Food processors are versatile kitchen appliances that can speed up all prep tasks, whether you need to grate cheese, mincemeat, chop vegetables, knead the dough, or make a simple curry paste.
Usually, the food processors are big appliances but there are small food processors available in the market. They are cheap and perfect for a single person.
The best food processors can chop, blend, mince, grind, whisk, slice, and puree. Many people get confused while selecting a perfect food processor for their kitchen because they do not know much about the functionalities and the best models available in the market. For your ease, we have made a list of the best small food processors in America’s Test Kitchen.
7 Best Small Food Processor America’s Test Kitchen
Here we have reviewed some best food processor you can buy according to you need.
1. Cuisinart DLC-2ABC Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor
Features
- Push-button controls
- 3 cups work bowl
- Stainless steel blades
- Dishwasher-safe bowl, lid, blade
- 250-watt motor
This mini food processor is the best model from Cuisinart, the famous kitchen appliances maker. This food processor can do almost all the prep tasks and it might be the least expensive processor you can get for your kitchen.
The capacity of this processor’s bowl is 3 cups that is enough for a small family. It has a 250-watt motor that gives a lot of power to do the tasks it’s designed for. It has a smart power blade that reverses for either you do chopping or grinding.
This processor is simple to use with two push buttons for chop and grind. It is available in four different colors – brushed chrome, pink, white, and metallic red. It comes with a limited 18-months warranty that ensures its quality and durability.
Pros
- Powerful enough to do prep tasks
- Simple to use and easy to clean
- Requires little counter space
- Affordable unit
Cons
- Bowl and lid may get scratches while grinding hard grains.
2. KitchenAid KFC3516IC 3.5 Cup Food Chopper
Features
- 5 cups work bowl
- Locking blade and handle
- 2 speeds and pulse operation
- Compact and lightweight
- Dishwasher-safe bowl, lid, and blade
KitchenAid KFC356IC food chopper is compact and lightweight that can be placed on your kitchen’s countertop or on a shelf. It is just 9-inches tall, and 6-inches wide with a beautiful design. It comes in a variety of color options.
This food processor is made for small jobs like chopping few onions. The 240-watt motor operates quickly and produces no noise while working. It has two speeds for chop and puree. This processor is perfect for quick food prep tasks.
We found the lid a little difficult to lock and unlock. Overall, this processor is quite a handy kitchen appliance for small jobs and we are happy with the design and performance of this processor.
Pros
- Quickly chops the vegetables and nuts
- Blade locking feature
- Many color options
- Perfect size
Cons
- The lid is difficult to assemble
3. Hamilton Beach Mini 3-Cup Food Processor
Features
- Stack and press to chop
- 3 cups capacity
- Stainless steel blade
- Easy to clean
- Affordable price
Hamilton Beach Mini food processor is powered by the patented stack and press functionality. You have to simply press the lid to chop food items and release the lid to stop. The design is easy to use and assemble the components.
This mini processor has a 350-watt motor that provides enough power to chop any kind of food items like hard nuts, grains, vegetables, herbs, and it is also good for making dressings and sauces. It has 3 cups capacity, which is enough for everyday use.
This food processor is super easy to clean and all removable parts are dishwasher-safe. The blades are made of durable stainless steel, perfect for dicing, mincing, and puree.
Pros
Compact design with 3 cups capacity
Stack and press functionality
Super easy to clean
Leakage proof
350-watt motor
Cons
Makes noise while working
4. Chefman Electric 4-Cup Food Processor
Features
- State of the art blade motion
- Intuitive controls
- Maximum versatility
- Convenient cleaning
- Advanced safety technology
This beautiful food processor has the state of the art blade motion technology that can chop, blend, mince, dice, and mince like never before. This small food processor can perfectly chop or blend with consistent and even sizes every time.
With intuitive controls, you can chop all your favorite food quickly and efficiently. This all-in-one machine can do all food prep tasks for up to 4 cups of capacity. From crushing ice to making homemade salsa, this unit performs like a charm.
It has a 300-watt motor to provide enough power to perform all the processing tasks. The bowl, lid, and blades are dishwasher-safe for easy clean-up. This processor is durable and offers a 1-year assurance by Chefman. So, you can make a purchase worry-free.
Pros
- Perfectly chop or blend
- Intuitive one-touch operations
- 4 cups capacity
- Simple clean up
Cons
- Blades are not easily removable
5. SHARDOR 3.5-Cup Food Processor
Features
- Premium safety features
- One-touch interface
- Stainless steel chopper
- 350-watt powerful motor
- Quality assurance
SHARDOR is an all-around performer that is equipped with a powerful 350-watt motor. This small food processor is a great value for money deal as it can handle any kind of food items like tough carrots, soft cheese, nuts, apple, cucumber, etc.
You can prepare your baby’s food with this small food processor, shred vegetables, mix a variety of ingredients, and make salads, sauces, and puree. With 2 speed modes and a pulse operation, this processor can evenly produce good results.
