How to Make the Most Out of Your Food Processor

Did you know that food processors are great at making pie dough and even pizza dough? You can also use them to create your own ground meat, which put a smile on my face the first I tried it. I might be in the minority when it comes to how much I love using kitchen appliances, but as the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where I oversee all testing and content related to cooking products, it's the best part of my job. I also love teaching people how to use appliances.

I've been working with food processors professionally since 2014. I even helped develop them when I worked in the test kitchen for a kitchen appliances brand, created recipes for them and demoed them in stores. Most recently, my team at Good Housekeeping tested eight new ones side by side, which made my inner product developer tingle. The best ones were able to chop parsley evenly without bruising it, puree cans of whole tomatoes smoothly without leaking, slice tomatoes and pepperoni cleanly and more.

Food processors are great for chopping and pureeing food. Plus, most come with a slew of attachments so you can slice, shred and even dice. They're powerful and can tackle the toughest ingredients, like nuts, so that you can make homemade peanut butter, almond butter and more.

Our Best Overall Food Processor

Breville The Sous Chef 12

$294 at Amazon

$300 at Target$330 at Williams Sonoma

Pros

• User-friendly with easy-to-use buttons
• Earned perfect scores in Lab tests

Cons

• Parts are not dishwasher-safe

Food processors typically have a heavy base where the motor is located. They also have a clear work bowl that allows you to see all of your ingredients. They use an S-shaped blade to chop food, and if you run the appliance continuously, it'll puree your food.

This blade is removable and can be swapped out for a slicing or shredding blade. To use these accessories, you place your ingredients in the feed tube, stabilize them with the included pusher and turn on your food processor.

Dicing blades are amongst the newest innovations in the food processor category and can be used on both fruits and vegetables. Some food processors even come with julienne blades.

Our Best Overall Blender

Vitamix Ascent X5 Blender

$750 at Williams Sonoma

Pros

• Excelled in Lab tests
• Has 10 different preset functions

Cons

• Didn't make the smoothest peanut butter in our tests

While both food processors and blenders blend food, the main difference lies in the shape of their work bowls, which affects how the food turns out. The wider food processor bowl allows for better chopping, while the shape of a blender jar allows for smoother blending of liquids.

Before using your food processor, ensure all parts are clean. Most food processors come with an electric base, a plastic work bowl, a blade shaft, multiple blades, a work bowl lid, a feed tube and a plunger.

1. Place your food processor on a clean, flat surface

Be sure that kids or pets can't reach the appliance or its cord.

2. Place the work bowl onto the base

With the unit unplugged, fit the work bowl onto the base and make sure it’s securely attached.

3. Attach the appropriate blade or accessory

For most chopping and pureeing, attach the standard S-blade that comes with your appliance. For the kneading dough, attach the "soft dough" accessory. For slicing or shredding, attach the round slicing or shredding blade that will sit at the top of the work bowl.

4. Attach the work bowl lid

Food processors won't run if they're not properly locked into place. You can add ingredients directly into the work bowl before putting the lid on or add ingredients through the feed tube once the food processor is on, depending on the recipe.

5. Plug in and use your food processor

Once your food processor is safely assembled, plug it into the appropriate outlet. Make sure to unplug the appliance before cleaning or changing the blade while the work bowl is in place.

S-blade

The main S-blade can be used to chop and puree all sorts of food, including:

✔️ Chopping onions and other vegetables and fruits for mirepoix or salsa

• Pro tip: Cut ingredients into even-sized pieces to get more even results; use the pulse button to better control the consistency and not over-process them.

Chopped parsley results from our food processor testing.

✔️ Chopping all sorts of herbs

• Pro tip: Ensure all herbs are completely dry to avoid bruising; use the pulse button here as well to avoid mincing too fine.

✔️ Grating large amounts of parmesan

• Pro tip: Cut into 1-inch pieces before adding to your work bowl to avoid straining your machine; use the pulse button so it doesn't accidentally form into a paste.

✔️ Whipping up mayo, dressings and dips, like hummus

• Pro tip: Use the drizzle hole in the lid to slowly incorporate oil into the work bowl — this method is essential for making mayonnaise or creamy Caesar salad dressing.

✔️ Making sauces like pesto, salsa verde and chimichurri

• Pro tip: Make sure your herbs are fully dry to prevent bruising; try different nuts and greens for pesto — you don't always need to use pine nuts or basil.

✔️ Making baby food

• Pro tip: After steaming your ingredients, place them into your work bowl and blend them until smooth with some of the steaming liquid for a nutritional boost

✔️ Grinding your own nut butter

• Pro tip: Pulse the nuts and then process on High until smooth; scrape down the sides as needed.

✔️ Pureeing tomatoes into sauce

• Pro tip: Be mindful of the MAX fill line to avoid potential leaking.

✔️ Making pie crust, including a graham cracker crust and pie dough, and shortbread cookie dough

• Pro tip: Cut your butter into small, uniform pieces before processing; use the pulse button to evenly incorporate into other ingredients.

✔️ Chopping meat

• Pro tip: Yes, you can make your own ground meat and even fish. Cut protein into even pieces before processing and ensure it's cold. Use the pulse button to get the grind that you want. A chunkier version will have a better mouthfeel, medium ones will bind better and pastes can be used to make copycat nuggets. This is great for burgers and meatballs, especially those where you want to know exactly what's in them or customize them (think leaner options, chicken versions, etc.).

S-blade or included dough attachment

✔️ Mixing cookie dough

• Pro tip: Simple cookie recipes that aren't weighed down with a ton of butter and flour can be easily made in the food processor.

✔️ Kneading dough, like pizza dough

• Pro tip: Try our homemade pizza dough recipe.

Slicing attachment

Sliced zucchini results from our food processor testing.

✔️ All sorts of fruits and veggies, including carrots for salad, tomatoes for sandwiches, zucchini for tarts, etc.

• Pro tip: Pack the feed tube and make sure all ingredients are secure before turning the food processor on. Gently use the pusher to guide food into the food processor, but let the food processor do most of the work.

✔️ Slicing large quantities

• Pro tip: The slicing attachment is the perfect tool for slicing cabbage for slaw.

Shredding attachment

Shredded carrots results from our food processor testing.

✔️ Can handle all sorts of fruits and veggies

• Pro tip: Shred potatoes for hash browns and latkes, zucchini and carrots for cake and more.

✔️ Cheese

• Pro tip: Ensure cheese is cold but not frozen. This will help prevent buildup. Shred large quantities and freeze them for use when needed — this is a great alternative to buying shredded cheese, which often contains fillers that help prevent caking and clumping.

Dicing attachment

✔️ Diced fruit for fruit punch, sangria, yogurt and ice cream toppings

✔️ Apples for pie

✔️ Veggies, like onions, zucchini and potatoes, for soup and hash

• Pro tip: Most ingredients don't require any prep. Just pack the feed tube as you would for the slicing and shredding attachments, and guide the food into the food processor with little to no pressure. It's best to dice soft ingredients first, then the hard ones, which will limit any jamming.

Most importantly, be very careful when handling the dicing attachment and never touch any parts of the blade. Use the included cleaning tool to remove stuck pieces and a bottle brush to wash it.

Chopping whole, hard veggies

• Pro tip: Cut these ingredients into small pieces and use the pulse button to break up before processing

Crushing ice

• Pro tip: I'd be extra careful with ice because it's so hard. If you want to try it, use the pulse button first

Making smoothies

• Pro tip: While you can puree fruits and liquids, I prefer using my blender over my food processor for this one. A blender is less prone to splattering, will make it smoother and is easier to pour from.

I prefer cleaning all the parts of my food processor on the top rack of my dishwasher. Always check your manufacturer's instructions to confirm the pieces are dishwasher-safe.

You can always wash the parts by hand; just be sure to use a brush when cleaning the blades, as they're very sharp.

Wipe the base with a damp cloth or sponge, and never submerge it in water.

A variety of food processors we tested this year.

Don't sleep on this kitchen appliance. It might seem big, bulky and a little pricey, but it can do so much, especially if you actively incorporate it into your daily life. It speeds up prep and can make your results look professional. There are different sizes and styles of food processors to choose from, so pick one that's best for you.

• Mini choppers with a capacity of 2 to 3 cups are ideal for chopping and making dips. They're a good option if you want to get your feet wet or want to keep on your counter often. Some even come with slicing and shredding attachments, as well as ones for whipping.
• Medium-sized food processors can hold about 8 to 9 cups. They're good for one person or small families. They're also lighter to maneuver and store but can't handle large batches.
• The largest food processors are 12, 14 or 16 cups. They're heavy and powerful, capable of handling tough tasks.

Each sized chopper varies in terms of the accessories that come with it, ultimately affecting the overall price.

Nicole Papantoniou is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she oversees all testing and content related to kitchen gear. She graduated from culinary school in 2013 and worked in several test kitchens, developing recipes and kitchen products, such as food processors. She's an avid cook and has too many kitchen appliances to count — yet new ones still make her excited.

Nicole Papantoniou

Kitchen Appliances Lab Director

Nicole (she/her) is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she has overseen content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear since 2019. She’s an experienced product tester and recipe creator, trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition. She has worked in test kitchens for small kitchen appliance brands and national magazines, including Family Circle and Ladies’ Home Journal.