

The Magimix has a powerful 950 watt motor that is covered by a huge 30 year motor warranty.

For ease of use there are simple buttons on the base that turn it on and off and let you use an automatic power setting or a pulse setting.

This food processor also comes with two slicing discs that let you slice carrots and other vegetables into the exact sizes that you need.

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3. KitchenAid Mini 3.5 Cup Chopper

Whether you want to make salad dressing or chop carrots and other vegetables in seconds, this stainless steel chopper from KitchenAid is an excellent choice.

This compact chopper is one of the best value options and is ideal for smaller food prep tasks.

It comes in an Empire Red finish that adds a pop of colour to your kitchen and a blade that you can remove from the base. The blade lid and other parts are all safe to clean in a dishwasher.

With two controls and simple one-touch operation, you can get the fine dice or chop that you need. It also has a removable lid that lets you add oils and other liquid ingredients.

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4. Cuisinart 8-Cup Food Processor

This compact 8-cup food processor from Cuisinart is a versatile option that offers great capacity and capability.

The discs that fit into the base of this food processor let you both shred and slice ingredients based on how you insert them.

As it comes with an integrated food tube, you don’t need to worry about picking the right size to add to the top.

It has an eight-cup size and includes markings to help you measure ingredients, along with a 350-watt motor.

This model also features rubber controls that you can easily use when your hands are wet and a compact design.

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5. Braun MultiQuick 9 Hand Blender & Food Processor

This hand blender and food processor from Braun can save space because it comes with a variety of attachments that let you do different types of cutting.

It functions as a hand whisk when baking, a food processor for chopping, as well as a variety of other functions.

This is a fantastic appliance that can replace a number of the usual kitchen tools. It is great for blending soups and smoothies, chopping and slicing vegetables, you can even julienne vegetables as well as so much more.

The MultiQuick 9 is a set you can rely on and it is strong enough to tackle the hardest of ingredients.

The Easy Click System makes setting up the tool and using the right attachment a snap.

It also comes with tools for kneading dough and making all your favourite savoury dishes and sweet treats.

This is easy to clean and it helps keep your kitchen clean by prevent splashes too.

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6. Sunbeam Multichopper Food Processor

The Sunbeam Multichopper is a compact food processor that uses a double blade system to reduce processing time while ensuring an even consistency. It’s one of the best mini options as it is low cost and keeps things simple.

There are 2 speed options on this processor and the lower blades can be used independently or in conjunction with the upper blades. This gives you versatility and flexibility in your food preparation options.

The large processing bowl is 500ml which offers enough room for a range of ingredients without taking up too much kitchen space.

The plastic used for this food processor is BPA free to ensure it is safe and high quality. This is a quality multichopper food processor best for anyone looking for something that is simple, easy to use and doesn’t take long to clean or put together.

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7. Kenwood Multi Pro Sense 1000W Food Processor

The Kenwood Multi Pro Sense is one of the best food processor options for carrying out a range of cutting, slicing and blending tasks at the touch of a button.

The set is incredibly versatile and comes with a range of specially designed attachments so you can create good food with ease.

There is a variable speed control or you can set it to auto speed where the processor will select the maximum speed for you.

The glass of this blender is heatproof so you can blend hot and cold ingredients safely and easily.

Whether you want to blend soup or make baby food, this food processor makes it easy to enjoy quality food in the comfort of your kitchen.

For ease of use, the Multi Pro Sense comes with different bowl sizes. It also has a wide feed tube so it can handle large pieces of food, saving you time as you won’t need to chop everything before putting it into the food processor.

This processor also comes with a 5 year warranty for peace of mind.

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8. Russell Hobbs Classic Chopper

If you are looking for a compact, practical food processor the Classic Chopper from Russell Hobbs is a great option.

This is best-suited to making dips, mixing salad dressings and pureeing baby food.

The 1 litre capacity is ideal for those smaller dishes and it runs on a 400W motor that is able to blend all ingredients including ice and nuts. This model is easy to clean too, the 1L glass bowl can even be washed in the dishwasher.

The housing and the S-blade are both stainless steel making them durable, long-lasting and easy to keep clean.

This is a quality food processor best for chopping, pureeing and making delicious dips or nutritious baby food.

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9. Breville Mini Wizz Food Processor

The Breville Kitchen Wizz Food Processor is a compact option that is best for one – two people and homes with limited kitchen space. The mini food processor has 3 functions; chop, grind and whisk.

The 500ml capacity makes it easy to puree baby food, chop nuts or make pesto without any large chunks being left behind.

The stainless steel blades are bi-directional to ensure the chopping is consistent, and the 3 speed options make sure you can easily select the option that best suits the dish you are making.

The mini food processor comes with a whisk attachment and it has a drip lid so you can add liquid without needing to remove the lid.

The Breville Kitchen Wizz is a good food processor best for anyone looking to make small batches at a time and for anyone with limited kitchen space.

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Food Processor Buying Guide

Now you’ve taken a look at some of the best food processors available in Australia, let’s look at the key features that should be considered when you are deciding which is the best for you.

As you can see, each food processor offers different features, capacities and capabilities so finding the best food processor for you will really depend on your uses and needs.

When you compare options, keep an eye out for the following:

Blades

One thing to look for is the type of blades that come included with the food processor.

All options will come with the standard chopping blade (usually S-shaped), this might be one or two blades depending on the design of the food processor.

The best food processor will have a blade that’s sharp straight out of the box and will chop ingredients evenly for years to come.

Most blades are made from stainless steel which is highly durable and easy to keep clean. Blades that have a serrated edge tend to stay sharper for longer than smooth edged blades.

The standard chopping blade (also called the knife blade or multipurpose blade) is great for everything including mixing, mashing, pureeing and mincing ingredients.

You may have to replace or sharpen the blades if they become dull so check whether there are replacement options and how much they would cost.

Blade Attachments

If you like baking you will probably want to keep an eye out for a food processor with a dough blade too. This comes in handy for cookie dough and when prepping dough for baking bread or pizza. Depending on your requirements, you may also want to consider a stand mixer.

Most of the best, high-end food processors in Australia will come with a selection of blade attachments including slicing and grating discs to offer you more versatility when cooking.

Some slicing discs are reversible to offer thin or thick slicing, others are variable so you can adjust the slicing size as needed.

Other less common attachments include decorative slicing for those finishing touches and a french fry disc for making perfect chips.

Having a range of attachments is fantastic but only if you will make use of them, if you won’t use them then it’s not worth paying more for a set with additional attachments.

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Capacity / Bowl Size

A good size bowl for most homes is around seven cups. For meal prep and batch cooking, go for a 16 cup food processor as these will give you enough space to do large preparation in one go.

A larger bowl is also desirable if you intend to use the appliance for baking too. A larger capacity bowl will cost more but is well worth it if you are cooking large quantities or baking.

If you choose a large food processor and you only have a small amount of ingredients they will not blend properly.

For ease of use and efficiency consider the types of food and meal sizes you will be using the food processor for so you can choose the best size. If your cooking varies the best food processor for you will be one that offers multiple bowls to cater for different portion sizes.

If you will only be chopping or pureeing small quantities of food, there are mini food processor options too which cost less and take up very little room in the kitchen.

Use this rough guideline to help you find the best food processor size for your needs:

• Mini Food Processor: 3-5 Cups
• Mid-Size Food Processor: 6 – 10 Cups
• Large Food Processor: 11 – 13 Cups
• XL Food Processor: 14 – 20 Cups

Motor

A strong motor can make sure you can quickly and easily get through harder foods such as nuts, carrots, hard cheese, stiff doughs etc. A powerful motor ensures the food processor can keep up with the food preparation without slowing down or burning out. For a large food processor look for one that has at least a 600 watt motor.

Often there is a motor warranty that covers the food processors motor for a number of years. Check if the food processor you are considering includes this motor warranty as it can save you money later on if there is a manufacturing fault.

Some food processors come with load-sensing technology that will adjust the power to suit the situation. This can be great for getting a boost of power while preparing the tougher foods.

Feed Tube

For ease of use, the best food processors have a feed chute that allows you to drop items into the processor without needing to stop it or open the lid.

This helps to keep the kitchen clean and free from splashes as you can keep the lid on and add the food items via the tube. Look at the size of the tube as a very thin chute is only good for carefully adding liquids and oils.

An extra wide feed tube will come in handy if you’re likely to be working with large fruit or vegetables. A wider feed tube can significantly reduce the amount of pre-chopping you need to do before you use the food processor.

This means you can make your favourite dishes quickly and easily with minimal prep time.

Keep in mind the safety risk if the tube is large enough for an adult or child to fit their hand inside.

Choppers Vs. Food Processors

A food chopper is different from a food processor because it’s only use it to cut ingredients. These models are compact and therefore take up less space in the kitchen.

While the price is lower for a food chopper, you won’t get the benefit of a slicing disc or other accessories. If you have a small amount of ingredients to chop, this might be a good option but it has limited capabilities.

A processor will usually offer the best value as it has more power and will often come with both a slicing disc and a shredding disc as standard. You might get a reversible shredding disc too.

This lets you flip the disc over for both shredding and slicing. The best mini food processor will easily rival a chopper and as it is multi purpose it can handle most food preparation tasks. A good food processor offers a larger capacity which makes it best suited to meal preparation.

Food Processors Vs Blenders

Food processors have razor-sharp blades and excel in tasks like chopping, slicing or mixing ingredients. This includes chopping or shredding vegetables, grating cheese or kneading bread or cookie dough. Food processors are designed to handle a lot of tasks for cooking and baking preparations. However, they are better suited to preparing solid foods rather than for dealing with liquid.

A kitchen blender, on the other hand, has blunt blades but a powerful motor. It is designed more for liquids and is therefore best for handling tasks such as making smoothies and soups. If you want to liquify something then a blender is your best option. There is some crossover between the two appliances, as they can both be used for tasks like making salad dressings or sauces.

Cleaning

Kitchen appliances like food processors can be a pain to clean. Generally, the device needs to be taken apart, piece by piece, and each item individually washed and cleaned. This can be time consuming and frustrating but most food processors in Australia come with dishwasher safe parts which is perfect if you want to avoid manual washing. For ease of use and quick cleaning, choose a compact food processor that has a dishwasher safe blade and bowl.

Aside from this, all you need to do is wipe down the appliance with a slightly damp cloth after use. This is just to clean off any spills or splashes so it is ready for the next use. Once the bowl, lid and blade have been cleaned and are fully dry you can store these with the base.

If the food processor is made from white plastic you may see some colour staining if you use it to chop colour-rich items such as carrots or beetroots, while this will impact the aesthetic of the processor it is a normal occurrence that won’t affect the taste of your dishes or performance of the food processor. This is something to keep in mind when deciding which food processor is best for your kitchen.

Size And Weight

A food processor isn’t generally something you want to leave out on the kitchen bench, so you’re going to want to ensure you have storage space for it. Even a 5 cup food processor can be fairly bulky due to the motor and base so you can imagine what a XL 20 cup food processor is like, especially with all the removable parts, so ensure you take the size into account when shopping.

Make sure the appliance isn’t going to be too heavy for you to carry around the kitchen, particularly if you have weak wrists or mobility issues.

Keep in mind the weight the motor adds, especially if you’re going to be storing your appliance in a high cupboard.

The weight of the processor should be listed in the product information so it will be easy to find out the weight of the unit when buying online.

It is also worth noting that the heavier machines do tend to be more stable, which is very important when operating at high speeds.

Rubber feet can also be valuable in keeping the food processor in position by adding all-important grip to the base of the machine.

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Food Processor Features

Making the best food doesn’t have to take hours. Choosing a food processor will involve deciding which features are most important for you.

If you’re not sure, don’t worry. This list will help you see what’s available and decide which is the best food processor for your cooking needs:

Slice – Slicing is the bread and butter of this appliance. Depending on your particular model, you may have a range of slice sizes to choose from. This function is super easy to use and can be a huge time saver.

Chop – Are you sick of spending what seems like eternity chopping before you even get started on cooking? The chopping feature on processors make light work of this time consuming meal-prep task.

Grate – Almost all food processors will come with a grater. Food prep is made easy with no more awkward box graters required.

Dice – Whether you are making a dressing or a salad, dicing is another very time-consuming task that these products make light work of.

Grind – Be it beef, chicken, or lamb, a grind accessory allow you to create restaurant-quality ground meat at home. Use the pulse function to create the perfect texture and consistency. This is the best option for making homemade sausages or mince meals.

Zest – Get rid of that hopeless hand-held zester. Food processors make zesting a breeze. This is best for big jobs like a citrus cake.

Mix and knead dough – This one may take some trial and error but your food processor can be a game-changer. While some appliances do come with a dough blade, many users find the regular blades are more effective.

Puree – Most processors should be able to puree. You may already have a stick blender which can also be useful for this task too.

Reversible blades – Is storage a concern? This handy feature can significantly reduce the number of accessories you’ll need to find storage space for. A great example is slicing and shredding in one reversible blade.

Beater and whisk attachments – Gone are the days of needing a separate electric whisk. Great for the avid baker, beater and whisk attachments make cake prep a breeze. It’s like the sous chef you never had.

Other Things To Look Out For In Your Food Processor

Controls – Unlike many kitchen appliances, food processors generally don’t come with a dizzying number of modes and settings. As long as you have On/Continuous and Pulse (use for short bursts), you should be able to make good use of whatever blades and attachments you have available. Ease of use is key, if the food processor controls are complicated choose a different option.

Speed Options – The best food processors offer a couple of speed settings, including a pulse function. These should be clearly marked and easy to use, the controls usually come in a dial form and are generally kept simple and well labelled. Having a couple of different speed options can go a long way in helping you achieve the texture you need for the dish you are making.

Dishwasher safe – Check if the food processor comes with dishwasher safe parts as this is a huge time saver. This lets you pop all the removable parts of the food processor into a dishwasher for fast cleaning.

Safety features – The features that can keep you safe include a solid base and a durable handle. You want a food processor that will not wobble when placed on your counter and one with a handle that lets you easily remove the processor from its base. Key safety features include not turning on unless the food processor is properly assembled and a thermal cut out where the processor stops if it is over heating.

Storage Box – Where do you plan to put all those blades and accessories? Some models come with a handy storage box or compartment so you can keep everything tidy and make sure items don’t go missing. The storage box is the best way of keeping all the equipment together ready for preparing the next meal.

Construction – Look at the construction of the processor, including how the feed tube fits into the top and whether you can easily attach the dough blade to the base. The food processor should be well built, durable and easy to use. Each of the attachments and removable parts should be sturdy and easy to remove and reposition.

Noise Level – some food processors are loud while others operate much more quietly. If you don’t want to be shouting over the sound of the processor check the noise level before buying. To give you an idea of the noise levels of the food processors available, they generally vary from 68dB to 90dB. If you are buying online, the best way to know more about the noise level is to check out the product video or read user reviews.

User Reviews – Before you order, consider looking at the reviews of food processors by past customers. A quick online search can provide the latest review results. This is often the best way to determine how a food processor will perform over time and whether or not it is recommended by others. Reading reviews quickly lets you know if a food processor offers good value for money.

Warranty – When you shop for any appliance, always check the warranty offered by the manufacturer. Some companies only cover their products with a two year warranty or less. You’ll find other brands that cover their products with a three year warranty or longer, try to go with the longer warranty option. This lets you get help if the processor stops reaching a high speed or if the feed tube or other parts break.