This food processor is super efficient and it comes with an extra feed chute that accommodates whole vegetables and fruits for perfect slicing and shredding. This small food processor comes with a 2-year warranty and a 6-months free replacement warranty that ensures the quality of the product.
Pros
- 2 speeds and a pulse operation
- Extra feed chute included
- Versatile functions
- 2-years warranty
- High-quality processor
Cons
- No book comes with the package
6. Elite Gourmet EMC4423 Electric Food Processor
Feature
- 2 speeds with pulse
- 4 cups capacity
- 300-watt motor
- Safety features
- ETL approved
The Elite Gourmet food processor has a unique patented HoverChop technology with vertical up and down blade movement that ensures even chopped food items. This chopper works quickly and chops veggies within seconds.
It has 2 speeds with pulse operation that ensures faster and fine results. The 4 cups capacity is ideal for most home kitchens. It has a built-in drizzle basin opening in the lid that allows you to add liquid ingredients during the processing to make sauces and dressings.
The 300-watt motor gives you the power and versatility within a compact size. It is lightweight, portable, and can be placed anywhere in your kitchen. This food processor is ETL approved and comply with safety standards.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight
- Save time with HoverChop
- Vertical up and down blade movement
- Powerful motor
- Quick and easy to use
Cons
- Chops in huge chunks
7. LINKChef Mini Food Processor
Features
- Powerful 250-watt motor
- Quick and safe performance
- Precise control
- Easy to clean and store
- 4 bi-level blades
The LINKChef mini food processor has a 250-watt powerful motor that gives it the ability to chop, mix, blend, and mince a variety of food items quickly and efficiently. It has 4 bi-level blades which are made of stainless steel and have a locking feature.
The pulsing button provides the precise control to produce even texture of the ingredients. You can safely prepare everyday meals as this food processor can perform multiple tasks like chop meat and onions, slice vegetables, shred cabbages, and blend frozen fruits.
This processor meets the safety standards and comes with a 3-years warranty. The package has a helpful user manual for easy understanding of the processor. They also provide amazing customer support.
Pros
- Stainless steel bowl
- BPA free transparent lid
- 36-months warranty
- Friendly customer support
Cons
- Does not grind fine and puree
Buying Guide for Best Small Food Processor America’s Test Kitchen
While buying a food processor, you have to check few things that your food processor must possess. If you are a single person or a small family, a small food processor will be enough for you.
Most of the high-quality small food processors have all the basic functionalities. Let’s discuss the main factors everyone needs to consider before buying.
Capacity
Most of the small food processor units have a capacity of 20-24 ounces that is more than enough for a single person. You have to check the capacity and choose a model that fits your needs.
If you live in a large family, then these small food processors will not work for you and you will have to chop or mince the food in more than one batch. So, it will take a longer time to process the food.
Power
The power of the food processor is the second most important point that you have to assess. Keep in mind, the more powerful processor will be more expensive, but it’s worth paying a little extra for a powerful machine. If the processor is less powerful, it will not process the mass correctly and you will not get good results.
Security
The security of the food processor is also an important factor that you have to look for. The unit must comply with the standard security rules, and it must be made of high-quality materials. You have to make sure that the food processor you have chosen is completely safe to use in your home.
Material
Another important factor that needs to take into account before making any purchase of a food processor is its material. Make sure the quality of the unit is up to the mark.
If you buy a low-quality food processor to save little money, it will cost you more in the long run because it will last for a short period of time. So, choose a high-quality food processor even if it is a little expensive.
Design
Most people make their decisions after looking at the design of the food processor. The design of the food processor should be easy to handle and allows us to do our work conveniently.
The cleaning process must be easy and simple. Also, look for the number of functionalities it can perform and how many accessories it has. The quality of the accessories also matters.
Utilization
Look for a food processor that has an intuitive and easy-to-use control panel. A digital LCD screen is now common in food processor units. It helps to understand the functionalities of the machine and allows you to quickly start using it.
FAQs?
How does a food processor work?
With the electric power, the blades of the food processor spin pretty fast and chop or mince the food. Different types of discs and blades come with most of the modern food processors that can be installed to shred or slice the food.
What is the correct way of using a food processor?
Different food processors have different workings, but in the broad sense, the use of the food processor is quite simple and easy. Place the food items inside the bowl and close the lid securely. Plugin the processor and select the settings you want to use and turn the switch on.
Can you put a food processor in a dishwasher?
You can wash the bowl in the dishwasher, but do not place and wash the entire appliance in the dishwasher. You have to check the user manual guide to understand which parts are dishwasher safe and which parts are not.
What are the different things that a food processor can do?
Most of the food processors can chop or slice the vegetables and herbs, grind the seeds, mince the meat, knead the dough, prepare different types of dips, purees, and sauces. They can be used to make salad dressings and cutting the butter into the flour.
Conclusion
After reading this article, now it’s time to make a decision and choose the best food processor for your kitchen from the list we have provided in this article.
The quality of the listed products is of high standards; you can make a purchase without any hesitation. These products are quite affordable with durable materials that last longer. Good luck with your purchase!
See Also:
